Desktop suites moonlight as development tools

摘要

Microsoft Office is not the only desktop suite that companies are using to develop applications. Lotus' SmartSuite and Corel's WordPerfect Suite also offer a built-in scripting language, OLE Automation, templates and wizards, and other tools for developing client applications that can be linked to back-end products such as Microsoft BackOffice and Lotus Notes. One large corporation sold on the use of desktop suites to build applications is SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals. The less-than-stellar integration between a particular desktop suite and various back-end applications may prove to be the biggest drawback for many client/server application developers who have selected Office, SmartSuite, or WordPerfect Suite as their tool of choice. Office does more than expose objects, it provides an object map and quality objects, making it easy for developers to be interact with properties, methods, or both.