| |
Web-based Data Search and Access System (I-FINDTM)
|
|
Over 400 sites have downloaded the WAMware I-FIND utility!
I-FIND is an exciting software system which allows users (engineering and
non-engineering) to quickly find and access CAD and related data anywhere in the
enterprise.
|
"The I-FIND product from
WAMware is very flexible and customizable for on-demand creation of PDF,
IGES, DXF, and other derived data files. The greatest benefit is that
a non CAD user can also use I-FIND with little training and no extra
software."... Paul
Farris, Iomega Corporation
"We use I-FIND to
quickly search for a drawing, to see which project it resides in, its
release state, what revision it is, who created it, etc. In
addition, it's easier and more convenient to plot directly in I-FIND than in
the CAD system itself."...
Corey Hinman, Brazeway, Inc.
|
WAMware and its joint venture
partner ECS GmbH are pleased to announce I-FIND 3.0! What is I-FIND?
In many ways, you can think of I-FIND as a "pre-PDM" capability for your company... specifically it can track and enable access to CAD and related engineering data throughout the enterprise.
For some companies this may eliminate (or postpone) the need for an enterprise PDM backbone.
For larger companies that already have PDM in place, I-FIND can serve as an intermediary which enables a level of control and distribution for data before it is introduced into the PDM system, reducing overhead time and costs associated with PDM.
I-FIND is simple, fast, and economical, provides significant functionality out-of-the-box, is extensible, and is available for Unix and Windows platforms.
By itself, I-FIND does not create or store databases. Rather, it 'mines' the data from several databases (e.g. CAD,
MRP, etc.) and maintains indices of the metadata (data attributes such as part number, revision, creation date, etc.) which can be quickly searched.
Since the location of the source data (e.g. CAD files) is known, it can be passed to automated programs which can perform tasks with the data.
This is illustrated in the figure below in which I-FIND acts as a portal to the arena of data available in the corporate intranets and extranets.
I-FIND ties multiple systems together and acts as a portal
Overview for Users
All you need to run I-FIND is a web browser (4.0 or higher) and access to the I-FIND URL. Your system or CAD administrator should be able to give you the location of this URL. It will look something like http://localhost/ifind-bin/ifind-plus.exe. Enter this into Netscape or MS Internet Explorer and
presto, you're running I-FIND. Also, to see for yourself just
how easy it is to use I-FIND, please take a minute and run our live demonstration of I-FIND
right here on the WAMware web site.
What can I do with I-FIND?
I-FIND Foundation -- FREE!...
in the spirit of the previous free I-FIND “command line” version
installed at over 400 customer sites, we now provide the upgraded,
web-based I-FIND Foundation which includes:
-- browser-based metadata search for one data store
-- basic folder capability
From this I-FIND Foundation, customers can add site licenses of
the various I-FIND packages and extensions (and of course,
purchase and download these on-line).
|
I-FIND Starter Package --
pre-configured out-of-the-box functionality for:
 | searching and accessing data across a variety
of CAD systems (e.g. Unigraphics, I-DEAS, Solid Edge, Solid
Works, Pro/E, AutoCAD, Catia and more) |
| viewing drawings
in PDF format (including on-the-fly generation) |
| automated plotting -- yes, actually
"one-button" plotting invoked from your web browser |
| automatic plotting of site-specific
"watermarks" that underlay released drawings |
|
|
I-FIND Site Data Sharing --
synchronization of team data amongst multiple engineering sites
and suppliers |
I-FIND
Extensions --
exciting "plug-ins" to I-FIND, including:
| attaching files (e.g. MS Office documents) to
CAD items including assigning roles and access
privileges |
| actions that automate the generation of view
files or derived data (vrml, jt, IGES, STEP, etc) |
| originate an "engineering change
order" (ECO) |
| notification of "stop order" |
| admin "watchdog" tools such as
duplicate item checking, item change summary, and convention
checks |
| manager's view of the Bill-of-Materials
and project status (BOM Broker) |
| reconcile Bills-of-Material from CAD and MRP
systems (BOM Broker) |
| -- use your imagination... this stuff is
excitingly powerful !! -- |
|
View also our Simulated Demos of key I-FIND
Extensions:
Where can I get more info?
Notes:
|
Installation Instructions for I-FIND on Windows servers (also
included in download zip file) |
| Prerequisites:
 | I-FIND requires a running web server
(e.g. Apache, Microsoft IIS) |
| for I-FIND Starter Package is
I-FIND Foundation |
| for I-FIND Site Data Sharing is
I-FIND Foundation |
| for I-FIND Extensions is I-FIND
Starter Package |
|
Integration Services
As you can see, I-FIND is an exciting and very
extensible utility. Perhaps we can help in "integrating the
enterprise" at your site.
Wow... I'm
interested in getting WAMware (or a local authorized reseller) to help me use and extend I-FIND to
integrate our enterprise!
VARs:
We're
interested in using I-FIND as a "platform"
for our consulting/integration services... please contact us.
Contact us if you have any questions about I-FIND or need fee-based help
in customizing this exciting capability.
Year 2000 Compliance
|
WAMware is a registered trademark of WAMware Ltd.; I-FIND
and BOM Broker trademarks of WAMware Engineering Solutions LLC; and ECS a
trademark of ECS GmbH. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are
the property of their respective holders. |
|
|
Submit ECO
