Now Author with FrameMaker 9 documents residing on Documentum CMS
Adobe FrameMaker,Documentum,Adobe Technical Communication Suite,WebDAV,DITA,Hierarchical Books
FrameMaker 9 introduces tight integration with CMS Systems (Content Management Server) that supports HTTP/WebDAV protocol. FrameMaker users now have simplified access to content and services provided by EMC Documentum with no additional system integration needed.
With the latest update available for FrameMaker(9.0p250), users can now access, author and edit documents on WebDAV enabled Documentum CMS using the Browse URL functionality introduced in FrameMaker 9. This browser can be accessed through the “Browse URL” button that is available in all File->Open, Import and Save dialogs. This browser is used to list and browse the contents of the WebDAV directories on the CMS.
All FrameMaker files, DITA and XML documents can be authored while they reside on the Documentum WebDAV directories. All the external dependancies in the documents will be resolved by FrameMaker automatically. For instance all relevant structured application files can reside on the Documentum server. When the XML is downloaded, FrameMaker will automatically resolve all required Application files. Structured Applications can use either complete HTTP paths to the Application files or they can use relative file paths with respect to the XML file to be authored. Similarly for composite documents such as Ditamap and FM Book all components get resolved with respect to the composite document.
I have shared two demos. First one shows how authors can work with DITA documents which lie on the Documentum Server. Keeping in mind the level of reusability required for authoring in DITA environment, FrameMaker allows usage of multiple server URLs in the documents. So it is possible to have Ditamap residing on one server and topicrefs on other servers. Authors need not worry about locating different components residing on different servers, FrameMaker will make them automatically available. The demo also touches upon the WebDAV preferences setting available in FrameMaker 9.
The second demo showcases the FrameMaker 9 Hierarchical Book workflows. It also includes ways to configure and use XML file in FM Books, upload files onto Documentum Server and how to add files residing in the Documentum repository to FM books. The required Structured Application files for the XML files reside on Documentum Server. They get automatically resolved when the XML file is opened.
To facilitate this integration support in FrameMaker for XML and DITA documents the following processing instruction needs to be added after the XML declaration to bypass the Documentum XML application processing during check-in.<?dctm xml_app="Ignore"?>
Authors can straightaway start using HTTP paths to the files on the Documentum WebDAV directories using the Browse URL functionality. Framemaker also provides automatic identification of the Structured Application for authoring XML files and this functionality can be provided as a PI in the XML files. Refer a previous blog post on Generic Application Selector to accomplish it.
Generic Application Selector-New PI’s in XML
To know more about the integration done in FrameMaker 9 for WebDAV based CMS support please visit an earlier post.
How to integrate FrameMaker 9 with a WebDAV based CMS
With the support for WebDAV enabled Documentum CMS added to the list of FrameMaker supported WebDAV servers which includes Alfresco CMS, Apache Tomcat and Microsoft IIS, I would encourage users to try out authoring documents on a WebDAV enabled Documentum CMS and share your feedback with us.
Regards,
Nakshatra
FrameMaker Engineering