Set up file type definitions

This section describes how to set up file type definitions and enable Document Conversion Services for Document Manager, which provides users the ability to open non-native file types in HTML format. Documents produced by many standard applications (such as word processors or spreadsheets) can be viewed as HTML pages using the Document Conversion Services. For example, documents received as attachments to an e-mail can be viewed in a browser, even if the application that created the document is not installed. Document Conversion Services is integrated with document management. Document Conversion Services also allows documents to be searched by content. Document Conversion Services supports many of the most widely used applications. Refer to the Viewing documents in HTML topic for a list of file types that can be viewed in HTML.

Note: The document conversion process will delete previous versions of the document.

 

Before you begin

Perform the following configuration step to ensure that document conversions will work for Microsoft Office and Lotus SmartSuite file types:

  • Update the content-types.properties file under <was>\java\jre\lib with the following content:

    • Microsoft Office:

      application/msword: \
 description=Microsoft Word;\
 file_extensions=.doc

application/vnd.ms-excel: \
 description=Microsoft Excel;\
 file_extensions=.xls

application/vnd.ms-powerpoint: \
 description=Microsoft Powerpoint;\
 file_extensions=.ppt
    • Lotus SmartSuite:

      application/vnd.lotus-freelance: \
        description=Lotus Freelance;\
        file_extensions=.prz

application/vnd.lotus-1-2-3: \
        description=Lotus 1-2-3;\
        file_extensions=.123

application/vnd.lotus-wordpro: \
        description=Lotus Wordpro;\
        file_extensions=.lwp

 

Enable document conversion

have the appropriate package installed for your system.

Systems Additional Packages
AIX X11R6
Linux LessTif 0.93 or Motif 2.0, X11R6
Solaris X11R6
Windows n/a

You need to create a temporary directory for document conversion. The default temporary directory is:

  • Windows: c:\temp
  • Unix: /temp

    Note: The default Unix /temp directory is located in the root system and needs to be created if it does not exist.

If you wish to create a different temporary directory other than the default, you can edit the convertors.xml file in the <WebSphere Portal Server>\shared\app directory. Add the property "tempDir" to the <global> tag:

<global>

<property name="tempDir" value="<yourtempdirectory>"/>

</global>

To launch the native application when clicking the attachment, the following MIME types must be registered in WebSphere Application Server to enable browsers to properly display documents of that type. The following additional types need to be registered:

  • application/msword doc
  • application/vnd.ms-excel xls

For Unix systems, launch WebSphere Portal from the console or an X-Server-enabled client with the same privileges (xhost+) as the console.

Note: On Unix servers, graphical conversions require access to an X Windows server, since they require access to the Xm, Xt and X11 libraries. Also the DISPLAY environment variable must be set to the account that Portal is running under. Note that the DISPLAY must be valid at the point that Portal is started. Therefore, telneting to a machine and starting Portal from there does not work. start Portal from an X terminal.

You can choose to run the X Server on the Portal server or a remote server. You can also use a framebuffer device or VNC to emulate X Windows servers on a headless server.

The conversion filters are installed with WebSphere Portal. There is no need for configuration. However, you can configure the export.cfg file, located in the ShareLIB, if you want to fine tune conversion properties such as graphics size and resolution.

For step-by-step information about document conversion, see the online help that is available from the portlet title bar.

 

Related tasks

 

See also

Lotus Documentation | Trademarks |

 

WebSphere is a trademark of the IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.

 

IBM is a trademark of the IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.