What makes Alchemy your best choice?

• Worldwide leader: for utilizing CDs in image archival and report distribution applications. Endorsed by the leaders in CD and DVD storage hardware and software.
• Widespread usage: installed in over 3,000 corporate and government installations in more than 40 countries.
• Flexible solutions: can be installed as a standalone solution f or small offices or company departments, or integrated into an enterprise business application.
• Diversity of file formats supported: uniquely combines TIFF, COLD, Office files, PDF, HTML and 250+ file formats into one electronic filing system.

Alchemy consists of two main programs: Build and Search. Optional modules add special features such as scanning and OCR, COLD/COM file import, Web browser access, AutoCAD support, and task automation.

Alchemy Build is used by those responsible for creating document databases for archival, publishing or distribution. Alchemy Build can archive an entire document database (documents, data, full-text index, search program and viewers) to any storage media (CD, DVD, RAID etc). Alchemy remains the industry leader in this. Alchemy databases are compliant with the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) industry standard and can be accessed using SQL tools and applications.

Unlike other client/server database or document management systems, Alchemy requires no special database management skills, no programming, and no client/server expertise to operate.

Alchemy Search is the full-featured Windows client used for read-only access to the document databases created with Alchemy Build. Each database can have one to hundreds of simultaneous users. Access to databases means the end user can query by full-text or data fields, view a hit list, view the contents of a document or data record, and print, fax, or email the document. Accessing databases using a Web browser is simple, through the optional Alchemy Web Server.

Unlike similar sophisticated and powerful search engines and document managers, the Alchemy user interface is simple to learn and use. Customers range from microfilm research clerks to CEOs.

Alchemy Gold Feature Overview

• New! Multi-user database option supports multiple Builders and Searchers.
• New! Industry standard APIs for customization and integration.
• New! Add Annotations to Documents
• 32-bit software compatible with Windows 95, 98 and NT.
• Includes a document database manager developed by IMR specifically to index and store object files and data together. Files are stored in their native format. Each database can easily scale to handle millions of files and records with no hit on query and retrieval performance.
• For higher volume applications, global query across databases can link hundreds of millions of files to users.
• ODBC compliant database for SQL access to Alchemy indexes and documents.
• High-performance, ultra-efficient full text indexer developed by IMR with industry-leading compression and support for most text file formats. Unsurpassed for report file indexing. Typical index overhead of only 3-5%.
• Over 250 file filters and viewers, including TIFF, Office, PDF, and HTML.
• Security privileges assignable at the database, folder or document level.
• Database template design: fields, profile and folder templates, indexing methods, lookup tables, stop words.
• Storage manager writes to CD-R, CD-RW, ISO image, RAID, any hard disk or other logical storage devices.
• Intelligent on-the-fly data compression.
• CD-SPAN recording and retrieval capability.
• Portable runtime Alchemy Search program which includes all licensed viewers. Runs direct from archive disc, from network drive or on each desktop.
• Extremely fast queries and hit list display.
• Many search options: Boolean, adjacency, fuzzy, combined full text and data field, date range, filename, numeric, relevancy ranking, search list refinement.
• Output options: advanced printing functions, send to fax, retrieve to hard disk, send to e-mail, export data to ASCII delimited file.
• Personalized user interface: each user can set viewing and query preferences.
• Command line interface for "lights-out" unattended batch operations.
• Forms overlay designer for report files.
• The Pro license for service bureaus has the same features but is licensed and sold separately.

How Alchemy Works

The  Alchemy process is very simple. First-time users are up and running in little time.

1. Add files to the database using drag and drop from Explorer, the Scan2CD interface or DataGrabber. This step can now be shared by several workstations.
2. Write the files to any destination disk. During this stage, files are automatically indexed by content, attributes and fields, and compressed. Optionally the search program with viewers and the indexes can be copied to the disk at the same time.
3. The files are now ready for search, retrieval and viewing using Alchemy Search or Alchemy Web Server. Access the data from a standalone PC, PC LAN, Intranet or Internet connection. Or directly from a CD.
4. Query the database by full-text and profile fields. Search across multiple databases.
5. View the document in a WYSIWYG viewer, copy, retrieve to hard disk, print, send to fax or send to e-mail.
6. Update the database from any Build station: annotate, add new files, add more data.

The Alchemy Database Architecture

Captaris developed a unique flat-file object database structure that is at the heart of Alchemy, which is now on its 7^th generation and is field-proven in thousands of business applications. Its large installed base makes this database architecture one of the most widely used databases for imaging and COLD applications. And experience in real world applications continually shows that when it comes to indexing and storing large numbers of object files, the Alchemy architecture is more efficient with smaller overhead and is easier to maintain when compared to a relational database.

The database structures are optimized for full-text operations and the integration of document properties and metadata. Originally developed for slow access CD-ROMs, Alchemy's retrieval performance is even more impressive when the databases are stored on RAID or other hard disks.

Unlike any other database used in imaging and COLD applications, Alchemy has highly developed end user interfaces that are completely tuned for one fundamental application: filing and finding documents and data. As a result, Alchemy does not require any special database administrator training. Typical users are deploying their first Alchemy database the same day as installation.

Alchemy's unique architecture allows the read-only database index files, the data containers and the Search program to be located anywhere on a network, or packaged all together on an archival disc. This unusual flexibility enables the end user to configure an Alchemy system to meet his/her specific needs, not the other way around.

While the database has many unique features and is virtually maintenance-free, it is also open to other applications through the ODBC driver interface.

Alchemy Pricing & Ordering Information

Please e-mail us at sales@d-docs.com or call us at 1-866.313.3627 for discounted pricing, information, literature, demo disks or any other questions regarding Alchemy Products.

Digital Documents will beat any price on Captaris Alchemy products!

We also accept Purchase Orders (upon approved credit), C.O.D. Shipments and Money Orders/Cashier Checks.