Tweet      

Albany, NY - The Center for Technology in Government (CTG) at the University at Albany today announced the release of the first version of its online XML Toolkit at www.thexmltoolkit.org. The Toolkit is a product of the Center’s XML Testbed, which served to assist New York State agencies in examining the benefits as well as the challenges of Web site management using the emerging technology of XML. 

“The Toolkit is for any government agency that is considering XML as a tool for Web site management,” said Derek Werthmuller, director of technology at CTG. “The Toolkit contains a library of XML resources and is intended to grow over time and benefit from the contributions of the online com

The Toolkit contains sections for getting started; practical approaches to getting XML up and running in a variety of environments; samples of different code; useful tools for XML development; helpful hints for specific XML tasks; and links to XML guides and reports. Each area has a “modest,” “moderate,” and “elaborate” approach to allow the user to start according to their unique environment. A special section will contain a complete deconstruction of the Toolkit Web site for anyone to see how the XML, XSL and ASP work together to produce the Toolkit Web pages. In addition, a feedback section will allow users to let CTG know what they think of the library and to contribute their own resources, code samples, or tips. 

XML is an emerging technology that offers a viable long-term solution to many of the shortcomings of HTML because it structures and describes Web content in a meaningful way. As a technical strategy for managing Web sites, XML and associated organizational strategies offer management and productivity benefits, content consistency, and accessibility enhancements. 

The Testbed was undertaken in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER), the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), and the Office for Technology (OFT). Beginning in the summer of 2005, five New York State agencies were selected to take part in CTG’s XML Testbed and underwent six months of intensive hands-on training and workshops, which led to an XML-based Web site prototype and a business case analysis for each agency. The five participating agencies are the NYS Department of Civil Service, NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal, NYS Higher Education Services Corporation, NYS Office of Cultural Education, State Education Department and NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.

In addition to producing the Toolkit, CTG is examining the Testbed activities and the agency results to produce a set of recommended practices, an executive briefing, and a Starter Kit to provide guidance for others trying to improve the management, performance, and value of their Web sites. These products will be made available over the next three months in paper format and through the online Toolkit.

More information on the XML Testbed Project can be found at: https://www.ctg.albany.edu/projects/xmltb 

The mission of the Center for Technology in Government at the University at Albany is to foster public sector innovation, enhance capability, generate public value, and support good governance. We carry out this mission through applied research, knowledge sharing, and collaboration at the intersection of policy, management, and technology. 

The University at Albany-SUNY has a broad mission of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, life-enhancing research and scholarship, and a commitment to public service. A University at Albany education brings the world within reach to students through nine schools and colleges, and an honors college. A student body of more than 17,000 students has a global connection to more than 140,000 alumni. For more information about this internationally ranked institution, visit www.albany.edu. For UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts, visit www.albany.edu/news/experts.php.