How to create a webpage in alfresco framework

[biswanath]

Hi
  i am new in alfresco framework.According to WCM_Eval_Guide2.0pdf i did the how to create webform and webproject.Now i am want to create webpage in alfresco framework .Plz anyone help me,its urgent.

With regards
Biswanath

[eyestreet]

Hi Biswanath,

I would love to help you out.  Can you give me a little more detail as to what you are trying to accomplish?  I am pretty sure that the pdf guide you reference walks you through the installation of an Alfresco Press Release xform and its related xsl transformation.  You should be able to use that form within your sandbox by doing a Create -> Create Web Content, selecting the Press Release from the dropdown and pushing next.

Is this what you were looking for, or are you after information about how you would go about placing your current web-site into a forms based management structure?  I am happy to help with either.

Brent Kastner
Eye Street

[biswanath]

Hi Brent Kastner,

Thankyou for reply. I want to develop a project for book publisher which involves blog, rss and other similar features. These features will be used by authors of the book to post few chapters of their work. As i am new to Alfresco framework please let me know how to start.

I would like to know the following:
1. Do i have to build my project first using any IDE (eclipse) and export my project as war file and next bulk import to Alfresco.
2. Is Alfresco web content management helps only to manage view model but not business logic.
3. Can i include Alfresco jar files in my eclipse web project. If yes how to find the jar files and where.

[eyestreet]

Hi Biswanath,

Ideally you would start this process with a working website to then "templatize" using xforms and workflows and what-not.  This is not to say that you cannot do a site-rebuild or re-design in conjunction with a content management effort, just realize that there will be more complexity and will result in a longer project.  When we sat down to build alfresco.com we did it in conjunction with a redesign and overhaul of the website.  If you take this approach, just make sure to build in extra time for changes as you go along.

Now to answer your questions.

1.) A war file is a convenient way to load a pre-existing content into Alfresco.  Another method that you can consider is via ZIP file.  I find when I am working and developing a WCM solution that ZIP is easier and more compatible with my development station, so it is my preference.  But you can choose what you are comfortable with.

2.) I could envision a solution where Alfresco could manage business logic via a Forms interface.  This might be a good integration solution in the future for Alfresco as many rules engines (at least commercial, and OpenSource ones) do take their direction from XML.  You could then use an xform to capture the business rules (you would need to strictly define the changeable ones of course), run them through an XSLT or FTL transform and drop the XML in the place where the rules engine is expecting it. 

Another option, available now, is to use a commercially or OpenSource available rules engine and just use Alfresco WCM to load content and it's associated metadata (what is required to drive the rules).

That said, right now, Alfresco WCM does lend itself very well to the presentation side.

3.) The only jar files that I have needed to use (and used them to build Alfresco.com) are contained in the virtual-tomcat, common, lib.  You should only need to include these in your Eclipse project.  Do not build them into your web project.  If you export your web-project and need alfresco functions (like the avm) then copy those jars out to the tomcat server in its common lib directory as well.

Biswanath, I hope this helps.  Please ask me if you have any follow-up questions.

Brent Kastner

[goldy736]

hi,
     I need to create a  website under Web content Management in alfresco , which should be running dynamically ,What i have done  is , it with dream weaver using style sheet and all the pages are  connected dynamically using the buttons. Now i can call it all in alfresco by using  Web projects  under Web project -> DemoWCM (name of my website)->Website 'DemoWCM' sandbox 'admin' Root -> Sample3 (folder)-> All my html files for the website , .fla  ,  .swf , and  .css files   (I put all these file in sample3 folder using  create -> Add content )……And i changed the Permission for admin  for Read, Write, Delete.

Am using:
               Alfresco lab3c (c1342)

Now  doubt i have to be cleared is :

1, :?:  if i modify the text size or font in my .css file all the pages content should be changed since all are connected under same class file.which works fine when i see in browser but when not so in Alfresco , i modify the same .css file using the update  icon in alfresco  ,the modification is not taking place immediately ….after 15 or 20 minutes it is making the modification wen i refresh the entire Alfresco and sometimes it may not  .

:?:  I want the modification of content  to take place wen i update the file …. what should i do now ?

2. :?:  Most important question is …My Task is WEB CONTENT MANAGEMENT .i have brought all the .fla  ,  .swf , and  .css  files into websit under a folder one by one ,which may or may not be  correct way for Web Content Management .
:?: I need how to do WCM using WAR file. ? ? ?  ? :?:
i have  a WAR file and folder which i cannot import into Alfresco …..i tried it using  CREATE -> BULK IMPORT  but
it  shows  following    :
"
  Please correct the errors below then click OK.
A system error happened during the operation: Unable to process Zip file. File may not be of the expected format.
   
Uploaded Content
simplejsp.war   
  ZIP file contains high-byte filename characters such as Japanese, Chinese or Korean."


Please guide  me out

Thank you !