topic Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share in Alfresco Archive

Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

ingdade — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:19:42 GMT

Hello to everybody, i'm testing alfresco share becouse i'm searching to implement a new feature.In simple word i need to display documents and edit metadata (reading from the document) in the same page.I saw that it's possible to do it with SHARE but only for standard metadata.It's possible to exten

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

jbarmash — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:21:41 GMT

There is currently no out of the box extension mechanism to display / edit custom metadata in Share. That's planned and being implemented in the next couple of months, but the developers didn't get this released yet. (It will be pat of the new Forms Service).

However, if you have metadata you need to display / edit, you can use the Share components as a base to start with, and extend Surf / Share as needed. It's a bit more cumbersome than it should be, but once again, we are working on improving this in the next few months.

Here is documentation.

http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Categoryurf_Platform

There are also webinars that you can view on demand introducing Surf.

http://www.alfresco.com/about/events/ondemand/

Hope this helps!

jean

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

ingdade — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:03:05 GMT

ok, thank you very much for the tips.
I will study documentation you linked.

But I have an other question: What I need is edit custom metadata readinf from the images I already uploaded from CIFS.

Extend Alfresco is the best, and the fastest, way to get it?

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

jbarmash — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:27:29 GMT

If you upload an image through CIFS, you can use Alfresco explorer to edit the metadata of that image. If the metadata is inside the image (EXIF, etc), you can extract it using this forge project:
https://forge.alfresco.com/projects/iptc-exif/

By the way, keep in mind that you can always use Alfresco Explorer to edit your metadata - that' UI has standard way to make that available - it's only share that doesn't yet.

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

ingdade — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:43:01 GMT

mmm, i did'nt understand.

For Alfresco Explorer do you mean the normal web client that i reach from http://localhost/alfresco?

I dont use EXIF image file.
I will explain better my need:
1) I have to upload through CIFS several images captured by scanner or digital camera. (images are documents like certificates or invoices)
2) I have to insert some custom metadata (N°, customer, address, ecc) that i have to read from the image I uploaded

So my need is to have in the same screen the image and a form to insert metadata.

Using web client i have no this possibility and I have to make some customization. What i have to understand is the best way to do it.
What about modify web client?

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

protenus — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:06:03 GMT

Any pointers on where to get started for adding custom metadata to the document-info page?
Have studied surf documentation.

It looks like share doesnt use the standard "connect" mechanism to get the document data.

Would we need to extend the document-info.js and ftls and connect to alfresco directly from the document-info components?

There is currently no out of the box extension mechanism to display / edit custom metadata in Share. That's planned and being implemented in the next couple of months, but the developers didn't get this released yet. (It will be pat of the new Forms Service).

However, if you have metadata you need to display / edit, you can use the Share components as a base to start with, and extend Surf / Share as needed. It's a bit more cumbersome than it should be, but once again, we are working on improving this in the next few months.

Here is documentation.

http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Categoryurf_Platform

There are also webinars that you can view on demand introducing Surf.

http://www.alfresco.com/about/events/ondemand/

Hope this helps!

jean

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

protenus — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:27:30 GMT

Well, just updated to HEAD.

And I see there has been quite a bit of progress on the custom metadata display!!

Yipee!!

Now Get

"No configuration found for node type XXXXXXX"

Any documentation, advice or insite where to map the custom types, reading code now, but thats gonna take a while

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

mikeh — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:20:37 GMT

As I posted on the thread you bumped, we're currently in the middle of updating HEAD with the new Forms service. This will allow custom metadata viewing and editing - but it's a few weeks off completion yet.

Thanks,
Mike

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

protenus — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:23:33 GMT

Have been working intensely on the HEAD version, looks good, we have been trying to get the metadata editing to be "inline".

Is that planned?

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

mikeh — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:28:39 GMT

Not for the majority of metadata no (there are some thoughts about very simple stuff like name and maybe description, but that's all).

The problem with making everything editable inline is how you manage repository-based constraints, validation, multi-valued properties - and that's just off the top of my head. It's not really feasible for all possible data types.

Mike

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

protenus — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:04:21 GMT

yes, those are the problems we are facing looking at that.

Although it does not seem to difficult to work around, as we can see the ajax methods provided allow for success and failure postback configurations, that could be used with the messeging system to provide very basic "can"/"cant" error messaging. For some reason we can not convince that form to do an ajax post, even with basic custom data types like num, etc.

We can "fake" inline by using a pop-up to submit the form to the web script in a standard way, then we were thinking of extending the built in web script to provide slightly prettier output, and add a self closing js to it.

Its a hack, but our users are looking for speedy entry.

Also, we have refactored the mytasks code to dynamically display workflow transitions and on click to immediately display the next document which has a workflow attached to it.This allows for volume processing of documents in the document details page, which really makes the share platform a great interface for financial document processing.

We have also added "next/previous" functionality which loads the next document in the folder, similar to what the explorer interface does.
Its all pretty hacky, but eliminates at least 4 or 5 clicks when processing multiple documents.

Thanks for your replies, and great work! As a nearly decade long implementer of sharepoint solutions, I am now completely convinced that alfresco is the future of Document/Process management solutions.

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

mikeh — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:45:26 GMT

One other problem with inline edit we came across (that I've just remembered) is adding and removing aspects - and dealing with mandatory values. Inline edit tends to submit each field in turn, which the underlying model may not allow. Anyway, it sounds like you're on top of it.

Your other modifications sounds very interesting - are you in a position to contribute them back? You'd obviously get full credit for the additions.

Thanks,
Mike

P.S. Many thanks for recognising all the hard work our teams have put into Share - I'll pass it on!

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

baby77 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:18:23 GMT

Hey
i need more informations how to display my metadata in share. I found source under projects/web-framework-commons/config/alfresco/web-framework-config-commons.xml. Can i copy this file and in forms tag just add my metadata and rename it to web-framework-config-custom.xml and copy it to tomcat/webapps/share/WEB-INF/classes/alfresco.
<form>
            <field-visibility>
               <<show id="mm:firstName" for-mode="view" />
               <show id="mm:lastName" for-mode="view" />
             </field-visibility>
</form>

Is this right or not?
Tnx in advance.

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

baby77 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:34:53 GMT

Hay
i succeed to add my metadata on pdf document.In folder share/WEB-INF/classes/alfresco/site-webscripts/org/alfresco/components/document-details is file document-info which have default metadata.But the problem now is that my metadata fields arent automatically completed with values like defaults are.
Can someone please help me how to do that, give me some instruction?
In web client u have icon modify and there u can simply add your values.How is these solved in share?

Thanks.

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

pim — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:46:04 GMT

Hi,

Here is a link with an answer to the original question: http://edlovesjava.blogspot.com/2009/07/alfresco-forms-engine-customization.html.

Good luck! (It is actually very simple).

Pim.

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

mikeh — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:16:09 GMT

Full Forms wiki page here (with examples linked): http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Forms

Thanks,
Mike

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

sselvan — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:13:21 GMT

I have the following web-framework-config-custom.xml in shared/classes/alfresco/web-extension folder

<alfresco-config>
   <!– Document Library config section –>
   <config evaluator="string-compare" condition="DocumentLibrary" replace="true">

      <!–
         Whether the folder Tree component should enumerate child folders or not.
         This is a relatively expensive operation, so should be set to "false" for Repositories with broad folder structures.
      –>
      <tree>
         <evaluate-child-folders>false</evaluate-child-folders>
      </tree>

      <!–
         Used by the "Manage Aspects" action

         For custom aspects, remember to also add the relevant i18n string(s)
            cm_myaspect=My Aspect
      –>
      <aspects>
         <!– Aspects that a user can see –>
         <visible>
            <aspect name="cm:generalclassifiable" />
            <aspect name="cm:complianceable" />
            <aspect name="cm:dublincore" />
            <aspect name="cm:effectivity" />
            <aspect name="cm:summarizable" />
            <aspect name="cm:versionable" />
            <aspect name="cm:templatable" />
            <aspect name="cm:emailed" />
            <aspect name="emailserver:aliasable" />
            <aspect name="cm:taggable" />
         </visible>

         <!– Aspects that a user can add. Same as "visible" if left empty –>
         <addable>
         </addable>

         <!– Aspects that a user can remove. Same as "visible" if left empty –>
         <removeable>
         </removeable>
      </aspects>

      <!–
         Used by the "Change Type" action

         Define valid subtypes using the following example:
            <type name="cm:content">
               <subtype name="cm:mysubtype" />
            </type>

         Remember to also add the relevant i18n string(s):
            cm_mysubtype=My SubType
      –>
      <types>
         <type name="cm:content">
            <subtype name="cm:mycontentsubtype" />
         </type>

         <type name="cm:folder">
            <subtype name="cm:myfoldersubtype" />
         </type>
      </types>
   </config>

<config evaluator="node-type" condition="cm:content">
   <forms>
      <form>
    <field-visibility>
            <show id="cm:name" />
            <show id="cm:title" force="true" />
            <show id="cm:description" force="true" />
            <show id="mimetype" />
            <show id="cm:author" force="true" />
            <show id="size" for-mode="view" />
            <show id="cm:creator" for-mode="view" />
            <show id="cm:created" for-mode="view" />
            <show id="cm:modifier" for-mode="view" />
            <show id="cm:modified" for-mode="view" />

        <!– cm:effectivity aspect –>
            <show id="cm:from"/>
            <show id="cm:to"/>

      <!– MediaHub aspect –>
            <show id="hub:captionWho" for-mode="edit"/>
            <show id="hub:captionWhat" for-mode="edit"/>

         <!– dublin core –>

            <show id="cm:publisher" for-mode="edit"/>
            <show id="cm:contributor" for-mode="edit"/>
            <show id="cm:type" for-mode="edit"/>
            <show id="cm:identifier" for-mode="edit"/>
            <show id="cm:dcsource" for-mode="edit"/>
            <show id="cm:coverage" for-mode="edit"/>
            <show id="cm:rights" for-mode="edit"/>
            <show id="cm:subject" for-mode="edit"/>
         </field-visibility>

         <appearance>
         <field id="cm:from" label="From"/>
         <field id="cm:to" label="To"/>

         <field id="hub:captionWho" label="Caption Who"/>
         <field id="hub:captionWhat" label="Caption What"/>


            <set id="dublin-core" appearance="panel" template="/custom-set-dublincore.ftl" />
            <field id="cm:publisher" set="dublin-core" label="Publisher"/>
            <field id="cm:contributor" set="dublin-core"  label="Contributor"/>
            <field id="cm:type" set="dublin-core"  label="Type"/>
            <field id="cm:identifier" set="dublin-core"  label="Identifier"/>
            <field id="cm:dcsource" set="dublin-core"  label="DC Source"/>
            <field id="cm:coverage" set="dublin-core"  label="Coverage"/>
            <field id="cm:rights" set="dublin-core"  label="Rights"/>
            <field id="cm:subject" set="dublin-core"  label="Subject"/>

         </appearance>
      </form>
   </forms>
</config>
</alfresco-config>‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

I have custom-set-dublincore.ftl under web-extension/site-webscripts/ folder

<#if form.fields["cm:publisher"]??>
    <#if form.mode == "view">
        <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:publisher"] />
        <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:contributor"] />
        <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:type"] />
        <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:identifier"] />
        <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:dcsource"] />
        <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:coverage"] />
        <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:rights"] />
        <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:subject"] />
    <#else>
        <div class="yui-g">
            <div class="yui-u first">
                <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:publisher"] />
            </div>
            <div class="yui-u">
                <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:contributor"] />
            </div>
        </div>
        <div class="yui-g">
            <div class="yui-u first">
                <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:type"] />
            </div>
            <div class="yui-u">
                <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:identifier"] />
            </div>
        </div>
        <div class="yui-g">
            <div class="yui-u first">
                <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:dcsource"] />
            </div>
            <div class="yui-u">
                <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:coverage"] />
            </div>
        </div>
        <div class="yui-g">
            <div class="yui-u first">
                <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:rights"] />
            </div>
            <div class="yui-u">
                <@formLib.renderField field=form.fields["cm:subject"] />
            </div>
        </div>
        
        <div style="clear: both;"></div>
    </#if>
</#if>
‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

I am not able to see any difference in Share user interface at all! I have spent so much time, but could not figure out.
I have been using http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Forms_Examples#Providing_A_Custom_Set_Template and http://edlovesjava.blogspot.com/2009/07/alfresco-forms-engine-customization.html, but I am not able to shake anything in Share, though Alfresco interface shows up with new attributes, since I edited web-client-config-custom.xml.

If someone can tell me what is that I am missing. I have followed all the procedures mentioned in the links above, but no new metadata is showing in Share. FYI - I am trying to get only dublin-core metadata fields and effectivity aspect metadata fields. Nothing special.

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

sselvan — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:19:51 GMT

By the way, I am using Alfresco Enterprise 3.2 version.

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

loftux — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:24:50 GMT

@sselvan
Maybe this can give you a hint, just posted this blog post http://loftux.se/en/2010/02/11/alfresco-forms-for-share/

Re: Display and edit custom metadata in Alfresco Share

sselvan — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:38:05 GMT

Thanks a lot Loftux. This was very very useful. Specifying "aspects" separately was the key to the solution.

For all others - in addition to the above blog by Loftux - please make sure you have the appropriate aspects applied in Alfresco to your particular Sites or documentLibrary spaces.
This was one of the things I missed too.