As part of three recent production Documentum client rollouts, TSG will be releasing a completely updated version of OpenAnnotate during May. This post will share an updated screen cam in our learning zone as well as highlight the goals and accomplishments of OpenAnnotate.
OpenAnnotate Overview
OpenAnnotate was created based on TSG internal proof-of-concept efforts at TSG back in 2010. The issue we wanted to explore was the difficulty our clients had in supporting and deploying annotation solutions that were heavily “client machine” driven. Basically, making sure that client-side software was correctly configured was and continues to be a support issue for many clients. TSG, having been a long-time Documentum implementation resource, had experience with Brava, Snowbound, Annodoc and PDF Annotation Services. Given our client’s request for additional users associated with extranet solutions, OpenAnnotate was developed as a free thin client tool that allows users to review and annotate PDF documents directly within their web browsers. From our original post, OpenAnnotate targeted:
- No Client Machine Dependencies – complete Thin Client Browser based solution
- Leverages Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Systems (Documentum and Alfresco)
- Secures Document Distribution – can restrict print or download the document
- Integrates with Documentum Webtop or HPI (add link)
- No Licensing Costs
New Features
As part of our new release, OpenAnnotate has been enhanced to allow:
- Compatibility with Adobe Annotation format XFDF Specification
By focusing on XFDF, OpenAnnotate can be leveraged for production of PDF output as well as leveraged an extension to Documentum PDF Annotation Services consistent with other Documentum annotation products. Please check out our updated screencam of how OpenAnnotate can work with PDF Annotation services “out of the box”.
- More Browser Support
In our initial version, we relied on Google Web Toolkit but found, due to certain customizations, that our version only work on Internet Explorer. For our rewrite, we updated to jQuery and Dojo which gives us complete cross-browser support for Internet Explorer, Mozilla FireFox, Google Chrome and Apple Safari.
- Drawing Support
Our initial version only provided sticky notes and bookmarks. New version supports circle/ellipse, line, rectangle and arrow. Any of the shapes can be commented on without a sticky note (consistent with Adobe)
- Higher Performance
For the new version, we cache content for all users to provide quicker response time.
Look for the download to be available soon complete with Documentum Webtop connector. Please let us know any of your thoughts below.
Paras Jethwani says
Any plans on making OpenAnnotate available as a ‘Viewer’ within TaskSpace – as an open source alternative to PAS or Daeja or Brava?
regards
– Paras
Paras Jethwani says
Another follow up questions
How does authentication work in OpenAnnotate to identify the same user in OpenAnnotate and PAS? – is it linked to Documentum or AD?
regards
– Paras
TSG Dave says
Paras,
We haven’t had anyone ask for that yet. Current proects have been Webtop and our own HPI. Will look at it in the future.
Dave
Gautam Amin says
Hi Paras,
When OpenAnnotate is integrated with Webtop, we utilize the already established DFC session. Integration with AD would be taken care of through the repository as described in the content server documentation.
Gautam
Michael says
Hello,
Is there a plan to integrate OpenAnnotate with TaskSpace now? (september 2014)
As it is a war file, can we “easily” use it against a custom web application based on DFC/DFS? Is there an API?
Up to how many users can be connected to the OpenAnnotate instance at a same time? Is there performance issues?
Any clue and advice are more than welcome 🙂
Michael says
In addition to my question, I am also wondering whether there is any limitation regarding the operating system and/or the application server?
benallenallen says
Michael,
The integration to TaskSpace has not yet been completed, but the integration would be fairly straightforward. We just completed integrations with CARA and Alfresco Share for clients, and the only thing to do is popup a new window with the proper URL and objectId.
Ex: http://SERVERNAME:PORT/OpenAnnotate/viewer.htm?docId=0000000000000000
We have clients that have load balanced OpenAnnotate in the past, so it is very possible to scale for some of our very large concurrent user bases.
OpenAnnotate can run on any Application Server that supports Java webapps. We have it running at clients with both Windows, Unix, and Linux. It is also running on Tomcat, WebSphere, WebLogic, Jetty, and JBoss at various clients.
Michael says
For other future users:
some answers are present in the page: https://www.tsgrp.com/2011/05/06/documentum-annotations-%E2%80%93-openannotate-as-an-open-source-alternative/#comment-101819
and in github: https://github.com/tsgrp/OpenAnnotate/wiki
Brian Yue says
Where can I download the OpenAnnotate for D2?
Ben Allen says
Brian – we offer OpenAnnotate as visible source to clients who are currently engaged with us or have licensed OpenAnnotate with a support subscription. If you are interested in OpenAnnotate, or would like to schedule a live demo, please don’t hesitate to reach out to inquiry@tsgrp.com to set something up.