Recently TSG worked with an Alfresco client that had unique requirements around document and folder security. In addition to traditional ACL security, the client needed the ability to tag documents with metadata that would deny users access to content unless they were members of a particular group. This post will focus on our approach for addressing the security requirements in Alfresco. ... [Continue Reading]
Hadoop – OpenContent/HPI Product Plans
The first step in supporting all of the TSG products on Hadoop is building our OpenContent REST Web Services layer to access Hadoop in the same manner we access Documentum, Alfresco and other content management systems. This post will present our plans and timelines for OpenContent along with associated TSG solutions. ... [Continue Reading]
Auto-Numbering Content in Alfresco
To continue our series of posts highlighting common design patterns that we see in many Alfresco implementations (see previous posts on Auto-Filing and Data List-Drive Value Assistance, this post will focus on another Alfresco module package (AMP) that TSG has developed that provides a configurable way to automatically number content with a unique numbering sequence upon creation. ... [Continue Reading]
Alfresco Data List-Driven Value Assistance
Although content modeling in Alfresco is very flexible and configurable, one of the issues that we run into when setting up repositories for clients is the lack of the ability for business users to manage value assistance lists. Value assistance is a term that we use to describe the lists of options that show up in dropdown and multi-select controls in the user interface on the edit properties and search screens. This post will describe a module that we’ve developed to utilize the data list ... [Continue Reading]
Documentum to Portal Consistency Checker – Proof of Concept
TSG has several clients using Documentum as a repository and a custom front end application for consumption of the records or renditions of records. In most cases there is a mechanism in place such as SCS (Site Caching Services) or TSG’s OpenMigrate PUMA (See CIS Case Study for more details). While a typical Documentum application (ex: Webtop) provides a “one stop shop” for authors and approvers, the interface can be challenging when “consumers” are just looking for quick search and ... [Continue Reading]
Documentum Transformation Services (DTS) – Alternative Approaches with Adobe LiveCycle and OpenOffice
Since the very first Momentum (1996 in a very windy Miami), the Documentum user community has pushed for a more reliable means to convert mostly Microsoft office documents into PDF. Back then, during a wrap-up luncheon, the feedback on AutoRender ( a previous incarnation of DTS) was anything but positive. Similar to some complaints today, some of the main complaints included: Having to monitor/reboot the AutoRender Server throughout the day Unreliable PDF Transformation ... [Continue Reading]
Documentum Full Text Search with Lucene – Honoring ACL Security
The last post discussed the results of an HPI Lucene Search test compared to a Webtop FAST Search as part of a proof of concept for a client looking to provide a consumer interface. As we have often mentioned on this forum, we continually see clients looking for a better search interface than Webtop, as well as some content cached outside of Documentum for business continuity, performance, and licensing. One accurate comment raised by the post was that our comparison of HPI/Lucene against a ... [Continue Reading]
Documentum Search – Lucene versus FAST
As mentioned in a previous article, many clients are moving to away from FAST in preparation for the eventual release of Documentum Search Services (DSS) slated for release in June that leverages the open source product, Apache Lucene. This post will share the results from one client that executed a proof of concept test to compare the two search engines. Proof of Concept Approach - As we have mentioned before, many clients have decided to implement an external cache outside of Documentum to ... [Continue Reading]
Thin Client Annotation tool uses Google Web Toolkit
As part of our design and development for our Thin-Client annotation tool, we decided to combine the Google Web Toolkit (GWT) and Flex as the main implementation technologies. GWT is a relatively new set of open source tools that allows you to create and maintain front-end JavaScript applications in Java. This means that the front end code is written in Java that is compiled by GWT into optimized JavaScript that works across all major browsers. Eliminating handwritten JavaScript can greatly ... [Continue Reading]
Documentum Annotations – TSG View of the different solutions
With the upgrade to D6.5, many of our clients are reconsidering their annotation choices. This blog post will address some of the annotation product choices based on our experience, as well as our internal development efforts on our Free Viewer Tool that is based on a thin client with Adobe Flex and support for viewing and basic annotation capabilities. Definition –this entry is referring to “annotation” as a mark-up “layer” on top of the document. Redline changes (like Word track changes) ... [Continue Reading]
Documentum Upgrade – Inplace or Migration
For many Documentum customers, deciding how to upgrade a Documentum system often boils down to whether or not to upgrade in-place with a clone or just leave the environment alone and upgrade it in-place on the existing hardware. This year, I worked with a client on a project to explore the differences between upgrading several Documentum systems in place versus migrating the documents straight to a new 6.5 installation. Many of the in-place upgrade complexities were due to the older database and ... [Continue Reading]
Documentum Upgrade – High Volume Server – A Basic Understanding
Documentum High Volume Server (HVS) is a new product designed to cut database space usage in Documentum 6.5 by a third or even up to one half depending on the type of content. Given the significantly reduced database size, overall performance should increase. This year TSG evaluated HVS for a client as part of a Documentum Upgrade. (See other thoughts in our Documentum Upgrade Planning Guide ) HVS – When to use it Basically, HVS was developed to efficiently store non-changing static or ... [Continue Reading]
Documentum Open Source Software
In talking with a new client last week, the client asked “Why do you do Open Source software for Documentum, a commercial software package?” As the only long-term Documentum partner to offer all of our software as Open Source, we get that question often. I thought I would use this entry to explain our strategy and how our clients affect our software development efforts. Form and Workflow Extensions – the beginning of our Open Source Efforts In 2001, we began creating what eventually ... [Continue Reading]
TSG Labs – Customizing Documentum's CenterStage Pro
TSG recently had the privilege of test driving and customizing Documentum’s new collaboration solution, CenterStage Pro. CenterStage Pro is a next-generation collaboration tool and features a sleek new interface that does away with Documentum’s traditional WDK front ends. To become familiar with the inner workings of CenterStage, we experimented with customizing the application to allow users to access our Active Wizard routing and approval tool. This is a common customization we see with many ... [Continue Reading]
Annotation Services
An important part of an ECM platform is the ability to collaborate on your content, in creation, review, or approval. In many businesses this means annotations on documents that you are reviewing. TSG has built a proof of concept application that allows users to add notes to a document using flex interface. That means no "special" software needed on the client machines. We built the application using TSG's OpenContent web services that it can run on a number of different platforms including ... [Continue Reading]
