M Files Professional

M-Files Professional is an easy to use document management software built by Motive Systems. The interface of this software is an exact clone of Windows Explorer except for the big M logo that is visible in the address bar and in the details pane. Motive systems deliberately designed the software as a lookalike of Windows explorer in the hope that users could find it easy to use and immediately begin working on it because of how familiar it is.  The main idea behind its design was to have employees in any organization to start using the document management software with minimal or no training while at the same time being productive at work.



Features of M-Files Professional

• M-Files Professional seamlessly integrates with the Windows Explorer operating system that you can access the document management program from within the local Windows Explorer window. All you need to do is click on the M-Files link in the Favorite Links window to display your M-Files document database.


• Although any user can see the M-Files link in the Favorite Links window, the system is very secure. Therefore, only users with specific permissions and access rights can have access to sensitive data that is stored in the database. M-Files Professional supports for a good security system, where in you can set up users and user groups with explicit permissions at the vault level, file level or the folder level. Security can be as broad or narrow as you want it to be.


• M-Files Professional features file check-in and check-out functions like any other document management software. The software also supports version control and automatically maintains a version history of all documents. It even logs every changes made along with the username of the person, the time when he/she last worked on a document and the comments made by the person on the changes made to the document.


• M-files Professional also features workflows. The workflow features makes it simple to run documents through formal processes and also helps to collaborate with other employees within the organization. You can assign users tasks to push documents through a particular workflow. Users can get email notifications about any new and modified documents in the workflow.


• M-Files Professional requires Microsoft SQL server as the backend for this document management software. The vaults that are created in the database are very flexible and customizable. You can also easily define and manage the relationships between documents and also define links between your database and other databases such as linking the accounting and billing system database with the customer relationship database.

M-Files professional are available in three versions, free, limited version and a professional full-featured version. The professional version can be downloaded for a trial period of 30 days for free. After 30 days you will need to purchase a license to use all the features and functions or else it will get reverted to the limited or free version.

Overall, M-Files Professional is an excellent document management product that is easy to use and is apt for converting your paper-based office to a paperless one. It is mainly targeted to large businesses. Because of its exorbitant price, small or home businesses cannot afford this software. But it is definitely a great choice for going paperless.