The enhancements in version 1.5 introduce new functionality that make it even easier to create Information Bridge Framework-based solutions. A few of the improvements you can look forward to in this release are an integrated debugger, integrated XSL transformation capability, Microsoft Office InfoPath® and Microsoft Internet Explorer support, branding capabilities, and wizards that guide you through the development process.

The Microsoft Office Information Bridge Framework includes:

A client component that displays contextual information about line-of-business (LOB) data in the Office task pane or a modal window. By using this task pane or modal window, users can perform specific actions on that data.

Information Bridge metadata service functionality that enables the client components to connect to Web services that communicate with LOB applications.

The Information Bridge Metadata Designer tool add-in for Microsoft Visual Studio® .NET, which you use to create and manage Information Bridge solution metadata.

An Architecture and Planning Guide that provides a description of the basic Information Bridge concepts and more detailed overviews of underlying architecture and technologies, infrastructure requirements, and planning guidelines.

An Installation and Upgrade Guide, intended for IT professionals who are deploying the Information Bridge Framework server component (metadata service) and the client component to a production environment. This guide briefly describes Information Bridge Framework and its new features, and it provides the procedures for installing the metadata service and upgrading to the new version of the client component.