Practical Programs Integrates CAD Document Management with Microsoft SharePoint

Houston, TX - Practical Programs announces new product update release for DvTDM tool, creating long-awaited integration with SharePoint for CAD drawings and related documents previously unsupported. The integration is likely to impact engineering functions as pertaining to oil and gas as well as other energy sector companies within Houston and nationwide.

Companies large and not so large are currently using SharePoint to manage user access to centralized files located on company servers. This is generally the most common IT issue for most companies with a larger workforce requiring shared access of collaboration-oriented computer files. CAD files have presented an obstacle for engineering and AutoCAD tasks due to the fact that SharePoint was not designed with this type of complex file structure specifically in mind. SharePoint has filled a crucial gap that might have otherwise required far more costly and less effective solutions, however, the inability to control the location of the SharePoint document library limits the effectiveness of managing CAD files that contain xRefs or reference files. To address CAD file requirements, Practical Programs is scheduled to release a SharePoint integrated build of the DvTDM software in July 2009, a welcome upgrade for companies that already have licenses but do not have badly needed integration with CAD file tasks.

DvTDM users will now be able to utilize SharePoint to search engineering-related AutoCAD drawing documents and other files and to control access to all documents, or just CAD documents, via Dv TDM. The current conventional folder directory system will remain, and is modeled to be a familiar experience similar to that of using Windows Explorer, but will also include the updated integration with SharePoint. This integration is expected to be a welcome one for engineering departments who use SharePoint in oil and gas and other energy sector companies, such as those doing business in Houston, TX.

Bret Lawson, sales manager at Practical Programs US division, explains: "Many companies opt for using SharePoint because they require a central location for employees to access all documents, but often without knowing the limitations on CAD files. The physical location of these files and their reference files is very important and SharePoint needs considerable guidance to find them. DvTDM additionally give these SharePoint users the ability to more effectively manage the CAD file after it has been accessed."