Automated File Naming

[yikki]

So I am considering using Alfresco for my companies file management. We are a small 50-100 engineering firm and SharePoint is just too large of an investment and just rather frustrating to research. (and I have never used C#)

Alfresco seems to provided everything we need, but I was wondering about automated folder layout and automated file naming. Would I be able to set something up that upon adding content to a folder the user would be prompted with a box asking what type of file this is, what discipline(electrical, mechanical etc.),what is in this document. Basically giving the user an interface to help with the naming of the file, but saving it in the format that I have predefined.

Is there something prebuilt that would do this, or could I build it with the Java API.

[angelborroy]

You can start with this addon https://addons.alfresco.com/addons/uploader-plus

It will allow you to define custom document types (according to your discipline or whatever) and tho show a dialog to require data to user every new file is uploaded.

[yikki]

What should I do if I want to keep a copy of my files in Windows Explorer for other use. Is this possible. Say I create a site and I want to take everything from that site (folders, and content) and send it to a spot in windows explorer.

[eswbitto]

You could setup alfresco on a windows server and then just create a shared drive to be able to use windows explorer. That way you could just use webdav to move or copy files back and forth from your shared drive to other parts of your network.

My assumption is that you want to have files live on alfresco, but maybe have a local copy of files or folders on your personal workstation for use. Is that what I'm understanding?

[yikki]

I want to be able to periodically backup these alfresco files. If something were to ever happen to Alfresco I would not be able to fetch my files and folders. If I could export to certain areas, like say I export a folder from alfresco and save it somewhere on the computer, now with a normal hierarchical structure, I could then easily find my folders and files if Alfresco became unusable.

[angelborroy]

Something like the Export Tool (https://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Export_and_Import)?

[yikki]

I believe I read that the export tool exports only in a format that can be used and opened by Alfresco. I believe it is a .acp file, which would be useless without Alfresco.

[douglascrp]

How about this tool?
http://cmissync.com/alfresco/