The ACIA DMS module began as a simple conversion of a DMS module presented as a sample in early book on IBuySpy Portal from which DotNetNuke grew, as it provided a nice modular foundation to build from. Once completed, I gave the module away freely on my web site with the hopes that other enthusiastic users would add to the foundation I had laid down, unfortunately the community support never materialized the way I hoped, which left me with opportunity to do the work myself.
Starting with a solid vision for what I wanted to create in a commercial Document Management Module and a lot of feedback from those who used the first version of this module, I decided to commence work on a major upgrade of the module.
- Hierarchical Folder/Library View: Now it is possible to create effectively unlimited hierarchy of folders for use with the module.
- Folder Level Permissions: Assign permissions at the folder level (these will not propogate to subfolders, only documents within the current folder.
- Folder & Document Update Subscriptions: Notification for when a document is checked in or out at the Library or Document level.
- Enhanced Revision History: All document revisions included author’s name in revision history list. Also additional new document history on document details tab displays all attempts to download/view a particular file, the name of the user and the date and time of the viewing.
- Ability to Filter Root Library: Set a sub library in the portal’s library system to be the default view and only display children of that library. (see three separate view samples on my web site, links follow).
- Ability to Disable Tree View: Display a single folder in the hierarchy on a given instance of the module.
- Full Text Index/Lightning Fast Search: Full text index uses Lucene.NET Full-Text search engine and IFilter technology to index all content within the library. Search terms highlighted in 'Google' like search result highlighting in context.
- Permission Sensitive Search: Only displays documents a user has permissions on when displaying search results!
- Enhanced Icons: Added display of DNN’s File Manager Icon’s providing much more comprehensive set of document icons.
- Ability to Limit Checkin to User who Checked out Document: Option to limit check-in of a document to the user who originally checked that document out (may be over-ridden by an administrative user*).
- Documentation: Installation and Configuration documentation. (download)
- Upgrades Existing Instances of ACIA DMS 1.0 Modules: As a precaution on any production instance, it is good practice to back up the site / database prior to upgrading any module, and also in very mission critical environments, upgrading an offline copy of the site to ensure there will be no unforeseen issues!)
Product Documentation
About the Developer
This module was developed by Kenneth Courtney of ACIASoftware.com. Our other module on Snowcovered.com is the ACIA Gallery Module, which has received only the highest reviews thus far. Prior to developing this module, ACIASoftware developed many modules for numerous clients.
Other modules developed by ACIASoftware include a complete online enrollment system for Polk County Public Schools in central Florida, a prepackaging and labeling application for pharmaceutical labeling , organizational maintenance tools for nonprofit organizations, and more.
Once the module is installed on a page, you may commence organizing your libraries. If you have upgraded the module, the upgrade assumes you are on the portal you want all your original libraries accessed from as the first version of the module was not multi-portal aware.
Above shows how the module should look when initially installed.
To add a new document, click on the ‘Add Document’ link in the upper right corner of the module.
Once you have browsed to the document you wish to upload, and optionally set the file description, notification settings, and library, click on the ‘Upload New Document’ link to upload the new document.
Licensing
Please understand that the primary purpose of licensing modules is to limit the 'viral spread' of our software. Many times modules are inadvertantly copied from one developer to another and this is just a mechanism to limit this casual spread. We will work to get you a key PROMPTLY whenever you request it and will worry about the details after your module is running properly!.
ACIA DMS installs with a thirty day unlimited demo license. When the module expires, it will still be available if accessed with the server name “localhost.”
ACIA DMS can be licensed in one of four ways:
Standard: You may install and use the ACIA DMS module on one named server. If you have a server that has for example companyname.com, intranet.companyname.com, and www.companyname.com, the module will be available to all of these instances. Only another domain or server name will require an additional license.
Additional Standard License: Additional standard licenses may be purchased at a discount.
Unlimited: An unlimited license may be installed by its owner on an unlimited number of domains, provided they are that customer’s domains or domains owned by the purchasers clients.
Unlimited Source: Source code may be purchased for the module.
Each instance of the module must be licensed (although the license is domain/server name wide).
Compatability
ACIA DMS is always compiled against DotNetNuke 4.0.0. It should be compatable with ANY version of DotNetNuke 4.0 or above. Also, the module has only been tested with SQL Express 2005 or SQL Server 2005. Also note that if you have specified a prefix for your table names (an advanced configuration option RARELY used in modern DotNetNuke deployments) this module like most others will not function properly.
I will work with you to configure your portal or refund your money if for any reason the module cannot be made to run on your instance of DotNetNuke 4.
Undocumented Features (Bugs)
ACIA DMS has recieved rigorourous unit testing as well as beta testing by a select group of Version 1.0 customers. We have made every effort to ensure that the product is bug free. The simple fact is that many times bugs will evidence themselves and when they do, it is our goal to promptly fix those bugs. If discovered, simply submit a help ticket on Snowcovered.com's help ticket system and we will promptly fix your issue.
Future Versions
ACIA DMS is currently under continuous development. Any purchaser of the module will be eligible for free upgrades for the first year after purchase.
Planned enhancements in forthcoming releases:
1) Document Storage in File System using the .resources file extension.
2) Ability to easily switch between database and file system storage (the ACIA Gallery Module already has this functionality!!).
3) Ability to specify a root folder on the web server to synchronize with (this feature is planned for ACIA Gallery Module as well!!).
Refunds
I provide complete product documentation (download product manual here) as well as live demo of the module here where multiple product configurations can be experimented with. I also clearly state the module's compatability limitations (SQL Express/Server 2005 or above, DotNetNuke 4.0 or above). The above being said, I adhere closely to the policies outlined by Snowcovered.com regarding refunds. In most cases I will authorize any reasonable refund request for the PA Version of this or any other ACIASoftware.com module. I reserve the right to withhold refund from Source Code versions of the module which have been downloaded as the source code and not the actual module are considered to be the primary product sold and marketed, and downloading of the source constitutes taking license of that software for the purchased use.
Clicking on the ‘Settings’ link in the module’s header will open the module settings screen. This displays the hierarchy of ALL of the libraries in the portal along with several module instance specific settings.
“Select Library to use in the Module” governs the default library to display when the module is first viewed. By default, this really doesn’t have that much significance, but when combined with the other module settings, offers a very powerful way to administer your portal DMS.
“Limit Library to Parent and Children of Selected Library” will limit the module to displaying only the selected library and it’s children (if you have specified that the treeview control be visible).
“Display Library Tree View Control” Will toggle the display of the library folder navigation treeview control.
“Limit Check-in Permission to who Checked or Module Admin Only“
ACIA DMS Module Install Guide.pdf: Installation and Configuration Guide (Download)
Live Demos
Module Configured in Root Configuration (like Screen shot below)
Module Configured to display a sub-hierarchy
Module Configured to display a single folder
I have added registered users for the site to the administrators for the module, if you would like to try the administrative view of module. If you would like to view the limited permission view of the module, please log on to the site with user name DMSUser and password DMSUser1.