Review

From Document Manager Magazine Vol 18 No 02 - April 2010

Microsoft SharePoint is very good at a number of things, but many readers would agree that it is sometimes lacking in 'document functionality'.

Microsoft SharePoint is very good at a number of things, but many readers would agree that it is sometimes lacking in 'document functionality'. Vizit SP is a new tool to the UK market, distributed by Datafinity, which cleverly complements and enhances SharePoint's functionality.

Vizit SP is, in essence, an image viewer for SharePoint users, allowing them to preview, view, annotate and edit images easily without having to open their native applications or having to check them in and out. It also adds some powerful search functionality, all at a relatively low price point designed to attract partners who are looking for ways to add value to their own SharePoint offerings.

Installing Vizit SP - itself a simple ten- minute task on the server - adds extra columns to the document views in MOSS, allowing the user to either preview or view any chosen document to which they have access rights. It supports over 200 file formats, including CAD files as well as more common image files. The difference between the 'instant preview' in Vizit SP and having to check out a document simply to confirm it's the one you need could be enough in itself to justify this product for some.

Better yet, the previewer is available as freeware, as a 'tempt you to invest in the full product' offering. Different images can be viewed side by side, for example to compare an order and related invoice, or even an X-ray and a medical report. Intuitive tools allow users to zoom, annotate, email or export images at a click.

The Edit functionality adds useful tools for modification of images without the need

for external image enhancement software: images can be despeckled, de-skewed, converted to mono/greyscale, have borders or punch holes removed, etc.

The Annotation function goes further, allowing users to add notes, marks and objects to any document image: text boxes, custom and pre-defined stamps ('approved', 'rejected'), highlighters, boxes for redaction etc., sticky notes, freehand drawings and more. Annotations are saved to a separate annotation layer, visible to anyone viewing the document, without modifying the original document - offering in effect a basic collaboration tool for users unable to justify the investment in a full DM system.

Vizit SP also offers a far more user- oriented search facility than MOSS. Where SharePoint is limited to performing a full text search on an entire document, with Vizit SP it is possible to create far more

intelligent search criteria, allowing searching by specific columns based on the document indexes. This makes it far easier, for instance, to create a search to find all invoices related to a specific named vendor.

Pricing is straightforward: viewer only for a one off server cost, unlimited users; or full product, seat licence cost only, no server cost. The idea is to allow companies to have viewing for all users at a low cost and collaboration for a subset of users who need to mark up or comment on documents.

For the many users for whom SharePoint acts as their main document repository, this product offers a straightforward and cost-effective solution to many of their document requirements. As Atalasoft says, Vizit SP can 'turn your SharePoint server into a configurable and affordable document management solution'.

More info: www.datafinity.co.uk

Verdict: Datafinity continues to bring interesting and sometimes unique offerings to the UK marketplace: Vizit SP is a simple product idea that makes SharePoint more productive and more useable, and for that it deserves serious consideration.

Review