Miguel,
Kofax uses a number of modules to process scanned images, the last module to be called is a Release module. It is the Release module (or 'Release Script') that decides the format of document and data to be exported to external systems. An XML Release script would produce a document and an XML document, but there are also Database Release scripts, text file release scripts, etc.
There is an Alfresco Release Script available with the Enterprise version of Alfresco (3.2+). Assuming use of that release script I'll answer your questions:
-Is it possible to grab those pairs of files and import their metadata automatically into alfresco?
Answer > Yes - in that it is possible to get the file and its metadata directly into Alfresco. There is no extra XML file with the Alfresco Release Script, the data is added directly to the document.
-is it possible to have those files be directly saved onto an alfresco folder and the metadata content automatically processed?
Answer > Yes. In the Release Script configuration screen you can map data in Kofax to metadata in Alfresco and choose an alfresco folder destination. That Alfresco folder can be generated dynamically based on metadata.
-Does it require the new content types to be coded into alfresco or does it capture the metadata without the custom models being needed?
Answer > It depends. You can use the out of the box model to capture data. It would probably be more beneficial to have a custom model in Alfresco and use that custom model for documents coming from Kofax.
-if those are possible, what would be the normal process to set it up?
Answer > There are a couple levels of set up; Kofax and Alfresco. Kofax requires you to set up a Batch that has (at a minimum) a 'Scan' and 'Release' configuration. To configure the 'Release' to export documents you would have to set up the Alfresco Release Script. This is both an AMP on your Alfresco server, and a client-side install on the Kofax machine. Once installed you configure the Alfresco Release Script within Kofax to choose the folder destination, the content type, and the appropriate metdata mapping. The Enterprise Administration document includes detailed instructions on the setup.
I hope that helps. Good luck!
