Falcon/DMS is the product suite's 'core' component and provides both the user and the administrative interfaces.
The Falcon/WebSuite is a set of applications that make information controlled by Falcon/DMS available over intranets, extranets, and the Internet, using standard Web browsers and related technologies.
The Falcon/WebSuite is comprised of three Microsoft IIS-based applications:
• Falcon/SVP (Search-View-Print) is the foundation product
• Falcon/Enterprise is the ‘in-process’ extension
• Falcon/Publisher [see next panel]
Falcon/SVP provides tools for configuring and managing the Web portion of a Falcon implementation. SVP requires only a Web browser and an account defined in Falcon/DMS (though ‘blind’ logins—triggered by clicking a link or button coded with credentials that are transparent to the user—can also be used). SVP allows users to view and print documents listed in a search result. All the SVP forms (search, search results, document properties, etc.) are designed and maintained with the WebForms Configurator application.
Falcon/Enterprise extends SVP to allow for document checkout and check in, as well as the ability to add new documents to the Falcon database.
Falcon/PDF Publisher is an extension for SVP and Enterprise that dynamically publishes most file types in the Adobe PDF format, allowing users to view, on-demand, virtually any document available through SVP and Enterprise with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
The View function in SVP and Enterprise relies on browser plug-ins to display documents ‘pushed’ from a Web server to the client’s workstation. When the plug-in for a specific file format is not present, the browser offers to save the requested document to the client’s hard drive, a result which defeats the purpose as a user naturally expects to view the document in what should be a seamless process—Falcon/Publisher insures that the process is seamless.
Why Adobe PDF? Among the free plug-ins, Adobe’s Acrobat Viewer (PDF) is by far the most adaptable for document viewing purposes as virtually all document applications can be viewed in the PDF format. Additionally, because many 'dynamic' documents are subject to ongoing, and often frequent modification, a static version of any document is merely a snapshot of a moment in time and unsuitable for in-process documents. It's vital that when a dynamic document is viewed the user sees the most current version of that document. This is an 'on-demand' publishing task in which the PDF technology excels.
Falcon/Deliver! is a document ‘packaging’ application that overlays standard Falcon/DMS and is used to define document sets, capture database information for those documents, and create customized searching and viewing interfaces. The complete ‘package’ is then transferred to a CD or DVD for distribution or archiving.
The Deliver! Package—The unique aspect of Falcon/Deliver! is the package itself. Each Deliver! package includes an integrated searching and viewing interface designed specifically for the target user.
Robust Searching Capabilities—The search component allows the packaged documents to be accessed through a database search function or from folders that replicate the original directory structure. (You can also opt to copy all documents into a single folder, something that is especially useful when distributing MicroStation or AutoCAD files to which reference files are attached.) Searches are performed from a customized search panel and document metadata is viewed from similarly customized property tabs.
Falcon/Indexer streamlines the process of creating database records for electronic documents with easy-to-use indexing and management tools. Designed to facilitate ‘heads up’ indexing, the Falcon/Indexer interface integrates an image viewing area with data entry tabs, thereby enabling a user to examine images as closely as required while entering metadata from the same application window.
Viewing Engine Optimized for Plugin Technology—Falcon/Indexer is designed to use a web browser plugin as its viewing engine, allowing the application to employ the latest raster viewing technology without imposing limits on your choices. This means an organization can leverage its existing investment in viewing technology, while its users continue to work with familiar tools.
Comprehensive Tool Set—Because Falcon/Indexer recognizes both local and mapped drives, image files can be located anywhere on the network—files can even be accessed directly from the file repository if they were originally scanned or moved to their final locations before they are added to the database. Files located on local or mapped drives are moved to their target locations on the data repository as they are indexed. Falcon/Indexer also provides the ability to rename ‘auto-named’ scanned images as they are added to the database, customizable database tabs and entry fields, and a direct link to the Administrator’s Master ‘Project’ Table, where you can create new project directories on a data repository.
Falcon/Geo facilitates the integration of Falcon/DMS with geographical information systems. Falcon/Geo enables users to query a GIS database to generate lists of GIS entities maintained and their associated documents.
Using the GIS application's selection methods, users can choose single or multiple entities and submit a request through the integrated Falcon/Geo form for documents relating to the selected entities. Falcon/Geo then performs a query of the Falcon database and generates document list; users are able to view the relevant Falcon-controlled documents as well as additional information stored in the Falcon database (keywords, etc).
Falcon/Geo has been integrated with ESRI's ArcGIS.