CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
20 September 2004
Product News
ColumbiaSoft Releases Document Locator Version 3.0
ColumbiaSoft Corporation has begun shipping Document Locator® 3.0, the next major release of its integrated document management software. Document Locator 3.0 now provides built-in creation of Adobe® PDF from any document, streamlining document protection and publishing. AutoCAD® xref files are now automatically imported and linked, managing the file set as one document to eliminate versioning errors. A Brava!® Desktop plug-in is now available for viewing, markup, and redaction of over 240 document types-eliminating the need for other document markup or viewing tools. Version 3.0 extends ease-of-use by integrating repository search directly into Windows Explorer®, and by significantly enhancing Outlook® email document management and Document Locator Web Tools. According to Richard Day, ColumbiaSoft CEO, network installations are now faster so that customers can install and start using Document Locator in a few hours-including the import of existing documents from shared file servers. A 25-user installation of Document Locator is $7,000 plus maintenance.
With the built-in PDF Creator, users can convert one or more documents into a PDF file and share it with others. PDF Creator is fully integrated into Document Locator's version control system, so users can work on a document in its native format and save the next version in PDF format during check-in. "The ability to easily create PDF documents directly from Document Locator will save us an incredible amount of time," stated Brett Johnson, from General Fire & Casualty Company. "We send a high volume of documents as PDFs to customers and business partners, and being able to do so now without going through a five-step process is really valuable." Users can also request approval of a PDF document and have the approved document published locally or on the Web. ColumbiaSoft has partnered with FinePrint Software and integrated their pdfFactory Pro utility.
Expanding on existing AutoCAD compatibility, the new AutoCAD xref management feature automatically imports all xref files related to an AutoCAD drawing and links them inside Document Locator. Linked files can be configured to open automatically when the master document is launched. It now becomes easy to import AutoCAD files from a file server while ensuring that the correct documents get linked. Companies can manage all documents associated with a project, and CAD engineers can easily track and manage changes to their work.
The new Brava!® Desktop plug-in (from Informative Graphics) gives users access to over 240 document formats. Documents can be viewed, marked up, or redacted and saved back into Document Locator. According to Christopher Scanlon of Davis Construction, "Using the Brava! Desktop plug-in makes viewing and marking-up large-format drawings practical for our end users because of its ease of use, low cost, and support for multiple file formats." Architects and engineers can mark up CAD drawings and specifications, while law and medical offices and government agencies can preserve confidentiality by redacting sensitive information. A marked-up document can be saved in native format, or if desired, in CSF file format to fully manage digital rights or in PDF format.
Document Locator 3.0 at-a-glance
Document Locator 3.0 makes it even easier to capture, manage, and share electronic and paper documents, email, and faxes with the following improvements:
• Rapid installation, rapid deployment, rapid ROI
• Install and configure the Document Locator server in 15 minutes
• Install 25 user clients in less than two hours
• Users are productive the same day as installation
• Drag-and-drop documents from anywhere on the network and import up to 4,000 documents per hour
• Retain directory structure during import
• Automatically generate a full-text index of files as they are imported
Built-in PDF Creator:
• Convert any document to PDF format within Document Locator
• Merge any group of documents into one PDF file to share the combined document with others
• Email any document as a PDF file for review, approval, or distribution
• Import documents as PDF files from anywhere on the local network without needing an additional application
• Check in a document and optionally save the next version in PDF format, along with version notes, date, user, and document format
• Make the PDF version available for electronic review, approval, and publication as part of business workflow
• Automatically publish PDF files on the Web for internal or external use
• Maintain a secure audit trail of a document's lifecycle as each new version is published
• Secure unauthorized users from viewing or making changes to documents
Automatic importing and linking of AutoCAD xref files-Built-in
• Automatically detect and import all files related to an AutoCAD drawing into Document Locator
• Open linked files automatically when the master AutoCAD drawing is launched
• Manage all AutoCAD documents associated with a project
Brava! Desktop plug-in-Optional
• Open most documents, 2-D CAD drawings, and published, scanned, or print-captured formats in one viewer - over 240 total formats supported
• View, markup, redact, and print all supported formats
• Publish files in CSF (Content Sealed Format), incorporating persistent security controls with document password protection, onscreen/print banners, expiration dates, disabled printing, and more.
• Free Brava! Reader available from Informative Graphics to view CSF documents
More integration with Microsoft Windows
• The Document Locator search console is integrated into Windows Explorer so users can directly search the repository from Explorer
• Select from over 20 different criteria to achieve a precise search
• Create complex search parameters using Microsoft's "fuzzy logic" search, for example during legal discovery of scanned TIF or PDF
Enhanced Email Manager plug-in-Optional
• In addition to automatic rules for managing and organizing messages, now manually select one or more email messages in Outlook and choose to save into Document Locator by applying a user-defined rule
• Launch Document Locator's new search console from within Outlook to quickly search for an email and/or attachment, including saved searches
Enhanced Web Tools plug-in-Optional
• Now supports remote approval of a document, allowing authorized users to review and approve a document via Web access
• In addition to support for the traditional tree, folder, and file format, now supports a new detailed format, including filename, version number, description, profile properties, version notes, last update, owner and size
Multiple profile property selection
• Assign multiple property values to a Profile Property
• Map up to 15 Profile Properties as column headings
• Quickly view the property values associated with a document
• Sort documents by property values
A private Portland, Oregon-based company, ColumbiaSoft is the creator of Document Locator® - a next-generation Integrated Document Management solution. Document Locator is deeply integrated with Microsoft Windows®, making document management easy and intuitive to use with virtually any Windows-compatible application. Thousands of users in industries like AEC, Healthcare, Legal, Finance, Manufacturing, Technology, and the public sector use Document Locator to capture, manage, and share electronic, paper, fax and email documents. ColumbiaSoft is a Certified Microsoft Gold Partner and an AutoDESK partner.
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