EDM/VAULTS

ELECTRONIC DATA VAULTING AND DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT

The LCSIS multiple vaulting features manage, catalog, and safeguard electronic files. The vaults provide storage, security/access control, backup/recovery functions, report generation and archive capabilities. Distributed vaulting links multiple vaults into an electronic information network so that users can store, manage, and retrieve product data. The data vault conforms to the following objectives of Codd's Distribution Independence Rules: location independence, continuous operation, hardware independence, DBMS independence, and operating system independence (within the UNIX world).

In order to optimize network traffic flow and server storage capabilities, LCSIS permits multiple servers to participate in the data vault process. This concept is distinct from the User, Product, and General' vaults feature listed below. For the purpose of this discussion, let's say that three vaults exist on three servers.

The program that controls the data vaulting functions operates like the night deposit box at the bank; it stores your deposit (files) until the bank (server/vault) reopens. Files selected for submittal to the data vault are saved to a temporary directory that resides on the LCSIS server and acts as a staging area for files that will be moved to vaults on one of the three different servers. The program checks to see if the targeted server is up and running. When a server is detected to be off-line, the program controls the vaulted data and checks the server continually until it responds. When the targeted server responds, the files are moved to that vault. All this checking, waiting, and depositing takes place in the background and is transparent to the LCSIS user.

When an authorized user opts to view a file from the Data Vault or from the workflow folder, the LCSIS viewer opens automatically. The user may view, overlay, and/or mark up documents in a wide variety of formats, ranging from text to drawings. When viewing graphics, there are several ways to view and pan, and the images can be rotated. When viewing text documents, the user may invoke the search function to locate specific strings of text. Options for viewing graphics and documents include Bird's Eye View, which provides a reduced size display of an image so a specific area may be selected and enlarged; Eye Glass, which allows the user to define and position a movable 'magnifying glass' over the image; and Alternate View, which may be used to open (up to 6) other views of the active window document.

The vault responds to configuration management requirements for version control by checking files in and out. When an authorized user checks out a file, the vault assigns the file a revision number. Until that file (rev. -A) is checked back in by that authorized user, the vault will not accept any other version of the file. The vault always gives the latest version of data to users, unless another version is specifically selected.

LCSIS Vault features:

• Search by Document
• Check-in/Check-out Files
• Single or Multiple File to Object
• File Copy
• Document View
• User, Product, and General Vaults
• Document Redline
• Hard Copy Location Log
• Intelligent Search
• Used-on
• Superseded Documents
• Product/Item Cross Reference