For companies that have inherited archives full of documents based on the old Logica VTS2200/ICL 8801/Telecom Merlin/Nexos word processing systems, Key Exchange Systems of London has a way into the mainstream document architectures of all the major text processing suppliers – ICL of course still supports the 8801, but users of other variants of the machines may well feel like neglected orphans. After the collapse of the VTS operation of Logica, many users could be excused for regretting the choice and long for the IBM Document Content Architecture machines, (DisOSS or Profs) which eventually will lead into everybody else’s system since so many other firms have promised DCA support. The program is called Crosspak, costs UKP550 and runs on a PC-DOS machine and creates disk compatibility with all old VTS machines, and converts the format to full DCA compatibility. It’s bi-directional so you don’t have to throw the VTS boxes out, just live with the inconvenience of disk swapping. Deals have already been signed at Commercial Union and Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Crosspak joins a number of document interchange systems developed or sold by Key Exchange Systems since its formation in early 1986, and was developed in conjunction with UK software house Cognosys. The company also sells the Keyword document interchange system which switches from almost any word processing system on the US market; and Soft Switch, which does much the same between mainframe based systems and mail based systems like DEC All-In-1 and IBM’s DisOSS.
