The Client Download Service enables you to build version-compatibility checks and automatic updates into client applications that use the Content Platform Engine APIs. A client can compare and report on the compatibility between its APIs and the API versions on the Content Platform Engine. If incompatibilities exist, the client can download the latest API components from the server.
The Client Download Service consists of the following server- and client-side components:
The Client Download Service uses a hierarchical containment model to extract information and download components. At the top level is the Package class, which contains the features that a client application can leverage. For example, the IBM® FileNet® Content Manager package consists of content-based features, and the IBM FileNet Process Engine package consists of process-based features. The Feature class documentation lists all of the resources available for download to a client.
A Feature contains components, the individual files that give a feature its functionality. From a Feature object, you can get configuration information about the components, as well as download the components. A component is represented by the Component class.
When you download components for a particular feature, the Client Download Java API writes an XML-based file manifest that identifies the components that were downloaded. The manifest serves as a record of the download operation, and can later be used to compare downloads from future versions of the Content Platform Engine.
To use the Client Download Service with a client application, you need:
To test the connection to the Client Download Servlet, enter this URL in a web browser: http://<hostname>:<portnumber>/clientDownload?command=getVersion. (The default ports are 9080 for WebSphere® , 8080 for JBoss, and 7001 for WebLogic.)
If the connection is good, the Client Download Servlet returns version information about the Content Platform Engine.
You can get the Client Download Java API from the Content Engine installation directory:
For requirements to develop a client that uses a Content Engine API, see Getting Started in the Java and .NET Developer's Guide.
For requirements to develop a client that uses a Process Engine API, see Introduction to Process Applications in the Process Java Developer's Guide.