Sharing Made Easier with Papirus for Domino

• 03/13/2000

Sharing’s Papirus for Domino is a client/server application that enables employees to share information without using message attachments. The product is designed to combat the problems faced by many companies who use a wide range of applications, from ERP and CAD/CAM to legacy and custom applications. Papirus allows users to transfer information from any Windows application to a corporate network or intranet by using the cut-and-paste or print command.

“Papirus permits you as a user to take any and all types of documents, spreadsheets, tables—to clip any part of that and drop it into Notes Domino,” says Peter Brennan, Sharing Technologies senior VP, Americas.

Brennan says he considered the decision to offer Papius on AS/400 DSD “a natural pairing.” He adds that the stability of the AS/400 platform provides an ideal environment for information sharing through Papirus.

“We think the AS/400 is a coming server—it permits less hopping, and it makes sharing easier if there’s less hopping between servers,” he explains.

Instead of using a flat, static file to transfer information, Papirus creates an information “package” of data to be shared. These composite packages associate information, often originating from many varying applications and directed toward many people. They contain a table of contents for browsing structure and content. The package can be indexed, searched, extracted and reused, and Papirus automatically updates users on changes. It is accessed through a browser or Notes client.

Brennan says the product is designed to reduce e-mail traffic, eliminate the need for working with attached files and allow implementation with little change to current IT infrastructure, because users only need familiarity with Windows and Notes in order to learn the technology. The product’s most valuable asset, however, he says, is its ability to work with data in multiple formats.

“Almost every vendor that produces software has this kind of device, but it is nearly always within a specific sphere,” Brennan says. “That’s not the case here. So when your business model changes—you go through a restructuring, a merger, acquisition or whatever—I’m not saddled with the overhead of having to change all the technology, because Papirus is agnostic. It can share all kinds of information. It doesn’t care whether it’s a spreadsheet, an engineering drawing, a blood plasma sample.”

Currently available for servers running Windows NT, Papirus will be migrated to IBM server platforms this year. The new versions will run on the IBM S/390 and RS/6000, as well as the AS/400. Papirus is licensed on a per-user basis, regardless of the number of servers a company has in place.

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