I

identity column

A column in a table that uses the identity property for a system-generated monotonically increasing number.

IDL

See Interface Definition Language.

IFRAME

An element of HTML used to create inline floating frames (IFrames).

IIS

See Microsoft Internet Information Server.

IMAP

See Internet Message Access Protocol.

IME

See input method editor.

Index Server

A Microsoft® BackOffice® Server product that provides full-text search capabilities on intranet and Internet sites. Index Server is included with Windows NT® 4.0 Option Pack.

individual

In the Performance Tracking application, the application user who is a member of a group and performs the group's activities. An individual can receive a score on the performance of an activity.

inf

See information file.

information file

A CAB Wizard input file with an .inf extension that specifies information about the application.

information store

The default message store provider for Microsoft Exchange Server. The information store consists of three implementations of MAPI message stores: the public information store, the private information store, and the personal folder store (PST). The information store organization of public folders, private folders, and messages is referred to as the organization hierarchy. Another implementation of a MAPI message store is configured when a user works offline. It is called the offline folder store (OST) and mirrors the structure of the mailbox while offline.

input method editor (IME)

A program that allows computer users to enter complex characters and symbols, such as Japanese kanji characters, using a standard keyboard.

instance

An object of a particular component class. Each instance has its own private data elements or member variables. A component instance is synonymous with object.

(XML) An XML document whose structure conforms to some schema. An instance can conform to more than one schema.

interface

A group of semantically related functions that provide access to a Component Object Model (COM) object. Each interface defines a contract that allows objects to interact according to the COM specifications.

Interface Definition Language

A language used by the Component Object Model to ensure that different programming languages define interfaces in a uniform way. IDL was developed by the Open Software Foundation (OSF) for Remote Procedure Calls (RPC) in its Distributed Computing Environment (DCE).

internationalization

See globalization.

Internet

A worldwide hierarchy of computer networks using a variety of protocols. At its highest level the Internet is connected by backbone networks such as ARPANET, NSFnet, and MILNET. The backbones connect transit networks, which in turn connect stub networks. Logically, Internet participants are represented by a domain such as .com, .org, or .edu, by a logical network within the domain, and by a server within the logical network. An example of a logical address is "www.microsoft.com".

Internet Explorer

An interface that provides access to content on the Internet or on an intranet. Recent versions of Internet Explorer support Web capabilities such as cascading style sheets, dynamic HTML, and script hosting, which enables scripts to be executed on client computers from within HTML pages. Compare Windows Scripting Host.

Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)

A method for accessing mail and news items from mail servers. IMAP is supported by Collaboration Data Objects 2.0.

Internet Server Application Programming Interface

A set of functions for Internet servers, such as a Microsoft Windows NT Server running Microsoft Internet Information Server.

Internet Service Manager

A Microsoft Management Console snap-in that provides a graphical interface for managing and configuring Internet Information Server. The Internet Service Manager enables you to administer virtual Web sites, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) sites, the SMTP service, and proxies.

intranet

A private network that uses Internet products and technologies (for example, Web servers), not available to external Internet users.

intrinsic object

An object that is built in to a programming environment or scripting language. Intrinsic objects in the Active Server Pages environment include the Application, Session, Request, Response, and Server objects.

IP address

A 32-bit value, represented as four numbers separated by periods, that indicates the location of a computer on a TCP/IP network. Each number in the address can range from 0 to 255. All networks require that each IP address is unique; on a private network, or intranet, computers can have any IP address as long as it is not used by another computer on that network. However, to avoid duplication when connecting from an intranet to the Internet, computers must use registered IP addresses.

ISAPI

See Internet Server Application Programming Interface.

IUnknown

A base interface that describes the group of functions all objects must support. Every COM object must implement the following three methods through IUnknown: QueryInterface, AddRef, and Release. For more information, see any of the references on COM in the Bibliography.

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