A new version of the Information Bridge Framework (IBF), version 1.5, simplifies debugging and supports a wider range of client applications. The IBF is a development platform for solutions that enable Office client applications, such as Word or Outlook, to access data via Web services. IBF solutions can benefit employees who must occasionally view and update data from corporate applications, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, but don't need all the capabilities of those applications. However, the IBF still lacks support for offline data access, a critical capability.

Important new features of IBF 1.5 include the following:

• A debugger integrated with IBF's principal authoring tool, the Metadata Designer, enabling developers to set breakpoints and trace IBF client calls to back-end Web services
• A generic Smart Tag recognizer that developers can customize, which simplifies development and deployment of custom Smart Tags that access Web services through the IBF
• Support for the InfoPath forms application as a client platform, enabling users to retrieve or edit ancillary information while working in a form (e.g., viewing a customer's past service history while filling out a new work order in the same form)
• Support for IBF data access through hyperlinks, in addition to Smart Tags and task panes; this gives developers a new user-interface design option and even enables them to use Internet Explorer as an IBF client.

As in the initial version of the IBF, IBF 1.5 solutions work only online: users cannot cache data retrieved from a Web service, modify data offline, and then synchronize the modified data when back online. This means that IBF solutions lack one of the main advantages claimed for Office smart client solutions over Web-based solutions: offline access to critical data. Microsoft has said it will add support for offline access to future versions of the IBF.

The IBF 1.5 (officially, Microsoft Office Information Bridge Framework Service Pack 1.5) is at www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=D7FA9F2F-3512-4163-A4AB-A36EEA3B6163.

The IBF 1.5 Resource Kit is at www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3ac05dc0-ae2b-4d76-aa91-ae6a2a896d93.

The IBF and other Microsoft development technologies are surveyed in the Dec. 2004 Directions on Microsoft Developer Platform Roadmap.

Microsoft's guide to choosing Office developer technologies is at msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dno2k3ta/html/Office2003OverviewDeveloperTechnologies.asp.