Add Contentless metadata in alfresco

[ojio_bis]

I have a use case where I have a articletype as meta data for an content article.
This meta-data is not a fixed one and I need to some screens to manage this(create/read/update/delete)
I see there are three ways here.
1, Design lookup values for a piece of metadata in the content model as a typed list(Constraint).
2, One way to design is to store the articletype in relational world.
3, Model this meta data as content-less content model

The first solution will be less flexible as this meta-data needs to be managed. The second is simple and straight forward.
But I was planning to see if I can model this as content-less content model.

My Question is what will be option in alfreso web client / share to create screens to manage this model (with/without customising).

Can ECM forms can be used in this case?

[jck]

Yes, you can design contentless metata in Alfresco.

But you can also take advantages of ECM and RDBMS in the same time. The open source SIDE-Labs project provides exactly this feature among other to develop CRM based on Alfresco.

The open source SIDE-Labs project, which is a set of graphical tools and server extensions for Alfresco developers, enables you to design your content types and generate automatically the content model on Alfresco. Then, an extension server provided with SIDE-Labs, enables you to use also a RDBMS to store all your metadata, without designing another content type or developing anything more.

How does it work? When a content (or contentless metadata) is inserted in Alfresco, a policy is triggered which copies Alfresco metadata in a shadow RDBMS, with a table for each content type. This gives you in fact a SQL view of Alfresco besides CIFS, FTP, WebDAV, http,… and enables you to write reports very easily, with SQL joins or whatever you want.

From our point of view, modern applications combine content and highly structured data (metadata) and it is a growing trend in a digitalizing society.

There will be a SIDE-Labs webinar with the 8/12/2009. You can find more information on Alfresco at http://www.alfresco.com/about/events/2009/12/bluexml_webinar/.

You can also find some information on SIDE-Labs (http://www.side-labs.org)

HTH,

JC

[ojio_bis]

Thanks a lot for the reply  JC. I appreciate that. The answer was lucid, but it addressed one part of my problem.
In the sense, I can have both content view and rdbms view of the meta data.  I am also interested to know the options of data entry and subsequent management of this contentless meta-data with in alfresco premise (extending alfresco webclient/ share or using ecm forms). Can anyone help me in that ?

[jck]

Hi ojio,
SIDE-Labs gives you a rdbms view of the metadata without disturbing Alfresco, so you work with Alfresco as usual and still have the same features. And SIDE-Labs may help you a lot also.

In fact, SIDE-Labs generates for you:
* the Alfresco required configuration, for web client and Alfresco Share
* the JSP you need
* the webscripts you need

SIDE-Labs enables you to draw 5 types of diagram. For each type, SIDE-Labs provides a part of the Alfresco required configuration:
* Data: content model generation
* Form: form generation (JSP and Webscripts for REST access to CRUD webscripts on Alfresco) on Chiba XForms, accessible through REST, so it is usable on WebClient or Alfresco Share
* Workflow: jPDL configuration, content model and form generation
* View: view configuration generation to customize document list and document details for Alfresco Share and web client
* Portal: portal configuration to organize content, to customize Alfresco share and add new pages

HTH,

JC

[ojio_bis]

Sounds Interesting JC. I tried downloading Topcased 3.2 (latest stable version) and installed SIDE from update site.
On trying, I am able to add a class on dtdi but I am not able to add a property or modify a name.

!ENTRY org.eclipse.ui 4 0 2009-12-02 00:18:06.213
!MESSAGE Unhandled event loop exception
!STACK 0
java.lang.ClassCastException: com.bluexml.side.Class.modeler.diagram.edit.ClazzEditPart‍‍‍‍

Is this is a compatibility/version issue ?

Thanks once again.

PS: I tried registering and logging in your forum. System is complaining about bad user/password even after going thru activation.

[jck]

Hi ojio,
what exact update site have you tried? Can you give me the used url?

When a problem like this one occurs, close Eclipse and relaunch it.

I'm going to check the SIDE-Labs forums. Thanks for the feedback,

JC

[ojio_bis]

Used this
http://www.side-labs.org/SIDE-Labs/2.0/update-site/

Trying now in 3.0.1. Is there anything to do with Vista ??

[jck]

I suggest you to carefully follow these 2 tutorials:
* http://www.side-labs.org/wiki/index.php/Documentation:User:QuickInstallation
* http://www.side-labs.org/wiki/index.php/Documentation:User:Installation for a more detail procedure

It is based on TopCASED 3.0.1

JC

PS: I tried SIDE-Labs forums. It seems ok. I saw your account was created. Can you log in? What problem have you got exactly?

[ojio_bis]

JC,

It works perfectly with Topcased 3.0.1. Seems to be version compatibility issue.

Thanks once again.

[ojio_bis]

Meanwhile,  is there any simple example of how to add a contentless data using a webscript.
Say for ex: I want to create a department which has name, location and description.  I will create a custom content model for this.  How to insert/update/delete/read this data using webscript ??

Any pointers can really help.