Developing application with own db structure 2

[michel777]

Hi,

we are going to develop a web application with integration of DMS (Livelink 9.7.1). We are not yet familiar

with Livelink, so we would like to know now (before starting the project) what the product itself offers for

developing. First of all:

1) Is it possible to create own complex db design "within" Livelink ?
2) Is there a Livelink tool to develop, deploy web application ?

OR

all those thing are outside of Livelink and is our choice, waht we will use.

Thanks a lot in advance,

 

[appnair]

1)Not sure what this means but Livelink has its own core set of db tables and in oscript one is shown how to develop applications(modules in livelink parlance) that uses custom schema.They actually go all the way to even allow the livelink search engine to index your table data.
2)Livelink is a set of oscript modules.This gives the livelink web application(not a servlet or jsp) a user inttionalityerface.This user interface can only be manipulated/changed via oscript.However livelink comes with LAPI a deprecated interafce where other languages can use livelink core functionality.However it now has enough web services to take the place of lapi.So if you are a integrator you would use it.If the requisite web service is not available you will write the server side of your wown web service using oscript and then deploy the client stubs just like you would do in a J2EE app or a windows web svc app.

Oscript development is usually performed on a dev computer running a livelink instance using a IDE called builder.OT is shortly relaesing a eclipse plugin for builder called oclipse that will have modern day tools like type ahead,intellisense,showmatches etc that are part and parcel of modern day IDE's.The livelink builder is a no fills developer interface very powerful and one that can be used till now(I have been using it for the last 12 years or so).You devlop and then install the module in other instances and that is how code is generally deployed

Hope this sheds some light in your quest.The builder and oscript forum in OT KB (knowledge.opentext.com) is an excellent resource for getting and sharing ideas

Well, if I called the wrong number, why did you answer the phone?
James Thurber, New Yorker cartoon caption, June 5, 1937
Certified OT Developer,Livelink ECM Champion 2008,Livelink ECM Champion 2010

http://www.tek-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=2884

http://www.linkedin.com/in/appunair

 

[michel777]

Thank you for your quick and valuable answer! At 1) custom schema is meant - here I´d mention that there are tables for a schema over 50 tables and some are linked over seven hierarchies. The application will then create data udn navigate through this hierarchy with the typical father-son relationship / to change (also about 50 masks). If I understand well, it is possible to create a DB and to develop a web application over those date.

At the moment I can not arrange an access to knowledge.opentext.com organsieren and no other websites have found for ocripts. If you had a link to another base knowledge? I must clareify the following question:

1) Is it possible to generate the input mask or is to be designed purely with script?
2) Are there libraries for DB access to simplify the mamipulation of data ?
3) Are there Framework for Presentation / Control layer(like eg Struts)?
4) Are there any possibility to adjust the input screens without srcipting ?
5) Is it posiible to set attributes of fields (eg. hidden) depends on entered value (eg choice selection list blendent particular field off)
6) Are there any triggers (if a DB field is changed, then a mail is sent)?
7) Can be generate pre-defined and ad hoc reports on the database content?
8) Can the user create a mail within teh application with DB data and DMS documents (as attachments) ?
9) Can the user generate a PDF document within the application with DB data and DMS documents?
10) Is it possible to create chats to certain DB-fields ?

Thanks in advance and best regards

Michel.

 

[ggriffit]

Michel,
I think you need to understand a little more about what Livelink can offer you before you begin trying to code anything.

For a standard parent/child relationship, Livelink offers a folder tree structure which could handle what you are looking for there.

In answer to your questions :

1. Why not simply use a folder structure for each parent child e.g. World -> Europe -> UK etc ?

2. Yes, The CAPI library provides access to the Livelink DB in a managed way, additionally there are lots of internal API calls, e.g. the DAPI package which provide managed ways of doing things like Add Permission, get a Node etc.

3. Livelink provides a variety of UI controls such as Custom Views, Appearance, XML Skins etc as well as AJAX controls and its componentised UI out of the box. Custom UI's can also be implemented outside of Livelink using LAPI/WebServices/XML to grab the data from LL and present a "skinned" version to the user.

4. Yes, you can use the free CustomizationsRT modules, HTMLMap functionality, see

http://www.greggriffiths.org/livelink/development/weblingo/customizationsrt/

for more info. Although you can't change what is passed to the page as that requires OScript development.

5. Yes, Livelink outputs standard HTML, so you can use Javascript etc to do this, although as it is template driven you will have to code carefully, i.e. adding your code to the checkbox template will show it for EVERY checkbox attribute in the system as it is rendered.

6. Yes, you can create a DB trigger to send an email from the DB layer, although if the change is driven by Livelink you can either send an email immediately or add an event to the Livelink notifications system to send one for you.

7. Yes, via the LiveReport (free) and WebReports (not free) modules you can generate your own reports via the GUI.

8. Yes, will require a little coding, but there are plenty of exmaples in the code.

9. There are several offerings such as AdLib Express to do this, or you can roll your own PDF convertor tool if you wish.

10. What do you mean by "chats" ?

As mentioned above, I suggest that you attend some basic Livelink courses, including the developer one (

http://www.opentext.com/training/coursedetails.html?id=1535)

before trying any development so that you know what Livelink offers. Alternatively, get someone who knows Livelink such as a myself to provide a detailed spec for the work for you os that you can find a suitable contractor to develop the solution for you.

Greg Griffiths
Livelink Certified Developer & ECM Global Star Champion 2005 & 2006

http://www.greggriffiths.org/livelink/