Taught by David S. Platt, M.E. President, Rolling Thunder Computing Inc Instructor in Computer Science, Harvard University Extension School Author of Introducing Microsoft .NET from Microsoft Press, and Why Software Sucks from A-W Online Registration

Implementing web services that produce and consume ACORD XML has always been tricky. This training class teaches you how the latest releases from Microsoft can make the job easier. Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) contains enhanced functionality that previous communication layers did not. And Microsoft's new Insurance Value Chain Software Factory for ACORD Standards (IVCSF-AS) , a set of classes, documentation, and tools that simplifies the use of WCF.

Your instructor is the world famous David S. Platt, author of many books on web services and other aspects of programming. He has worked with and taught classes on ACORD standards since the first OLE for Life Insurance standard in 1995. He teaches software development at Harvard University Extension School and at companies all over the world. He successfully developed the first Microsoft platform SOAP With Attachments message formatter to be certified by ACORD. Microsoft  named him a Software Legend in 2002.

This training class is intended for developers, architects, and managers who will be working on exchanging ACORD XML data through WCF web services.

Customize! There are many ways of implementing ACORD, and this class might not match your needs. Maybe you're using .asmx instead of WCF, maybe you need help with other items. Call me. I'll be happy to structure one that fits your development plans, taught at your company, on your schedule.

Schedule/Topic Grid:                  

Location and Accommodations: The class is located at the Microsoft Technology Center - New York City, at 1290 Avenue of the Americas (only tourists call it that, to locals, it's Sixth Avenue), located between 51st and 52nd street, on the sixth floor (same as the avenue). The link above offers hotel suggestions, but there are literally dozens more within a few blocks, which any travel web site can find for you.

Prerequisites: Basic familiarity with the .NET Framework and Visual Studio are required. Class is taught in C#, but Visual Basic users are welcome. 

You Need a Laptop For This One: We've found through experience that students are happiest when they have their own development environments set up the way that they like them and are used to.  Think of all the times you've had to fiddle with the configuration or permission sets of an unfamiliar PC, the amount of time wasted, and the head-banging pain. We are therefore requiring each student to provide his or her own laptop PC, containing Visual Studio 2008, any edition. You will also need Windows Communication Foundation, which is built into Vista, but which is a separate add-on to XP. Power connections and wireless Internet are provided. Additional software and samples will be provided via USB key. 

Time: Class runs 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM on the first day to accomodate attendees who are traveling in that morning. Class runs 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM on all other days except the last, when it ends at 3:00 so students can make their flight connections.

Cost: US$ 1995 per person if registered before 1700 ET on August 1, 2008, US$2495/person thereafter.  Payment required via credit card or PayPal during online  registration. 

GUARANTEED! We stand firmly behind our training class and the knowledge we're confident you'll gain from attending. You must be completely satisfied with the quality and results of attending this training, or we will fully refund your tuition. 

Cancellation Policy: Full refund if cancellation received by 1700 ET on August 1, 2008.  No refund if cancellation received thereafter, but you may freely substitute a different attendee at any time for any reason.

Dates don't work for you, or too many attendees for your travel budget? You can have this class taught in-house at your company. Click here to read about in-house classes, then call for details. It's usually cost-effective if you have 6 or more students. 

Registration: Fill out our online registration form. (Note: this may take up to a minute to load).   The only accepted method of payment is online credit card.