Want to write a webclient with Alfresco at the backend

[awkhan]

Hi,

I am doing a prototype to create a website to allow users to upload files which will trigger some workflow.The site will do the following

1) A login page will allow registered users to login.The page will also allow unregistered users to register.
2) When a user registers, a user will be created with 2 pre-seeded folders "PERSONAL" and "PUBLIC".
3) User will have full access to "PERSONAL" folder and only READ access to "PUBLIC" folder.The backend system will upload documents to users "PUBLIC"folder.
4) User will not be able to create any more folder in the root.
5) User can upload any type of file in his "PERSONAL" folder.

I am bit confused about how should I go about it and need some direction.

I have following questions

1) Do I have to use Alfresco Content management system or Web content management system ?
2) Do I have to customize existing web client or should I write a new web client ?
3) In case I have to write a new webclient , Is there a document which takes me through the steps to achieve the same ?

Thanks in advance.Any help will be appreciated!!!

-arshad

[jpotts]

1) A login page will allow registered users to login.The page will also allow unregistered users to register.

If you go with the standard web client, you'll have to customize the login page to add a link to a user registration process. You'll have to write the code to handle user registrations. If you need more flexibility on the front-end you could use something like Liferay or JBoss Portal which would allow user registrations. The third option would be for you to write a completely custom client and your own login/registration logic. In any case, I'd recommend putting your users in an LDAP directory and then configuring Alfresco to authenticate against that.

2) When a user registers, a user will be created with 2 pre-seeded folders "PERSONAL" and "PUBLIC".

You could create a space template and then create the new folder using the space template. The advantage would be your permissions (and any rules you create) will already be set.

3) User will have full access to "PERSONAL" folder and only READ access to "PUBLIC" folder.The backend system will upload documents to users "PUBLIC"folder.
4) User will not be able to create any more folder in the root.

Point #3 is fine out-of-the-box. Point #4 may require you to tweak the roles a bit. I think anyone with write access (I assume that's what you mean by "full access") can also create folders.

5) User can upload any type of file in his "PERSONAL" folder.

They'll either do this through the Alfresco web client or you'll handle this with your own code leveraging one of the API's available (Web Services, REST, JCR).

1) Do I have to use Alfresco Content management system or Web content management system ?

This does not sound like a WCM solution to me. It sounds like either the out-of-the-box web client or a custom front-end with an Alfresco back-end.

2) Do I have to customize existing web client or should I write a new web client ?

I can't tell from your requirements. You haven't described anything that the web client can't do. The decision to write a custom client is going to be up to you and how your users need to interact with the system to get their job done.

3) In case I have to write a new webclient , Is there a document which takes me through the steps to achieve the same ?

If you decide to write a custom client, use a standard web application development approach. I'd recommend leveraging web scripts as the interface between your front-end and Alfresco but you could also use one of the other API's available. The Alfresco wiki, the source, and the javadocs are good references. You'll have to look elsewhere for references on more general web application development techniques and frameworks.

Jeff