Fabrik working with Process (BPM) for a ECM platform

[marcelf]

Hi,

Id like to know if anyone alread did or though about integrate with a process management system.

I discovered the ProcessMaker(PHP) could be used with joomla:
https://www.processmaker.com/joomla...gement-system-world-class-workflow-automation

So if it is integrated with fabrik we will have a true ECM (Enterprize Content Managment).

Other examples:
Bonita BPM + openkm
https://www.openkm.com/wiki/index.php/Bonitasoft_Workflow_connector

Alfresco + Activiti
https://www.alfresco.com/bpm-software

Sharepoint
https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...arepoint-d74fcceb-3a64-40fb-9904-cc33ca49da56

Anyone think if this approach is possible or interesting? How could be done?

Thanks,
Marcel

 

[Sophist]

I have not previously tried any of the above, now had time to research them properly, however based on my experience in my opinion...

It is possible to call any of the above in an iframe from Joomla (and hence from Fabrik) - but IMO this does NOT constitute "integration".

For integration, I believe that you would (at a minimum) need to have:

a. Access to the BPM database from Fabrik, together with a clear understanding of the BPM database structure and how (if at all) you could update it from Fabrik without creating inconsistencies.

b. Ability for Joomla / Fabrik to initiate specific functionality within the BPM through (at a minimum) iFrame URLs but ideally more sophisticated APIs.

Sharepoint seems to me to be a no-no as it is not based on php / mysql and would this fail point a. above.
Bonita BPM is Java based and would perhaps be more difficult to integrate with - the devil will be in the detail.

The other two solutions share (to some degree or other) common infrastructure requirements and so might be integrate-able. But whether this is possible will depend upon:

1. The detail of what is meant by "integration"?

2. Whether you want generic integration with Fabrik that anyone can use to build solutions, or application-specific integration which is specific to a single application and will not be a base for any other solution except as example code which would need to be extensively re-worked?

3. Whether you are looking to integrate with the open-source community-versions of these products (where you can see the code) or the licensed versions (where this may or may-not be the case), and whether the vendors would be supportive of any changes you might need to create the integration you want?

4. Whether you (or someone else) is prepared to put the significant effort into creating the integration? Based on other discussions, it seems to me to be unlikely that Media A-Team would put effort into this or support it unless you paid for it.

My advice to you would be to avoid any integration where you are responsible for both creation and maintenance of the integration - because this will become a millstone which will eventually drag you down. (It is hard enough for Media A-Team to keep up with Joomla changes despite the fundamental nature of the relationship between Fabrik and Joomla - this sort of integration will be equally hard but without multiple users to justify it.)

 

[marcelf]

Hi Sophist, clarifying some points:

First assumption:
Fabrik could be configured and adapted to use as document management system or digital repository.

Second:
Document management systems (DMS) have evolved and are today called enterprise content management (ECM). Fabrik running on CMS also gets some points.

Thrid:
An innovation for an organization today is integrate or make an ECM solution work with a process management system, of course, if possible by API

Four:
Bonita(BPMS)+openkm(DMS) is an example of API integration
https://www.openkm.com/wiki/index.php/Bonitasoft_Workflow_connector
As fabrik and bonita have API, I imagine it is possible to create a conector like openkm. Basically, a process in a bonita can generate items (records with documents) in specific list on fabrik. Look:

I mentioned sharepoint only to show a paid, expensive and proprietary ECM plataform that has these features:
https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...workflow-07982276-54e8-4e17-8699-5056eff4d9e3

But there are others like IBM, Laserfiche, ECM:
https://www.opentext.com/products-and-solutions/products/enterprise-content-management
https://www.laserfiche.com/solutionexchange/how-to-design-your-first-laserfiche-workflow/
https://www.ibm.com/analytics/enterprise-content-management/products/

Look:

I think it could be better connected to the process maker than bonita because the first one is written in PHP.

I dont know the MediaATeam's plans, but I guess it will be wonderful if fabrik had distributions or packages for "fabrik pivots" like:
fabrik - web application builder (or RAD tool)
fabrik DMS
fabrik ECM
fabrik Intranet
fabrik Forum
fabrik CRM
fabrik eCommerce
fabrik ...
etc

Thanks,
Marcel

 

[Sophist]

Fabrik is essentially a database display / transaction system. The best you can do is to provide buttons or redirects to take you from one page to another.

BPM is essentially a choreographer - to kick off activities in other systems and when they complete to make something else happen. But BPMs can have database functionality of its own - I am not knowledgeable enough about any of the BPM solutions you mention to be able to comment on whether they have any of this.

But in theory, they are complementary.

I am not really sure whether Joomla / Fabrik can be considered a proper ECM system. One characteristic I would consider mandatory in an ECM system is ability to store arbitrary unstructured information (i.e. BLOBS). Another might be to be able to index that unstructured information in a highly flexible way. For an Enteprise you would also likely want a comprehensive, easy to use and auditable security model (with proven integrity against hacking) that would control and log who could see information and who could edit specific content.

Fabrik is essentially about structured data - in ECM that might be for the metadata. Joomla is essentially a WEB content management system. I don't see that together they cover off the requirements of an ECM, and adding BPM into the mix isn't going to fill the gaps.

That is not to say that a BPM couldn't be complementary to Fabrik, just that I am not sure you could create an ECM with it.