As the Internet matures, Web sites are evolving from static, billboard-like displays to dynamic and interactive entities. In order to deliver dynamic functionality such as sophisticated animation effects and advanced transaction capabilities, developers rely on client and server side scripts. While scripting languages such as Perl, JavaScript, JScript, VB Script etc. have been readily adopted and utilized, there is a glaring lack of products designed especially to aid script development. Therefore, developers are compelled to use text editors to write complex scripts.

The new NetObjects ScriptBuilder 3.0 builds on the initial success of NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0 and fills this void by providing developers a comprehensive script development environment that supports all the major scripting technologies from vendors including IBM, Sun, Netscape and Microsoft. Additionally, support for components provides scripters with the latest advancements in component technology.

"NetObjects ScriptBuilder's comprehensive support for all major scripting technologies and robust feature set have succeeded in establishing the product as a frontrunner in the market for scripting tools," said Bernard Desarnauts, vice president of product management and marketing at NetObjects. "The latest version of the product delivers several user-requested enhancements and pushes the envelope on the technological front by introducing technology standards like the script components, which increase the scope of Web script implementation and provide impressive productivity benefits."

About Script Components
Script Components are a new technology standard introduced by NetObjects in cooperation with Netscape and IBM, which provide script authors the ability to create components using standard ECMAScript (JavaScript) and XML. By following simple conventions, script authors can encapsulate their scripting code into a component wrapper. Any scripter can then easily reuse these components in their Web pages and server-side applications, working with the component interface instead of dealing with the underlying implementation details increasing programming efficiency and making code reuse and management easier.

Script Components provide the only open scripting component solution in the market and are based on a de facto industry standard (JavaScript include files) and can run in the popular client and server environments today.

"In our software development and prototyping efforts, we have been using NetObjects ScriptBuilder for work with Java, HTML, ASP and JSP files. Its built-in support for a broad range of scripting languages including Java, plus its full set of reference documentation and the ability to create and store script libraries has made it an invaluable tool,” said Oliver Muoto of San Francisco-based startup Epicentric.

NetObjects ScriptBuilder New Features and Benefits

• Color syntax highlighting and syntax checking: NetObjects ScriptBuilder visually identifies pieces of code to speed and ease development and debugging.
• Automated tasks: NetObjects ScriptBuilder speeds development and reduces errors through one click access to AutoScripting, automatic tag insertion, and user-definable code templates.
• Document/Object Map: Using NetObjects ScriptBuilder developers can simply navigate complex Web pages or object code by visually browsing embedded functions and scriptable objects.
• Support for multiple scripting languages: NetObjects ScriptBuilder allows scripters to develop in the language most familiar to them, while having the flexibility to use other technologies without changing their development environment.
• Internal Preview: Through integration with the major browsers, NetObjects ScriptBuilder allows developers to more effectively test and debug their scripts without leaving their development environment.
• Script Inspector: The Script Inspector helps developers maximizes the audience for their Web pages by both detecting and suggesting solutions for client-side browser/version incompatibilities.
• XML Architecture: NetObjects ScriptBuilder's XML architecture enables efficiency and flexibility by allowing you to create your own customized language references.
• Complete integrated Language References: For easier access to references NetObjects ScriptBuilder offers built in access to major language documentation.
• Script Components: NetObjects ScriptBuilder's implementation of Script Component increases scope of Web scripting implementation by introducing object-oriented programming principles to scripting. NetObjects ScriptBuilder also imports JavaScript for easy component creation and provides Components Gallery for code management.
• Script Library: Scripters can use the product's Script library to access frequently used or previously created scripts to avoid re-inventing the wheel.

About NetObjects
The NetObjects product family consists of NetObjects Fusion Personal Editor, NetObjects Fusion, NetObjects Authoring Server Suite, NetObjects ScriptBuilder and NetObjects BeanBuilder. NetObjects develops and markets award-winning Web site building software for businesses.