Re: Document control products

[Mark Forseth <markf -at- MERGE -dot- COM>]

>Checked Documentum: way more than we need. $$$$

>Checked PCDocs - seems reasonable. Have heard of FileNet andvisited site
>but gone no further. My net manager is pushing MS VSS.

Most doc-management-software manufacturers charge on the basis of the
number of licenses (users, authors, etc.) at a customer site. Many sell
modular software that allows you to customize per your site's needs. Many
run on multiple Web-server and/or database systems, while others
(Systemcorp) require specific server and Db.

Good systems control permissions (restricted for sensitive management docs,
open for public tech pubs); automatically assign P/Ns and control revs;
control review processes; auto-generate universally viewable (e.g., PDF)
file formats for published docs; etc.

Personally, I'm leaning toward Intranet Solutions, Inc.'s Intra.doc. For
platform-independence,  software longevity, and other obvious reasons,
we're looking at Web-based doc-management systems only for this 80+ person
company. Our research reveals the following (Manufacturer, Product; notes
if any -- ??? means not exhaustively researched):

- Documentum (DocPage Builder, RightSite, DocPage Server, DocInput);
Powerful, Web-based, but convoluted and just plain too expensive (>$100K).

- Intranet Solutions, Inc., Intra.doc; Web-based, variable pricing, long
track record. Oracle Db at the heart. Can publish multiple files as one
doc. Viewable Frame, PageMaker, Word, others. Approx. $30K for our
facility.

- OpenText, LiveLink; pricey, platform-specific. Refer to Tier Two Systems,
below.

- Interleaf; proprietary, platform-specific (UNIX and Windows only).

- Lotus, Lotus Notes;  ??? likely inadequate

- Xerox (Xsoft?),  DocuShare; ???, Web-based

- FrameMaker (Adobe), Curo; Frame quit manufacturing this when Adobe bought
Frame. Refer to Tier Two Systems, below.

- UNIPAC Document Management, CyberDOCS, PC DOCS' Internet/Intranet solution

- Systemcorp, Office Control Web; Web-based for only a year or so. Doesn't
want customers to test Web product "until the next rev is released." Site
too slow to navigate sanely via Mac (not a good omen). Requires specific
database software.

- UNIPAC Document Management, CyberDOCS (PC DOCS' Internet/Intranet
solution); ???

- Lighthouse Software, Inc.; ???

- Integrated Document Technologies, Optika, Micro Dynamics, Datacap, Kofax; ???

- ALOS Micrographics Corporation, DocWare and DocWare Modules; ???

- Tier Two Systems, Author Assistant for FrameMaker and Curo (Standard
Suite); Enhances Livelink functionality. Curo ODMA accesses Livelink
document- management libraries from ODMA compliant apps; etc.

- Filenet, FileNET EDM solution: Document Manager and Mezzanine; "A
ready-to-use PC workstation document management application designed for
networked Microsoft Windows users."

- Omnex, Aqua; "... for implementing the APQP process (FMEAs, control
plans, PPAP, etc.). Auto flowcharting. Info linking and reuse. Can share
data among docs. Modifiable style sheets."

- TeamWARE, i-Flow 3.0; Can't find the product or the  Web site.

- Integral Solutions, Inc., OPACT, APACT, etc.; ???

HTH,

Mark Forseth
<markf -at- merge -dot- com>
Technical Publications Manager
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