Searching and Viewing Documents
If you have not yet decided on a plan for how to organize your electronic documents for later retrieval, you should take some time to consider the possible options.
There are several ways to search and view documents processed with SimpleIndex®
- Use SimpleSearch to use keyword searches to find and view indexed documents
- Use SimpleView to browse folders, search files, view, edit and annotate scanned documents without a database
- Use a Document Management System for integrated searching, viewing, workflow, security, compliance auditing and other records management functions
- Use Cloud Storage platforms like Google Drive, Box and OneDrive
- Use SharePoint to share documents online with custom metadata, create custom document workflows and employ records management standards
- Link files to a custom application using the Command Line Interface or RPA bot
- Integrate with your Database to associate documents with records via link or binary field
- Work with our Professional Services Team or an Authorized Dealer to create a customized solution or direct integration with virtually any application
Choosing a Document Management Solution
Given the variety of free or very low cost file storage solutions available, why would you invest thousands of dollars in a document management system?
- When high security or access tracking logs are required
- Compliance with regulations like HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, FINRA, FOIA, SEC, etc.
- There are document-based workflows that can benefit from automation
- Users need to view files without installing software licenses (like DWG, VSD or PSD)
If you already have a database or business app that you use to search for records, and that application has the ability to store or link external documents to those records, this is usually the best choice.
If your business application doesn't have document management capabilities, there are integrations that can overlay a button or hotkey that lets users open associated files from any screen.
If your business has many different types of documents spread across multiple departments that use different applications, and they sometimes need to be able to access each others' documents, then a central repository is the better solution.
Cloud Storage platforms like Google Drive, Box and OneDrive provide low-cost, secure online storage that makes it very easy to share documents worldwide on any device. However they don't have the ability to do field-level indexing to allow for more granular searches, lack the compliance tracking features of a more robust DMS, and don't have integrated viewers that can display some of the less common file formats without having the application installed.
Find Out More
Read more about Affordable Document Management solutions with SimpleIndex.
Check out our How to Scan Documents for a detailed guide to creating scanning and retrieval systems.
Our Professional Services department can help you with every step of our project, and often have you up and running in just a couple of hours.
Please Contact Us to schedule a demo or ask us any questions you have!
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