Preface for the Third Edition - Read

338 B. Concepts and Theories
Discovery services. Livelink’s full-text search engine allows basic and advanced
keyword searches. Additionally, assigned meta-data can be used for limiting the
search domain. A typical search result page not only includes a ranked list of various
types of objects with short descriptions, e.g., documents, discussion topics,
folders or objects from further knowledge sources made accessible through additional
services on the infrastructure level, but also gives hints to what authors or
creators have been most active according to the actual query. Livelink’s notification
mechanism allows users to place change agents on selected folders to be notified
via email if changes occur, e.g., if a new document or a new version of a document
is added. Comparable functionality is provided by an optional module to
monitor changes of search queries to Web resources (Prospectors). Another module
is available for generating reports on structured data, e.g., forms, external data
bases or Livelink management data (WebReports).
Collaboration services. Some basic functions like discussions (black boards),
polls, news channels, task lists, and advanced functions like workflows aim at supporting
collaboration. MeetingZone comprises a set of meeting support tools that
are integrated into Livelink, e.g., a whiteboard, a chat, a shared desktop and objects
to be used during the meeting. Other optional modules offer basic functions for
competence management (Skills Management) and support creation of community
workspaces (Communities of Practice).
Learning services. The standard version of the Livelink server does not provide
any learning services. Structured course units as well as question and answer tests
can be created by means of an optional module that also allows for integration with
the Skills Management module (Learning Management).
Publication services. Typical document management functions of Livelink are
check-in/check-out of documents in order to avoid conflicts if more than one user
works with a document, a versioning mechanism and workflows that support publication
of documents, e.g., a release workflow. All types of files can be stored in
Livelink. The most common types, e.g., formats of office systems, can be converted
to HTML on demand. Thus, documents can be viewed without the native
application and indexed by Livelink’s search engine. Optional modules provide
capabilities for electronic signatures (eSign), management of electronic forms
(eForms, WebForms), creation of portable document format (pdf) files from within
Livelink (PDF publishing) and managing linked annotations (Review Manager for
Acrobat), administration of bibliographic resources (Catalogued Library), labelling
documents (Document Numbering), and coordinating the steps of the document
review processes (Collaborative Document Review).
Personalization services. Livelink offers three types of workspaces that differ
mainly with respect to what groups of users are granted privileges to access them.
The enterprise workspace is the central workspace for all users. A personal workspace
belongs to every user with access restricted to this user. Project workspaces