askSam 4 Simplifies Turning Documents into Databases

New version includes over 100 enhancements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 2, 2001

        Perry, FL  askSam Systems is now shipping version 4 of askSam, its popular free-form database software. askSam lets users easily turn different types of information into full-text searchable databases. askSam can create databases from unstructured information such as  email, resumes, legal texts, government regulations, research notes, and correspondence, as well as structured information such as client information.

        askSam 4.0 is a major upgrade adding over 100 new features and improvements to the previous version. These include:

New Search Results Window instantly displays a list of all documents retrieved by a search. The Search Results Window gives an overview of the retrieved documents including the total number of documents found, the number of hits in each document, the first line of the document, and the context of the hit. The Search Results can be customized for each database. You can include specific fields, define a sort order, and more.

New Import Filters make it easy to bring information into askSam  We've added import filters for Word 97, Word 2000, Corel WordPerfect, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Access, and ODBC databases. askSam makes it easy to turn just about any information into a searchable database.

New Wizards simplify using askSam 4.0.  Wizards guide you step-by-step through creating new databases, importing delimited files, and automatically recognizing fields.

Other additions to askSam 4 include:

¨ Increasing the maximum database size (from 4 gigabytes to 16 terabytes).

¨ Improving security with multiple level passwords and advanced encryption.

¨ Adding support for styles when formatting or importing documents.

¨ Adding dictionaries to the spell checker: Legal, Medical, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, and more.

¨ Enhancing askSam's Hypertext functions by automatically linking URLs while you type.

¨ New report features make it easy to create better looking and more sophisticated reports.

¨ Support for IF statements in askSam reports.

askSam 4 removes the barriers that have prevented the average user from managing information. By reducing the learning curve, askSam gives knowledge workers the ability to create and search their own databases.

askSam is available through resellers and directly from askSam Systems.

_______________________________________________________________

Pricing:

askSam Version 4.0 Standard is available at the price of $149.95. askSam 4.0 Professional is available for $395.00. askSam 4.0 Professional includes all the features of version 4.0 and adds full-text indexing to askSam's searches. Using askSam Professional, hundreds of megabytes and thousands of documents can be searched in seconds.

Upgrades:

Owners of earlier askSam versions can upgrade to version 4.0 for $89.95.

Requirements:  

Runs on Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, and 2000. Requires a minimum of 12 MB disk space.

Background:    

Since 1985 askSam Systems has created some of the world's most popular freeform database and information management tools. askSam products are used worldwide by over 300,000 users to collect, organize and distribute information. For more information on askSam Systems see http://www.askSam.com/ or call 800-800-1997 or 850-584-6590.

Screen shots are available upon request or can be found online at ....

     http://www.askSam.com/screenshots

Press Contact:

     Bea McKinney               

     askSam Systems

     P.O. Box 1428

     Perry, FL  32348

     Voice: 850-584-6590 ext. 175

     Fax: 850-584-7481

     Email: bea@askSam.com

     http://www.askSam.com/

                              #####