RepositoryService.describe

[tim-erwin]

Hello fellows,

I just recognized the function describe() in the RepositoryService. What can I use it for? I found out that (although "describe" sounds like a writing process) it gives me some more details of the predicate's aspects and associations. E.g.:

Type: Name:  {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}contentDesc:  Base Content ObjectTitle: ContentAspects: Name:  {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}titledDesc:  TitledTitle: TitledProperties:    {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}description   Desc:         Content Description   Title:        Description   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}mltext   DefaultValue: null   {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}title   Desc:         Content Title   Title:        Title   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}mltext   DefaultValue: nullName:  {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}auditableDesc:  AuditableTitle: AuditableProperties:    {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}modifier   Desc:         Who last modified this item   Title:        Modifier   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}text   DefaultValue: null   {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}modified   Desc:         When this item as last modified   Title:        Modified Date   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}datetime   DefaultValue: null   {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}creator   Desc:         Who created this item   Title:        Creator   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}text   DefaultValue: null   {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}accessed   Desc:         When this item was last accessed    Title:        Last Accessed Date   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}datetime   DefaultValue: null   {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}created   Desc:         Created Date   Title:        Created Date   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}datetime   DefaultValue: nullName:  {http://www.alfresco.org/model/system/1.0}referenceableDesc:  ReferenceableTitle: ReferenceableProperties:    {http://www.alfresco.org/model/system/1.0}node-uuid   Desc:         Node Identifier   Title:        Node Identifier   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}text   DefaultValue: null   {http://www.alfresco.org/model/system/1.0}node-dbid   Desc:            Title:        null   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}long   DefaultValue: null   {http://www.alfresco.org/model/system/1.0}store-protocol   Desc:         Store Protocol   Title:        Store Protocol   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}text   DefaultValue: null   {http://www.alfresco.org/model/system/1.0}store-identifier   Desc:         Store Identifier   Title:        Store Identifier   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}text   DefaultValue: nullName:  {http://www.alfresco.org/model/application/1.0}inlineeditableDesc:  Inline EditableTitle: Inline EditableProperties:    {http://www.alfresco.org/model/application/1.0}editInline   Desc:         Edit Inline   Title:        Edit Inline   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}boolean   DefaultValue: nullName:  {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}authorDesc:  AuthorTitle: AuthorProperties:    {http://www.alfresco.org/model/content/1.0}author   Desc:         Author   Title:        Author   Datatype:     {http://www.alfresco.org/model/dictionary/1.0}text   DefaultValue: null‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

How can this information be of value to me? I mean: what additional value does it have over get()? It seems it's just giving me the details of the content model or sth.

Many regards,
Tim-Erwin

[rwetherall]

Hi,

The describe method returns information about the content model definition of the items provided.  This can be used to determine wheter properties and associations can be set on a perticular node.

The get method returns information about a perticular instance of a node, ie the property and association values.

Have a look here for more information about the web service API http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Alfresco_Content_Management_Web_Services

Cheers,
Roy