Product Description

Electronic Discovery Software

ImageMAKER Discovery Assistant is a powerful automation program designed to manage the conversion of electronic files to TIFF and/or PDF. The program combines a database front end capable of managing millions of documents with an automated scaleable document conversion engine back-end. Documents are automatically converted using the native application (Word, Excel, Acrobat, etc.) to TIFF or PDF.

The process of preparing documents for Electronic Discovery requires that large collections of documents, in a variety of different formats, be converted to a common image format for inclusion within large legal databases. Source document types include: e-mail message files and their attachments; Microsoft Office documents such as Word, Excel, HTML, PowerPoint; and other standard document types including Acrobat PDF, Corel Word Perfect, Corel Draw, and AutoCad.

Once documents have been converted to TIFF, they are then Bates Stamped, indexed, imported into large legal databases for additional processing, then delivered into discovery. Common legal database programs include Summation, and Concordance.

Because most documents are created and stored electronically, it is more cost effective to convert documents in-place, using document conversion software, than it is to print the documents to paper, then scan the images back in. Image quality is better, speed is better, there are fewer errors, and the overall cost can be significantly less.

Automated Conversion of Electronic Documents to TIFF and PDF
Source Documents:
DOC, PDF, PST, HTML, MSG, WPG, DGF, PPT, TXT, XLS, JPEG, TIFF etc 		Output Documents:
Tiff or PDF Image
MetaData
Extracted Searchable Text

Ready for Importation into Summation, Concordance or other industry standard Document Storage Systems.

Elecronic Discovery Process:
Electronic Discovery is the process of gathering, reviewing, and managing documents originating from computers. Electronic Discovery is important in the management of large evidentiary collections.

The process of Electronic Discovery can be defined as follows:

  1. The collection of documents from Electronic Document Repositories (electronically stored documents like word processing documents, e-mails and electronic spread sheets), i.e. the collection of data from computers, including network servers, desktop PCs, laptops, backup tapes, handheld devices, and any other storage media.
  2. Importation of the documents into a managed database, ready for conversion. Documents can be sorted by file type, size, date, whether or not they can be converted, and point of origin. Email files and Zip files are expanded in-place to allow full enumeration of available documents.
  3. The conversion of electronic documents to a single industry standard file format (TIFF or PDF). Output files include the image file, a meta-data file, and extracted TXT contents (for searchable indexing).
  4. Creation of a unique identity (Bates Stamp) for each converted document. The txt files can then be fully indexed for search purposes.
  5. Managing the exportation of the list of converted documents for inclusion back into legal databases.

The ImageMAKER Discovery Assistant application supports the following features:

Batch mode conversion to TIFF or PDF The ImageMAKER Electronic Discovery Conversion Server automatically converts documents in batch mode to TIFF Group 4 or Group 3 Black and White compressed file formats. Document types that can be converted include: Microsoft email messages and attachments, Zip files, RTF files (Rich Text Formatted), Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio and, HTML, Text, Adobe PDF, Word Perfect, Corel Draw, Cad Cam, as well as a host of other common file types.

Advanced Process Monitoring Discovery Assistant includes 'auto-close' and 'auto-kill' intelligence. This ensures that the conversion process runs un-attended for hundreds of thousands of conversions. If an application gets stuck for any reason while converting the document, a daemon application that monitors the process can be trained to look for and close dialogs and/or terminate the problem process. Conversion status is logged, and users can at any time review the status of converted documents.

Upgrade path to support multiple servers For large batch jobs that are too big for a single machine, we provide an upgrade path that allows multiple servers to attach to the same conversion database to help process jobs and improve throughput.

Electronic Mail (PST, MSG and ZIP files) support Electronic mail. E-mail attachments and Zip files are pre-processed when imported into the conversion database. The contents of the document are listed as separate documents, each of which can be converted separate from the other jobs.

  • PST files - Microsoft Message Archival / Personal Folder File
  • MSG Files - Microsoft Outlook message file
  • Zip files – compressed document folders (pkzip).

Multiple output file formats Standard output file formats include TIFF Class F Group 4, TIFF Group 3, and PDF scanned image formats. Output resolutions include 204x198 dpi (faxable format), 200x200 dpi, and 300x300 dpi (scanner resolution). Output resolutions can be customized as needed. Additional document types include 24 bit color formats (TIFF , JPEG, and PDF), DCX, BMP, and PNG.

Extracted Text contents A formatted ASCII text stream is created for each converted file, separate from the image file. This text file can be indexed and searched separate from the image file.

Unique Identifier Assigned to each Document page (Bates Stamping) Automated sequential stamping of scanned or electronically converted TIFF images. Discovery Assistant places a sequential number onto every TIFF page generated. Users can control placement of Bates stamp to any of the 4 corners of the page. Support for different fonts and font sizes. Customizable interface. Batch or single user mode.

Document Storage ImageMAKER products can be integrated with over 60 different electronic document management and content management systems, such as: DocuLex, Summation, Concordance, iCONECT, Hummingbird and other prominent legal content management systems.

Custom Development ImageMAKER Custom development services are designed to insure rapid and seamless integration of our components and meet our customers’ specific requirements. Our custom development services offering complements our customers development team with integration advice and development expertise gained from over hundreds of integration projects in application areas including Litigation Automation, Document Management, Document Delivery & Storage Systems, E-Mail, CTI (Computer Telephony Integration), MFD (Multi-Functional Device), Fax, Unified Messaging, Embedded and Mobile applications.

Additional Features:
  • Compatible with the leading email formats.
  • Complete metadata and full-text extraction from virtually any file formats.
  • Hundreds of file formats recognized.
  • User selectable print control options for spreadsheets.
  • Hard drive scan features to identify business documents.
  • Quick check.
  • Document tracking to monitor the conversion of millions of documents.
Benefits
With Discovery Assistant, electronic discovery and litigation software, clients gain unmatched benefits. With the capacity to manage millions of pages, Discovery Assistant offers organizations the ability to easily access, review and manage electronic documents.
  • Review documents faster.
  • High client satisfaction.
  • Lower litigation risks.
  • Improve productivity.
  • Build attorney-client relationship through increased collaboration.
  • Reduce cost and save time associated with electronic discovery.
  • Preserve a digital chain of evidence.
  • Control your electronic documents.

Electronic Discovery and Email:
Every day, more than 10 billion new email messages zip through the Internet and across corporate networks. Attached to many of these email messages are electronic documents. These attachments are created with a variety of software programs in different file formats. The result is a staggering volume and variety of incompatible electronic documents, all of which are potentially discoverable.

Electronic Discovery and You:
Attorneys use Electronic Discovery services in litigation and antitrust work and in other situations when electronic documents must be reviewed and produced for use by another party. Typically the cost of providing the Electronic Discovery service is an up-front fee, and a per-copy fee.

Electronic Discovery Services use a variety of tools to manage the conversion of documents from a wide variety of sources to TIFF or PDF. Service organizations will either buy an off the shelf product (such as the ImageMAKER Discovery Assistant), or build their own tools from library components (print drivers, conversion server utilities, database development environments).

Attorneys are increasingly looking to manage the process of electronic discovery in-house - either as a way to control costs, or as a way of generating extra income. The ImageMAKER Discovery Assistant product is one way to bring the required conversion expertise in-house.

PDF Documentation:

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