Google Docs Integration Toolkit

[daniel_castro]

I am thinking about an integration toolkit using the API of Google Docs.
My idea on a first moment was allow a content inside the Alfresco to be edited online using Google Docs.

Any ideas about how to integrate it with the Alfresco?

[jurgisl]

Hi,

I recently thought about this idea too. Google Docs API contains all necessary functions to implement this feature.

Basic idea would be to add a new link in Document Details to Google Docs. This link would invoke file upload to Google Docs special "_alfresco" folder and open a link to uploaded document in Google Docs.

Ideal version would contain a custom space, that would list content from Google Docs repository inside Alfresco WebClient interface and allow to open these documents.

I was just now doing research on possibilities to create Custom Space types and Custom Actions to interface with Google API and found this post

Is there any progress with this toolkit?

And BTW, does Alfresco supports Custom Space types with custom content at all?

[mikef]

You can create custom types and aspects which can be used for both spaces and content. See  http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Data_Dictionary_Guide for details.

[jurgisl]

Yes, I how to modify the content model. But that is just a model. I want to attach completely custom content to a space. This content itself would not be stored in the repository but listed from another system (google). Just wanted to know if that's possible.

[claudio_martins]

Content to be managed by Alfresco should be within Alfresco's Repository.

[mikef]

I'm still not sure I understand your use case. But (I think) you need to define a custom space type (in the model) and provide a custom JSF based browse page. Here's an example of integrating a new editor http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Adding_an_Editor_Guide

[jurgisl]

Thanks, I'll check that out.

Use case is simple. If we want to edit documents stored in Alfresco repository from external network or just another computer, we have to have MS Word or OpenOffice installed. But basic idea would be to use GoogleDocs online editor to edit documents stored in Alfresco, as it is much more powerful than simple HTML WYSIWYG editor and can be accessed from everywhere.

More advanced version could simulate an Alfresco space, and allow access to documents stored in GoogleDocs trough Alfresco's interface (CIFS,Web client,etc). As there would still be some documents we would like to leave on GoogleDocs to collaborate with our clients, without giving them access to our internal Alfresco server. That would allow us to access GoogleDocs trough familiar Windows Explorer interface.

JSF based browse page would be accessible trough WebClient only, and CIFS would show  just an empty space (if it would show up at all), if I understand correctly. That could be one solution, but it would be much better if we could have a CIFS access too (but that might be too complex).

[ronb]

Hi,

Sorry for responding so late. I am currently trying to implement a custom editor for specific file types in Alfresco. But the link above discussing how to add an editor seems to be very old and partial.

Have you had any luck with this project so far? Do you know of anyone who has integrated a third party editor in Alfresco web UI?

Thanks,
Ron

[jurgisl]

Hi Ron,

No, unfortunately I had not moved further with this project, in the end it proved that we don't really need Google Docs integration. And Google Docs proved to be much too simplistic anyway.

Good luck with your project!
Jurgis

[mindthegab]

Hey guys,
since Alfresco 3.3 there's a beta integration with Google Docs,
check it out it's pretty cool

http://blogs.alfresco.com/wp/democast/2010/04/21/demo-integration-with-google-docs/

HTH!