Tag: Workflow

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Whats new in the Workflow Area of Content Server 16.2.9?

There are seveeral new things implemented in the Workflow area of Content Server 16.2.9.

First think of a very simple workflow defined like this.

a very simple Workflow as example
A really simple workflow

Lets set the name of our workflow to “Test Work Flow 16.2.9”. Lets initiate it.

Stop Action in smartUI

If configured on a landing page, the workflow tracking widget shows our workflow, once initiated like this

The Workflow Tracking Widget
The workflow tracking widget

If you click on the extension button on the lower right of the workflow tracking widget, then there will be a list of all workflows belonging to or initiated by this person will open.

A workflow list with only one workflow.

If you click on the status of a workflow (here we have only one workflow to click onto), the details of this workflow instance opens

Details of the Test Work Flow 16.2.9

Here you see a graphical overview of the current step along with all steps of the workflow. This instance of the workflow an be stopped by pressing the “Stop” Button.

Open the Workflow Map from smartUI

A new Edit Action has been added to allow the edit of a Workflow Map

The new edit action for workflow maps

This will open the Workflow Map Editor in the legacy gui

A simple Workflow
A really simple Workflow

Copying or Moving Workflow Attachments in smart UI

Workflow Attachments can now be moved of copied within the Workflow Attachment Panel

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Technical Training “How to program a Widget in the new Content Server GUI” with the CSUI SDK

Hi folks

Beeing Content Server Trainer, I was asked to provide a training “How to program a Widget for the new Content Server GUI” to several customers. This is about the content of such a training and the reason why such a training is technically really advanced.

CSUI SDK introduces a shift in paradigma, the server is no longer providing the GUI, all is done by a Javascript Application at the client side.

Basic Training (newest version 1.005 from Feb/2018)

The basic training is very compact and lasts 5 days.

First, lets take a look on the components:

As a prerequisite, a firm knowledge of CSIDE, How to build a module, the Node Structure and whats to do with Content server Nodes is necessary.

At the end of the training, you’ll have a working knowledge of:

  1. Content Server Perspectives. What are they and how you can use them to provide a user specific interface.
  2. Content Server REST. This is the only possibility for the client to communicate with the server, so its mandantory to know the REST interface from the application point of vue. And, as REST can be very slow due to unneccesary data, its also mandantory to know, how to add REST services to the Content Server to get the data you want in the fastest way.
  3. Javascript. There are Javascript Patterns, which are used heavily in the SDK. If “Javascript Object Inheritance”, “Currying/Schoenfinkelizing”, “Decorators” etc are weird words for you, this chapter is the right chapter for you.
  4. Next is the infrastructural world of the sdk.

    CSUI Components
    The CSUI Components

    There are several components, which must be understood prior to build a Widget.

    1. node.js is the base Javascript system for our development
    2. grunt.js is a Javascript task runner, which we use to build, test and debug our widget
    3. yeoman is a scaffolding system, which will be used by a Opentext extension to initialize the development folder. It also creates the skeleton of a Content Server module, which is used as a “Carrier” for our Widget(s)
    4. backbone.js is the base framework to be used
    5. marionette.js is an extension to backbone.js, making Views easier.
    6. handlebars.js is the html templating framework used in the sdk
    7. require.js is the javascript module loader to be used
    8. bootstrap.js/binf.js is originally the public domain CSS/JS framework from Twitter for the appearance of the Widget. Binf is the Opentext variant, allowing to override CSS without negative effects
  5. Next is the SDK itself. Due to time restrictions, in the base training are only the base functions, the advanced training covers the other aspects. It contains
    1. Installing the SDK
    2. Building the Demo Widget
    3. CSS Style Overrides binf
    4. General Overview of the SDK
    5. Content of the SDK
    6. Routing (Preview of the Advanced Training)
    7. New Commands
    8. Custom Columns
    9. Metadata
    10. Define a new NodeType
    11. Create a Widget
    12. Base Widgets
    13. Controls
    14. Models
  6. Mockup and Test Data. How to setup mockup REST data. How to build test facilities in the SDK
  7. Anatomy of the Hello Widget. A walktrough through this widget
  8. Anatomy of the MyAssignment Widget
  9. Add another Widget to the Content Server. Change the Hello Widget and add additional fields
  10. Build a Custom Widget to be used as Client with a custom REST service. Here, a custom widget is build, which uses an extended version of the custom REST service from Part 2.
  11. If time allows: Some Tips and Tricks from a “Work-in-Progress” Widget

 

Advanced Training (Version 1.005 Feb/2018)

OK, thats the basic training. There are a lot of additional things inside the SDK, but to understand these, there must be a couple of weeks with practical experience in between. The advanced part has beed remodelled to include a couple of interesting things.  The advanced part contains:

  1. Chapter 1 Extended SDK Parts
    1. Additional Widgets
      1. NodesListReportView
      2. TilereportView
      3. FilteredCountChartView
      4. Carousel Widget View
      5. Userwidget eSocial
      6. ActivityFeedWidgetView
      7. ActivityFeedContent
      8. ChatWidget
    2. Datepicker
    3. switch
    4. Workflow (new in Content Server 16.2)
      1. Workflow Components
      2. Workflow in smartUI
      3. Starting Workflows
      4. URL Routes
      5. Workitem Actions
      6. Workitem Extension
      7. Writing Workflow Extensions
    5. New REST API Support (16.2) for Workflows
    6. Widgets not part of the SDK
      1. Mobile Scanning
      2. xECM: Header Widget with Business Object Infos
      3. xECM: Snapshot of current document Attachments
      4. xECM: Dossier View Widget
      5. Engineering Doc Management: Search
      6. xECM: Office365 Groups
  2. Chapter 2 Extended SDK Features
    1. Build Language Packs for Internationalization
    2. Commands
      1. Implementation and Inheritance from “CommandModel”
      2. Best Practices
      3. Using Commands
    3. Custom URL Router. Routing, adding custom Routers. Using Routers as Navigation.
    4. Behaviours. What are Behaviours?
      1. DefaultActionBehaviour
      2. BlockingBehaviour
      3. ExpandingBehaviour
      4. InfiniteScrollingBehaviour
      5. PerfectScrollingBehaviour
      6. PageLeavingBehaviour
    5. Mixins. What are Mixins? All available Mixins.
    6. Browsable Support for Collections. Using the “Browsable” support for Model-Collections.
  3. Chapter 3 Additional Things to consider
    1. Tips and Tricks (Work in Progress- List can change)
      1. Add a OTDS Ticket already in the browser to the connection object
      2. Re-using a OTDS Ticket as LLCookie
      3. Checking the paths in the test/index.html
      4. Using Helpers for supporting a select box with Handlebars
      5. Adding non CSUI supported JQuery functions in a view
    2. Handlebars advanced. A deeper look into Handlebars
    3. LESS advanced. A deepter look into LESS, the CSS language used in Bootstrap
    4. Accessibility in Bootstrap. What can be done to add support for screenreades etc to Bootstrap/Binf? Whats to avoid? Which tools are available
    5. Best Practices in Development

 

As you can see, there is a lot of stuff. The basic training last 5 days, the advanced training 2. But on the other side, you’ll get happy users with your new Widgets.

And that’s all what counts.

References

Javascript
  • “JavaScript Application Design “as a general introduction (covering Grunt) https://www.manning.com/books/javascript-application-design
  • Stoyanow’s JavaScript patterns http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596806767.do
  • Flanagan’s “JavaScript: The Definitive Guide” http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596805531.do
  • Crockfords “Javascript The good Parts” http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596517748.do
  • Flanagans “JavaScript Pocket Reference” http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920011460.do
Bootstrap
  • Spurlock: Bootstrap Responsive Web Development http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920027867.do
  • Syed Fazle Rahman: Jump Start Bootstrap: Get Up to Speed With Bootstrap in a Weekend https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0992279437
  • Alan Forbes: The Joy of Bootstrap: A smarter way to learn the world’s most popular web framework https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1522792813/
Require.JS
  • Greg Franko: Instant Dependency Management with RequireJS How-to https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Dependency-Management-RequireJS-How/dp/1782169067
  • David Sulc: Structuring Backbone Code with RequireJS and Marionette Modules
    https://leanpub.com/structuring-backbone-with-requirejs-and-marionette
Backbone
  • Developing Backbone.js Applications Adnan Osmani http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920025344.do
  • js Patterns and Best Practices Swarnendu De https://www.amazon.com/Backbone-js-Patterns-Best-Practices-Swarnendu/dp/1783283572
  • js Cookbook Vadim Mirgorod http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9781782162728.do
  • js Blueprints Andrew Burgess http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9781783286997.do

 

Backbone-Marionette
  • Getting Started with Backbone Marionette Raymundo Armendariz, Arturo Soto
    https://www.packtpub.com/web-development/getting-started-backbone-marionette
  • Marionette.js: A Gentle Introduction David Sulc https://leanpub.com/marionette-gentle-introduction
  • Marionette.js: A Serious Progression David Sulc https://leanpub.com/marionette-serious-progression
Mockjax and Jasmine
  • js Cookbook Vadim Mirgorod https://www.packtpub.com/mapt/book/web_development/9781782162728 Chapter 8
  • KnockoutJS Essentials Jorge Ferrando
    https://www.packtpub.com/application-development/knockoutjs-essentials
  • JavaScript Testing with Jasmine Eva Hahn https://www.safaribooksonline.com/library/view/javascript-testing-with/9781449356729/

 

Content Server Trainings
  • 4-0140 Content Server IDE (CSIDE) Fundamentals
  • 971-301 Livelink ECM Enterprise Server Workflow Customization Fundamentals
  • 03-0117/8 Webreports Design

 

 

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New in 16.2 Workflows in SmartGUI

A new feature in the content server version 16.2 is the usage of smartGUI in workflows. This gives a standard workflow user a great new experience in using this workflow.

Lets see, how:

Setup

But first, you have to setup an few things.

This is our workflow map which we use in this example:

Example Workflow Map
Example Workflow Map: Computer Approval

In the Classic UI edit the workflow map.

Goto to the Initiator. Mark „Initiate in Smart View“ . Add to Workflow Definition and save the map

Workflow Start Step
Initiator

(optional)

goto the Tab „Smart View“ and add a form. Forms can be added to all steps, if they are enabled for display in Smart View.

This is an example of the last step on „How to enable a step for SmartUI“:

Enable a Step in SmartGUI
Enable a Step in smartGUI

Save the map and exit.

Now its time to see our workflow in the smartGUI.

Usage

Switch to the smartGUI and instantiate the workflow from the map.

Instantiate a Workflow
Instantiate a Workflow

Then the Workflow Widget appears. At this stage, you can set all attributes as usual, you can add files at to the workflow by dragging and dropping these to the right side of the widget

Workflow Widget
Workflow Widget

Add some comments

Comments on the Workflow
Comments on the Workflow

Click submit and login with the userid of the first step assignee.

Open Workflow
An open workflow in a landing page

Here, you see your open workflow step in the “My Assignments” widget. Clicking on the entry opens the Approval widget

Approval in the workflow
Approval in the workflow

By clicking on the attachment at the right side, the attachment can be opened, downloaded or the properties can be checked.

Attachment
Attachment

The properties look like

Attachment Properties Window
Attachment Properties Window

Now after the examination, you can click on “Approve” and add a comment.

Then the Workflow Step is approved. The entry in MyAssignments is removed. The workflow is on the next step.

 

Easy, ist’t it?

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