Talos: Product Overview

Talos is engineered to give users the real-world functionality and flexibility they need in an application that's easy to learn and simple to use.

Easy to use Graphic Interface
Users can view data sheet output on-screen exactly as it will appear when printed -- and make changes by simply clicking on text phrases on each sheet.

The user interface is unique among similar products, because it utilizes WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) technology. The user works from a screen that looks like a preview of the printed MSDS. The point-and-click interface makes the system intuitive and easy to learn; for example, the user can edit a sentence on an MSDS by simply double-clicking it, editing the text, and saving the update to the server. Most importantly, the system does not sacrifice features for ease of use. Text can be displayed in a variety of fonts and formats, and images and other files (such as graphs and spreadsheets) can be embedded in the MSDS. Extensive search capabilities are prevalent throughout the system, and spell checking is implemented to prevent typographical errors. Users can bring up a list of recently modified MSDSs for quicker access. In addition, print preview allows the user to verify the format of the MSDS prior to release. The resultant MSDSs are professionally formatted and attractive.

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Flexibility
Authorized users can add, delete, and rename MSDS sections, fields, and views quickly and easily without interrupting the flow of work. Talos also lets users work on multiple documents and multiple sections simultaneously for maximum productivity.

The system provides unparalleled flexibility in the industry. Depending upon their security settings, users have the ability to add, delete, and rename most elements of an MSDS. Sections, fields, and views can all be edited in this fashion. Fields may be shown or hidden in a given view based upon data availability, which eliminates problems such as blank fields on production MSDSs. A customizable field-specific phrase library is available to all MSDSs, which promotes rapid and consistent authoring and enables automated phrase selection based on user-defined rules. For pharmaceutical users, ingredients and their properties are maintained system-wide and easily inserted into an MSDS.

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Smart Views
Users can create multiple MSDS views with unique layouts, graphic elements, and show/hide rules to satisfy specific company, divisional, regulatory, and language requirements -- all linked to a single data set for each MSDS.

Users can create several views for MSDSs that are linked to the same compound data. Each view can contain a unique logo, address, page footer, and language. In addition, each view can show, hide, rename, or reorder sections and fields. For example, a user might use the following three views, all based on the same data:

ANSI view:	This view could include fields such as US DOT classifications.
EU view:	This view could include risk and safety phrases, but would omit U.S. specific data.
Master view:	This view will include all information associated with the MSDS, including comments, original raw data, source information, and tracking information.

The multiple views help users satisfy their local regulatory or administrative requirements while maintaining a shared centralized data set.

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Real-time Collaboration
Talos is fully networked to enable users to collaborate securely over their existing corporate intranet.

User changes are immediately reflected on all clients connected to the server. When logging in, clients are synchronized with the most up-to-date information. This ensures that all users have access to the most recent information on each MSDS. In addition, the client and server operate using the TCP/IP protocol, allowing any user worldwide with an Internet connection to access the system.

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Multilingual Support
Talos features management and support tools that help users translate MSDSs to other languages.

Once a phrase is translated in the system, any MSDS containing that phrase will automatically display the translated information when needed. An MSDS containing a number of these phrases can then be fully translated in a fraction of the time generally required. The system currently works with single-byte languages, such as French, Spanish, and Italian. Multi-byte language support (for languages such as Japanese and Chinese) is planned for the next major release.

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Multi-format Output
Talos can generate electronic MSDS output in RTF, ASCII, and PDF formats to meet users' specific needs.

The well-organized and formatted output provides superior readability. The system can export any MSDS using the RTF format. This file type is supported by virtually every word processor, including Word and WordPerfect. The exported MSDS retains all formatting, including line breaks, tables, images, and embedded files. The MSDS can then be fine-tuned by the user before distribution. In addition, system output is available in PDF format.

Version Control
Each change in an MSDS is documented by incrementing its version number. Users will be required to authorize each MSDS section prior to release. Supervisor approval capabilities are available, allowing supervisors to edit, monitor, and approve MSDSs. Upon final approval, a copy of the document is archived on the server. This archive, along with all previous releases, is available for download and viewing by any user.

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Email Notification
Talos allows users to be notified of important MSDS events via e-mail, using either MAPI or SMTP. Different users can be notified for each event, including MSDS approval, MSDS unapproval, and library phrase changes. The system can also attach any approved MSDSs to the e-mail.

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Security
An administrative user can create and manage user groups. In addition, read and write privileges can be modified on a view, section, or field level. Using this system, users with read-only privileges or with access to a single field can be created.

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Document Management and Distribution
The Talos Document Distribution System stores, distributes, and tracks MSDS documents reliably and efficiently.

Electronic distribution and archiving with complete version control makes up-to-date information easily available to authorized users. Digests of updates and new entries can be automatically generated and distributed securely to appropriate customers throughout the enterprise. A direct response system accepts document requests by Web form and delivers information quickly by email, fax, mail, or Web page.

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Ruleset Author
Users can create a library of custom MSDS phrases, and then define rules for automatically selecting and inserting these phrases into any MSDS.

Extensive rule-based phrase selection allows automatic selection of phrases within an MSDS based on rules created by the user. Users will be able to select phrases from a library of custom phrases, and create arbitrarily large and complex rules that will be used to automatically insert phrases into the MSDS.

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Regulatory Tracking Database Feed
Talos can track current regulatory information from LOLI, the List of Lists chemical regulatory database, and can automatically load this information into each MSDS to ensure full compliance. Talos automatically fills in regulatory information from select LOLI regulatory and advisory databases. Users are also able to manually assign appropriate LOLI regulatory data within a document via an easy-to-use interface.

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Label Generation
Talos can be used to generate custom labels quickly and easily for shop floor, shipping, waste, or any other use based on MSDS information.

Users can link any MSDS field contents to any section of predefined standard labels within Talos. Label generation supports multilingual labels, images, and barcodes. In addition, custom labels can be created based on specific users' needs.

Simplified Maintenance and Installation
Talos automatically installs itself when first used. In addition, the client can be installed on any other computer by simply copying the application folder to the new machine. Clients will automatically self-update to the current available version of Talos.

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