askSam 6 Professional

By Dale Farris, Vice President Golden Triangle PC Club April 2005 Databases A database is a collection of related data, and the data is considered to be raw facts that technically become information only when presented in a usable format to someone who needs it. A digital or electronic database enables data to be easily altered to meet specific needs, and a Database Management System (DBMS) provides a digital method of not only storing related data, but also manipulating that data into information for innumerable uses. Database software has been available for many years, and as with any worthwhile product, our free market invites competition. Paradox, FoxPro, and Access are some mid-sized DBMS products. Two very popular systems created to store and manage very large amounts of data, such as with an airline reservation system or credit card accounts, are SQL Server (Structured Query Language) and Oracle. These two products are powerful and very useful, but they require an in-depth understanding of relational structures and design and sometimes require programming skills in order to accomplish the desired purpose. The askSam database management system is unique in this market, providing one of the easiest database applications to use, and especially easy to learn. The focus in askSam is on ease of use, making it possible for users to organize and store all sorts of different types of information, without having to go through the tedious process involved in most all other relational database management systems in setting up and defining fields in tables. askSam is truly a superb database program that is ideal for all folks with a lot of information they would like to better organize. askSam Database askSam Professional 6 is a different kind of database, a database for information. This neat program offers an easy way to keep track of letters, archived e-mail messages, collections of articles, Web pages from the Internet, as well as typical, Rolodex-style database entries. What sets apart how this askSam Professional 6 database works from other databases is its approach. Technically, askSam Professional 6 is NOT another relational database, and one of the benefits of this is that you do not necessarily have to be a programmer to use askSam. askSam was designed to make it easy to organize information, and the program actually looks and behaves more like a word processor than a database. This makes using askSam to manage information faster and easier than working in a typical relational database. askSam is what is called a free-form type of database. This means information can be integrated into the program in different shapes and sizes. askSam is designed to handle many different types of information, without forcing you to concentrate on structure, such as setting up fields and field lengths for example, as you must do in other relational databases. Unlike traditional databases, askSam requires no structure. The program allows you to search and organize unstructured texts or structured data. askSam serves the needs of users that must organize information that is not easily organized into searchable rows, columns, and fields. This means askSam is a unique software program that supports users that need to manage and retrieve unstructured text. At this point, askSam Professional 6 provides the best program now on the market to support this important information management function. All other relational databases are designed to support typical information that can be broken down into lowest-level elements, as you find in any card catalog listing of material housed in any library. However, when one needs to organize and make searchable free-form information, relational databases cannot support this need. Businesses are not the only organizations that need to store, manipulate, and retrieve data. Individuals, families, clubs, and other organizations also need to handle their information efficiently and effectively. Mid-sized, yet powerful products, such as Microsoft’s Access, are excellent tools to meet this demand, but there is a fairly large learning curve for the novice user;  someone not necessarily new to basic computer skills - just unfamiliar with database products. In addition, Access, as well as other existing relational databases, is not designed to do what askSam Professional 6 does. What's New in askSam 6? Dynamic Folder View: Organize Your Information in Folders askSam 6 offers a completely new way for askSam users to organize and navigate their information. With the Dynamic Folder View, askSam lets you place your information in folders and sub-folders. Unlike most folder implementations, askSam Folders are displayed dynamically. You select a field in your database and askSam builds the Folder View based on the contents of this field. You can easily change the field that defines your Folder View and display your information organized in a different set of folders. This is a powerful way to analyze your information. Organize documents into folders and sub-folders (multiple levels) Browse and navigate through your documents View your information from different perspectives Choose which field defines the folders that askSam displays Right-click to export, delete, email, print, and more Customize how the Folder View is displayed and sorted Completely new interface to navigate your askSam files Organize your information in folders Save Web Pages Directly Into askSam askSam 6 lets you save Web pages directly from your Internet Explorer browser into askSam. You can choose to save the current Web page, or you can save the current page as well as linked pages. askSam allows you to enter a title, keywords, and notes about the pages you save. Web pages can be saved into Entry Forms that you create. You can define specific fields that are relevant to the information you gather. For example, if you were saving resumes, you might want to have fields for applicant name, address, phone number. If you were saving research, you might want fields for author, title, publisher, etc. With askSam 6, it's simple to add Web information into your databases. Provides a permanent, searchable archive of stored Web pages Saves complete Web pages including graphics, frames, and formats Seamlessly integrates with Internet Explorer Add notes, comments, and keywords to the pages you save Organize Web pages into folders and sub-folders Save pages into an Entry Form that you define Save a single page, an entire Web site, or just selected portions of a page Save Web pages directly from Internet Explorer into askSam New Browser View Displays Saved Web Pages in askSam askSam's new Browser View displays Web pages just as you'd see them in your browser - complete with graphics, formats, and frames. See Web pages as they appear in your Web browser Turn browser mode off to edit the content or meta information of a Web page Display saved Web pages in askSam The Tools Folders Make Using askSam Easier than Ever Run reports Add entry forms Use mail-merge or email-merge Go to bookmarks Run stored searches Right click on any report, entry form, etc to see other options Easily run reports from the Tools Folders Automatically Build Pick Lists from the Contents of a Field A new Pick List option lets you automatically build Pick Lists from the contents of a field. For example, if you have a Keyword field, you can have askSam build the pop-up Pick List from the items you enter in the askSam field. askSam can even automatically generate the list when you have multiple entries in a field, for example, askSam can turn a field with contents like this: Keywords[ Exercise; Behavior Analysis; Disease; Child Development; Diet; Diets; Consumer Psychology; Dairy ] All entries from the Keywords fields in your file will be displayed automatically in a single, sorted, pick list Automatically generate a pick list from any field in the current file or another askSam file Define a delimiter that separates terms in the field (for example a comma or semi-colon) askSam automatically lists and sorts the pick list Great for generating lists of keywords, authors, categories, etc. Search Enhancements Floating/Dockable Search Results Window The Search Results Window is now displayed as a floating window. This lets you place it along side your askSam file (if you're working on a large or high resolution monitor). You can also dock the search results Window to save space on the screen. Floating askSam Search Results Window Tabbed Interface in Search Results Window The floating Search Results Window displays tabs to let you quickly switch between databases that you've searched. Associate Search Results View with Stored Searches You can associate a customized search results view with a stored search. First, define your search view by either customizing the default view or creating a new view. Then on your stored search screen, check the "Associate with Search Results View" option. A new window pops up that will let you choose the Search Results view from a list. Pick List in Stored Search Prompts You can set up stored searches use search prompts, and you can select a pick list to display in the prompt. For example, a report that asks you to "Choose the Sales Rep" could also give you a pick list of the Sales Reps. Prompt Exact Phrase Vs. Multiple Words In prompt searches, you now have the option of choosing whether the search term is an exact phrase (for example "leather sofa") or multiple words (for example "leather" and "sofa" which would find the phrase "the sofa was leather") Report Enhancements Pick List in Report Prompts For reports that use search prompts, you can select a pick list to display in the prompt. For example, a report that asks you to "Choose the Sales Rep" could also give you a pick list of the Sales Reps. Word List in Report Prompts For reports that use search prompts, you can select search terms from the Word List to insert into the prompt. The Word List is generated when an askSam database is indexed. This feature is available in Pro version only. Reports and Paper Size askSam Reports now allow you to specify a specific paper size and this paper size will be saved along with the report. The default size for the report is used from your printer's default settings. When the report is printed, it will use this paper size. Import Enhancements Updated Email Import We've updated the email import to work with Outlook 2003 and to find the default mail directory for PocoMail v3. Improved CSV Import Modified CSV import to allow expansion of multiple line fields after data is imported. Improved Importing of Older dBASE files Other Enhancements Added over a dozen new templates including templates for Research, Web Research, PubMed/MEDLINE, FAQs, Real Estate, Wine Lists, a Daily Journal, and much more. New Log Function records emails that are sent via Email-Merge Updated Help File Updated User's Guide and Getting Started (including new tutorials) Check box to automatically close Pack and Import dialogs when the procedures are complete Modified keyboard shortcuts to be more compliant with Windows standards The FILE - PROPERTIES menu contains the "Show Stored Web Pages in Browser" setting. This option lets you determine if stored Web pages are displayed in the askSam editor (as text without graphics) or in the askSam Browser (with complete formatting). The TOOLS - OPTIONS menu contains the "Only Popup picklists when adding documents" setting. This option affects popup picklists. You can have them display only when adding new documents or also when editing documents. The askSam editor now supports 50 tabs per line (increased from 12). askSam remembers the customized toolbar and keyboard settings even if you un-install and re-install. Reports can be exported in .ASK format. New commands added to the Customize - Keyboard and Customize - Tool Bar menus. Tool Bar buttons have been re-grouped and re-arranged. New menu items added to the Help menu linking back to the askSam Web site, support forums, as well as links to the electronic versions of the askSam documentation. Updated default punctuation characters used when searching and indexing. Added a "Default" button to the noise words dialog so that users can easily revert to the default noise words. Sort function now supports sorting negative numbers. Other Features That Continue in v. 6 Email Import Wizard - The Email Import Wizard makes it simple to set up profiles to import your email messages into searchable askSam databases. The Wizard supports the following email clients: Outlook, Outlook Express, Netscape, Eudora, and Pocomail. It lets you choose which mailboxes you want to import and set the askSam databases into which you want them imported. Choose FILE - IMPORT EMAIL to access the Email Import Wizard. Import Adobe Acrobat PDF Files - Added an import filter that imports the text from Adobe PDF files. The Adobe Acrobat filter is listed in the Import dialog in the File Type dropdown menu. Import Attachments with your Email - When importing email (from Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, Netscape, PocoMail, and others), you can choose to have askSam save your email attachments along with the email messages. The "Save Attachments" option in the Import dialog lets you choose whether you want askSam to save just the email messages or the messages along with any attachments. The attachments are "attached" to your askSam documents and become part of the askSam database. You can view them, execute them, save them. Attach Original Files when Importing - When importing Word, WordPerfect, PDF, HTML, RTF, and Text files into askSam, you can attach a copy of the original file to the askSam document when you import. The "Save Attachments" option in the Import dialog lets you choose whether to attach the original file when importing. If you choose to "Save Attachments", a copy of the original file is attached to your askSam document and becomes part of the askSam database. You can view the attachment in it's original application or save it to a file. Link to Original Files when Importing - When you import a file into askSam, you can automatically have a hypertext link back to the original file. For example, you can import a Word file into askSam and have a link in the askSam document back to the original Word document. The link is set by including a ^L or ^l in an Entry Form and then choosing the "Import into Entry" option when importing. Import Full or Partial Email Headers - The "Full Header" option in the Import dialog lets you specify how you want email messages to import. When the "Full Header" option is set to "No", only the following fields from the email header are imported: To:, From:, Date:, Subject:, Message_Id:, along with the name of the mailbox from which the messages are imported. When the "Full Header" option is set to "Yes", all information in the email header is imported. Import Any Type of File (to Link or Attach) - A new import type lets you attach to or link to any type of file from askSam. The "Any File" import type does not import the "text" from a file, it lets you attach to or link to the file. A great way to create a database to track graphics, MPEG files, PowerPoint presentations, etc. Remembered Lists - Remember the results of a query or place random documents into a Remembered List. You can search, browse, edit, print, export, or delete the subset of documents in the Remembered List. You can also run reports on the documents in the Remembered List. askSam lets you define multiple Remembered Lists. For example, in the knowledge base there is a Remembered List for each of the askSam products (askSam, Web Publisher, SurfSaver, and Resume Tracker). When you look in the knowledge base, you can switch to the Remembered List for the appropriate product. Remembered Lists can be combined with Boolean operators in searches. For example, you could search for items in the "askSam" Remembered List that are also in the "SurfSaver" Remembered List. This would give items that relate to the two products working together. Sort Search Results by Relevance - A new option lets you sort your Search Results by Relevance. In the Search Results Properties dialog, there has been added a "Sort by Relevance" option to the Sort dialog. If this option is selected, the document with the most hits will be listed first in your Search Results. Index Specific Fields (only in askSam Professional) - This option allows you to index the contents of specific fields. Indexing specific fields greatly improves search times in very large databases (databases with millions of documents). You can access the "Index Specific Fields" option in the Index dialog. Search File For Link Text - Create hypertext links that search for the linked text. You can search for the linked text in the current file or in another file. Use this feature to jump to another database and look up information or find related documents in the current database. For example, you could set a search link on Client Number in one database and have it search for this number in another database when you click on the link. You can set this link in an Entry Form so that when you fill in a field (name, email, client number, etc.) the field is automatically linked. You set this link using the DOCUMENT - SET HYPERTEXT LINK command. Search Current Document For Link Text - This link searches only in the current document for the linked text. It's most useful inside of long Entry Forms allowing you to jump to different sections of the form. You set this link using the DOCUMENT - SET HYPERTEXT LINK command. Link to specific line number - Link to a specific line number in an askSam document. This feature is most useful inside of long Entry Forms. It lets you jump back to the top of the form. You set this link using the DOCUMENT - SET HYPERTEXT LINK command. Link to Attachments - askSam 5 lets you attach files to your askSam documents. These files can be Word files, PowerPoint presentations, graphic files, ZIP files, anything on your hard drive. The hypertext function lets you set links to these attachments. Clicking on the link will display the file in the associated application. You can link to attachments using the DOCUMENT - SET HYPERTEXT LINK command. E-Mail Merge - Email the results of a "mail merge" to selected contacts in your askSam database. A great way to send customized email messages to your clients, friends, or contacts. Use askSam's powerful searches to select the proper email addresses. For example, search for those that requested more information that have downloaded the demo version within the last 15 days. Use IF statements in your Email letter to insert the proper information for each message. For example, if the clients are not in the US or Canada, you could ask them to call on your standard phone number rather than your 800 number. Create Email Merge messages using the askSam Mail Merge function. When you're ready to send the message, choose the MAIL MERGE - SEND EMAIL MERGE command. E-Mail Documents - The DOCUMENT - EMAIL DOCUMENT command lets you email an askSam document. This is a great way to reply to archived email. When you choose to email an askSam document, askSam will search for To:, From:, and Subject fields in the document and fill in these fields when you reply (if they are available). If the askSam document contains attachments, you have the option of sending these attachments along with the email. Inserting Fields in a Database - Define an Entry Form and automatically insert the form (fields) in all documents or selected documents in your database. This feature makes it easy to add additional fields to existing documents. You can insert fields in a specific line, before a word or field, after a word or field, at the top of the document, or at the bottom of the document. Set up a new Entry Form with the field you wish to insert and choose DOCUMENT - INSERT ENTRY FORM. In the "Document Selection" field, choose either Current Document, Selected Documents, or All Documents. Add Attachments to Documents - askSam lets you attach files to your askSam documents. These Attachments become part of the askSam database (in a compressed form). The DOCUMENT - ATTACHMENTS command lets you: - Attach files to your askSam documents - View attached files - Delete attached files - Save attached files (as separate files external to the askSam database) Optimization for Graphics - When you insert graphics (via EDIT - INSERT - PICTURE), askSam can save these graphics in JPEG format. This greatly decreases the file size. The "Save all graphics in JPEG format" setting in the FILE - PROPERTIES dialog, lets you choose to have all graphics saved in JPEG format. Note: this only work on graphics, not OLE objects. The "JPEG format quality" setting in the FILE - PROPERTIES dialog, lets you reduce the quality of JPEG images and make them even smaller. 128 Bit Encryption - Improved encryption in askSam 5. You now have the option of using 128 bit (askSam 4 only supported 56 bit encryption). 128 bit encryption is more secure, but requires slightly more time to encrypt/decrypt documents. In the FILE - PROPERTIES dialog, the "File Encryption Type" lets you choose between 56 bit and 128 bit encryption. Compatibility with SurfSaver 2.3 - askSam 5 is now compatible with SurfSaver 2.3. You can use askSam 5 to open your SurfSaver files for advanced searching and reporting. SurfSaver Pro lets save your pages on any drive or folder and share your SurfSaver files with your co-workers. Database Structure and Management Unlike other popular application software, such as word processors and spreadsheets, a database normally requires the user to develop the table structure that will hold and process the data. Upon opening a new document in a word processor, the program is ready for the user to begin entering data. Similarly, a blank worksheet is available as soon as a spreadsheet application is loaded. However, in relational database applications, data cannot immediately be entered. The database must first be created, i.e. the database file must be named and saved, and then tables with field names and data types must be designed. Data types limit the kind of data that can be stored in the various fields and limit the size of the field in some cases. Only then can data be entered into records. A database field is a storage method that identifies a single, meaningful element of data, such as First Name, Last Name, Part Number, or Manufacturer. A record refers to all the fields that relate to a single entity within the database table or file. For example, a record in a membership database would hold all the data for a person, and for an inventory of parts, all the data for a particular part. To really learn the proper methods of planning and designing a well-designed database, this usually requires a large investment of time and effort. The Florida-based information management software development company, askSam Systems, Inc., offers a super alternative to the complexity of working with existing relational databases. askSam Professional 6 is, according to the company, "A Different Kind of Database," an affordable, simpler way to organize and manage data. Types of askSam Databases Structured - design an Entry Form with fields. You fill out a form and enter information into the fields. An askSam Entry Form is extremely flexible and easy to use. You simply type in the name of your fields - no predefined field lengths are required. Free-Form - import, type, or scan information into askSam. No matter what type of information you bring into askSam, you can search it without defining keywords, fields, or any other structure. askSam also lets you create databases that combine structured and free-form information. Add notes and memos to structured databases, or add fields to resumes, articles, research notes, or other free-form information. Why Define an Entry Form? askSam does not require Entry Forms. In fact, you can simply type or import information, and askSam will search and organize it. But Entry Forms offer advantages when your information is structured. Entry Forms give information structure and consistency from document to document. If your database contains fields, you can generate lists and reports, and entry forms simplify entering information by allowing you to easily move between fields, and let you sort information based on the fields. About Entry Forms askSam let's you have multiple Entry Forms in a single database. For example, you could create an address database with one form for home addresses and another for business addresses. You can create, edit, and delete Entry Forms, and you can add and insert Entry Forms. About Fields In askSam fields are just words which identify information. For example, if you import email into askSam, you can use the words "To:", "From:", "Date:", and "Subject:" and fields. You can sort, search, and create reports using the information following these fields. By default askSam uses the [ character to identify a field. So when you setup an Entry Form, your fields are words follow by the [ character. For example, Name[, Company[, Phone[. askSam is extremely flexible, and was designed to deal with information gathered from a variety of sources. askSam does not require that all documents in a database contain the same fields. In fact, askSam does not require that all documents in a file contain fields. So you could mix fielded information in the same database with free-form texts. Getting Your Information Into askSam Getting data into askSam could not be simpler. You have several options. You can import data from a wide variety of sources, including: Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Microsoft Access, dBASE, text files, e-mail, and even HTML documents from the Internet. You can type your information using askSam's full-featured WYSIWYG word processor. Use the askSam word processor to edit, format, and spell check documents. You can scan information into your computer and then import it into askSam. There are two modes for adding data to an askSam file: Word Processing mode and Data Entry Mode. The Word Processing Mode allows you to edit entire documents using askSam's WYSIWYG Word Processor. You are allowed to type text anywhere on the screen, not just in specified fields. Insert graphics or use styles, formats, indents, and colors to enter information. In the data entry mode, you provide data for any fields you have designed. You can switch between Data Entry and Word Processing mode at any time by pressing CTRL+E. If you need to modify the length of a field, add a field, or change the field format, simply switch off Data Entry Mode and use askSam's word processing capabilities to modify the field layout. Importing Data Into a File askSam allows you to bring in files from a wide variety of sources. Import data from other programs (such as Word or WordPerfect), and use askSam to search, sort, or create reports. askSam includes import filters for the following formats: Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Text (ASCII files), HTML Files (from the Internet), RTF Files (Rich Text Format), Eudora E-Mail, Microsoft Outlook, Text delimited files - Comma Separated Values, Fixed position, etc., dBASE, FoxPro, Paradox, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft Excel. Importing information into an askSam file is easy. Simply choose File, Import. You can import multiple files with a single command, import each file into a separate document, or specify a document delimiter to break the file into multiple documents as you import it into your database. If you import structured data, such as Microsoft Access, CSV files, or fixed position files, you can import the data directly into fields in an askSam Entry Form. Searching As soon as you have information in an askSam file, you're ready to search. Not only can you search on the contents of fields, but you can search on free-form text. askSam offers a wider variety of searches than any other database program and some of the fastest and most powerful searches you'll find anywhere. The easiest way to search is using the Search Line. Simply press the ESC key, and type the word or words you wish to find. Once you've typed in your search request, you can press the enter key. askSam will search your database, and the first document containing the word or words you requested is displayed on the screen. More advanced searches can be found in the Actions menu. These searches include Boolean Searches, using the Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT, Field Searches, that restrict a search to a specified field, Numeric Searches, based on a numeric comparison, Proximity Searches, to search for two words or phrases occurring within a specified proximity of one another, Date Searches, based on a date comparison, Fuzzy Searches, that assist in locating information when you are not sure of the spelling, and Wildcard Searches, that use the standard wildcard characters * or ? in a search. After a search is entered, the first document containing the search results is displayed, and the Search Results window opens at the bottom of your screen. From the Search Results window you can click on any of the listed documents to display their contents in the top part of the screen, select a Document and press DEL to delete it, jump from hit to hit in the selected documents, or customize the information displayed in the Search Results window. Creating Reports Reports give you an overview of the data in your askSam files. Instead of just searching your documents, reports let you search, sort, and list specific information from the data in your files. Creating reports is as easy as dragging and dropping the fields you want onto your report layout. When you run a report in askSam, a new window containing your report output will open. You can edit, save, or print your report output. If you double click on a line in the report, you return to the Document containing the information displayed in that line. Frequent users will appreciate how easy it is to design reports from askSam files. Laying out a report is as simple as dragging and dropping different bits of information onto the page. This action would take some serious scripting in normal relational database programs, but it's a push of a button in askSam. And every report is a live summary, which means if you want more detail on an item, a double-click will take you right to the document it came from. Using Hypertext Links Hypertext Links help you navigate through your information. With askSam, setting Hypertext links is a breeze. Use the Hypertext menu to set links to bookmarks in the current document, other askSam documents in the same file, documents in other askSam databases, reports in the current file or in other files, askSam menu commands, external applications such as Word, Paint, or WordPad, or a URL on the Internet. askSam's hypertext function makes using hypertext easy. Simply highlight a text or an image in askSam, and select the Document, Set Hypertext command. The highlighted text will become a Hypertext link. Clicking on the Hypertext link takes you to the document or location to which it was set. You can also define a Hypertext link from a graphic. Running the Program Once the product is loaded, there are super tutorials to instruct the user on the product’s operation, and the addition of two documentation manuals, including one that focuses entirely on "Getting Started," means most users will likely very quickly get up to speed working with askSam. If there are gaps between what the tutorials cover and what the user would like to do in askSam Professional, the User’s Guide will fill them. From starting askSam to including graphics in askSam, to using the askSam Phone Dialer option, this guide provides very helpful detailed instructions and explanations. Targeted Customers Many people working with computers are not computer professionals, and when needing to use their computer, usually this means they just want the computer to help them be more productive. These typical desktop users also likely have various types of information that need to be organized. askSam Professional 6 will provide them with a tool that is simple and flexible enough to handle their need to manage this information. In a usual corporate environment, the restructuring of information systems is making more information accessible to users, but this flood of information offers users a challenge. If managed properly, information is a valuable asset. But how can a user manage this information? Most database and information management tools are too complicated for the average user. Given this reality, askSam was designed to make managing information as easy as using a word processor. Unlike traditional database products, askSam does not require the user to understand programming, relational database concepts, or data structures. askSam provides users  with an easy-to-use database that is also flexible enough to organize their information. Word processors can be used by almost everyone, and the same can be said for askSam. The program is easy to use, very flexible, and will turn text (unstructured or structured) into a database. askSam's full-text search makes it also very useful as a text retrieval program. Combine this search with the ability to use any structure as a field, and you have the ability to turn text into a database. Many researchers, marketing departments, lawyers, and journalists are using askSam as a warehouse for their information. Recommendation askSam Professional 6 deserves a serious look in any company, even in organizations already committed to supporting a relational database. With the full text support and search capabilities, this places askSam Professional 6 in the realm of use by most all internal workstation users. The program is also a super database produce for computer novices. Anyone who needs to manage and organize information - which is just about everyone - can use askSam. Users of on-line systems (such as the Internet, CompuServe, AOL, Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw, Dow Jones) and anyone who uses OCR to scan in text, can use askSam to turn raw text into useable databases. askSam provides instant access to information. Internet Users - for creating and archiving HTML documents, research and e-mail databases. The askSam Internet Desktop archives e-mail, newsgroup messages, HTML files and more. Turn web pages into askSam databases. Legal Market - (Attorneys, Paralegals, Legal Administrator, Expert Witnesses, Law Librarians, and Judges) - for litigation support, conflict of interest, case management, legal research, policy and procedure manuals, help desks, tracking evidence, searching downloaded information from on-line systems such as Lexis and Westlaw, and for organizing and distributing laws, statues, and regulations. Human Resources - (Recruiters, Trainers, Negotiators, Safety Officers, Employee Relations, Public Relations, Health Services ) - for resume tracking, contact management and form letters. Corporations - (Records Management, R&D, Librarians, Personnel, Marketing) - for online documentation; help desks; archives of information such as policies, surveys, sampling of job sites, log books, e-mail, and intellectual properties; departmental databases; reports; product information; and manuals. askSam helps the MIS departments by giving individuals an easy-to-use database to manage their information. askSam helps the corporation collect both new and historical information often without any idea of how the information will be used. askSam makes information accessible to individuals and to groups when it is needed. Government - (Congress, Military, Law Enforcement, Librarians, Departments) - for organizing catalogs, regulations and other applications similar to the legal market. Several groups, such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy, and General Accounting Office distribute information in an askSam format. This allows people receiving this information to search for specific items. Law Enforcement, Intelligence Agencies, and Forensic Scientists use askSam's unique combination of database and text searching capabilities for a variety of projects. Journalism - (Print and Broadcast) - for contact management, research and archiving articles and other information. Several Pulitzer Prize winning journalists have used askSam to manage their research. Publications use askSam to distribute books, manuals, collections of documents and databases in electronic form. They also manage information as it comes in from services like API (Associate Press International), BusinessWire, etc. Groups within CBS and programs such as 60 Minutes use askSam to manage their information. Sales / Marketing - (Real Estate, Insurance) - for contact management, product information, competitive intelligence and price lists. askSam provides instant access to information. Small Businesses / Home Offices - for office and contact management, market research databases. The askSam Office includes easy-to-use pre-defined templates designed for addresses, notes, to-do lists, faxes, memos and letters. Research - (Doctors, Investigators, Scientists, Professors, Engineers, Students, Marketing Professionals, Fund Raisers, Writers, Public Speakers, Associations, Genealogists) - for test results, reports, interviews, research, class notes and rosters, product specifications, competitive product information, contacts, journal articles, membership, scheduling, family notes. Consultants, Contractors, Vars & System Integrators - (Government, Corporate, Educational, Library) - for Information Management Solutions involving database, text-retrieval, word processing applications as well as OCR, online research and electronic publishing. Price $395.00 - askSam Professional $149.95 - askSam Standard $  89.95 - upgrade previous version of askSam Pro to askSam Pro 6 $139.95 - upgrade previous version of askSam Standard to askSam Pro 6 $  89.95 - upgrade previous version of askSam Standard to askSam Stnd 6 If you purchased askSam 5 on or after January 15, 2005, you are eligible for a free upgrade to askSam 6. Contact the company for site licensing pricing for multiple users of the program. Professional vs. Standard Edition askSam Professional is, by far, the fastest version of askSam that has ever existed. It includes all the features of version 6 and adds full-text indexing to askSam's searches coupled with the ability to search hundreds of megabytes and thousands of documents in a matter of seconds. The Professional Version of askSam contains all features found in askSam plus the following: Full-Text Indexing - When you index an askSam file, askSam generates a list of all the words in your file with their locations. When you search, askSam uses the index. Instead of searching your entire file for a word, askSam finds the word in the index and knows immediately what documents contain this word. This allows you to search hundreds of megabytes in a matter of seconds, a dramatic increase in speed over all previous askSam versions. Word List - The Professional version has a Word List that displays every word in an indexed file. The Word List also shows you the number of documents in which each word appears. Just click to search for any word in the list. The Word List is a great way to locate words when you're not sure of the spelling. Access askSam from Visual Basic - askSam Professional includes an ActiveX control that can be accessed from Visual Basic (and other programming languages). You can create customized applications that enhance your work with askSam. askSam Professional 6 System Requirements IBM compatible PC Windows 98SE2, NT, 2000, ME, XP 32MB free hard disk space IE 4.01 (SP2 or later) On Windows NT, IE SP 6a or later 800 x 600 monitor askSam Professional 6 Network Version Use askSam's Network Version to share information in workgroups. Corporate manuals, phone messages, supplier databases, client addresses, bibliographies, research notes, litigation support, meeting notes, reports - any information you would like your users to share. The askSam Network gives users all the flexibility of askSam with the added benefit of record locking. Multiple users are able to simultaneously edit, update, and search your databases. askSam's hypertext function lets you set up easy-to-navigate menus. These menus can lead users through databases without having to train them in using askSam. Network Version System Requirements 16 MB of RAM 30MB free hard disk space You can install the askSam Network version on your server or on the client PC's. askSam will run on all popular network operating systems, including Netware, Windows 9x, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Lantastic. About askSam Systems Since 1985 askSam Systems has been helping individuals and organizations manage their information. Our popular text-database and Web publishing tools provide a flexible, affordable, and easy-to-use alternative to traditional structured databases. askSam makes managing large amounts of information fast and easy for everyone. The basic philosophy of askSam is FREEDOM - freedom to work the way you want to, not the way a software application dictates. In 1983, the creator of askSam, Dr. Mack McKinney, searched for a better way to handle information. Traditional databases were highly structured and forced you to shoe-horn your information into a predefined structure. Mack's free-form database, askSam, provided a fluid, flexible, and fast way to organize information. Today, askSam continues to set the standard in managing the combination of free-form and structured information in databases. Also with the askSam Web Publisher, askSam offers an easy way to turn information into searchable on-line databases. The askSam products continue to reflect Mack's basic philosophy -- freedom for you to organize your information, regardless of the source, according to your own vision. Contact askSam Systems, Inc. PO Box 1428 Perry, Florida 32348 800-800-1997 850-584-6590 FAX 850-584-7481 www.asksam.com info@asksam.com