Ease of Use

Columbus is designed to look and feel like Windows Explorer. This ensures rapid deployment and minimal disruption.

It does not replace existing management methods or enforce a regime. This aids acceptance as team members can use it where it is useful and use other methods when preferred without damaging the project data.*

Its simplicity has often lead companies to deploy it with little or no end-user training.

Project Setup Wizard*

Project structures are typically similar from project to project.

The Project Setup Wizard allows you to get going quickly by creating your new project structure from standard templates.

You can then adjust the structure to suit your specific project requirements. You can even create your own templates for future projects.

Document Templates*

Many companies have template documents for letters, fax's, drawings etc. These may include your company or project addresses and logos. You can organise and name your templates as required.

Right-click in any folder to invoke the "Create New Document" option. Columbus creates a new document by placing a copy of the selected template into the current folder. Columbus will then offer the default editor for that filetype.

This process ensures that new documents are created in the right place and to the correct standards. There is even an automatic file numbering option, should you wish to use it.

Issuing Documents*

Columbus can issue any selection of documents to an FTP/Extranet site.

The issuing process allows you to keep your own dated copies of issued files on your own server and to notify participants via email.

The notification includes a transmittal report, which can be customised to suit.

Option to use passive FTP firewalls

Improved pack and show - now compiles all the necessary files ready for burning to CD/DVD.

No Specialist Staff Required

Columbus does not sit on top of another system or database, indeed there is no database, and that's the beauty of it.

You don't need some "techie" to maintain the system and you don't need to buy and maintain any additional software.

Meta-data which would typically be kept in a database is instead stored in text files one sub-folder down from where your documents reside. This makes it very fast and allows you to keep project data anywhere you choose.

CAD Enabled

Columbus has specific support for AutoCAD:

• Titleblock information is automatically extracted from drawing borders by mapping Columbus fields to AutoCAD attributes. Each project can have an unlimited number of mappings.
• AutoCAD previews are shown at lightning speed
• Xref paths are automatically set as you move from project to project.
• Updated Columbus.arx supports AutoCAD 2000 - 2006 and the viewer shows layout tabs.

There is also similar support for MicroStation with V8 now supported as well as layer visibility control.

Redlining, Zooming & Printing

You can open as many viewer windows as you need and can size them to suit.

Any view can be printed without requiring the software that originally created the file, and many file-types can be redlined i.e. you can add your own comments which are overlaid on the document.

(Redlining is not available in the Personal Edition).

Viewing

Columbus includes viewing technology from Rasterex, it also incorporates and extends Autodesk's Volo View Express to ensure that you have the best viewing tools to hand.

These are encapsulated into a single viewing window, which will automatically choose the best viewer for the selected file - you just pick the view button

Many commercial file formats are supported including Microsoft Office 97, 2000 and XP, AutoCAD versions through 2006, Microstation versions through V8 and Zip archives.

Bird's Eye viewer creates an overview of the file, and allows you to pan around and select areas to zoom.

Improved toolbars.

Document Meta-Data

Columbus can store document properties such as the description, status, revision etc. These are displayed in Columbus and can be modified by simply right-clicking and selecting "Properties".

For some document types e.g. Word, AutoCAD and MicroStation, free plug-ins are available which can automatically extract this data for you. This can include history information detailing when files were viewed, edited and printed, by whom and from which machine.

Security*

To avoid complications and conflicts, Columbus does not attempt to provide its own folder or file security system. Instead it utilises the operating system's own security features.

If a user cannot access a file through Windows Explorer, they will not be able to access it through Columbus either, thus side-stepping any potential security issues. This provides the flexibility that you need without introducing more unnecessary security layers.

Some applications, such as Microsoft Word, have the ability to password-protect files to prevent them from being viewed. If this is the case, a preview will not be available through Columbus.

Automatically Detects Document Types

When you edit a document, Columbus chooses which editor to use based on your Windows Registry. This ensures that a familiar and appropriate editor is used but also allows your colleagues to use whatever suits them best.

For instance, when editing a graphic images you may use Photoshop but your colleague may only have Paint Shop Pro.

Installation

The new easy to use Enterprise deployment tool will remotely install or update Columbus on any networked PC.

Context Sensitive Choices

When you right-click a file in Columbus, the pop-up menu will give you choices which relate to that file type.

For example, if you select an AutoCAD drawing, you will see options for inserting Xrefs and Blocks, whereas the pop-up menu for a Word document will provide different options.

Speed*

Columbus works directly on top of your file system. There is no database in between that has to process your query and those of all your colleagues. It is therefore as fast as your file servers.

With some file formats, for instance AutoCAD, Columbus extracts preview images of the documents at lightning speed while you browse. A full view of the file is then just a click away.

Document Properties

Improved metadata support for MS Office documents, now includes custom field meta data.

Printing/Plotting

Includes options to add watermarks header and footers. Pen tables can be created and reused allowing different line thicknesses and colours.

Scanning Support

Scan directly to PDF or TIFF without purchasing additional software.

Create multi-page documents using a single page scanner (i.e. a document feeder is not required).

Insert, replace or remove pages after scanning.

(This feature is not available in the Personal Edition).

Measure

Measures the length of a line, the angle between two lines, or the area enclosed by multiple lines, inside the viewed file.

Compare Drawings*

Drawing files can be compared to identify unrecorded changes in 3rd party drawings or to allow you to accurately identify updates in your files. Comparisons can be saved or printed for future reference.

(Drawing comparison is not available in the personal edition).

Customising Columbus*

Columbus can roam anywhere on a local area network, wide are network or the Internet. Project information can be grouped under one heading, but stored on many different servers in many different locations - from your local hard drive to a server half-way across the world.

Using project templates you can ensure that future projects clone the structures of previous projects.

Using document templates you can ensure that documents adhere to project or company standards, and by customising the Columbus folder structures you design your own view of projects regardless of their underlying structure.

File Conversion

Save to raster option enables you to save files in a supported raster or picture format.

Save to vector option enables you to save vector files in a supported vector or drawing format.