Hi Ann,

At Microsoft, I am the Media Archives Manager, and have been serving on an
evaluation team researching multimedia asset management applications to help
manage the vast amounts of data (scanned images, original graphics, digital
audio, MIDI, digital video, animation, 3-D renderings, and other forms of
digital and analog media) licensed and produced for Microsoft consumer
products.

After a year of study, the solution we found is called BULLDOG
(http://www.bulldog.ca), a database front end system that allows
object-oriented manipulation of assets stored in the system.  The BullDog
server currently runs on Windows NT and IRIX, and BullDog client software runs
on Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Win NT 3.5.1/4.0, Mac, and SGI workstations.
BullDog also has a Web Browser client that is in beta development right now,
and will be released in the next couple of months.  Thus far, as we have
tested it, the software runs impeccably.

In BullDog, objects are all viewed as thumbnail representations of the
objects.  When an image asset is added to the database, a thumbnail icon is
automatically extracted for it.  If you want to create a relationship between
2 objects, you simply drag and drop one on top of the other.  Objects can be
graphically grouped into any number of "views" of the data.  A large part of
the system I won't take space to explain here is the workflow management
module, which allows virtual "projects" and task" to be created, and media
elements passed through them.  The current version of BullDog (1.6) also
provides the ability to add individual or batch loads of media objects into
the system, including object "meta-data" (i.e., title, description, file
characteristics, etc.).  The next release, due out in June, will greatly
expand the features of this already feature rich system.

One additional lightweight system to consider is called MediaAssets made by a
Santa Clara company, MediaWay (http://www.mediaway.com).  MediaWay runs only
in the Windows environment (3.1, Win95 NT 3.5.1/4.0), and has a number of the
compelling features that BullDog has.  It is a greatly scaled down system by
comparison, though, and we had difficulty running it in a high-volume
production environment (200+ artists).  The flip side of this is that the
price is very reasonable, But I wouldn't want to run it in a work environment
of more than 5 users.

Let me know if you have further questions, which I can address offline.

Regards,
Kevin Comerford
Media Archives Manager
Microsoft Corporation

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Date:    Wed, 18 Dec 1996 16:51:00 E
From:    Ann Trowbridge <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: IMAGE DATABASE SOFTWARE TO RUN ON WINDOWS NT

Dear Listers,

We seek your recommendations on software programs for maintaining a working
digital library of architectural photographs.  We need to be able to work
within it, to drag and drop and activate other software including Photoshop,
Pagemaker, Quark.  Multiple search string possibilities are needed.  We will
use the program primarily for preparing reports and proposals, but also for
books, exhibits and as a design tool.  Our photo librarian likes the Cumulus
program that only runs on a Mac -- is there something with comparable
capabilities that runs in Windows NT?

We expect to eventually rely on a digital system, so a program/company that
will be there for the long haul and will be compatible with others'  (like
AUTOCADD has been for drafting) is desirable.  Ease of use and learning of
the system is desirable, but we do have a computer saavy staff.

Thanks,

Ann Trowbridge
[log in to unmask]

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