Xerox DocuShare

DocuShare is a content management system developed by Xerox Corporation. DocuShare makes use of open standards and allows for managing content, integrating it with other business systems, and developing customized and packaged software applications.

History
Xerox DocuShare was originally developed by Xerox’s research centers as an application for internal use (named AmberWeb). The product was the first web-based document management tool offered to the market in 1997.

Since its initial launch, DocuShare has added capabilities in workflow/business process management, production imaging, records and retention management, social collaboration, and enterprise scalability. With version 5.0 in 2006, Xerox launched DocuShare CPX and a flexible licensing model that allows customers to mix read-only, guest (public), basic content services and more CM seats as they need. As of version 6.6, there are four separate DocuShare products.

Functionality
The DocuShare Content Management Platform includes four products:
 * DocuShare Express supports content management tailored to SMBs, for managing digital documents and converting paper content to digital.
 * DocuShare provides document management, collaboration, image capture, and Web publishing capabilities to support information sharing in an enterprise or department. Add-ons include records management, lifecycle management, team workspaces, enterprise workflow, capture, and eForms.
 * DocuShare Enterprise meets enterprise content management (ECM) requirements for large deployments.
 * DocuShare Education is a special configuration for schools and higher education institutions.

DocuShare Developer Environment – A J2EE SDK for integrating DocuShare with other business systems, and building applications centered on content.

DocuShare Virtual Filing System – Combines software, hardware, and consulting services to convert paper-based filing into a digital content management system.

DocuShare is also available as a hosted offering.

Architecture and features
A 2005 article in InfoWorld reported that DocuShare 4 was simple to use but still delivered solid document and file management.

DocuShare is a multi-tier platform, based on Java SE rather than Java EE, with an architecture and developer environment that allows interoperability. The platform uses a Tomcat server and various OEM engines including Autonomy Corporation's (for indexing, eForms and BPM) and records management from IBM. It uses a Java SE architecture with added workflow and search engines. It also supports wiki, blog, and comments for social networking. For imaging, it includes a content intake manager (an XMl Parser), ability to e-mail directly to a DocuShare collection, scan cover sheets (with DataGlyph technology formerly in Xerox FlowPort and PaperWorks), and optional Nuance optical character recognition (OCR). A Verity search engine was used to search for documents and metadata, later replaced by the Autonomy search engine.

Terminology
In DocuShare, a "collection" is a folder for the storage of information. Multiple collections can be nested to form a tree.

Workflow/BPM
Content Rules are pre-defined workflows that have been implemented into the product UI. The content rules can perform specific functions on a collection or document. They allow a user to pre-define a workflow by stepping through a process that will take place when a specific event happens: for example, if a document moves into a collection, the workflow can move it to another area, perform OCR, and perform steps based on the document's contents.

To create more complex workflows, the DocuShare Developer Environment provides a Workflow software development kit (SDK) and design tool.

Imaging
As of 2007, Xerox DocuShare had a front end imaging component in Scan Cover Sheets, which use proprietary DataGlyph technology. An Extensible Interface (EIP) connector is also provided for Xerox MFP scanning. (EIP provides direct access to a repository from the touch panel of a Xerox MFP.) DocuShare can also be used with third party imaging tools including ABBYY, Pharos, Kofax, Cardiff Teleform, SRC Conveyor, WaterWare ScanManager, Polgroup StrategicValueWare, NSI AutoStore, Xerox Smart Document Travel, SRC File Clerk, ScanFlowStore, eCopy, Visioneer OneTouch, EzeScan, Nuance PaperPort, and DSI Software Systems. These systems and others connect DocuShare with multi-function printers (MFPs) and scanners.

Security
DocuShare supports security as required by government and companies. The UK government produced a detailed description of all aspects of DocuShare, including security and asset protection.