| Xerces Java Parser 1.2.1 Release |

The Xerces Java Parser 1.2.1 supports XML 1.0 recommendation and contains advanced parser functionality, such as XML Schema, DOM Level 2 version 1.0, and SAX Version 2, in addition to supporting the industry-standard DOM Level 1 and SAX version 1 APIs.

Note that because some of the standards are still not complete, the stable API will definitely be different from its current form in Xerces-J 1.2.1. This is your chance to give us feedback on the features that are important to you, and let us know whether the APIs that we are providing are the right ones. Please direct your feedback to the Xerces-J mailing list.

| License Information |

| The Xerces-J 1.2.1 release is available in both source code and precompiled binary (JAR files) form. Both Xerces-J packages are made available under the Apache Software License.

| Applications of the Xerces-J Parser |

The rich generating and validating capabilities allow the Xerces-J Parser to be used for:

- Building XML-savvy Web servers.
- The next generation of vertical applications which will use XML as their data format.
- On-the-fly validation for creating XML editors.
- Ensuring the integrity of e-business data expressed in XML.
- Building truly internationalized XML applications.

| XML Schema (alpha) Support |

| This release includes preliminary support for the W3C XML Schema Language. The Schema page contains a complete description of the schema capabilities of this release. We intend to track the W3C XML Schema Language in subsequent updates of Xerces-J.

| DOM Level 2 (beta) Support |

| This release includes support for the DOM Level 2. As of this writing, the DOM Level 2 specification is now a Candidate Recommendation.

| SAX 2 Support |

| This release includes support for the SAX Version 2 API's which have been finalized.

| Configuration Mechanism |

| Xerces-J 1.2.1 uses a collection of methods to configure various settings in the parser. This release includes a new mechanism for setting parser switches. This mechanism uses the SAX2 configuration methods that are part of the XMLReader interface. We have defined a series of properties and features for the Xerces-J options.