ACOM Introduces EZeDocs Version 5.1 With Flexible Merge Feature; Extends Detail That Can be Included on Forms.

Business Editors

DULUTH, Ga. & LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2002

The Duluth-based iSeries/400-AS/400 Division of ACOM Solutions, Inc. has introduced Version 5.1 of its EZeDocs document output management solution, enhanced with a data merge feature that captures and inserts additional data dynamically into documents being created from spool files using electronic form templates, it was announced today by Gregory T. Church, vice president of marketing, communications and product management.

ACOM's EZeDocs allows companies to replace conventional preprinted business forms with customized electronic templates and enables the delivery of completed documents as laser-printed hard copies, email, fax, and as PDF files for attachment or archiving. It also allows iSeries-AS/400 users to route internal and external electronic documents intelligently, based on data, as well as to access the worldwide communications infrastructure directly from the computing platform.

According to Church, some enterprise application spool files - the extracted data that is directed to output devices or to additional processing activities - are limited in capacity and thus unable to carry expanded detail that might be desirable on an invoice, to cite an example. The new feature allows users to designate the desired additional database fields and to instruct EZeDocs to reach into the database and retrieve the information "on the fly," page-by-page, as the spool file is being merged to create a document. When the document is generated, it contains both the spool file information and the freshly captured additional data.

"A company might have a 20-line item invoice that carries part numbers, but no elaboration or description of the respective parts," he said. "The new EZeDocs feature allows the user to go to the template and instruct EZeDocs to extract and merge the parts descriptions and the spool data with the form template concurrently. In other instances, a company may want to incorporate fax or email addresses that may not be normally included in the spool file."

Church noted that the new feature is a vertical enhancement to enterprise software applications, which normally fulfill corporate needs horizontally and may not include certain extended capabilities that might be useful but not broadly required.

"This flexible new feature will be of particular value to companies in manufacturing, distribution, healthcare and others where the cryptic entries on a form may need additional explanation. These types of companies have consistently expressed interest in a feature of this type and we are pleased now to provide it."

The flexible merge feature is currently available with new installations of EZeDocs Version 5.1 and is available free to users under maintenance contracts, who can download it from www.acom.com or obtain a CD-ROM by calling Technical Support at 800 603 6768.

About ACOM Solutions

ACOM Solutions, Inc. is an international developer and marketer of conventional and e-business solutions that integrate with enterprise applications to enhance back office and B2B processes for electronic, Internet and paper-based commerce. ACOM solutions run in all computing environments (host-resident on iSeries (AS/400) and Windows NT computers), and are compatible with all financial management and ERP software. Solutions include e-document systems for laser/thermal printer generation of business and financial forms, checks, and barcode labels; hardware-software MICR laser and e-payment systems; electronic data interchange (EDI/XML) solutions for e-commerce between multiple trading partners; and Internet-based commerce solutions. Contact ACOM at 2850 E. 29th Street, Long Beach CA 90806; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; e-mail [e-mail]; Web: www.acom.com.