DocuPortal.NET Version 2004 a new dimension of web-enabled collaboration for mid-sized organisations
A co-ordinated repository for documents and information together with location and time independent collaboration significantly reduces cost for small and medium-sized organisations. Real-time retrieval and storage of enterprise-wide information offers significant competitive advantages. For the first time, with DocuPortal.NET, an affordable off-the-shelf solution is available.
Existing files are automatically indexed. If meta-data such as title, description and keywords are availble, then these will be automatically included. Following the indexing process documents can be managed (checked-in/out, published) through the integrated web and browser based portal. Information and documents are securely managed using versioning and draft versioning. Existing document descriptions can be augmented through the additional use of keywords and categories.
The integrated WebDAV Server supports personalised access to your files and folders from within any application. Even multiple operations are supported, such as inserting a comlete order tree.
New is the visualisation of business processes, which allows a deeper integration between software and business processes. DocuPortal.NET uses so-called circulation folders to assist with the implementation of business processes. A number of work-item types are used to put together workflows. Actions, decisions, email notification or branching are supported. Furthermore, additional content can be added to circulation folders during the implementation of a workflow. For example, documents, dates, folders, user accounts and other content can be added to circulation folders. For example, you may automate the process for the authorisation of holiday requests by simply adding this information to the holiday plan defined in the resource management system.
Work items can be pre-defined for actions, decisions or email – alternatively, recipient or action information can be added during the process. Equally, the release of information can be controlled for each step during the workflow.
The creation of workflows for circulation folders is simple and transparent. No client code, ActiveX or Java applications are necessary at the client end. Circulation maps that are currently in progress are highlighted. At any time can the participants in a workflow review the status of a circulation folder. Additional read-access can be granted to further users if required. The status of a circulation folder can be identified based on the colour-codes used. At each step in the process of a workflow the date, time, user name and duration of the process are logged.
Business Object Pattern Technology II (BOP) extends any type of content with an unlimited number of Meta-Information. For example, using text, date, selection lists, URL lists, content for documents, files, categories, resources, calendar entries, user accounts and usergroups can be added. Regular Expressions Verification is used to valided data entered.Authorisation technology controls read/modification rights of Meta-Information.
The integrated resource management system allows planning and booking of rooms, equipment, vehicles, or people. General planning such as holidays and exhibitions are easily supported. Using BOP technology you define the types of bookings and resources. For example, you may add additional information such as number of seats, phone number, equipment for a meeting room. During booking, a circulation map for catering services might be initiated.
A reworked search facility is both fast and comprehensive across all content in the repository. Versioning is now supported across all content – from documents and files through to user accounts. This allows a high level of control over the work and recreation of modified content if necessary.
Relationships between content (see also) are now supported. Whilst this has traditionally been possible between documents, the new functionality now supports, for example, relationships/links can be established between participants and folders of an exhibition and the exhibition documents/dates).
DocuPortal.NET is available for a number of Editions. Starting with the free of charge Personal Edition the functionality increases with the Professional, Business and Enterprise Edition.Whilst support was already provided for anonymous guest users free of charge, the Enterprise Edition now allows for an unlimited number of repositories.
