Managing Document Packages in Alfresco

[chrisw]

I have a couple of issues I would appreciate anyones input on as to how they can be handled, or if possible examples.

1. I'd like to use Alfresco as a repository for a CAD drawing management system (Pro/Engineer).  However, the CAD package has 100's of individual files for each drawing that I'd like to automatically manage as a set using version control in Alfresco.  I thought about the possiblity of creating a directory import such that I zip the directory into a single file and version that within Alfresco and automatcially unzip it when checked out.  The idea being that the user shouldn't have to worry about how we manage the CAD data-set within Alfresco, and the users don want to be bothered with trying to manage these files individually.

Any alternative/better solutions, examples of how otheres have managed it ?

2. At various times during the drawing life-cycle we need to generate documents for customer sign-off for a number of different CAD drawings.  These aren't the drawing files themselves, but generally PDF's that we generate of the drawings.  Currently, it is a time-consuming process to collect the files; print them off; generate a transmittal form listing all documents issued; and the courier them off.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to simply:

• select one, or usually more, documents (from different Spaces) and select a "Add to Client package"


• automatically generate a Transmittal form, with the list of documents issued


• complete any additional information/instructions on the transmittal form and select "Checkout package to Client"


• Zip all files into a single transmittal package, including a PDF of the transmittal form, and e-mail to the customer

Have you done something like this before?  I'd be really interested in how you've handled it, or any ideas you have on how it may be done.

[mlarkinmn]

I have a similar need for managing web based courses and a wide variety of training materials.  I want to be able to manage this at the course level not the file level as some courses have up to 100 components.  Any advice would also be appreciated as this is becoming increasing important with a large group of customers who struggle with this material daily.  Currently I am looking for a way to manage 219 couses comprising 9152 folders containing 127,335 files.
It's a fortune 100 company and this is just a subset of the problem.

[vidya_r]

We have a similar requirement to use Alfresco as an LCMS. We have courses as folders with different types of contents and we want to be able to provide workflow for the whole folder. One of our main requirement is also to preview these courses in the respective course launcher during review. For this the course zips needs to be extracted. Can web services be used here for achieving this? Has anyone tried this before?

[tompos]

Has anyone made any progress with this.  I have a similar need to approve documents as a package.

Thank you,
David

[zaizi]

This functionality is actually available out of the box in Alfresco. Multi-lingual versions of a document can be managed as an edition (or package). This will of course need to be customised. Technically it is possible.