Load metadata: technical/architectural implementation model

[redbull]

Hi all.
I've an external application that uses Alfresco as "repository".
An application database contains for each document the Alfresco node IDs and other application-specific information.
Now is time to load into Alfresco the application-specific information.
Before to start the implementation I need your opinion. Which is the best approach/programming model to read from the application database the information of each document and upload them as Alfresco metadata?
(write a java application that reads from db and adds custom metadata through java foundation API? Extend Alfresco and create a custom action that does the "metadata loading" job? Or….?)
I will appreciate your opinion
Thanks!

[patquinn]

Hi Redbull,

This might be an option.
Have a look at the Alfresco Bulk Importer: http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Bulk_Importer
Write a custom app that'll extract the data from the DB, creating xml files in the format expected by the bulk importer.

The bulk importer also handles importing the actual document content. By the sounds of your post, you already have the content in alfresco so there may be a customisation of the Bulk importer required to tell it to only import metadata.

Another option, which you hint at also, is to write a standalone app that reads the DB and writes to Alfresco. If I was doing this I'd use CMIS apis for connecting to and updating Alfresco content.

Make sure you have a copy of live to test whatever approach you go with.

Hope this helps,
Patrick

[redbull]

Thank you Patrick,
a really useful answer!