Need Help On Templating

[madhu_cms]

Hi All,

I am new to Alfresco ECM, i had worked om Interwoven Teamsite, I would like know how to create a template and reuse it. I didn't find a step by step tutorial also. Pleas help.

I am looking for something like DCT and DCR concept of interwoven, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Madhu

[kvc]

Thanks for the post.

DCTs are Alfresco parlance are Web Forms.  Unlike DCTs, Web Forms are created and managed in a shared central library, the Data Dictionary.  When you create a Web Project, you browse the Web Form Library to subscribe to inidividual Web Forms.  This solves an nuisance with DCTs, which would need to be manually copied (using Compare to, or using an custom in-line callout to form a DCT from another branch) is a common DCT needed to be shared across websites.

Unlike DCTs, Web Forms in Alfresco are standards-based.  Instead of a proprietary form definition XML, Web Forms are defined using XMLSchema (in defense of TeamSite - and myself 🙂 - schema support wasn't really an option back in early 1999).  This also means that that another nuisance with DCTs - lack of componentization - is also neatly resolved using native XMLSchema support for xs:include (which can also be used in conjunction with a callout to an JSP page to dynamically generate portions of a form).

Presentation templates in Alfresco parlance are just simple templates.  Unlike TeamSite, these templates as well are non-proprietary and instead use either standard XSLT, the popular open source Freemarker Java templating engine, or XSL-FO (less popular, but useful for generating PDF from XML).  Again unlike TeamSite, these templates can be easily reused via a subscription metaphor when setting up your Web Project.  Also, instead of having to set generation logic using a custom workflow task or FormAPI, output generation is automatic and rules related to filename and output path generation are all configured in the Create Web Project Wizard.

DCRs in Alfresco parlance are just XML files.  They do not have a special asset name (the name DCR was used in the first place to overcome the perception that TeamSite could only manage files; the idea was that by calling an asset a Data Record it would connote that we managed content in a database; it was one of the more regrettable name choices I made that unfortunately just stuck). 

Good questions … fire off any additional.  The goal of Alfresco is to do WCM right - on a common ECM platform that can also be used for DM, RM, and Collaboration (that is also 100% Java and support clustering, high availability, etc. - all critical things needed in an enterprise platform). 

Cheers!

Kevin

[madhu_cms]

Thanks a lot Kevin : Please give me some more links to Templating tutorial

I have one more query , actually it's not regerding the Templating, it's regarding the webprojects.

By loking in to the Tutorial i have created a new Webproject by name "madhu" and imported the content.
The problem is : I am not getting the privew , here is my sites URL

http://madhu.www--sandbox.127-0-0-1.ip.alfrescodemo.net:8180/

When i checked out on the tomact console it's giving the following error:

15:16:06,873 WARN  [web.config.ClientConfigElement] Virtualisation Server not st
arted - reverting to default IP: 127-0-0-1.ip.alfrescodemo.net
15:16:06,935 WARN  [web.config.ClientConfigElement] Virtualisation Server not st
arted - reverting to default port: 8180

Then i manually started the Virtual Server :


E:\alfresco>virtual_start
Starting Tomcat…
Using CATALINA_BASE:   E:\alfresco\virtual-tomcat
Using CATALINA_HOME:   E:\alfresco\virtual-tomcat
Using CATALINA_TMPDIR: E:\alfresco\virtual-tomcat\temp
Using JRE_HOME:        C:\Java1.5.0_05


After this i am not getting any errors on console but not able to get the privew.

Please help me out,  I am totally new to Alfresco…,

Hello friends please help me.

Kevin thanks again.

Regards,
Madhu

[kvc]

Do you eventually see in the log files that the virt server does start-up?

Kevin

[madhu_cms]

Yes Kevin, the Virtual server started

Here is the output on the cons'le…


Apr 4, 2007 3:22:54 PM org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappLoader start
INFO: Dual registration of jndi stream handler: factory already defined
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:54 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.HostConfig deployWAR
INFO: Deploying web application archive alfresco-sample-website.war
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:55 PM org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11BaseProtocol start
INFO: Starting Coyote HTTP/1.1 on http-8180
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:55 PM org.apache.jk.common.ChannelSocket init
INFO: JK: ajp13 listening on /0.0.0.0:8109
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:55 PM org.apache.jk.server.JkMain start
INFO: Jk running ID=0 time=0/63  config=null
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:55 PM org.apache.catalina.storeconfig.StoreLoader load
INFO: Find registry server-registry.xml at classpath resource
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:55 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina start
INFO: Server startup in 40594 ms


Regards,
Madhu

[kvc]

OK then … you should be up and running.  What are you trying to preview?  If it's a basic HTML website for JSP-driven site, things should be working properly.  If not, there should be additional info outputed to the virt-server log files (or console).  If you're attempting to preview a .NET or PHP sites (or other non-HTML-based or JSP-based), these indeed will not properly virtualize for web preview (only server-side through the AVM).  See a good description of that here:  http://forums.alfresco.com/viewtopic.php?t=5939


Kevin

[madhu_cms]

Kevin,

It's JSP driven Site, the example site which is located under the following directory

"E:\alfresco\extras\wcm\alfresco-sample-website"

I did a search in forums also but didn't find the solution. Here is the content of the Virtual Server Log file
Virtual Server's Log's

path E:\alfresco\virtual-tomcat\logs\catalina.2007-04-04

Apr 4, 2007 3:22:14 PM org.apache.catalina.core.AprLifecycleListener lifecycleEvent
INFO: The Apache Tomcat Native library which allows optimal performance in production environments was not found on the java.library.path: C:\Java1.5.0_05\bin;.;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\Java1.5.0_05/bin;E:\alfresco\bin;C:\Java1.5.0_05\bin;E:\alfresco\bin;F:\oracle\ora81\bin;F:\OraHome_1\jre\1.4.2\bin\client;F:\OraHome_1\jre\1.4.2\bin;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adaptec Shared\System;C:\Java1.5.0_05\bin;F:\Perl\bin;E:\ant1.6.1\bin;F:\Web\PHP;;F:\Web\PHP\libmysql.dll;F:\Web\MySQL\bin;E:\alfresco\bin;F:\Tools\Database\mysql-connector-java-5.0.4\mysql-connector-java-5.0.4\mysql-connector-java-5.0.4-bin.jar;
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:15 PM org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11BaseProtocol init
INFO: Initializing Coyote HTTP/1.1 on http-8180
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:15 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina load
INFO: Initialization processed in 2187 ms
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:15 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService start
INFO: Starting service Catalina
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:15 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine start
INFO: Starting Servlet Engine: Apache Tomcat/5.5.20
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:15 PM org.springframework.beans.factory.xml.XmlBeanDefinitionReader loadBeanDefinitions
INFO: Loading XML bean definitions from URL [file:E:/alfresco/virtual-tomcat/conf/alfresco-virtserver-context.xml]
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:16 PM org.springframework.core.CollectionFactory <clinit>
INFO: JDK 1.4+ collections available
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:16 PM org.springframework.context.support.AbstractRefreshableApplicationContext refreshBeanFactory
INFO: Bean factory for application context [org.springframework.context.support.FileSystemXmlApplicationContext;hashCode=20935297]: org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory defining beans [virtserver-properties,authenticationService,reauthenticatingAdvice,avmReauthenticatingAdvisor,avmRemoteTransport,avmRemote,avmRemoteTransportRaw,jndiInfoBean,virtServerInfo,virtServerMBeanServer,virtServerRegistry,serverConnector,virtServerExporter,virtWebappRegistry,cacheControlInfo]; root of BeanFactory hierarchy
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:16 PM org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext refresh
INFO: 15 beans defined in application context [org.springframework.context.support.FileSystemXmlApplicationContext;hashCode=20935297]
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:16 PM org.springframework.core.io.support.PropertiesLoaderSupport loadProperties
INFO: Loading properties file from URL [file:E:/alfresco/virtual-tomcat/conf/alfresco-shared.properties]
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:16 PM org.springframework.core.io.support.PropertiesLoaderSupport loadProperties
INFO: Loading properties file from URL [file:E:/alfresco/virtual-tomcat/conf/alfresco-virtserver.properties]
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:16 PM org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext initMessageSource
INFO: Unable to locate MessageSource with name 'messageSource': using default [org.springframework.context.support.DelegatingMessageSource@11bed71]
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:16 PM org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext initApplicationEventMulticaster
INFO: Unable to locate ApplicationEventMulticaster with name 'applicationEventMulticaster': using default [org.springframework.context.event.SimpleApplicationEventMulticaster@1e1dadb]
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:16 PM org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory preInstantiateSingletons
INFO: Pre-instantiating singletons in factory [org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory defining beans [virtserver-properties,authenticationService,reauthenticatingAdvice,avmReauthenticatingAdvisor,avmRemoteTransport,avmRemote,avmRemoteTransportRaw,jndiInfoBean,virtServerInfo,virtServerMBeanServer,virtServerRegistry,serverConnector,virtServerExporter,virtWebappRegistry,cacheControlInfo]; root of BeanFactory hierarchy]
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:17 PM org.springframework.remoting.rmi.RmiClientInterceptor prepare
INFO: RMI stub [rmi://localhost:1313/authentication] is an RMI invoker
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:17 PM org.springframework.aop.framework.DefaultAopProxyFactory <clinit>
INFO: CGLIB2 not available: proxyTargetClass feature disabled
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:17 PM org.springframework.remoting.rmi.RmiClientInterceptor prepare
INFO: RMI stub [rmi://localhost:1313/avm] is an RMI invoker
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:17 PM org.springframework.remoting.rmi.RmiRegistryFactoryBean getRegistry
INFO: Looking for RMI registry at port '50501'
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:18 PM org.springframework.remoting.rmi.RmiRegistryFactoryBean getRegistry
WARNING: Could not detect RMI registry - creating new one
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:19 PM org.springframework.jmx.support.ConnectorServerFactoryBean afterPropertiesSet
INFO: JMX connector server started: javax.management.remote.rmi.RMIConnectorServer@8aeb74
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:19 PM org.alfresco.catalina.host.AVMHost start
INFO: XML validation disabled
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:19 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost start
INFO: XML validation disabled
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:20 PM org.alfresco.mbeans.VirtServerRegistrationThread registerVirtServer
INFO: Connected to remote Alfresco JMX Server
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:32 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:35 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:38 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:41 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:43 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:45 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:47 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:50 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:52 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:54 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:54 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost start
INFO: XML validation disabled
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:54 PM org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappLoader start
INFO: Dual registration of jndi stream handler: factory already defined
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:54 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.HostConfig deployWAR
INFO: Deploying web application archive alfresco-sample-website.war
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:55 PM org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11BaseProtocol start
INFO: Starting Coyote HTTP/1.1 on http-8180
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:55 PM org.apache.jk.common.ChannelSocket init
INFO: JK: ajp13 listening on /0.0.0.0:8109
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:55 PM org.apache.jk.server.JkMain start
INFO: Jk running ID=0 time=0/63  config=null
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:55 PM org.apache.catalina.storeconfig.StoreLoader load
INFO: Find registry server-registry.xml at classpath resource
Apr 4, 2007 3:22:55 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina start
INFO: Server startup in 40594 ms

Please help in resolve this.

Thaks a Lot for Quick response


Regards,
Madhu

[ariyer]

Madhu,

Maybe you should check if you made entries in your "drivers\etc\hosts" file to redirect the preview urls to 127.0.0.1. You will need one entry for each sandbox.

[ariyer]

Kevin,

I too come from working on TeamSite for quite some time. I am unfamiliar with the equivalents of "metadata", "category" amongst other features. These two are a little too hard to live without in WCM.

I hope it's only a matter of discovering the corresponding feature and not a wait.