PDF Mangement Software

[Bob X]

I have an increasingly large database of mainly pdf articles and am looking for a desktop software app to organize the database better than windows folders. I haved looked for one but everything I have found is web server based and is for managing a web distribution rather than managing a database on one, or small number of computers. Any suggestions?

[Robert C Cartaino]

I have yet to find the "perfect" software for managing a large number of PDF documents. I had the best luck using two programs: Paperport[^] and iView Multimedia Pro (now Expression Media[^]). But they both had problems. With Paperport, I liked the visual interface (thumbnails) which helped me find my documents visually. But the older version I was using was strictly directory based. It didn't have a useful tagging interface so I could place documents into multiple categories. And the software never quite felt "finished" to me. There was a lot of needed functionality missing. Newer versions might have taken care of all these problems. I have not tried it lately. I loved iView Multimedia. It was really designed as a photo management system but it thumbnail-ed PDF files and I could take advantage of its excellent visual interface and all the cataloging features to manage my document collection. It was excellent. But it was bought out by Microsoft in 2006 and rebranded Expression Media (part of Expression Studio). I don't know if Microsoft maintained the PDF compatability. I haven't gotten around to trying it. If it does, fantastic. Expression Media is designed to manage all of your digital assets and Expression Studio creates all sorts of desktop and web content. They have a free trial, if you want to take a look at it. Enjoy, Robert C. Cartaino