Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The FileNet P8 family of products includes back-end services, development tools, and
applications that
address enterprise content and process management requirements. This section presents
information
about features and product capabilities. The Architecture section includes an architectural
overview of the FileNet P8 platform components.
What is document?
Most users think of a document as a file they create with an application such as Word. The
user stores the document in the document management system so that a history of changes to the
document is maintained and the document can be easily found and edited. Users who design
enterprise
content management applications and those who manage them will need to understand how
documents
can be leveraged to support a variety of application needs. A document might be used to maintain
a
traditional electronic file as well as other types of data, such as an XML document or content that
is
managed in an external repository. Documents:
Have system properties that the system manages automatically, such as Date Created.
Can have custom properties for storing business-related metadata about the document.
Are secured.
Can have content that can be indexed for searching.
Can point to content that is outside of the object store (external content).
Can have no content (metadata only).
Can be versioned to maintain a history of the content over time.
Can be filed in folders.
Can have a lifecycle.
Can participate in business processes as workflow attachments.
Can generate server events when they are created, modified, or deleted. These events are then
used
to customize behavior.
Can be rendered to different formats, such as PDF and HTML.
Can be published to a Web site.
Can be annotated.
Can be audited.
What is Folder?
A folder is a container that is used to group other objects. Folders are the primary mechanism
through which users access documents. Users typically think of folders as a place where
documents are
stored;, however, filing documents in multiple folders does not create extra copies of those
documents, but
rather creates a logical association between the folder and the document. Folders:
Have system properties that the system manages automatically, such as Date Created.
Can have custom properties for storing business-related metadata.
Are secured.
Are hierarchical, in the sense that a folder can have subfolders.
Can contain documents and custom objects.
Can generate server events when they are created, modified, or deleted. These events are then
used
to customize behavior.
Can be annotated.
What is Annotation?
An annotation object, illustrated at right, represents
incidental information that can be attached to an object for the
purpose of annotating or footnoting that object. You can associate
annotations with custom objects, documents, and folders.
Annotations:
Are independently securable. Default security is provided by
the class and by the annotated object. An annotation can
optionally have a security policy assigned to it.
Can have subclasses.
Can have zero or more associated content elements, and the
content need not have the same format as its annotated
object.
Are uniquely associated with a single document version, and
thus are not versioned when a document version is updated.
Can be modified and deleted independently of the annotated object.
Can be searched for and retrieved with an ad hoc query.
Can subscribe to server-side events that fire when an action (such as creating an annotation)
occurs.
Can participate in a link relationship.
Can be audited.
What is CustomeObject?
A custom object is used to store and manage data that does not have content (and thus
doesnt support versioning) or a lifecycle. For example, a customer might be represented in the
object store
as a custom object because there is no requirement for content. Custom objects:
Have system properties that the system manages automatically, such as Date Created.
What is Properties ?
Content Engine object properties can be used to reference objects that reside in any object stores
within the same FileNet P8 domain.
Properties have a type, which can be Binary, Boolean, String, DateTime, Integer, Float, ID, and
Object.
Object-valued properties are useful for defining relationships between objects. The Customer
property
shown in the loan example in the previous section illustrates how both the Loan and the Loan
Application can point to the same Customer object. The properties that are associated with
objects can have a single value or multiple values. For example, you might define a multi-valued
property named Telephone Numbers in which multiple telephone numbers, such as home and
cell phone numbers, are stored. You can then search for objects by creating a search expression
that searches for more than one value for the same property.
Properties can also be configured to have default values that are set when a new object is created.
In
addition, the system can be configured to restrict the values for the property to a choice list. A
choice list is a list of possible values that the user can select from when assigning a value to the
property.
Administrators can use document lifecycles to define a sequential set of states that a document
will go through over its lifetime, as well as the actions that are triggered when it transitions from
one state to another. A user or application can promote or demote an object to move it
forward and backward in its lifecycle.
Life Cycle Actions are promote or Demote. And life cycle states are 1. Draft 2. Review 3.
Publish and 4. Close
What is Search?
Content Engine supports property and content-based searching. Key capabilities of search
include the
following:
A single search can span multiple object stores in different databases.
Workplace users can search for documents, folders, and custom objects. Searches can be
designed to
specify multiple folders, including a common folder name used in multiple object stores.
Content-based searching using IBM FileNet P8 Content Search Engine supports extensive
content
search capabilities that account for misspelled words, typographical errors, phonetic searching,
word
stem searching, synonym expansion, and wildcard searching.
Content searches return matches on properties and content.
Search results can optionally be displayed in a document summary format, which includes a
brief text summary extracted from result documents.
Search results can be ranked by relevancy.
Searching makes use of the Autonomy multilingual features.
Bulk operations can be performed on search results in Enterprise Manager, where the
operations can
be scripted, or selected from a set of predefined operations such as delete, cancel checkout, file,
unfile, and change security.
Searches can be created and stored for easy execution of common queries.
Search templates provide a simple user interface for entering search criteria.
Shortcuts to searches can be saved so it is easy to find them later.
Searches can be expanded to retrieve documents, folders, and custom objects in the same
search
specification.
What is Versioning?
You can create different versions of content to maintain a history of changes and to control which
users can change the content at a given time. The set of versions for a single document is called a
version series.
Content Engine supports a two-level versioning scheme, in which a document version is either a
major or minor version. Minor versions typically denote an in-progress document, whereas a
major version typically denotes a completed document. In addition to version numbers, the
system maintains a state property indicating the current state of each version of the document, as
follows:
In Process A work in progress version. Only one version of a version series can be in this
state.
Reservation A document currently checked out for modification. Only the latest version of a
version series can be in this state.
Released A document released as a major version. Only one major version of a version series
can
be in this state.
Superseded A version superseded by another version. Many versions in the version series can
be
superseded.
P8 Core Components
FileNet P8 core components: 1. Content Engine (CE) 2. Application Engine (AE) and 3. Process
Engine (PE)
Content Engine
Content Engine is designed to handle the heavy demands of a large enterprise. It is capable of
managing enterprise-wide workflow objects, custom objects, and documents by offering
powerful and easy-to-use administration tools. Using these tools, an administrator can create and
manage the classes, properties, storage, and metadata that form the foundation of an Enterprise
Content Management system.
Engine sends a request to the Rules Listener to execute a rule set. Rules Listener executes the
rules
in the rule set and returns the results to Process Engine. The rules engine provider must
implement a
specific API in order to integrate with Process Engine.
Process Task Manager Provides administrative tools for configuring and managing processrelated
services on the Process Engine server.
Process Analyzer Provides analysis capabilities to determine cycle times, find bottlenecks,
and
generate reports and charts to analyze the processes deployed in the Process Engine system.
Process Simulator Allows you to simulate processes or perform what-if scenarios with
hypothetical or historical data.
Workflow database Contains Process Engine configuration information as well as running
instances of workflows.
Component Integrator Provides an extensible integration framework that allows you to easily
create connectors. Java and JMS adaptors are ready for you to use without modification.
Process Web Services Provides a Web services API to Process Engine.
Workflow auto-launch Event-driven component that launches workflows in the Process
Engine
system. You can configure this component to launch a specific workflow in response to specific
events. For example, filing a document in a folder might launch a review process in the Process
Engine system.
Directory Services Directory service functionality is accessed through the Content Engine
server.
Content Engine supports several LDAP providers and single-sign-on (SSO) functionality. This
passthrough approach simplifies directory services configuration by centralizing it for both
Content Engine and Process Engine.
Application EngineApplication Engine is the FileNet P8 component that hosts the Workplace
Web application, Workplace java applets, and application development tools. It is the
presentation layer for both process and content. Application Engine protects user credentials
passed between Workplace and Content Engine and, if configured, provides SSL security.
The services and applications included in Application Engine are:
Workplace An end-user Web application that provides access to the document management
capabilities and is tightly integrated with the business process management capabilities of
FileNet P8.Workplace also supports extended FileNet P8 capabilities such as forms management,
records
management, and portals.
Workplace XTWorkplace XT is an optional FileNet P8 component (similar to Application
Engine) that hosts the Workplace XT Web application, providing access to the process and
content functionality of FileNet P8. You can install Workplace XT in addition to or in place of
Application Engine. Workplace XT protects user credentials passed between Workplace XT and
Content Engine and, if configured, provides SSL security.
Rendition Engine
Rendition Engine converts documents from a variety of formats, such as those produced by
Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to PDF and HTML formats. Multiple Rendition
Engines can be configured to support large numbers of conversion requests.
An application requests that a document be published by submitting a publish request through
one of the FileNet P8 APIs. A publish request might simply create a copy of the document in a
new folder, with new security attributes, or it might also transform the document content to
another format (HTML or PDF). The publish request is queued in the Content Engine server. The
publishing background task dequeues the publish request and calls the appropriate publishing
event handler. If a format conversion is a part of the publish request, then the handler sends the
document to the Rendition Engine server to perform the necessary transformation.
P8 Installation involves these steps:
1. Install & configure CE::
a) Install Content Engine
b) Install FileNet Enterprise Manager
c) Install Content Engine software updates
d) Install ECM Centera SDK library files
e) Configure Content Engine instances
i) Delete existing data sources as needed
ii) Grant permissions to the Configuration Manager user
iii) Configure instances using the graphical user interface
iV) Configure instances using the command line interface
f) Install the latest Content Search Engine Client files on Content Engine servers
g) Install the latest Process Engine Client files on Content Engine servers
h) Deploy Content Engine instances
i) Install Tivoli Storage Manager client and add native API library paths (WebSphere)
j) Install Tivoli Storage Manager client and add native API library paths (WebLogic)
k) Install Tivoli Storage Manager client and add native API library paths (JBoss)
l) Complete Content Engine post-deployment steps
m) Establish the FileNet P8 domain and Global Configuration Data (GCD)
n) Create the data sources for an object store
o) Create the initial object store
p) Verify the Content Engine installation
2. Install and configure Content Search Engine::
a) Install Content Search Engine
b) Configure Content Search Engine
c) Create a Content Search Engine collections directory
d) Configure Content Engine for content-based retrieval
e) Verify the Content Search Engine installation
3) Install and configure Process Engine::
What is BPF?
FileNet BPF provides a configurable framework for rapid development of BPM application.
BPF Web Application, an Ajax based application provides a user friendly interface to the
business users.
Along with the pre defined screens and functionality, FileNet BPF provides a framework to
develop and customize the application to meet business requirement.
FileNet BPF has two components:
1. BPF Web Application: Deployed on a J2EE server, the BPF Web Application is an out-of-thebox, customizable, and configurable portal for BPM applications, and a UI container with
relevant components for BPF applications.
2. BPF Explorer: BPF Explorer is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC)-based tool for
defining and configuring BPF applications.
IBM launched Workplace XT to compete with documentum and Alfresco, who has similar web
interfaces.
While most of the functionalities of Workplace XT are similar to the Workplace, it cannot be
considered as product upgrade as Workplace XT is built using Java Server Faces (JSF)
technology.
Workplace XT has better folder structure and nicer way to organize favorites.
Workplace XT does not provide a development environment for customization; however,
Workplace continues to provide the Workplace Application Toolkit and related development
tools for Workplace customization.
The Process Designer is a graphical tool provides the general process design
capabilities where users define or update their process flows. A workflow definition
describes all
The Process Administrator tool lets an administrative user query the system for
process instances and view the current state of those instances. Process Administrator
provides a wide variety of options so we can search very precisely. Process
Administrator supports following actions on the work in progress workflow items
Complete a step and send it on to the next step.
Modify workflow field values.
The Process Tracker tool can be launched to view the current and historical state of
an individual process instance. Process Tracker provides the status of a workflow that is
currently running in a graphical view. From the Process Tracker graphic view window,
we can tell what steps have been completed in the workflow, when they were completed,
and which steps are currently active.
The Process Configuration Console tool defines the rosters, queues, event logs,
and various other system-related components. This is used to register the components.
From the tool, you import service definitions for the component. You must create a
component queue for each imported class and make the component queue operations
available to use during a workflow design.
The Process Task Manager tool that is deployed with the Application Engine that
can be used to start and stop the various server components, including the server itself.
This is used to start, stop, and administer Component Managers. The component must
be registered with a omponent Manager. Each Component Manager coordinates one or
more components which are responsible for delivering events from the Process Engine
to an external entity such as a Web service or a messaging system.This can be verified
under the Required Libraries tab for the Component Manager.
FileNet P8 Architecture
Hi All, Today we are going to discuss about the FileNet P8 Architecture. FileNet platform
contains 3 servers we can call them as engines.
1. Application Engine
2. Content Engine
3. Process Engine
Apart from that there are different tools available like Capture, Records Manager and workplace
to perform different activities. The FileNet platform can be integrated with different repositories
like Image Services, Content services and other third party repositories using the Content
Federation Services.
Major components of the Application Engine is application server, Java API and Component
Integrator. Currently FileNet P8 is supporting the below application servers.
1. Websphere
2. Weblogic
3. JBoss
Java API is used to communicate with Content Engine and Process Engine. Workplace can be
customized by using the WAT(Web Application Toolkit).
Component Integrator is used to integrate the custom components to the Process Engine. The
component can be a jar file, web service or JMS. Component Manager is process engine
component but hosted and managed on the application engine. By default IBM is providing the
custom component for CE Operations for performing the basic Content Engine operations like
copy, delete and moving documents etc.The Application Engine also supports the integration
with Microsoft's Office and WebDAV.
Hi, Today I am going to explain the architecture of the FileNet Content Engine. Content
Engine serves as
1. Main content management
2. Security management
3. Storage management engine for the family of IBM FileNet P8 products.
We can install and implement IBM FileNet Content Manager as a stand-alone product.
The Content Engine is written in Java as a J2EE application. Developers can use the
Java API , Net API or Web services to develop the applications based on the Content
Engine. In the FileNet P8 v3.x we can use the COM API to develop applications using
Content Engine. COM API is useful for developers who came from VB background. This
COM APIs et is now supported as a compatibility layer in P8 4.x, allowing many COMbased custom applications that are written in P8 3.x to continue functioning in P8 4.x
with a few configuration changes.
In the Content Engine, document is a mix of content as well as the metada (you may call
it as document properties). You are also classified this as sturctured (metadata) and
unstructured (content) data. In the Content Engine all the structered data will be save to
the RDBMS and the structured data will be saved to a filestore. A file store can be a
shared drive, database or tape drive. The file store can be configured using Filenet
Enterprise Manager (FEM).
The content engine uses the directory services to authenticate the users. All the users
and roles are defined in the directory services. Based on these roles and users content
engine authorize the users to a particular document or object. Security privileges can be
defined at a class level or at object level based on the requirement.
Any Web service call first route to the Web services listener and later it will route to the EJB
Listener which is stateless, which demarcates the transaction and authentication boundaries into
the server.
What is FileNet Technology?
Answer:
FileNet is an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solution product suite from IBM.
Enterprises uses FileNet to manage their content and business processes.
FileNet P8 platform, the latest version of FileNet system, provides a framework for developing
custom enterprise systems, offering much functionality out of the box and capable of being
customized to manage a specific business process.
FileNet Enterprise Content Management (ECM) product suite includes:
Content Management Products:
1. FileNet Content Manager (CE) CE is the core content management solution for the
FileNet P8 platform.
2. FileNet Image Services (IS) IS is used to store and manage documents.
metadata and data that support extensions to core Content Engine features.
7. Marking set: A marking set provides a way to define a level of security on
Content of a folders can be copied to another folder exist in same object store.
It is not mandatory that each document or objects should be filed under a folder.
Documents which are not part of any folder remain Unfile.
A Root Folder is created along with a new Object Store. This folder is parent folder for
all other folders in the Object Store.
Folders can generate server events when they are created, modified, or deleted.
Try logon to FileNet Workplace. If user is able to sign in, CE & directory services are
running fine. If not user will get 'credential exception'.
Following Java code demonstrates the deletion of a document stored in FileNet Content Engine:
// Get the object
Document doc = Factory.Document.getInstance(os,"Document","/Doc");
// Mark the document for deletion locally
doc.delete();
// Perform the delete
doc.save(Refresh.NO_REFRESH);
Note: Similar steps can be used to delete other objects in FileNet including folder objects,
custom objects etc.
What are root classes in FileNet?
A root class is a class without a parent. FileNet object store has multiple root classes including
Document Class, Annotation, Choice List, Event etc. The Parent Class property of these root
classes is None (as shown in below screen shot).
The root classes are created automatically during object store creation. Once the root class is
created, subclasses and properties can be added to the object store.
For example, a document subclass can be added under root class (Document Class) by running
the Create a Class wizard from Enterprise Manager.
Except the Document Class, all other root classes are places under Other Classes in enterprise
In how many databases does FileNet Process Engine (PE) stores data?
Answer:
FileNet Process Engine (PE) stores data in to one database named VWDB
What is 'Workflow Roster'?
Answer:
'Workflow Roster' is a database structure that stores information about all workflows (or
workitems) in an isolated region. Workflow Roster is part of Process Engine VW database.
Workflow rosters provide the Process Engine with an efficient way to locate specific workflows.
When we initialize a new isolated reason in process engine, a roster called DefaultRoster is
created for that isolated reason. Additional rosters can be created using Process Configuration
Console (PCC) to easy administrative tasks.
What is an Isolated Region?
Answer:
An isolated region is a logical subdivision of the workflow database that contains the queues for
the work items, event logs, rosters, and other configuration information.
Below are few facts about isolated region:
Initializing new Isolated Region creates default structure as Inbox, default roster and
event log.
A system administrator uses FileNet Enterprise Manager (FEM) to define the isolated
region. A Process Engine host, the communication point, a password, and isolated region
number are required to define isolated region in CE.
Different units in an organization who do not want to share workflow data can create
different isolated region.
For example the research department and the finance department in an organization have
two all together logically different processes. It is recommended to have two different
isolated regions for these two departments.
Multiple isolated regions also make it easy to maintain the systems. Changes made into
one region dont affect the users of another region.
Examine following Windows services for the process Engine and make sure they are
running.
1. Process Engine IMG ControlService
2. Process Engine Service Manager
Tracker
2. Work Queues
Work queue hold work item which can be processed by one or many users part of a
group.
i.e. For processing an insurance claim, a work queue 'Claim' can be created and any
employee from claim processing department can pick up the work item and process it.
3. Component Queues
Component queue holds work items to be processed by component step in workflow. The
components steps are to process a work item using an external component.
4. System Queues
Internally used by Process Engine, System queues are not accessible to the users or
administrators. Conductor, Delay, and InstructionSheetInterpreter are few of the examples
of system queues.
How to delete a queue in Process Engine?
Answer:
FileNet doesn't provide any mechanism to delete a queue; whether it is a work queue or a
component queue.
The only workaround is to initialize the isolated region in following way:
1. Export isolated region configuration data to XML - Use Process Configuration Console
(PCC) to export all components of selected isolated region.
2. Initialize a isolated region.
3. Take a backup of XML file from the export in step 1 and carefully edit the XML file to
remove the nodes of unwanted queue.
4. Import the XML file in recently initialized isolated region with the option 'overwrite'.
5. Validate the configuration.
Note: When an isolated region is initialized, it makes changes to the workflow database structure
and the data in workflow database is deleted.
FileNet developer should design and configure the queues very carefully to avoid a situation
where they will have to delete a queue.
What happens to the work items when a work queue is deleted from PE?
Answer:
Process Engine work queue holds the work items. FileNet P8 doesn't provide any easier way to
delete a queue.
Queues can be deleted by initializing the isolated region. When a queue is deleted all the work
items in it are also deleted.
What is the use of Process Administrator?
Answer:
FileNet Process Administrator allows FileNet administrator to view and manage work in
progress.
Process Administrator is a Java Applet based UI and can be invoked from IBM Workplace's
admin section.
Following tasks can be performed though Process Administrator:
1. Search workflows, work items, workflow events, and workflow statistics.
2. It allows the administrator to search in specific area. Following areas are available for
search:
o
Workflow roster
User queue
Component queue
Work queue
System queue
Change workflow attributes, such as data field values and workflow group
members.
1. UDP
2. HTTP
3. IIOP
4. SOAP
4. Which command is used in the vwtool to configure the connection to the external
database?
1. createDBViews
2. createCon
3. dbconfig
4. listdbconfig
5. Which one of the following step the workflow must end with?
1. Terminate Step
2. End Step
3. Terminate branch step
4. There is no such constraint
6. How many isolated regions can be connected to component manager at a time?
1. 1
2. 2
3. 1024
4. Unlimited
7. In workflows which of the following system function can be used to provide the web
service which can be invoked?
1. Invoke
2. Receive
3. Reply
4. WaitForCondition
8. Which data type is not supported by Workflows?
1. Object
2. Date
3. Time
4. BLOB
9. Which of the following method calls retrieves a desired event log?
1. mySession.getEventLog(eventLogName)
2. mySession.fetchtEventLog(eventLogName)
3. mySession.getEventsHistory(eventLogName)
4. mySession.findEventLog(eventLogName)
10. Which method should be used to move a work item to another users inbox?
1. VWStepElement.doReassign(userid, false, null);
2. VWStepElement.doDispatch(userid, false, inbox);
3. VWStepElement.moveToInbox(userid, false);
4. VWStepElement.reassign(userid);
11. Which one of the following method calls retrieves a list of the names of all work
classes/workflows within the isolated region?
1. String[] names = myPESession.fetchWorkflowNames(true)
2. String[] names = myPESession.fetchWorkclassNames(true)
3. String[] names = myPESession.getWorkflowNames(true)
4. String[] names = myPESession.listWorkflowNames(true);
12. Which work element provides access to all the fields of the work item?
1. VWWorkObject
2. VWStepElement
3. VWQueueElement
4. VWWorkflowDefinition
13. In the following line of Java code, vwObject must be an instance of which class?
Query = vwObject.createQuery(null, null, null, queryFlag, filters, null,
VWFetchType.FETCH_TYPE_WORKOBJECT);
1. VWSession
2. VWQueue
3. VWQueue or VWRoster
4. VWUser
14. Which one of the following method calls will end a Process Engine session and log the
user off?
1. VWSession.end()
2. VWSessiom.logoff()
3. VWSesssion.releaseSession()
4. VWSession.terminate()
15. Which VWStepElement method is used to save the changes made to the work object
associated with this step element and advances the work item to the next workflow step?
1. doComplete()
2. doDispatch()
3. doSave()
4. doPromote()
16. Which of the following method calls retrives a VWWorkflowMilesteones collections?
1. VWProcess.fetchWorkflowMilestones(level)
2. VWProcess.fetchReachedWorkflowMilestones(level)
3. VWProcess.fetchWorkflowMilestones(level)
17. Which method unlocks a work item associated with a step without updating the fields on
the work item?
1. VWStepElement.doAbort()
2. VWStepElement.doCancel()
3. VWStepElement.doUnlock()
4. VWStepElement.doTerminate()
18. An Annotation object can be added to which object type?
1. Document only
2. Documents and custom objects
24. If the subscription is assigned to the content engine Object class, which one of the
following results is correct?
1. subscriptions must me assigned indivisually to each object of that class
2. subscriptions automatically applies to the first instance of that class
3. subscription automatically applies to all new objects of the class
25. What does folder.getContainees() do?
1. retrieves the folders properties object
2. retrieves a collection of document, custom object and folder objects
contained in the folder
3. retrieves a collection of Document objects contained in the folder
26. As event action procedure can be defined in which of the following ways?
1. VBScript or Jscript only
2. com object only
3. VBScript, Jscript or COM Object
27. Which object is most suitable for storing properties with no content?
1. Document with no content
2. Properties object
3. Custom object
28. In what format an object stored searches saved in a FileNet P8 object store?
1. They are stored using a FileNet propritery format.
2. They are stored as HTML document
3. They are stored as XML document
29. Which one of the following methods below does not perform documents
autoclassification?
1. document.setContent(contentSource, true, true);
2. document.autoClassify();
3. document.checkin(true, true);
30. Which of the following statement retrieves a folder object?
1. ObjectFactory.getObject(BaseObject.TYPE_FOLDER, folderId);
2. objectStore.geFolder(folderId);
3. objectStore.getObject(BaseObject.TYPE_FOLDER, folderId);