Adobe system now has a public beta versions of ColdFusion 9, which is the latest version of the company's Web development platform that leverages server-side services, and the accompanying ColdFusion Builder IDE, for rapid development of ColdFusion applications. Version 9 in features enhancements productivity and integration in productivity, integration, and rich Interface development.

"Frorn a productivity perspective, we're adding a new way to build database applications without, having to write SQL code," instead ,using Hibernate technology for building object-based applications, said Adam Lehman, Adobe product. manager for Cold¬Fusion. Applications become database-indpendent, Lehman said.

With version 9, Adobe is making it easier to build applications that can be deployed in Adobe AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime) for running applications offline and putting data back in ColdFusion when coming back online. Flex and Flash integration is highlighted as well.

Also featured is integration with Microsoft's SharePoint collaboration platform and the ability to work natively with Microsoft Office documents built in applications like Excel or PowerPoint. Data can be read from Excel files, for example.