Migration is a necessary action for retaining the integrity of the data and for allowing users to search, retrieve, and make use of data in the face of constantly changing technology. A software system used to access and retrieve data stored in a database. All records are documents but not all documents are records. The distinction between a record and a document is not altogether clear. We suggest that documents may contain information created in a business context, but do not necessarily represent evidence of business activities.
Documents can serve as envelopes which point to other types of documents.
DMS creates structure and access methods for electronic documents and provides a database of documents that can be searched and retrieved. A DMS does not directly address retention management and disposition, rather, it manages versions of documents currently being worked on. A document created or received on an electronic mail system including brief notes, more formal or substantive narrative documents, and any attachments which may be transmitted with the message. We also include the associated metadata or header information to be a vital part of the message. Essentially, it links together two different documents.