We're excited to announce the upcoming release of Proarc 7.5 Feature Pack 2. This new release focuses on full-text search across apps powered by Azure AI, moving files between revisions using drag/drop or shortcut keys, smarter planning tools, and more.
Poarc 7.5 Feature Pack 2 introduces Azure AI File Search, a major leap forward in how users search file contents across Proarc repositories. This new method supports full-text search across a wide range of file formats and delivers ranked results based on relevance, using term frequency and document length to surface the most meaningful matches; giving you faster access to the exact information you need.
For example, if you search for the term “inspection report”, Azure AI Search will prioritise documents where that phrase appears frequently and is central to the content, rather than buried in a long appendix or mentioned only once.
Figure 1: Smarter and more sophisticated file searches with Azure AI in Proarc
The new file search in Proarc 7.5 Feature Pack 2 uses Lucene query syntax, enabling users to perform more powerful and precise searches. Here’s a breakdown of the advanced options available, along with examples to show how they work:
Users can toggle between Azure AI Search and legacy Windows Search. While both may return similar results, Azure AI Search ranks them by relevance, offering a more intuitive experience.
This toggle is especially useful during the transition period, allowing users to:
A built-in feedback button (powered by Microsoft Forms) allows users to share their experience. No personal data collected unless explicitly provided. It’s a direct way to report issues, suggest improvements, or highlight what’s working well without needing to contact support or leave the app.
Submissions are sent to a Microsoft Form configured by Ascertra staff during deployment. This ensures feedback is centralised, secure, and actionable. The feedback helps the product team identify patterns, prioritise enhancements, and fine-tune the search experience in future updates, making the system better for everyone.
Admins can configure search settings such as:
Azure AI Search supports a wide range of formats including DOCX, PDF, XLSX, PPTX, XML, ZIP, JSON, and more.
Proarc 7.5 introduces flexible file movement between revisions and the document profile level, making it easier for teams to organise and collaborate on documents. Files can be moved using drag/drop, cut/paste shortcuts, or the shortcut menu, allowing users to quickly restructure document sets without needing admin support or complex workarounds.
Figures 2 & 3 : Copy and move files within a document profile through shortcuts
Moved files keep their history and relationships and may be renamed. This means users don’t lose audit trails or linked data when reorganising files, which is critical to maintain to ensure compliance and effective collaboration.
Proarc tracks the following moves:
Proarc 7.5 now includes Status, File Count, and Document State columns in the Activity tab; giving planners instant visibility into document progress without needing to open each file.
Previously, planners managing hundreds of deliverables had to click into each document to check its status or file count. Now, they can save time by scanning and sorting directly in the planning grid, making it easier to track progress and manage workloads efficiently.
A new Publish Files activity type enables seamless integration with external systems. Instead of relying on email (with its file size limits), workflows can now automatically send selected files via API to external platforms such as customer portals, third-party document repositories like SharePoint, internal business systems like ERP or asset management tools, or the upcoming Proarc File Share Outbound solution.
Once the workflow reaches the Publish Files activity, it triggers an outgoing API request, which is configurable to suit any external application or website your team uses to share files.
This means Proarc customers can now build workflows that send files directly to clients or partners, without manual steps or email bottlenecks.
We've highlighted key new features in Proarc 7.5 Feature Pack 2 including smarter search, streamlined file management, and enhanced planning and file sharing tools. If you’d like the full release notes that include all new features or guidance on enabling new features in your environment, contact our Support team today.