Notes and limitations when not using applets

Prior to Contenta S1000D 5.8, certain Content a Web tools (Dynamic Import, and Check In/Check Out/Fetch tools) allowed use of an applet to enhance functionality when transferring content to and from the Web Server. Beginning with version 5.8, the applet is no longer supported for Contenta Web for all tools except Dynamic Import and Framebook tools (with Internet Explorer only).

Note the following about using the Contenta Web tools that transfer files to and from the Web Server without applets.
  • Customers using the FrameBook editing tools with Contenta Web for non-leaf nodes must used the applet and enable the applet in the registry on the Contenta Web server. See Configuring applet support in the Contenta documentation for more information.
  • Dynamic Import
    • By default, the applet is not enabled for Dynamic Import. If your browser does not support applets or you cannot use applets, you must disable applet support for Dynamic Import on the Contenta Web Server. When the applet is not used, only single files can be uploaded. See Configuring applet support in the Contenta documentation for more information.
  • For Contenta S1000D, the XML editing tools allow for graphics to be transferred to the client (if requested) without the use of an applet. The graphics are transferred when the users launches the editor by the Contenta S1000D editor plugin, and the user sees an indicator while the graphics are transferred and loaded in the editor.
  • Custom tools that make use of the SDL applet must be modified by the customer to use an alternative method for uploading and downloading files.
  • Checkout Tools
    • Without applets, only single files can be transferred to the web browser client, and editors cannot be launched automatically.
    • Browsers behave differently when downloading files. Generally, you get options to Save, Save as, and Open with. The default location for files for these choices varies (e.g. temp directory, download directory). Similarly, Open with behaves differently depending on the browser. Refer to your browser documentation for specifics.
    • In Firefox, Open with is not a good option since for some reason, it always renders the files as read-only.
    • Setting default file association in Windows for XML files to launch the correct editor (such as Arbortext Editor or Oxygen XML Author) can make downloading and editing files easier. Refer to Microsoft documentation for information on XML file associations and Internet Explorer.
    • It is important to not change the file name of a document when saving it during checkout. When you perform Save as, it is possible to either edit the file name before saving or to accidentally click on a file or folder in the browse dialog, changing the file name to whatever was last clicked. Check In won't work if the file name is changed.
    • If you change your mind after being presented with the browse dialog during checkout and click the dialog's Exit button, the selected object(s) are left locked. You must unlock them by using the Unlock tool on each object or by using pcmsessions.
  • Check in Tools (Long-Term)
    • Use caution when selecting the file to check in. First determine which folder it is in. Then, be sure to select the correct file. The Check In dialog provides the name of the file that should be selected.
    • It is important to keep the "checkout" directory cleaned up. The long-term checkout tool tools cannot delete files on the web browser machine.