ActiveDocs has unveiled a new version of its flagship document automation solution that focusses on eliminating steps and procedures that required leaving the ActiveDocs interface, such as retrieving content from outside systems or comparing templates in progress with those stored in document repositories.

ActiveDocs Opus is document automation and template management software built on Microsoft technology. It captures and preserves corporate memory and facilitates the assembly and delivery of content through a range of document channels, including hard copy, electronic or presentation format.

Among the refinements is an updated document creation wizard interface with a new appearance and extensive new back-end functionality. Eclipse users can pull entire documents or parts of them into their working document through the document creation wizard, reformat and modify it, and insert it into the body of a document or as appendices.

ActiveDocs Opus Eclipse saves template authors significant time revising and modifying templates with a one-click "run now" function for testing templates directly from the design interface.

From the Content Manager interface, Eclipse designers can now select and compare versions of templates directly using Microsoft Word. That eliminates the extra steps of creating copies of new and existing templates in ActiveDocs Opus and Microsoft Word, and comparing them in Word. Eliminating the extra copies also reduces the chances for errors caused by old and inaccurate versions of templates lurking in the system.

There are new workflow rules for finer control over document handling procedures, such as retention policies; HTML support for creating fully formatted email; a module enabling Microsoft SharePoint users to create documents in Eclipse through their SharePoint interfaces; a refreshed free text editor that simplifies content formatting; and system administration improvements such as end-to-end troubleshooting and a feature for automatically retrieving Windows events logs and turning them into reports.

"Since document automation emerged as its own market, solution providers have concentrated on expanding feature sets to reach the necessary functionality levels. Now that products have matured, users are looking for more refined products that perform essential functions more easily. That's what we've done with ActiveDocs Opus Eclipse," said ActiveDocs CEO Glenn Ricketts.

"We took a fresh look at how ActiveDocs Opus users want to interact with the software and what they need to accomplish. We removed barriers and unnecessary steps, and created a much easier pathway to the document automation and template management functionality they need to produce accurate documents quickly."