Document Management Object Model Overview
The following table shows the document management objects, what each object represents in the user interface, and the purpose of each object.
| Object | Represents | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| KnowledgeServer | A server. | Creates a new workspace or enumerates workspaces on the server. |
| KnowledgeWorkspace | A workspace. | Provides centralized access to document libraries, content sources, categories, document profiles, subscriptions, and discussions. |
| KnowledgeContentClass | A document profile. | Identifies and defines the intended purpose of the documents stored in SharePoint Portal Server. |
| KnowledgePropertyDef | A property definition. | Defines a particular property. |
| KnowledgeDictionary | A list of possible values for a given property. | Contains a series of possible property values. |
| KnowledgeFolder | A standard or enhanced folder. | Provides access to document storage. |
| KnowledgeCategoryFolder | A category folder. | Provides access to properties and methods used to create new or manipulate existing categories. |
| KnowledgeDocument | A document. | Provides access to the content of a file and other information, called metadata, about the file. |
| KnowledgeVersion | The latest version of the document. | Provides advanced document management functions, such as versioning, approval, and publishing tasks. |
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Figure 6: SharePoint Portal Server Workspace
The preceding figure shows the essential components of a workspace that is created within a server. A server contains a workspace. A workspace provides access to the files on the server through a Web folder. When the workspace is created, a dashboard site is automatically created for the workspace. A dashboard site is a Web site that offers a central access point to document management tasks, search functions, and other services available through the workspace.
The workspace contains:
- Document profiles. These contain a collection of document properties. Each document in the workspace is associated with a document profile.
- Property definitions. These define a particular property. A property, also known as metadata, is a piece of information that is associated with a SharePoint Portal Server document.
- Catalogs. These are full-text indexes.
- Root categories folder. This contains all category folders in a workspace.
- Root document folder. This contains all document folders in a workspace.
A workspace also contains subscriptions, discussions, and user information. Within a workspace, documents appear in two hierarchies:
- The document library. This shows documents in the locations and organizations into which the person or team creating and approving the documents organizes them.
- Categories. These organize documents so that readers can see the documents in relation to pre-defined categories. Categories provide a flexible way both to find and to describe documents by organizing the information in the dashboard site into groups of similar documents. This enables the user to browse through information by topic. Categories do not change the existing folder structure, but provide a consistent and controlled set of values that can be added as document metadata.
Two types of folders are supported:
- Standard folders. These support user access roles, document metadata, categories, and the building of an index by the search engine.
- Enhanced folders. These support the features of standard folders, as well as, document versioning, check-in and check-out, private draft versions, and document approval routing.
Related Topics
Setting Security Policy on Folders
Version Control in Enhanced Folders