XML Within the Enterprise

The last four decades of the twentieth century witnessed the birth of the Computer Age. Computers have become an essential tool for nearly every corporate worker. Personal computers are now found in over 50 percent of U.S. households, and with this proliferation has come the explosion of the Internet. The Internet has not only changed the way consumers gather information and make their purchases, but it has also completely changed the way corporations must do business.

Today corporations must be able to respond quickly to market pressures and must be able to analyze large quantities of data to make appropriate decisions. To be of any use to the corporation, this data must be accurate, relevant, and available immediately. As we will see in this tutorial, a Digital Nervous System (DNS) will provide the corporation with a computer and software infrastructure that will provide accurate, relevant data in a timely manner. One of the most important elements of the DNS is the movement of data. In many circumstances, the ideal way to move this data will be in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

XML can be used to create text documents that contain data in a structured format. In addition to the data, you can include a detailed set of rules that define the structure of the data. The author of the XML document defines these rules. For example, you could create a set of rules that can be used for validating Microsoft Exchange email documents, Microsoft SQL Server databases, Microsoft Word documents, or any type of data that exists within the corporation.

An industry initiative called BizTalk, which was started by Microsoft and supported by many other organizations such as CommerceOne and Boeing, provides a standard set of rules that are agreed upon by different corporate communities and individual corporations. These rules are stored in a central repository and can be used to build standardized XML messages that can be sent between applications within the corporation and to applications belonging to the corporation's partners. Both large and small corporations can benefit from using these XML messages because it allows them to do business with a wider range of partners.

XML can do a great deal more than just move data. Data can be included in an XML document and then an Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) page can be used with the XML document to present the data in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (and hopefully other Web browsers in the near future). Using an XML document and an XSL page allows Web developers to separate data and presentation. tutorial 2 will examine why this technique is essential for corporate Web development.

Another initiative, the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), enables you to use XML to call methods on a remote computer on the Internet, even through a firewall. The SOAP initiative is being developed by Developmentor, Microsoft, and others. For more information on SOAP, visit http://www.develop.com/soap/.
BizTalk, Internet Explorer 5, and SOAP address three of the most important issues facing corporations today:

Creating standardized messages that can be moved inside and outside the corporation (BizTalk)
Separating data and presentation when building Web pages (Internet Explorer 5)
Calling methods through firewalls and between different platforms (SOAP)
The focus of this book will be on the features of XML and how it can be used to address these three issues.

Learn About Furnace Torches, Gas Torches, And Soldering Torches

Metal Casting provides the hobbyist with a great way to create personalized parts and pieces that may otherwise be unattainable or far too expensive. Casting is an ancient art that is still is use to this day by major industries to artists to those with backyard foundries. This skill is a valuable one that promises to provide the hobbyist with a rewarding past time. Most hobbyists begin their casting careers with a modest sized furnace to fit their most basic needs. Within a few months, the hobbyist might find that the furnace has grown and that they are casting at every chance that comes along. Don't worry, this is completely natural.To say that metal casting is addictive is an understatement. Metal casting provides a way for an idea to materialize through molten metal.

This is perhaps one of the greatest parts of the entire metal casting process like seeing what was once just sketches solidify from liquid iron, or whatever metal is used. All the metal caster needs is an idea and red hot liquid metal.The furnace is the pride and joy for the metal caster.

Most will construct their own furnace tweaking the design here and there to better suit their needs. Many home foundries are based on home made furnaces and if constructed correctly can prove to be highly effective. The crucial part of the furnace is the furnace torch. The torch brings the heat, incredibly high heat, and without it that chunk of metal would just sit in the crucible and never see life as something new and exciting. Except as a paper weight; a very ugly paper weight.When searching for an appropriate casting torch the hobbyist will need to take several things into consideration. The size of the furnace, and what metals you plan to use are chief among the considerations. Many casters will use a torch that uses propane gas as it provides enough pressure and heat to melt most metals. If the hobbyist plans to use natural gas like the kind that is provide in households they may find that the pressure is just not enough and the desired temperatures will not be reached. The same is true for Butane. While natural gas and Butane can be used, propane seems to yield the best results. Oxyacetylene torches are a favorite with many casters especially for casting iron.Price is yet another consideration. While it may be possible to rig a casting furnace it is not always advisable. Torches can range in price from $40 to several hundreds of dollars depending upon the size, the use, and accessories.Many jewelers are able to use small independent casting torches but when dealing with metal casting in furnaces you will need to use a torch that can be mounted and used in such a fashion. Many think that just because you need a furnace torch you are going to need a large furnace. This is simply not true.

A small furnace and furnace torch can produce enough heat to melt aluminum, iron, and a number of other metals. One of the furnaces functions is to help the flame reach optimum temperature and in the case of Reverberatory Furnaces, a furnace torch is an absolute requirement.Casting torches can be found in some hobby shops and in hardware stores. Several online shops also sell torches for the hobby metal caster. When buying a torch hobbyist should shop around in order to find the best deal. Always use caution when dealing with a furnace torch.

By : Kent Klein

Keeping Powered Up

It may seem an obvious thing to say but when it comes to a notebook computer the battery is the thing that really makes it work. Many people know this, but they forget that the battery only has a certain life span, and at some point you'll probably need to replace it if you want your notebook to keep working at the performance level that you require. This article will look at some of the considerations you need to bear in mind when you're looking to find a cheap deal for your laptop battery needs.
The first thing that you should remember is that you need to exercise care when you're looking for a battery at the cheap end of the market. One of the first things you need to bear in mind is that the shape and the overall design of the battery needs to fit in with the notebook you have. For instance, a cheap battery pack that you bought for a Toshiba notebook may not fit in with the overall design, and so when you go to buy a battery for this make, or any other make for that matter, it is a good idea to take the laptop along with you to the store and make sure that it definitely fits in the housing provided.
The second thing that you need to make sure is that the size of the battery is not such that it will short circuit the laptop itself. You can do a lot of damage to the internal mechanism of a notebook by choosing the wrong battery size and this is something that should be avoided at all costs.
Another thing that is a major consideration when you buy a laptop battery is that the voltage is absolutely correct for your particular model. There are many different types of computer accessory on the market nowadays, and some of them may be made in places where manufacturing standards are not as high as those in others. Make sure that the voltage is just right, because the wrong type of voltage can really do some damage and you could end up completely ruining your laptop all for the sake of buying the cheap battery.
When you go to buy a battery for your laptop make sure that it is one which is being manufactured by a company that is recommended by the actual makeup of the laptop itself. In this way you will avoid any kind of complications which could end up to be an expensive mistake.

by carl formby

A few tips to find the best computer buy!

A few tips to find the best computer buy!
Computers, computers, everywhere!! How to find a great one without over paying?
1. Research what kind of computer you want. Once you decide which brand or brands and what components you want. You may want to go look at them in a store and see which ones feel right to you. Write down the model # and brand of each computer you would be interested in purchasing.

2. Places like Circuit City offer a price gaurantee, however you will have to deal with rebates.

3. If you enter the exact model and brand into the google search engine it will come up with a list of stores and their prices. Also try Amazon.com, www.overstock.com, www.everyprice.com. These will give you a list of places to buy the same item at different prices.
Remember its more important to make sure you buying the type of computer you want rather then the price of the computer.

by MyLife

How To Use Inkjet Printer Ratings To Choose The Best Inkjet Printer For You

How To Use Inkjet Printer Ratings To Choose The Best Inkjet Printer For You by John Snyder

In the advancement of technology comes the need for information. Thankfully there are numerous websites out there that offer comparisons, reviews, and ratings for the different technology products. In particular you can find inkjet printer reviews from tech magazines and websites which not only offer consumer reviews but also professional experience and hands-on product experimentation. However, with all these reviews and information, where can you find a comprehensive compilation of everything? There is a website called Consumer Search which provides this.

Consumer Search provides a collection of consumer and expert from places all over the web including magazines such as PC Magazine, MacWorld, and Consumer Reports to consumer reviews at CNet, Trusted Reviews, or Amazon. Consumer Search provides complete information on inkjet printer ratings from details about the experts reviewing the products, where to buy the products you're searching for and listings of the top rated products. Consumer Search, if you will, is like a review of the review that products get. So not only can you see what the original experts are saying, but you can see if those experts have merit or are just spewing ad copy in order to get people to buy them. It's similar to getting a second opinion on a doctor's diagnosis.

If you're using individual sites to get inkjet printer ratings, then keep in mind that there is a certain amount of salt that needs to be considered. Sometimes reviewers don't always put in the correct rating when they review. I've seen glowing reports on a product that was only give 1 "star" and horrible reviews which give the product 5 "stars". The real meat of the product information is in the reviewer's description, not so much the actual rating. Plus certain consumers look for things that may not be important to you, and thus the product receives a lower rating. So it's a good idea to make a list of the things that you need when looking for a product. Do you want the printer to be able to do duplex printing? What about the software required for install? What type of operating system do you have? Do you care how much room the printer takes up? Do you plan on printing mostly in color or in black and white? These all will give you a basis of comparison when reading the ratings other people have given a product.

Another thing when considering ratings is that people are notorious for leaving bad ratings for things that aren't about the actual performance of the product. I've seen poor ratings because a box was damaged, the sales person at the store was rude or inattentive, or because the consumer didn't like the logo of the company. People's opinions are just that, and sometimes it isn't relevant to what they're asked about.

What Is Regression Testing Software?

What Is Regression Testing Software? by Terry Edwards

Regression testing software is a software series that is designed to help isolate issues that have arisen with software on the hard drive that was working fine, yet suddenly developed a problem. Essentially, the software works its magic by taking a look at diagnostics and backups from previous periods when the problem was not present, then compares the data to that of a current diagnostic. This simple process can often supply valuable clues about what has changed and created the operational issue.

The beauty of regression testing software is that it can identify problems with a number of different origins. For example, the software may be able to pick up on a local reason for the problem, such as some new virus or bug being introduced to the hard drive and becoming embedded in one or more of the files used to drive a program. In other cases, the regression software may uncover some factor that activated a bug in the software scripting that remained dormant until something caused it to activate.

Even if the origin of the issue is not local, there is a chance that testing software can still help isolate the problem. To illustrate, if one program interfaces and writes to a different database, and in the process creates some sort of a change, that change may in effect break some aspect of the receiving database. Until the change is corrected, the performance of the receiving database will be erratic at best.

Generally, regression testing software can isolate a problem, but does not have the ability to automatically fix the issue. However, knowing what is causing the issue makes it possible to select the right tools that can be used to correct the situation, and restore your hard drive and all the loaded software to the same level of efficiency that was enjoyed before the problem began.