How does Alfresco translate to FileNet functionality?

[omermx]

Hi all, I have recently downloaded the latest version of Alfresco labs and am keen to develop a proof of concept for an application. I was hoping to get some quick answers without spending too much time trawling through documention! 

1. Does Alfresco support custom document types like in FileNet. For example I want to create a custom document type that will hold a customer record, it might just be a meta-data file without any attachments or it might be a custom folder type that holds documents relating to a customer. In FileNet for example I would use Enterprise Manager to define custom document/folder types and then use them later on. How do I create something like this in alfresco?

2. I like the flexability that is offered by web studio - would it allow me to create a site with forms that users can input details and then submit - resulting in a record being created in alfresco, perhaps as the custom type discussed above. In FileNet for example, I would use forms builder to create a form and then expose it in Workplace so that users could enter details and submit the form. Any ideas how this could be done in Alfresco?

This is pretty fundamental stuff, but any suggestions around how I can get my app off the ground would be welcome.

Cheers,
Omer

[vikrasharma]

Omer,

Alfresco is one of the most flexible and extensible ECM solutions out there, it has mostly all the features of FileNet and Documentum in addition to some extras.  As we all know different systems use different terminology so it becomes confusing etc.

One of the reasons to have different document types in FileNet is to have custom properties (meta-data), in Alfresco you can accomplish this (custom properties) a couple of ways:
- Custom aspect: you can create a custom aspect and have your additional properties there.  You can then attach this aspect to a space (folder) using business rules to capture this data when document gets uploaded in that space (meta-data)
- Custom content types: By default Alfresco comes with content type (base type) you can extend this to create you own type.

Both of these customizations can be accomplished by extending model.

Please let me know if this helps.  Also, let me know if you need examples for the above

[omermx]

Hi thanks for your response, this is a good starting point. I will definitely be in touch.

Omer