Options for generic web UI against Documentum?

My organization has a fairly large footprint with Documentum. Generally, we create custom applications that use Documentum as a backing store for document content. However, I am working on a project to store some more unstructured documents within Documentum that have no relationship to any application. Therefore, we don't want to take the expense of writing custom software to display the documents. We're hoping to find an "off-the-shelf" UI that will meet our needs. We've been looking at some of the tools provided by EMC, such as Webtop and MyDocumentum. We're also looking at third party vendors such as TriTek Solutions and TSG.

I'm interested to know of others experiences with these generic Documentum front ends. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each one? And are there other products or vendors that I should have on my radar?

Thanks.

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Mark Davidson

Webtop has been around for ages & is well understood within the developer community. WDK customisations can be implemented by a combination of XML configuration and/or Java/JSP development. WDK development is typically fairly time consuming. It's quite a large framework so there's plenty to read up on if you go down this path.

D2 is a new offering from EMC. I understand that it's configuration only. I would probably suggest having a look at this first & seeing it it fits your requirements. If it's not a good match then you've got Webtop to fall back on. I've not used D2 yet but it does look easy to work with.

MyDocumentum is a bit of a disappointment in term of customation options. If you want MS Office/Outlook integration & if MyDocumentum doesn't fit the bill then Google for alternatives. There are definitely options out there - e.g. Synapps Solutions.

I've not used Cara yet.

If you want to expose your data through a existing portal platform then you can have a look at WDK portlets or MyDocumentum for SharePoint (web parts).

All comments

Elliott

We use Webtop and it seems to work okay for most of our users. You might want to look at the new GUI from EMC - "D2" or CARA from Generis (www.generiscorp.com).

Mark Davidson

I've not used Cara yet.

If you want to expose your data through a existing portal platform then you can have a look at WDK portlets or MyDocumentum for SharePoint (web parts).

Julien.Fontaine

You can have a look to EMC Documentum D2. We work with D2 from a few years and it's definitely a solution that can help you to set up new application with Documentum fastly only with configuration and no custom code.If you need more information let me know !

jkohlhepp

It sounds like D2 is definitely something I should take a look at. And I'll take a look at those other vendors as well. Thanks to everyone for the replies.

hidm

How about adapting D2 for Migrated Content Repository from 5.3 verions to D2's compatible version??

Can we be sure enough it is 100% customizable even if my rquirement is quiet funny-sometimes

Julien.Fontaine

D2 is not customizable just configurable. But it allows you to do a lot of configuration on the behaviors of the application. Have a look to D2 Xcelerator, perhaps it will give you an idea about D2

hidm

Sorry Julien,I have wrongly used the word customizable but can you please replace my word "customizable" with "configurable" and answer my question,if you dont mind.Can we be sure enough we don't even have to use 1% of code?

I have already attended D2 web sessio with you only some time around 27Dec-2011.

Is D2 a component based architecture like WDK,sometimes you need have link between properties component and a search component,like that I have so many questions??

Julien.Fontaine

You never know if you needs are 100% configurable with D2. Sometimes perhaps you will have to adapt your needs !

D2 is not a component based architecture like WDK. You can develop some plugins with a special framework but it's difficult to adapt the UI.

tsg_dave

The product referenced by TSG is our HPI interface - http://www.tsgrp.com/Open_Source/OpenContent/open-content-hpi.jsp . We didn't really build it to be a generic web UI against Documentum as Webtop and the other tools from EMC really fill that niche. As Open Source, it just evolved from multiple clients that originally integrated it into Webtop for either better/configurable search/retrieval as well as insurance clients that wanted some specifics in regards to sub-folder viewing and dual display of documents (similar to XCP builds).

HPI is configurable but, as an Open Source product, also provides for modification of the code itself if necessary. Lots of screen cams and available to download from the website. Has some better architecture components like SOA that will come with the newer Documentum interfaces.

D2 will be interesting. We are reviewing now - not sure how it will play into certain scenarios where Webtop or HPI are being considered. We are slightly concerned about only allowing for configurations (and not code) as well only supporting IE. Initial thoughts are here:

http://blog.tsgrp.com/2012/01/09/documentum-d2-initial-thoughts/

Julien.Fontaine

The next version of D2 will be compatible with most browser including Firefox. Sure, it's a major problem for the current version.

hidm

Is that a right approach to see XCP as an alternative to D2 in terms of client.I am very much aware of XCP is more of Case management solution but not a content management colution but all of the same functionalities can be achieved on XCP too.what do you feel?

DCTM_Guru

No. I see D2 as alternative to Webtop. Since xCP is NOT alternative to Webtop, your presumption that xCP alternative to D2 is not correct. Some features in Webtop are still not in xCP and may never be (eg support for virtual documents).

I see D2 and xCP as being the two primary UI for content management - depending on your requirements.

tsg_dave

Julien,

Isn't D2 based on ActiveX? I don't see how the next version can be compatible with non-Microsoft browsers without a major rewrite. Can you clarify where you got the information about the next version being compatible with other browsers?

Dave

DCTM_Guru

Hi Dave,

In D2 webinar, EMC has stated that suport for other browsers is on the roadmap. No timeline was given.

-Johnny

tsg_dave

Johnny,

In the D2 webinar I watched they didn't bring up a roadmap but that was back in December. I think moving an ActiveX based application to support other browsers would take some type of fairly large effort. Some information available on the Wiki but the Microsoft versus Java world would make it seem like a long-shot and not something clients should plan for in the short-term. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActiveX

Our initial reviews of D2 are mostly good but browser support, pricing and a concern about requirements that can't be met with D2 configuration have us thinking that Webtop and other non-Documentum vendor interface alternatives will still play a major role in future client efforts.

My two cents,

Dave

gxx0681

Hi,

Just a note about CARA (www.generiscorp.com) - it works on all browsers now, mobile devices also, and is built already on the latest technology (we stopped using ActiveX about 4-5 years ago). It has been on the market in this version for 2 years, has multiple customers (over 100,000 users), and has a rich set of functionality - and contains a very extensive configuration layer. We operate a "Zero Customization" policy, so unlike the comment that you would have to "adapt your needs" to fit D2, we adapt CARA as part of the maintenance to fit your needs. We would be happy to do a demo, also note that we have a series of webinars available (new dates will shortly be posted to http://www.generiscorp.com/webinars.html, we just has a set of webinars last week).

Cheers

James

tsg_dave

Everyone,

We had a client that had us do a review of D2 to compare against Webtop, HPI and XCP. I think Tony did a nice job of being objective and pointing out the differences in search for a common user scenario. Screencam is available in our learning zone at -

http://www.tsgrp.com/multimedia/TsgLearningZone/TsgLearningZone.html?itemName=Useful%20Tools&demoId=2 .

We are going to add additional comparisons with Workflow, Check-in/Check-out and others as our clients are very interesting in seeing the tools side by side.

Dave

gxx0681

Hi Dave, would you be interested / willing to add a side-by-side of CARA into this?

James

hidm

If we can go with Coding in CARA,like WDK, other than just configuration,then CARA will be must watcher for Documentum Generic UI

gxx0681

You definitely can - using either straigh custom coding, OR using our "configurable customizations" - we have a configuration where you can build a form (screen UI component), and define the menu which will call it and then which server method(s) to execute on completion.

Julien.Fontaine

In the last Webinar, EMC says that the D2 version compatible with other browser will be available on Q2 (a read only version ??).

DCTM_Guru

Although I think jkohlhepp original question is valid, I would like to remind folks that the forums are not intended to be used to sell products. Just to remind folks, here's quote from the forum guidelines:

"As a sidenote, certain types of content are not welcome nor appropriate, so any resembling the following will not be posted, or will be removed as soon as identified:

Any purely promotional material, such as advertising, marketing collateral or sales-oriented programs or content
Use of the community to explicitly sell or market a particular product"

gxx0681

Hi Johnny, understood – hopefully you and the others on this discussion perceive my comments as shedding light on CARA options; at least I wasn’t the first one to mention CARA on the thread!

James

DCTM_Guru

Hi James,

People mention products all the time in the forums, which I think is helpful. Users can then do their own investigation on whether these products satify their needs/requirements. I just posted the reminder b/c I would hate for this forum to become full of marketing spam.

-Johnny