IBM FileNet P8, Version 5.2.1            

Document overview

In general, a document can be thought of as a file that you expect to be able to create, save, and later retrieve and update, replacing the old version with the updated version.

Documents are objects that

Documents are instances of document classes

Document classes contain essential properties and methods that comprise documents. Individual documents are called instances of their class or subclass. For information about creating document classes, see Creating a document subclass.

All document classes are assigned system-created properties, such as Document Title and Creation date. Custom properties are created and assigned to specific subclasses by system designers or advanced users, and are used to further identify the documents for later retrieval.

Documents are versionable

A user, or a process like a workflow, can check out a document to edit it. When you check in the updated document, both the new version and the previous version are preserved. Each time that you check in the document, another version is created for that document. See About versioning for more information.

Documents have content

The content of a document is composed of pieces of information such as word-processing files, spreadsheets, graphics, and images. These pieces of information are called a URL while the file itself exists elsewhere on the available network or internet. See Document content for more information.

Network-wide search and retrieval

You can assign titles to your documents by using simple, easy-to-read phrases instead of with file names or ID numbers. Users and automated processes can search for documents based both on their descriptive properties and their content. Regardless of the user or the document location, complex path commands with coded document names are not required. Client applications are designed to make it easy for users to find and use important documents and other objects.

Documents can be filed in folders

You can file documents in folders for easy display and organization, just like you are using Microsoft Windows Explorer. However, while Microsoft Windows enables only one instance of a document, FileNet® P8 enables documents to be filed in many different folders. An action that is taken on any of these document instances is made on all the others. For example, DocumentA could appear in FolderA and FolderB. If DocumentA is checked out from FolderA, it is also marked as checked out in FolderB. See About folders for more information.

Documents can be associated with lifecycle policies

You can pass a document through a predetermined series of states and transitions that are called a lifecycle. See Document lifecycles for more information.

Documents can be workflow definitions

A workflow definition is a document that describes the instructions, paths, and queues available to a workflow. Workflow definition documents are versionable, containable, and can have a lifecycle that is associated with them.

Documents can be attachments in a workflow step

You can attach documents and folders to a step in a workflow. Depending on your access rights, you can

Documents can subscribe to server-side events

You can trigger actions such as delete or check-out by using the event subsystem. See Subscribing to events for more information.

Documents are securable

All documents are designed for easy application of security templates, as the document version goes through predefined states. See IBM® FileNet P8 security for full security information. Also, see About versioning for more information.

Documents can be grouped into compound documents

A compound document consists of a single parent document, containing zero or more child documents. Any child document can be the parent of a separate compound document structure.

Compound documents are referenced by component relationship objects or "links" that

For more information, see About compound documents.



Last updated: October 2015
df_about_docs.htm

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2015.