The ImageSite Local Workspace

ImageSite V6 includes a major new feature called the Local Workspace that makes ImageSite a great solution for active CAD file management, or active project collaboration; both within an organization or between an organization and its suppliers, subcontractors, customers or partners.

The Local Workspace significantly streamlines the check-in, check-out, downloading, and launching of CAD files, Office documents, email, or any type of application data stored in ImageSite. The Local Workspace acts like a "mapped drive" to the ImageSite server, allowing ImageSite to automatically download and launch, or upload in check-in documents to and from a user's local computer with ease.

With the new workspace feature enabled (on a project basis), ImageSite will automatically create a directory structure on the user's local PC (or on a networked shared drive) that matches the folder structure of the ImageSite project. As documents are checked out and/or downloaded to an individual user, they are automatically deposited on the user's local PC in their corresponding folders and automatically launched into their native application.

ImageSite will "scan" the local workspace to find any new files/documents that a user has deposited on the local workspace and upload these files to the ImageSite repository into their corresponding folders automatically. This allows users to simply drag & drop any type of document or file using ordinary Windows commands and have those files automatically added to the ImageSite repository.

A "scan" of the local workspace will identify any documents that were checked-out to a user whose content has changed. If the user has modified a checked-out document, then ImageSite will offer to upload and check-in the new version of any checked-out document automatically. Users can select one of three check-in modes:

The "check-in" setting will upload new versions of documents from the client's download area, increment their version within ImageSite (according to the active version scheme), and "release" the checked-out status.

A "check-in and remove" mode will perform the same functions as described above and then delete that file from the client's local workspace area.

A "refresh server" mode will upload the revised the document on the ImageSite server and leave the document's status as checked-out. Use this mode to periodically refresh a checked out document on the ImageSite server while continuing to make modifications to the document on a local PC.

New ImageSite Full Text Search Module

A new ImageSite Full Text Search (FTS) module is available for purchase with ImageSite V6 that allows documents to be searched for based on their content in documents as AutoCAD Word, PDF, Excel, Powerpoint, and ASCII files.

Text data is automatically submitted to a FTS Engine for indexing upon document check-in to ImageSite. Existing ImageSite users who purchase this new module can perform a one time indexing function to index existing documents that are already stored within ImageSite.

The ImageSite Full Text Search (FTS) option simply displays a user interface in the Find UI to search for words within a document. Wild card values, Boolean operators (and/or/not), and proximity values (words near other words) can be used to perform full text searches.

Full text searches will find documents based on words or phrases within text files such as Word, PDF, Excel, Powerpoint, and ASCII files. In addition, when implemented with ImageSite EX, the FTS module will find words or phrases within AutoCAD files themselves. This allows users to search for files based on content that is on the CAD file such as notes, or values within the drawing title block.

eQuorum has licensed the dtSearch engine to perform this function within ImageSite. Additional information about the dtSearch engine can be found on their company website at www.dtsearch.com.

Smarter ImageSite Folders

Enhanced significantly in Version 6, ImageSite folders are a powerful new mechanism for organizing and searching for collections of documents. Folders now have attributes in the same way that Documents have attributes. Use this new feature to organize documents into collections and relate those collections to work activities such as work orders processing, or drawing set approvals and the like.

Users can now search on documents or folders from the enhanced Find (search) user interface. After searching, users can select a particular folder of interest, review its attributes to ensure that it is the correct folder, and drill down into the folder to review its contents.

Automatically update Folder attributes using ImageSite's workflow module (just like Document attributes) as workflows progress from one step to another. Use this new feature to create automated approval workflows where the approval status of drawing folders is set to approved, not approved, or pending approval depending on the workflow process that users select.

ImageSite now creates folder entries in a new system level log file as folders are created. Each folder entry identifies the folder name, URL and folder attributes. Integrate other systems with ImageSite by feeding these system links and attributes to a PDM, ERP, GIS or other system. Users will be driven directly to documents or folders stored in ImageSite from these systems.

Folder Content Display

ImageSite's new Folder User Interface (UI) greatly streamlines folder viewing and navigation. The Folder UI has three tabs for the display of Folder Info (attribute and quick links), Folder Actions (commands), and Folder Contents (Documents or Sub-folders contained within the folder).

Thumbnails and attributes of documents (and other folders) are immediately displayed when a users selects Folder Contents. This display looks just like the search result display, providing greater consistency and easy of use between searching and exploring user interfaces. Command icons are displayed next to each folder or thumbnail display, providing convenient access to common tasks such as viewing, check-out, downloading of documents or folders.

By remembering the last folder display method used, ImageSite allows users to continue to browse folder contents as they move from folder to folder. In addition, the complete path for each folder is displayed at the top of the user interface, allowing users to conveniently drill up and down a folder path to immediately jump to other folders.

ImageSite Supports AutoCAD 2005

ImageSite EX now supports AutoCAD 2005 and earlier versions for online viewing, markup, collaboration and batch set plotting.

Multi-Layout AutoCAD Files

ImageSite V6 supports multiple Layouts of a single AutoCAD file within the ImageSite viewer for viewing, markup and collaboration. Multiple layouts of an AutoCAD file display much like pages of a multi-page file, with a page flipper and thumbnail displays of each page beneath the primary viewing display. Markups and notes can be added to each layout view independently of one another.

Dynamic Reference File Support

ImageSite EX now provides dynamic reference file linking making ImageSite a great document management solution for active AutoCAD and MicroStation design environments. As AutoCAD or MicroStation documents are checked into the ImageSite repository, each file is stored independently with its own version control mechanism, but with database links to indicate reference file connectivity.

When a CAD file is selected for download or check-out, all required reference files are automatically downloaded with the master file. Similarly, when a file is modified and checked back into the ImageSite repository, all files referencing that file will be updated to reflect changes made.

ImageSite references can also be used to create compound documents by linking any type of file or document within the ImageSite repository. For example, Word files, CAD files, and Excel spreadsheets can be linked together, so that if one of the linked files is selected for download or check-out, then all of the linked files will be downloaded as well.

ImageSite Domain Authentication Enhancements

For ImageSite implementations using Active Domain, the ImageSite Domain now retrieves information in addition to the user name and password. The following fields are extracted from Active Domain and assigned to the indicated ImageSite user fields:

• Full Name
• Email Address
• Fax Number
• Telephone

ImageSite in a PDM environment

Miniature Precision Components

PDM systems are used to manage the interrelationships of complex 3D mechanical design and modeling software programs. While the PDM vision is to enable 3D collaboration throughout the enterprise, the reality for most manufacturing companies is that engineering drawings are printed and distributed the old fashioned way, by mail.

ImageSite is used in PDM environments for the storage, management and distribution of "released documents" that are generated by the CAD modeling software after the design is complete. In other words, ImageSite stores, manages and distributes the plot files that are created by the 3D modeling product. These files can be imported from the PDM software into ImageSite automatically through the ImageSite acquisition subsystem.

ImageSite enables these documents to be widely used in "downstream" operations after the design is done--such as fabrication, manufacturing, service, support, etc. It replaces a traditional paper printing and shipping process with the viewing, distribution and markup of "electronic paper" instead, resulting in significant cost and timesavings for post design activities within manufacturing organizations.