HiSoftware Launches metaPackager™ – Internet/Intranet Knowledge Management Software at PC Expo 2000

Software Enables Cataloging and Archiving of Previously Un-Index able Information Using Rich XML/HTML Metadata File Packaging

NEW YORK – PC Expo – June 27, 2000 – Hiawatha Island Software Company, Inc. (HiSoftware) of Concord, NH, today launched metaPackager™, a knowledge management software solution that enables cataloging and archiving of unstructured, previously un-indexable information, such as email, PDFs, maps, drawings, scanned paper documents, and Wave files. metaPackager is the first software solution to automatically enable the use of rich XML, HTML or XHTML metadata with any data or file type for enhanced, fielded search and retrieval of information on the Internet or an Intranet. HiSoftware will exhibit its knowledge management, web promotion and eBusiness intelligence solutions at PC Expo in the Microsoft partner pavilion, booth #2436, Jacob Javitts Expo Center, New York, NY June 27-29, 2000.

“The majority of a typical organization’s digital knowledge assets reside in unstructured data forms, scattered across numerous servers,” said Rob Yonaitis, founder and CEO of HiSoftware. “Just 5% of this information is currently capable of being indexed, and therefore found, online. metaPackager applies a flexible, meaningful structure to all types of data, and enables these organizations to locate and leverage 100% of their corporate knowledge and past experience for future success.”

metaPackager is the first software that automatically packages individual digital objects, as well as collections of documents, with XML, HTML or XHTML metadata.  metaPackager applies a consistent, document-independent tagging schema to all file types that leaves the original file unaltered. In addition, for Microsoft Office documents and other document types that contain some capacity for ‘document properties’, metaPackager enables the use of richer, more detailed metadata. Once packaged, the digital object becomes searchable and retrievable by virtually every index server and search engine available, using a standard web browser.

According to Phil Coombs, State Archivist for the Washington State Archives and Records Management Division,  “metaPackager brings to document cataloging and archiving the same type of ‘quantum leap’ benefit that bar coding did for physical goods inventory. We can virtually ‘bar code’ every bit of information that comes to us, including rich indexing detail at both the individual object and collections of documents level. And, like a bar code tag, digital objects that are packaged with metaPackager retain their context forever, even when emailed outside our system. We have inventory control at the object level.”

Other Highlights of metaPackager

Wizard-Based User Interface Requires No Familiarity with XML or HTML

metaPackager’s wizard-based user interface allows users to add custom metadata schemas and supports controlled metadata vocabularies for use with multiple document authors, across large networks. Documents can be packaged individually or in batches (up to 1000 documents per second). Spell checking and a custom thesaurus are also included.

Use of Metadata Tokens to Compensate for Semantic Differences in Indexing Systems

metaPackager is the only software program available today that allows companies to use metadata “tokens”, which help compensate for the fact that different indexing systems use different semantics. Tokens simply allow the user to map the metadata elements to a vocabulary that provides enhanced meaning. For example, one group might use the word “auto” while another uses the word “car”. With tokens, these can both be mapped to the token number 4. The token map is provided at the end of the file so that the actual vocabulary used for indexing that file is included for future reference. Tokens can be used to accommodate for language differences across multinational organizations or simply to accommodate semantic differences as organizations merge departments or absorb acquisitions.

Batch Updating of Metadata Elements

Metadata elements can be modified easily in batch form if the organization changes its classification schema, or needs to update its metadata elements (such as trademarks).

Document Security

metaPackager ‘packages’ files, leaving the original unchanged. It also implements Industry Standard Digital Signatures to assure that the package itself and its contents have not been altered. The file cannot be extracted from the package if it has been modified. The extraction software will note a difference in the byte count and notify the user. These security measures assure that the security needs of everyone will be met, and also make it possible to recreate business decisions as they occurred.

Pricing and Availability

metaPackager will be available on June 27, 2000. metaPackager client/stand alone version retails at U.S. $295. metaPackager Server pricing for enterprise use starts at U.S. $2,995. A 15-day trial version is available for download at http://www.hisoftware.com/metapackager.htm. A Console and Software Developer’s Kit (SDK) are also available. Contact HiSoftware at (888) 272-2484 or (603) 229-3055 or info@hisoftware.com for more information.

System Requirements

metaPackager Server requires Microsoft Windows NT Server and Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 or later. Minimum hardware requirements are a personal computer with a Pentium II 400 MHZ or better processor; SVGA (true color) graphic display capability, a minimum 256MB RAM and 100 MB hard disk application free space. A metaPackager client requires Windows 95/NT 4.0 or higher, a personal computer 16 MB of RAM and 8 MB of
free disk space, and a CD-ROM drive.