FileNet launches Web Publisher for Panagon

FileNet has set its sights on the content management market with the release of a new Web publishing extension to its Panagon document management software suite.

With Panagon Web Publisher, users can create documents and store them in the Panagon IDM Document Services (IDMDS) repository, where they are automatically updated whenever source documents are added, removed or the content is revised. Individual security gives users access only to their content, meaning that content can be published to the Web without being passed between content creators and the Webmaster. Web Publisher will be available next month, priced at $19,500 for a basic Web publishing package, and $85,000 for additional content management capabilities.

Meta Group analyst David Yockelson sees a bright future for FileNet and others who can combine document management, workflow and content management into a single seamless solution. "Products that integrate collaborative authoring, document management, workflow and Web content formatting and publishing will play an increasingly important role in the development of complete solutions that significantly reduce web management costs."

Document and knowledge management thought leader Delphi Group aren't as high on Web Publisher, especially the lack of up-front XML support. "Conspicuously absent from this announcement is any mention of XML, the Web standard at the heart of other hybrid document management and electronic publishing technologies such as those from HYNET Technologies, Enigma, and Chrystal Software," says Delphi.

FileNet senior product marketing manager Chris Preston says XML is supported now, but more in-depth support will wait until Microsoft and Netscape up their support in their new browsers.

Until then, says Delphi, organizations looking to link their intranets and Web site to a document database will find the Web Publisher an attractive option. Companies looking to dynamically repurpose content into new documents, however, will for now find Web Publisher "a significantly less competitive solution" than those from the above competitors