19.1 Introduction

Section 2.3 describes how to read documents which are stored in Business Collaborator, using the appropriate application installed on your local computer. Thus, clicking on the name of a Microsoft Word (.doc) document downloads the document to a temporary location on your local disk, opens your copy of MS Word and displays the document's contents. On many occasions, this functionality is exactly what is required.

However, on some occasions, you may not have the appropriate application installed with which to read the document. You will then be unable to view the contents of the file until a version has been made available to you in a format which your computer can understand. Also, for very large documents, the time to download the document to your local disk can be significant. The wait for the file to download can be particularly frustrating if you simply wish to skim the document's contents quickly.

The solution to both of these problems is Brava! - a Java-based viewing tool which is (optionally) included with Business Collaborator 4.5. Brava! is an application, licensed for use and integrated with Business Collaborator, which allows each user to view many different document formats without the need to have the appropriate application installed on their local computer. Also, you do not need to wait while a large file is downloaded to your computer, thus making it more convenient for the end user and reducing the load on your connection to the Internet.

Because Brava! is entirely Java-based it can be used by the majority of users, including those using Apple Macintosh or UNIX platforms. In addition, the Brava! application has been developed so that it can be used in highly controlled environments where the user is not allowed to install any new software onto their computer.

Not only does Brava! allow you to read documents, it also permits you to make textual and graphical comments and annotations (known as markups or redlines) on the documents. One of the key applications of this technology is to permit viewing and markup of drawing files by relevant personnel. Often, on a construction project, the people commenting on the drawings do not require to add layers or make complex alterations to drawings. Therefore, they do not wish to invest in expensive drawing software. Instead, they can use Brava! to view and markup drawings to indicate their requirements without needing to edit the entire document. The comments and annotations of many reviewers can then be viewed, together or separately, by the original draughtsman who will use the original drawing package to incorporate all of the information he has been given into the final drawing.

In order to make use of Brava!, the appropriate Business Collaborator package must be enabled and the corresponding server-side software, Brava! (and possibly Brava! Publisher!), from Informative Graphics, must be installed. In addition, viewing some formats using Brava! may also require the native application to be running on the server.

If you require further information about viewing and markup, please contact your Business Collaborator server administrator.