A Developer’s Introduction to the Alfresco Platform

Part One: Learning Your Way Around

Part Two: The Content Model, Rules & Actions

Part Three: Web Scripts, Surf, & CMIS

Jeff Potts

Content Management Practice Lead

2© Optaros 2008. All rights reserved.

Recap

In Part One, we looked at the Alfresco platform, in general

• Lots of ways to get content in and out of the repository• Out-of-the-box clients for document management, web content

management, and collaboration• API’s to enable you to build any custom content-centric front-end

application that’s needed

3© Optaros 2008. All rights reserved.

How Do I Model Custom Metadata?

Alfresco’s content model is easily extended• Expressed as XML• Wired in to Alfresco through Spring configuration

The image below shows a simple custom model

4© Optaros 2008. All rights reserved.

What Are Actions?

Actions are discrete “units of work” that can be executed against one or more objects

• Move• Check-in/Check-out• Copy• Add Aspect/Remove Aspect• Custom

Actions can be called from several different places• UI• Rules• Java & JavaScript• Workflow steps

Custom actions are written in Java• Action executer• Action handler (for actions that have user-configurable

parameters)

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Demo

Custom model XML & model context

Web client config XML

Configure a rule• Specialize the content type of HR documents

Show a custom action• Configure the “Move Replaced” action

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Tools & Tips

Models are implemented by writing XML and then telling Alfresco about it through Spring

Actions are implemented in Java• Nice way to encapsulate reusable content operations• Called from rules, the UI, JavaScript, workflow, web scripts, etc.

Rules are end-user configurable in the Explorer web client

• Rules fire regardless of the client• Rules can operate on documents as they enter a folder, when

they are updated, or as they leave

7© Optaros 2008. All rights reserved.

For More Information…

Alfresco Developer Guide• http://www.packtpub.com/alfresco-developer-guide/book

Alfresco Content Community• http://hosted4.alfresco.com/alfresco

Alfresco Forums• http://forums.alfresco.com

Alfresco Wiki• http://wiki.alfresco.com

Alfresco Blogroll• http://blogs.alfresco.com/planet/

ECM Architect• http://ecmarchitect.com

Optaros Home Page• http://www.optaros.com