Ixiasoft Inc.s XML content repository, called TEXTML, is being upgraded with new replication, version-control and document-security features to make it more attractive to large enterprises.
“Originally we envisioned this would be used by small and mid-range applications, but it has actually been deployed in large-scale enterprise deployments,” said Ixiasoft CEO Philippe Gelinas.
Montreal-based Ixiasoft next week will unveil Version 3.0 of TEXTML, a native XML database that stores, indexes and retrieves XML data for use in multi-channel publishing and content repurposing.
In addition to being deployed in aerospace and defense companies for content management and publishing tasks, TEXTML is targeted for use as a back-end repository for magazine and newspaper publishing companies. Adobe Systems Inc.s design and publishing software already outputs content in XML, and most news feeds also provide their content in XML, Gelinas said.
One of the softwares prime differentiators is the efficiency of its indexing technology, according to Gelinas. But large organizations found that when a system went down it could take several hours to rebuild the indexes. To fix that, Version 3.0 adds publish-and-subscribe replications capabilities so that data is stored in a central server then as it is changed those changes are reflected in a backup version.
The update also features a load-balancing API for use with the replication features.
A new data structure in TEXTML 3.0—one that organizes data into hierarchical collections rather than as simple flat files—enables new access-control features, Gelinas said. The upgrade also lets administrators restrict individuals access to data based on documents, collections or document bases.
In recognition of its large number of publishing company customers, Ixiasoft added version-control capabilities to Version 3.0. This allows users to manage multiple versions of a document, retrieve earlier versions and limit the number of versions in the works.
In the next version, Ixiasoft plans to extend TEXTML beyond the Windows platform. Linux will be the first new OS supported, Gelinas said, but he would not give a due date for that support.
“Version 3.0 includes all the things required [by our customers] while we step back for a year and develop a Unix version,” Gelinas said.
In the meantime, he plans to consolidate TEXTMLs place in the market. The software is not threatened by large DBMSes, which can store XML but have inferior indexing, Gelinas said, or general-purpose content-management systems.
“A lot of enterprises came to the conclusion that it is better to [use TEXTML] and roll their own document management solution rather than buy a Documentum [Inc. software package], which might have more functions than they need,” Gelinas said.
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