Optix 3.0



Author: Stephen J. Kayner

Date: June, 1993

Keywords: application program software review scanner image management
document

Text:
The Optix product manual states that it is a document image management
application for scanning, storing, retrieving, and displaying images
captured from paper and other media using a scanner and Apple Macintosh
II (or newer) computers. This means that Optix is a way of storing and
viewing images of documents on the computer rather than using file
cabinets and boxes full of paper. More than that, Optix is a database
for images, with search and sort capabilities.
There is a stand-alone version of Optix, and Optix-Network, which is a
UNIX based application. There are also several add-ins for Optix, such
as Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Text Search, Fax and Print
Server modules, and interface boards for scanning and printing
capability enhancements.
The stand-alone Optix 3.0 ships on four 800K diskettes, and does not
include an install program. The files are simply dragged to a folder on
the hard disk. The 700+ page manual comes in a three-ring, slip-covered
binder, making it handy for updating to new versions.
This is an industrial-strength system that requires considerable
computing power and storage space to make it effective in handling
large numbers and sizes of documents. It requires a 68020 or higher
processor, 8 MB of RAM (when used with System 7), and Blueridge
Technologies suggests the use of optical drives, and high resolution,
large format monitors.
I was unable to start Optix on a Mac IIcx with System 7 and 4 MB of
RAM, because it needs 3 MB to run. It worked fine on a Mac IIci with 8
MB of RAM. The manual goes on to suggest more RAM will be needed for
larger images at higher resolutions. For example, an E size image
scanned at 200 dpi needs 7.5 MB, plus 3 MB for the application, plus
two or more MB for the operating system -- this could run out to a need
for 16 MB! Clearly this is not a system for storing your clip art and
QuickTime clips (it doesn't do QuickTime).
Organizations and individuals that process large numbers of documents
can benefit from this technology by reducing time spent handling paper,
and cutting down on paper used for distributing copies of documents.
Scanned images can be stored as individual pages, or grouped as a
document. Thumbnail images are used to move among the images within a
document.
The Optix database acts as an index to the stored images, and the user
can design a form for the database using the Screen Generator. There
are a few simple, MacPaint style drawing tools for modifying images,
but these are probably not adequate for more than the simplest of
modifications. Any given workstation can be set up for view-only
operation (no modifications allowed) using the Admin module. The Admin
functions can be password protected, and are not needed for the
standalone version of Optix.
Optix 3.0 also has the capability to store ''Sticky Notes'' on images.
This is handy, but I would also like to see something in the database
that indicates whether or not a note has been posted, rather than
having to view an image to check it for notes.
The basic Optix package supports a fair number of popular scanners,
including the Apple Scanner, HP's ScanJet +, the Sharp JX450, and the
Microtek 300ZS, and some models that I'd not heard of, including
Fujitsu, Vidar, Ricoh, Mekel, and Contex scanners. Printer support
includes any listed in the Chooser, and special drivers for Ricoh,
Calcomp 52436, GCC PLP-2S, LaserWriter SC, and Greensheet printers.
Greensheet printers may require an interface board that is available
from Blueridge Technologies. For fastest printing speed, a direct SCSI
connection is most desirable.
Optix supports TIFF, PICT and MacPaint graphics formats, as well as the
more obscure CALS, USPTO, Alpharel, and LaserData formats. Other
formats may be added through plug-ins provided by Blueridge
Technologies. The standard format is black and white TIFF, CCITT Group
IV. Compression ratios range from 10:1 to 20:1 for black and white
images, and from 2:1 to 3:1 for gray-scale or color images. A D-size
black and white sample image included with Optix used 372 K of disk
space, but it required an application size of 5 MB to load. Even with
that much RAM, Optix would not load the image until it was restarted to
clear the program memory.
Optix version 3 was shipped for review, but Blueridge has recently
released version 4, which offers numerous enhancements, mostly in the
way of Add-ons (read: more cost) to the basic product. There are now
Add-on modules for Text Search, Fax Server, Print Server, and other
integrated capabilities. The Text Search module supports Boolean and
Natural Language searching of text files. Version 4 has better support
for creating and editing text files (MS Word files are recognized), and
has Find and Replace functions for text files. Support for more text
formats is under way.
Version 4 now supports all of the required AppleEvents, and takes
better advantage of the System 7 environment. It permits the use of
files created by any other Macintosh applications, including indexing,
storage and retrieval of those files.
The basic database engine used for the standalone and fileshare
versions is new, and includes better repair and more database
functionality. The product now supports queue processing for OCR
operations (an Add-on module), adding to text searches, and delayed
indexing. Optix v.4 allows editing operations within and between
documents, and objects can now be cut and pasted without having to view
them. Sounds a little scary to me, but we'll have to trust them on this
one, as I never really got to see version 4 in the flesh.
I found Optix 3.0 to be more difficult to learn than FileMaker Pro (a
non-relational database), but less difficult to learn than 4th
Dimension (a relational database). The program makes fair, but not
excellent use of the Macintosh graphical environment. There are a few
areas that could stand improvement, and version 4 may have resolved
some of the difficulty in the menu length and configuration, and the
use of hot keys. I still feel the version 3 Screen Generator interface
could use some improvement, and I hope Blueridge will do this rework by
the time version 5 is released.
Optix offers considerably more features than can be described in the
space allotted for this review. Suffice it to say that this is a
big-time application, and with the plethora of Add-in modules
available, it could bring about positive changes in the way
paper-intensive organizations do business. I know I'll never be the
same...
Optix 4.0 is from:      Blueridge Technologies, Inc.
               P.O. Box 430
               Flint Hill Square
               Flint Hill, VA  22627-0430    (703)675-3015
Optix 4.0, the stand-alone version retails for $695, and the Network
version is available for $695 per user, with site licensing available
for more than 5 users.

Copyright © june, 1993 by Stephen J. Kayner