Why Baobab?

One of the largest challenges faced by modern document management systems is the ease of use around accessing documents in the document repository. Many business users choose rather to utilise local or shared drives, greatly increasing an organisation's business continuity and compliance risks.

The Baobab Integration Server provides a standards-based WebDAV integration interface into the KnowledgeTree document repository. The Baobab Integration Server is complemented by a number of plug-in products that extend the utility of the server and are specialised for specific tasks.

What can I do with the Baobab Integration Server and Plug-ins?

• Open files within the KnowledgeTree file repository using the KnowledgeTree Baobab Explorer, Windows Explorer or Mac OS X Finder and still retain control of document versions and metadata. Copy files or even entire folder trees in and out of the repository using your operating system's “drag and drop” functionality. With the KnowledgeTree Baobab Explorer you may control all aspects of a document, including workflow, directly from your desktop.
• Browse, check-out and check-in KnowledgeTree managed documents from within Microsoft Office 2000+ applications using an easy to use Office Toolbar plug-in. The plug-in will also populate the Office document’s custom properties with KnowledgeTree metadata information and visa versa.
• Automatically capture faxed or scanned documents in to the KnowledgeTree repository and populate the document metadata according to information gleaned from the scanning job or preset information. Common commercial TWAIN-compliant scanning equipment will be supported. (This functionality is planned for the second release of Baobab and free to existing Baobab customers).
• Browse, check-out and check-in KnowledgeTree managed documents from within OpenOffice.org and StarOffice using an easy to use Toolbar plug-in. The plug-in will also populate the OpenOffice document’s custom properties with KnowledgeTree metadata information and visa versa. (This functionality is planned for the second release of Baobab and free to existing Baobab customers).

When will Baobab be released?

The Baobab Integration Server and Microsoft Office plug-in will be released in April 2006. The Scanning and OpenOffice.org plug-ins are scheduled for the second release of Baobab and will be free to existing Baobab customers.

What will Baobab cost?

The Baobab Integration Server is a proprietary companion product to the open source KnowledgeTree Document Management Server. The Integration Server, Plug-ins and Premium Support will come bundled together as part of a single software lease subscription.

Additional plug-ins will continually be developed and released, increasing the value you derive from your subscription.

Pricing, based on a software subscription model, will be released in March 2006.

What do I need to get Baobab Integration Server running?

The Server component will run on the following operating systems:

• Suse 9.0 32-bit x86
• Red Hat Enterprise Server 4.0 32-bit x86
• Microsoft Windows 2003 Server SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
• Sun Solaris 10

The Baobab Explorer and Microsoft Office client components require:

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
• Microsoft Office 2000 or higher

Secondary limited WebDAV-only support is provided for the following environments. Please note that extended KnowledgeTree functionality such as workflow and metadata management will not be available.

• Mac OS X 10.4.4
• Any OS capable of running: Nautilus, Konquerer, Novell Netdrive

What is WebDAV?

WebDAV or “Web-based Distributed Authoring and Version” is a set of extensions to the HTTP protocol that allow users to collaboratively edit and manage files on remote web servers. Many modern operating systems support WebDAV though file explorer extensions.

The Microsoft Windows Explorer and the Macintosh OS X Finder both support the mapping of remote or local network-based WebDAV resources, allowing users to open a WebDAV resource such as a KnowledgeTree repository via the Baobab Integration Server as if it were a local folder. Files or even entire folder trees can then be copied in and out of the repository by a mere “drag and drop”.

Please note that specifications, pricing and product model are subject to change.