Need robust repostory & API. Alfresco?

[jtcarm]

Hi,

Posted this in another forum, but I'll do the short version here:

I need a robust document repository from which I can integrate unstructured content with relational data in a suite of legacy workflow applications that span VB6 to .Net 2.0/AJAX.  The workflows/business processes are EXTREMELY document intensive, they resemble insurance policy issuance/mortgage approval, but with more docs from more different sources.

Currently, what digital assets we have are in an Oracle 9i db (blobs), stored with structured data.  While this isn't an ideal situation and I want to the documents out of the DB (plus automate the paper ones), integrity is quite good since the structured and unstructured data + metadata are in the same place (though RI is spotty, at best).  So what I'd like to do is get the docs into a repository from which I can index/retrieve by the same keys as the structured data, and have this transparent to the user in their legacy application, which could be VB6 or Asp.net 2.0.  Is this feasible?

I'm in the process of an ECM needs assessment and document inventory, but there's no doubt the pain points of document-centric business processes implemented in legacy apps will have to be attacked first.

Thanks!

[mrogers]

I don't see what you are asking for in your posting. 

Yes Alfresco will suit your needs.  

However this forum is not a sales channel.   If you need a more formal reply to your requirements,  please contact Alfresco directly http://www.alfresco.com/about/contact/

[jtcarm]

1. Robust content repository that can serve up unstructured content like a relational DB.  Lots of indexing.
2. Transparent integration of unstructured content into legacy apps including VB6 and Asp.Net 2.0.

A sales rep contacted me shortly after I registered on the site in 11/08.  I replied back, but he has not responded.

[mrogers]

Yes Alfresco is a robust content repository that will allow you to store your metadata.     It is proven to work in some extreme environments.  

The legacy applications  must have some linkage to your oracle database.   And while I'm sure the query into Alfresco will be very similar, at the end of the day it will not be an oracle query with Oracle's blob handling so something will need to change.     If the interfaces are fairly clean then the change will be small.    

At the back of my mind is a possibly/probably wacky idea :idea:  that you may be able to get Oracle to call Alfresco, so your legacy apps would not need to change at all.    It will rather depend upon how your Legacy apps are coded.

[jtcarm]

Thank you, thank you, that's what I'm looking for!

I don't expect that level of transparency, I have no problem with modifying the legacy apps under the hood to use the Alfresco repository in lieu of Oracle, I was just concerned about the robustness of the indexing and the API to associate the unstructured documents with the Oracle data.  This needs to be transparent only to the users, some of these folks have been doing the same thing with the same apps for 10+ years, we can only take baby steps with regards to changing business processes or user experience.

BTW, emailed the territory manager again and got what looks like an automated reply.  Any tips who I should contact?

[zaizi]

Take your pick: http://www.alfresco.com/partners/si/