Building Solutions on the IBM FileNet P8 APIs, an Architect's Guide Bill Carpenter, ECM Architect, IBM TSB-3726B

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My Objectives for Today: Describe all of the content APIs available in P8 4.x (applies to all P8 CE 4.x releases) Describe compatibility with P8 3.x content APIs Describe how to decide among the APIs Describe what to do about existing and new content applications

Good News! For existing apps –Compatibility situation is really good –You (probably) don’t even need to recompile For new apps –We have an API that fits you –Development stack agnostic Java /.Net / Web Services

Content Engine APIs CE Web Services Transport CE Enterprise Java Bean Transport P8 CE 4.x Server CEWS COM API.Net API Java API SOAP iiop, t3, jnp, etc

Content Engine APIs CE Web Services Transport CE Enterprise Java Bean Transport P8 CE 4.x Server CEWS COM API.Net API SOAP iiop, t3, jnp, etc Java API (3.x) Java API CEWS (3.x)

Content Engine APIs Java API Layering CE Web Services Transport CE Enterprise Java Bean Transport P8 CE 4.x Server CEWS SOAP iiop, t3, jnp, etc Java API (3.x) Java API

Content Engine APIs COM/.Net/WS API Layering CE Web Services Transport CE Enterprise Java Bean Transport P8 CE 4.x Server CEWS COM API.Net API SOAP CEWS (3.x)

Summary of 4.x API Changes New APIs –CE Java API –CE.Net API Backward compatibility –CE 3.x Java API –COM API –CE Web Services 3.x –Reversed stack position of COM API Read compatibility notes: “Upgrade Custom Applications” in install/upgrade guide 10

Data Provider Changes New 4.x JDBC data provider –Content Engine OLEDB/ADO Data Provider is no longer supported in 4.x –Affects COM API CE Java and.Net APIs also provide native query APIs –Richer –“Closer to the metal” of the CE 11

Choosing an API What type of environment do you use? –Java vs.NET vs web services –The dominant factor … what’s natural for you? Best usability / functionality? –Java vs.NET –Web services powerful, suffers in usability Existing P8 3.x applications? –Best long term strategy is to port to new APIs (see above) –Compatibility layers (COM, Java) in the meantime –You can mix old, new APIs (with some work and object conversions)

Choosing an API (continued) Where’s the best performance? –Java with EJB transport –Java with WS transport,.Net, web services –Java 3.x Compatibility Layer –COM API –Relative performance is highly dependent on application mix. The order here is just a rule of thumb. Server side code –Event actions, autoclassification, lifecycle, etc –Must use Java

A Few Resources IBM Redbooks: –IBM FileNet Content Manager Implementation Best Practices and Recommendations (April 2008) –Developing Applications with IBM FileNet P8 APIs (December 2009) IBM developerWorks Series: Writing great code with the IBM FileNet P8 APIs carpenter/ carpenter/ IBM external forums on developerWorks: ecm ecm

Enterprise Content Management Communities ECM UserNet - the worldwide community of ECM users –Become involved with your local UserNet chapter ECM On-line Community – share and interact with peers around the world – developerWorks – IBM’s resource for developers & IT professionals – Information Champions – recognizes individuals who have made the most outstanding contributions to the Information Management community –

Questions?