SAN DIEGO, Nov. 19 -- Cardiff Software Inc., a leading supplier of XML-based eBusiness and eGovernment automation solutions, today announced its LiquidOffice(TM) eForm Management System version 2.0. LiquidOffice is an XML-based "paperless'' system that allows organizations to publish, route, track, approve and process online forms using standard Web browsers or mobile devices. In a related announcement, Cardiff revealed that LiquidOffice v2.0 gained a "Best of Comdex'' finalist award at the Comdex 2001 conference held in Las Vegas last week. LiquidOffice v2.0 adds significant new capabilities to the award-winning eForm system. Highlights include eForm connectivity with mobile devices and remote applications through XML Virtual Submit(TM); support for workflow-enabled HTML eForms from a XML Publishing Agent(TM); implementation of "good enough'' signing with Digital Approval; and seamless enterprise user management through integration with lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) systems. "The revolutionary XML Web architecture of LiquidOffice extends the reach of paperless forms applications by completely eliminating costly eForm workflow plug-ins,'' said Dennis Clerke, president and CEO of Cardiff Software. "Instead, the LiquidOffice system delivers workflow-enabled forms using XML, HTML and Adobe PDF standards. This no-filler approach makes LiquidOffice a compelling XML Web framework for paperless forms solutions within the firewall, on the public Internet and to a wide range of mobile and wireless devices.'' Developed through an 'eForm Alliance' with Adobe Systems, LiquidOffice uses XML, HTML and Adobe portable document format (PDF) standards to put a wide range of manual business processes online. Using LiquidOffice, an organization can save between $30 and $150 per day for every form used by employees. LiquidOffice also adds automated data collection, attachments and workflow capabilities to public- and citizen-facing Web forms. Historical client-server eForm systems have adapted to the Web by relying on ActiveX(TM) or Java(TM) applet plug-ins (called "fillers'') to deliver workflow-enabled eForms to Web browsers. This adaptation approach results in per-seat licensing costs, incompatibilities between plug-in types, and requires user integration if the goal is both automated data collection and eForm workflow. In contrast, LiquidOffice eliminates the filler completely by automating standard HTML and Adobe PDF forms, and uses a XML Web architecture to deliver a single integrated system for automated data collection and eForm workflow. As a result, the LiquidOffice system is easier and more affordable to deploy, and is compatible with other XML Web applications, including standard Web application servers and the emerging Microsoft .NET and the Sun Open Network Environment frameworks. XML Virtual Submit XML Virtual Submit is a new capability delivered with LiquidOffice v2.0 that defines a XML schema, which enables organizations to use mobile devices and existing applications to initiate automatic eForm processes within LiquidOffice. The XML Virtual Submit schema supports using XML to send eForm identification, prefilled field data, digital attachments, and form routing instructions to the LiquidOffice Form Server. XML Virtual Submit allows nearly any mobile hardware device to be used for data collection and to initiate eForm workflows. Data collected on cell phones, Palm(TM) personal digital assistants (PDA) and Pocket PCs, can be converted into a XML Virtual Submit that results in a same-as-paper eForm submission within the LiquidOffice system. XML Virtual Submit enables a wide range of mobile applications, including a Pocket PC, for the automated data collection from field surveys or meter reading, or using a cell phone to initiate an workflow-based order approval process. External programs can also use XML Virtual Submit to automatically initiate one or more LiquidOffice eForm processes. Web and application servers, workflow, content management, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and customer relationship management (CRM) systems can use XML Virtual Submit to initiate eForm submissions and workflows within LiquidOffice. Applications include allowing sales team members to initiate collateral shipment requests from within CRM products, enabling an organization to use an ERP system to send all employees prefilled W4 forms to validate and return, and to attach a scanned copy of a signed contract with an order form submission. XML Publishing Agent for HTML The LiquidOffice Form Designer provides point-and-click tools to empower form owners and office workers with the ability to design and add intelligence and processing rules to online forms. The system stores these forms using industry-standard XML, and uses publishing agents to convert that XML into various presentation formats, including Adobe PDFs. New for LiquidOffice v2.0 is a Publishing Agent for HTML, which allows organizations to workflow-enable internal and public-facing standard HTML Web forms. The system also supports adding digital attachments to HTML form submissions. Digital Approval is "Good Enough'' LiquidOffice supports a wide range of electronic and digital signature products, including private key infrastructure (PKI) and biometric products from vendors Entrust, VeriSign, CIC, and Interlink Technologies. With LiquidOffice v2.0, Cardiff is responding to customers who requested "good enough'' signing capabilities for low-risk transactions, including vacation requests, performance reviews and engineering change orders. The Digital Approval feature in LiquidOffice v2.0 provides a signature field and signing interface that merges XML-based user authentication into a record of the signing transaction. The user simply reiterates the LiquidOffice or LDAP user ID and password to authenticate the signing step. With Digital Approval, LiquidOffice v2.0 allows organizations to scale signing technology investments based upon those that need "good enough'' signing and those that need the software and hardware investment required for high-value transactions. Enterprise Support via LDAP LiquidOffice v2.0 also includes integration with LDAP products, easing user administration for IT staffs. Users now can access their LiquidOffice accounts through authentication and system role information stored in the enterprise LDAP system. User attributes within LiquidOffice, including Approver, Designer and Operator, can also be set and stored within the LDAP system. The LDAP integration eases user interaction with the system by using existing log in and password information, and eases IT administration of the LiquidOffice system. Pricing and Availability LiquidOffice eForm Management System v2.0 will begin shipping within 30 days in three configurations: LiquidOffice Workgroup (PC/Sun Solaris(TM)), which supports 100 maximum log-in accounts and priced at $15,000; LiquidOffice Enterprise (PC/Sun Solaris), a scalable system with pricing starting at $45,000; and LiquidOffice eGovernment (PC/Sun Solaris), a scalable system that also supports the automation of Internet and citizen-facing forms, with pricing starting at $55,000.