There is a ton of free document management software (DMS) out there but which ones really work? I’ve compiled a list of the top free systems out there and all allow you to modify their source code should you need it.
To get started, simply select the DMS that sounds interesting to you, download the software and give it a go. I’ve listed enough that if one doesn’t meet your needs, the others should.
Maarch Archiving DMS
Some organizations are legally required to store documents for a certain number of years; on top of that, there may requirements to record and monitor any changes to the document or prevent changes all together.
This software is an Integrated Document Archiving and Retrieval System (IDARS) and complies with record management regulations such as Sarbanes-Oaxley and ISO-15489.
Includes an excellent import system to get all your documents indexed and up to speed, a fantastic imaging module and great export options.
This free document management software is designed just for such an environment and built using PHP with storage into a MySQL DB. The entire system is web based and completely open source.
Site: maarch.org/en/
LogicalDoc DMS
This is a web based document management system that is compatible with both .PHP and .NET and others due to the code being programmed with Java.
With this package, you get full indexing services, folder organization, tag clouds, ability to discuss documents like you would comments on this site, and much more.
A large variety of DMS Databases can be used, such as SAL, MySQL, PostgreSQL and much more.
Site: sourceforge.net/projects/logicaldoc/
Archiv Document Management
Stickily a DMS for the Microsoft operating system, Archiv offers a complete management package for the entire enterprise (ECM) that includes the ability or scan documents and control workflow.
Archiv was developed using Delphi, runs on NT / XP and designed in German with translation to English.
Site: bitfarm-archiv.de
ArchivistaBox
This software is also a web based DMS that can run on most systems, however, it’s big feature is the ability to turn all documents in PDF so that they are searchable.
Although I have not used this software, I don’t understand why you would want to convert all your documents in PDFs rather than simply search the database for the document.
Site: sourceforge.net/projects/archivista/
We are adding to our list so please and welcome suggestions. If you have used any of the document management software mentioned here, please leave a comment and share your experience.