The Problem

More and more organizations are realizing that custom web applications are required for their different business units and business goals, and although there may be many applications, there is still only one central repository for the information. The problem is how the organization can quickly deploy a number of applications that integrate with the central repository.  The answer is OpenContent, an easy to use web service layer that can be used to uniformly communicate with Documentum from any number of web or command based applications.

For Documentum customers, the need for Web Services can fall into several categories:

• The need to "Documentum enable" existing applications
• The need to simplify Documentum development efforts
• The need to isolate Documentum interface components
• The need to isolate Documentum specifics to provide flexibility and reuse to additional content repositories

The Solution - OpenContent

OpenContent is an Open Source service layer created in both .Net and Java.  TSG has attained a wealth of knowledge for developing Documentum Web Services based on experience with multiple clients using SOA-based architecture. The purpose for building a set of Web Services for Documentum is to provide an Open Source framework that clients can use to jump-start their development of an enterprise application environment where Documentum components can be isolated from application business, and display logic and can be re-used amongst multiple applications.

Portal applications like SharePoint (read our white paper comparing the different soultions to integrate Documentum with SharePoint), BEA, and IBM's Websphere are tools that allow users to collaborate.  The different pages and personalization features allow groups to be created dynamically to share documents and knowledge.  The down side is that you information is no longer stored on the enterprise systems.  Many companies are adopting a two-tier approach; the first is group level document sharing used while collaborating while the second tier stores completed documents in the ECM system.  This can create a problem for users needing to use two systems to access all their relevant documents.

OpenContent allows developers to build Documentum based portlets or webparts for their Portals without understanding Documentum's API.  By simpley using the web services provided, the application can log users into Documentum, search for documents, display documents, copy documents, etc. And because TSG has developed the web services in both Java and .Net, the developers can work in the environment that they feel the most comfortable in. (See demos on the side)

How it Works - High Level Summary

There are currently five OpenContent services, and more are in development.

1. Authentication Services  – The Authentication Service validates a user's login credentials and starts a Documentum session.  Documentum session information is stored per user in persistent memory within the Web Services environment.  Session information is cleared from memory upon user logout or after a configurable expiration period.
2. Query Service – The Query Service performs a simple query returning a list of Documentum object ids, or a complex query returning multiple columns of data.  The service accepts either abstract search criteria as an input or a pre-formatted pass through query string.   
3. Content Service – The Content Service retrieves an object's content or properties from Documentum based on a given object id.
4. Extended Content Service – The Extended Content Service provides features for manipulating documents within the repository such as copy, move, etc.   
5. Repository Information – The Repository Information Service retrieves a list of document types in the specified docbase, retrieves custom attributes associated with a specified document type, or retrieves all attributes associated with a specified document type.

A sample search application is available along with the web services to demonstrate the web services' core functionality and to provide a starting point for application development efforts.

Download OpenContent >>