London-based Information Dimensions (UK) Ltd has announced DocXform, which takes either scanned or word-processed documents and converts them to the Standard Generalised Mark-up Language standard, ready for loading into Information Dimensions’ BasisPlus database. The system is designed to make large documents such as technical manuals easier to research, share and modify, as well as reducing the amount of storage space required. It enables users to retain the structure of documents – paragraphs, headings, chapters, footnotes and the like – and to tag these components for mapping into the database. Searches and edits can then be carried out on these components so avoiding the need to wade through huge fields of unstructured text. It runs under SunOS, Ultrix and VMS with AIX/6000 to follow in the second quarter, and accepts files from major word processors including Word For Windows, WordPerfect and MS Word. It is available worldwide for around UKP12,000. Connection to the BasisPlus database is through an ISO879 parser, a device that determines whether a string of input symbols relates to sentences in a given language. BasisPlus, according to Information Dimensions, is unique because of its ability to provide Standard Generalised Mark-Up Language storage, control and distribution. This enables several users to work simultaneously on the same document by locking on to the section relevant to them, rather than accessing the entire thing. As a result, only the changed sections are saved. They can then be put back together into the whole when users wish to view or print a particular version of the document. At present there are 2,500 BasisPlus customers and it is anticipated that the initial take-up for DocXform will be among them. But the potential market could could be much greater however given the acceptance of the Mark-Up Language standard by the US Department of Defense with its J/CALS initiative, the Air Transport Association’s and Telecommunications Industry Forum. The dictates of these three organisations could affect 600,000 businesses alone. Indeed, according to analysts at InterConsult Inc, the market could be worth $190m by 1995.
