Informix Provides First XML Standard for ETT MetaData; Ardent DataStage Leads Data Warehousing...

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2000

Informix(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:IFMX), the technology leader in software infrastructure for the i.Economy, today announced the industry's first XML Document Type Definition (DTD) for Extraction, Transformation,

Informix's XML DTD will enable more complete meta data sharing, easing business-to-business collaboration and facilitating the integration of disparate tools within the enterprise. This announcement builds on Informix's industry-leading open meta data strategy, and addresses the need for a published XML standard for ETT meta data.

"XML has become the preferred medium for exchanging data and meta data in Web environments," said Philip Russom, director of the business intelligence knowledge center at Hurwitz Group. "Yet little attention has been given to the need for an XML-based standard -- namely, a DTD for ETT -- that can enable meta data integration for these exchanges. As more companies begin operating as e-Businesses, the need for an XML-based meta data integration strategy will intensify."

XML transactions rely on DTDs, the schemata that define the structure of XML documents. When DTDs do not match, messages cannot always be shared. Informix's XML DTD for ETT meta data will allow users to read and write XML meta data based on the DTD, maximizing XML's potential as a universal language for meta data transfer.

"Informix is committed to providing our customers with leading data management capabilities," said Mikael Wipperfeld, vice president marketing at Informix Corporation. "Our goal is to eliminate the problem of disconnected meta data environments. By supporting XML as a standard meta data schema, we are giving our customers the ability to combine best-of-breed tools across the enterprise, providing them with the critical components for competing in the business-to-business arena."

Ardent(TM) DataStage(R) Suite from Informix supports reading and writing ETT meta data through this DTD, enabling industry standards-based meta data exchange with any other product that supports XML meta data interchange. Ardent DataStage Suite provides complete data warehouse meta data management and integration that offers broad support for sharing meta data between third-party data warehouse products. Using DataStage Suite for meta data management enables users to achieve a more accurate understanding of data, providing a better basis for business decisions.

About Informix

Based in Menlo Park, Informix Software is the technology leader in software infrastructure solutions for the Internet. Informix is the first and only company to integrate e-commerce and business intelligence on a true Internet infrastructure. We provide a complete, fast and simple way to bring businesses to the Web, personalize content management, and analyze information real-time. This, with our highly scalable Web engines and media asset management capabilities, gives our customers a unique competitive advantage. For more information, contact the sales office nearest you or visit our Web site at www.informix.com.

Note to Editors: The following are trademarks of Informix Corporation or its affiliates, one or more of which may be registered in the U.S. or other jurisdictions: Informix(R), Ardent(TM)and DataStage(R).

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