Defining custom metadata types through CMIS.

[pieterdg]

Hi,

I'm wondering whether or not it's possible to have users define their own metadata types through the CMIS api. I was investigating the use of Aspects to define such metadata types, but I have only been able to get new types to work through the Spring XML configuration.

The metadata types are really simple, as they are simple lists of strings. It's just that  need to create new lists, and add and remove items from those lists.

I have been looking at the OpenCMIS library together with the Alfresco Aspects extension, but it is not clear to me how this can be achieved. Any pointers would therefore be greatly appreciated.

[fmui]

Hi,

There are two answers:

1) Creating new custom types through CMIS is not possible at this time because it is not part of the CMIS 1.0 standard.
This going to change with CMIS 1.1. The next revision of the standard will define type creation, modification and deletion.
The CMIS 1.1 specification will hopefully be completed in late summer and Alfresco will have an implementation shortly aft that.

2) You can set up a dynamic model through CMIS: http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Dynamic_Models
Create the model document with type "cm:dictionaryModel"  and set the property "cm:modelActive" to true.
This, of course, is Alfresco specific and will not work with other repositories.

- Florian

[pieterdg]

Hi fmui,

thanks for your answer, but I'm afraid the documentation concerning the Dynamic Models still don't provide me an answer. From what I've read, it seems that you need to supply XML definitions to update the models and restart the Alfresco instance every time you do so.

I'm looking for a way to achieve this through CMIS, without ever having to restart the server (it is used not only by my direct clients, but countless others as well). Basically, if some adds a type 'colors' and than adds 5 colors to that list, someone else must be able to retrieve those 5 colors, and select one.

[fmui]

Dynamic models don't require a restart. See the Wiki page:
"The dynamic model feature enables dynamic customisation of models without requiring a restart of the Alfresco server,…"

Just make sure you activate the model.

- Florian