One Way ILINX® Manages Compound Documents

As part of the ECM industry, it is important to understand what compound documents are and how they affect you.  Compound documents have been an issue in ECM software from the beginning of time. According to wiseGEEK, Compound documents are document files that contain several different types of data as well as text. A compound document may include graphics, spreadsheets, images, or any other non-text data. The additional data may be embedded into the document or be linked data that is resident within the application.

You may be asking what that means for you? We all know that basic ECM is scan/store/retrieve, but what happens when you add electronic documents in pdf or MS Word? Importing electronic documents that have are different data types is what creates compound document. Cardiff LiquidOffice creates electronic forms that can have data filled in, data looked up from a database, allow signatures, and many other features. What it also allows you to do is attach other documents to the form to create “a single document”. When you are ready to release this document to your backend, you need to be sure that it can manage compound documents and if so, how. Oracle IBPM says that they can handle these types of documents but be sure you know how they are handled because getting the documents back out could be a challenge. Where Oracle is great at many things, including their newly rebranded ECM product called Oracle WebCenter Content which includes functions like contract management or team collaborations, their main weakness still lies in archiving compound documents. There are other platforms available that may succeed at managing compound documents but have major weaknesses in other areas. Be sure to do your research when selecting your ECM product and determine what your current needs are as well as what future needs may be required.   

ImageSource has just enhanced ILINX Connect for eForms (a product which connects LiquidOffice to Oracle IPM, ILINX Content Store, or a file system). These enhancements allow you to attach any data type of documents to the LiquidOffice form, creating a compound document and release into ILINX Content Store. By selecting Merge All Tiff Files Into a Single Document, your documents will go into Content Store as a single document instead of 2 or more (depending on the number of attachments). For example, when your Accounting Department looks at your expense forms with attached receipts is will appear as a single document.

Jen Hilt

Resources:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-compound-document.htm

Slowing Down?

For those of you with Enterprise Content Management systems, you know that a lot (if not all) of your data is stored in a database.  A lot of times, performance issues are not a result of your Content Management system itself, rather your database is not tuned properly.

Most of what I have to work with is Microsoft SQL Server.  There are a few tips for making sure that your database is performing at its best.  Every system is different, but there are some basic fundamentals that need to be checked.

1)      Memory.   SQL will eat up all the memory you give it.  Make sure that the host machine has plenty available and tune the SQL memory usage so that it does not use up all available memory on the host and slow the whole system.

2)      Network.  Your database server needs to have good connectivity to your client machines.  This means that the network has to have adequate speed and a low enough latency for all SQL connections and data streams to be maintained.

3)      Indexes.  A database uses a basic structure to store information.  Every search it performs has to find a single row, which can be like finding a needle in a haystack.  Fortunately, in addition to rows, SQL also has indexes to aid in searching.  Most systems will use indexes.  However, indexes have a tendency to become fragmented if they are not maintained, so part of your SQL maintenance should be to tune the indexes.

I hope this gets you going in the right direction!  If you feel that your content management system is not performing adequately, let the ImageSource Support Department know!

 

Mike Peterson, MCTS
Support Engineer
ImageSource, Inc.

Bits and Bytes

Today’s topic is short and sweet – Backups!  Backups are worth their weight in gold to an administrator. Even though backups have never been put on a scale, we know they weigh a lot! In the world of Enterprise Content Management, backups have to be attacked from many different angles usually.  System registry, databases, filesystems and more have to be backed up and then integrated back together on a restore, which can be complicated to say the least.

But there is one ECM system that does not require complicated backup strategies: ILINX Content Store!  That’s right – all you do is configure database backups.  No registries—file system is completely optional and in the event of a recovery, a fast reinstall of the server software and a database reattach is all that is required.  Conveniently all the settings, data, and preferences are saved in the database.   Compare that backup strategy to other industry-leading ECM systems and you will see how simple it is.

Mike Peterson
Support Engineer
ImageSource, Inc.

ILINX Content Store Upgrade in Less Than 5 Minutes!

Pressed for time I just watched one of our system engineers upgrade a production ILINX Content Store in less than 5 minutes. An amazing feat for an Enterprise Content Management System!

From the ILINX Installation Guide:

1. Run the new ILINX installation package.

UPDATE CONFIGURATION FILES

2. Browse to and open: [installation folder]\ImageSource\ILINX\WCF\Web.config
a. Modify it by doing the following.
- From the backed-up Web.config file, copy the following section.

 

 

- Paste into the new Web.config file.

3. Browse to and open: [installation folder]\ImageSource\ILINX\ImportContentWindowsService.exe.config
a. Modify it by doing the following.
- From the backed-up ImportContentWindowsService.exe.config file, copy the following line

 

 

- Paste into the new ImportContentWindowsService.exe.config file.

4. Browse to and open: [installation folder]\ImageSource\ILINX\WebClient\Application Files\ILINX_<version>\ILINX.exe.config.deploy
a. Modify the endpoint values with the correct URL.
- From the backed-up ILINX.exe.config.deploy file, copy the endpoint host value.
- Paste into the new ILINX.exe.config.deploy file.

MAGE UI
5. Run mageui.exe to launch the Mage user interface.
This is located at:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C:\[Program Files directory]\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v[X.X]\Bin

NOTE: If installing on a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 system and the User Account Control (UAC) uses the default settings, be sure to run this tool as an Administrator. To do, right-click on the executable and select “Run as administrator”.

6. Select File | Open and navigate to and Open:
[installation folder]\ImageSource\ILINX\WebClient\Application Files\ILINX_<version>\ILINX.exe.manifest

7. Change the number in the “Version:” field to increment the last number by 1. As an example, if the Version number is 1.5.1.0, modify it to be 1.5.1.1. Note entered number here: __________________.

8. Select Files in the left window pane, and ensure that the box is checked next to “When populating add the .deploy extension to any file that does not have it”.

9. Click the Populate button, and select OK to the “Message: The operation will permanently add .deploy extensions…”

10. Select File | Save.

11. From the displayed dialog box, sign the manifest file.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A generic/unsigned certificate is included out of the box. It is important to use the customer’s own certificate when available. The following steps describe using the out of the box certificate. If an internal certificate exists, follow the same steps, but use the appropriate internal certificate and key during the signing process.

a. Select Sign with certificate file and click on the “…” Browse button.
b. Navigate to and Open: [installation folder]\ImageSource\ILINX\WebClient\signingKey.pfx
c. In the Password field enter ILINX. This is the password if using the out of the box certificate.
d. Select OK. Do not close the Mage program.

12. Select File | Open and navigate to and Open:

[installation folder]\ImageSource\ILINX\WebClient\ILINX.xbap

13. Change the number in the “Version:” field to increment the last number by 1. Be sure to use the same number as entered in Step #5 above.

14. Select Application Reference in the left window.
a. Click the Select Manifest… button.
b. Navigate to and Open: [installation folder]\ImageSource\ILINX\WebClient\Application Files\ ILINX_<version>\ILINX.exe.manifest.

15. Select File | Save.
From the displayed dialog box, sign the file.

A generic/unsigned certificate is included out of the box. It is important to use the customer’s own signing file when available.
The following steps describe using the out of the box certificate.
a. Select Sign with certificate file and click on the “…” Browse button.
b. Navigate to and Open: [installation folder]\ImageSource\ILINX\WebClient\signingKey.pfx
c. In the Password field enter ILINX.
This is the password if using the out of the box certificate.

16. Select OK and Exit the Mage program.

It’s that easy!

Mark Staley
Support Engineer
ImageSource, Inc.
www.imagesourceinc.com
ILINX® CAPTURE | CONNECT | SHARE 

The Nexus Scoop

It’s been a while since I posted anything new to the ECM support blog.  If you want to know why, see Brandon’s post from a while back- Support: A Day in the Life Of.  I feel his pain!  But there have been some exciting things happening here and you should know about them.

First of all, I got the low-down on Nexus ’11 the other day!  It seems that the goal is to make every year bigger and better then the next.  This year there are some very well-known and engaging speakers (such as Dr. James Brown), break-out sessions held by ECM professionals, deep dives with ECM field specific experts and of course the after-hours social events.  If you have not been to Nexus, you need to register for this event.  If you sign up early, you get a pricing discount!  Tell us if you want to attend!  (The best way to get a hold of us is put in a support ticket and in the description put that you are interested in Nexus.)

On the software front, I have been busy working with development teams on ILINX® products!  Content Store specifically has been really taking off and there are new improvements being added all the time!  The whole goal of ILINX is to provide a simple user experience, while providing a powerful administration interface, all though thin-client technology.  The ILINX Products Suite has everything covered – conversion, workflow, storage and integration.  Tell us if you want a demo – we have great people that know their stuff in the world of Content Management that would love to work with you to see if ILINX is right for you!

Last but not least, I want to thank all the reader’s outside of Washington State.  Thank you for finally sending us some warmer weather – it took ‘til August but summer is finally here as well!  As always, any questions or comments, please call or email me and we will give you an answer!

Mike Peterson
Support Engineer
ImageSource, Inc

ILINX Capture: Scanning in a Production Environment

ILINX Capture utilizes a web based platform that combines functionality as well as ease of use while scanning in a production environment.  This platform allows production workers to remotely tap into the system to perform any task in the production workflow.  Capture makes use of many different image enhancement techniques.  In ILINX Capture’s production environment, batches move through the processes in an efficient and organized workflow. 

ILINX Capture’s web based platform makes it possible for a technician to scan and process batches from remote locations.  This feature allows technicians convenient access to the production environment while not at the same locations.  Each process in the workflow (ie Capture, Classify and Indexing) can be performed by an operator whether or not they are on site.  Knowledge workers can answer questions without having to look over the shoulder of the production worker. 

ILINX Capture has many functional image enhancement tools for scanning less than good quality paper.  Images can be replaced, inserted or appended at any stage in the workflow process.  Images can be copied into various places throughout the batch.  Images can also be printed at anytime during the workflow.  If images are scanned out of order and need to be corrected, with ILINX Capture you can move images around after they scanned into the system. 

The most important aspect of Production Scanning is efficient workflow.  ILINX Capture workflow allows batches to move seamlessly from one process to the next.  Batches can also be moved backwards in the workflow if they need to be reworked.  With ILINX Capture you can use any scanner as long as the PC you are using has the twain drivers installed on it.  In the user window, a batch can be easily found at any stage in the workflow without confusion or the necessity of using the Server Manager.

Jeff Martin                               Ali Adam

ImageSource, Inc.                ImageSource, Inc.

Blogging from Office 2007

Lately I’ve been working on adding some Web 2.0 content (like Twitter feeds and blog entries) as content to some of our web pages (ImageSourceInc.com, NexusECM.com, and ILINXCapture.com). In this process I stumbled on how to directly submitting blog entries from Office 2007 Word.

There is really not much to setting up the export, as it’s one of Office 2007′s publish options. So by simply going to the dropdown menu that houses your save, print, open, and new options and select publish. Select blog, choose your blog provider, enter any info that you would need for logging in to our blog, and publish.

If you are having issues with getting your blog account to register correctly and you know that your log in information is correct, check your URL for your blog site.  On WordPress the format for the URL should be http://myblog.wordpress.com/xmlrpc.php.

Random McParks
Support Engineer at ImageSource Inc.

  

Listening to the Machine

I was chatting with Sophia Marchi, the director of sales for the Americas for BÖWE BELL + HOWELL Scanners at our recent Nexus event. She had just delivered a great break-out on scanner selection criteria and we started talking about how the users need to have input on scanner selection – they really know what they like and what works for them. Often, these aren’t the people consulted when purchase decisions are made, and it’s a shame. She related how at FedEx, there were 13 identical scanners deployed, and the staff had names them all – Annabelle, Karina, Chloe, Hannah, and so forth. Workers bonded with their machines, and would line up for their favorite – even to the point of coming in early to get their machine. Or switching to it the second in came available. Well what’s the attraction — they are all the same machines, right? Then I recalled my brother and I had the same Schwinn 2 speed bikes as kids, then in college we bought the exact same motorcycles (I stuck to silver, he to purple). 3K miles down the road, I’d borrow his bike. Felt a bit funny, compared to mine with the same mileage. Fast forward to when we had put over 45K miles – what a difference. Rider habits with braking, acceleration, maintenance, even storage – added up to make these bikes ride with distinct differences. I do remember mine being faster – I guess my throttle was used to more demands. It’s the same story with scanners. Properly maintained scanners – the ones that are doted on and listened to carefully – are bound to last longer with fewer unexpected breakdowns. Sophia learned from the users that with their favorite scanners, the operators can hear roller wear, hear double feeds, even hear the need for a cleaning. Scanning shops that listen to their operators, allowing them to use a particular machine when possible, and reward regular maintenance and cleaning will outperform shops that neglect these steps.

Peter Lang
ImageSource, Inc.