Letters, business documents, logs, drawings, notes and other printed documents are imported using most any type of scanner. DocuWare integrates numerous convenience features, from controls for simple workstation devices to high-performance scanners. Similarly, network scanners and multifunction devices (digital copiers) can be integrated directly in the DocuWare system without the need for additional software. Once scanned, documents are held in the DocuWare baskets for further processing or ready for storing in the file cabinets. One option extracts data from documents using OCR or barcode recognition during the scanning process and then uses this data to automatically categorize, index and store the document in a file cabinet. In addition, DocuWare supports all the main import and evaluation programs via universal interfaces.
DocuWare offers several methods of importing files. Drag them into DocuWare baskets with a mouse or use the Import menu. DocuWare is able to monitor any folder in the file system and can import files recently saved there, either into baskets or directly into file cabinets. All the file information can be used to categorize and index the files. This information can be entered automatically or manually and stored with the files. DocuWare has a special add-in for Microsoft Office applications which transfers documents directly from Word, Excel or PowerPoint into DocuWare baskets or file cabinets. Similar functions are offered by thirdparty providers for other application programs. The DocuWare TOOLKIT also makes it easy to integrate your own storage functions. All files are imported unchanged, in their original format. DocuWare allows you to specify which program is used to display and which to edit each file type. By default, DocuWare displays documents in its own viewer and uses the operating system settings for editing. As an alternative, documents can be filed by printing them with the TIFFMAKER function. Printing from the original application using TIFFMAKER generates a true and unalterable TIFF or PNG image from the print data stream and stores it in the DocuWare file cabinet. With documents of the same type, such as quotations or logs, the categorization and index data is read directly from the document and used to store the documents completely automatically.
DocuWare can be integrated in any
business solution by means of universal
functions and interfaces. In-house
documents such as outgoing invoices,
journals, reports, and other lists are
archived by DocuWare fully automatically.
It imports them either using the
Windows operating system’s print data
stream and TIFFMAKER, or by importing
printer spool files from mainframe
environments, using the optional
COLD/READ module. Print data is
stored in individual documents, while
the index data is extracted and stored
in the file cabinet.
Optionally, DocuWare can also overlay
forms and letterheads. Legacy data, or
data that must be retained for access in
the future for legal reasons, is imported
by DocuWare automatically. If the data
is needed at a later date by the original
system or an analysis tool, DocuWare
exports it in its original format and
with the original file name. DocuWare
also offers special modules for seamlessly
integrating the SAP R/3 product
family and accessing R/3 documents—
even without the SAP system. It also
provides certified interfaces to Navision
and many other ERP systems.
The ever rising tide of e-mail can also be easily stored. DocuWare does this either in a separate e-mail repository or stored together with other thematically related documents on the basis of common criteria. DocuWare can import e-mail from Microsoft Outlook and Exchange, and also optionally from Lotus Notes/Domino. Sender, recipient, date, subject and other mail information is used for automatic indexing. Names of persons and companies are supplemented with information from address books and other databases. Archiving can be done either fully automatically or with confirmation and/or correction by the user.