Assistum 4 review

As you'd expect for that sort of price hike, publishing to the Web isn't the only extra feature. There's a reasonable library of sample knowledge bases - including some business-orientated ones that are useful in their own right as well as for demonstration purposes. You also have the ability to link knowledge bases together using one as the linked input to a node in another. Even more interesting, potentially, is the ability to use Excel spreadsheets as inputs, allowing for more dynamic rules.

The Enterprise version - if you're reading this standing up on the train on the way to the office, wait until you get there and sit down - will set you back £5,000. For that you get the ability to customise and integrate with Microsoft Office and other applications using Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications.

The pricing policy is somewhat disappointing. Assistum Personal is unquestionably useful. That said, the Professional version with its Web publishing capability and ability to link to other knowledge bases and Excel, is the one I suspect most business users would go for, given the choice. On the other hand, the price will cut down the number of people able to choose it.

Applications for software like this aren't as common as those for a word processor or a spreadsheet, but that doesn't mean they're rare. It can help support-desk personnel answer complex questions, such as those regarding the training of new or junior staff in making decisions based on the experience of their colleagues, or even as part of the 'documentation' for complex products.

There's a trial version on the Web at www.assistum.com. Download it and have a go. It isn't a knowledge-management system, but it could be an important part of one. Neither is it the solution, but it might help you find one.

It used to be that knowledge was power. Increasingly, the power is with those who share it. Assistum removes many of the barriers from the distribution of rules-based knowledge. You have no more excuses - so get sharing.

Author: Guy Swarbrick