Getting Started with Micro Focus Document Management

The Document Management System (DMS) in Project and Portfolio Management (PPM) gives you more control over document search and storage.

Starting from PPM version 9.20, the Micro Focus Document Management System is remodelled to fully leverage your current Oracle databases—either a PPM–dedicated database or an external database on your network, providing you the standard out-of-the-box document management capabilities.

With the new Micro Focus DMS, you can track, index, and search multiple versions (including historical versions) of supporting documents attached to PPM entities in Demand Management, Portfolio Management, Program Management, and Project Management.

Documents managed in these environments are always directly associated with a PPM entity through the standard attachment field and document references functionality in PPM. Entities include requests (portfolios, proposals, projects, and assets), project plans, and programs.

The system requirements for Micro Focus document management system are the same as those for the PPM database. For more information, see the System Requirements and Compatibility Matrix.

Changes to Documentum-based Document Management Solutions

The Documentum-based document management solutions (either using Micro Focus version of EMC Documentum Content Server EE software or integration with stand-alone instance of EMC Documentum Content Server EE software using connector) are not available DMS options starting from PPM version 9.20. You are encouraged to migrate your Documentum-based DMS solution to a supported DMS solution. For details about DMS migration, see Upgrading and Migrating DMS Solutions from PPM Version 9.14 or Earlier.

For detailed information about Documentum-based DMS solutions, see the Document Management Guide and Reference for PPM version 9.10 or earlier.

Functional Capabilities of Micro Focus Document Management

Micro Focus document management system provides the following key functional capabilities:

  • Add documents to a PPM entity from the References section of a details page, from any document field on a request, from user data fields in both the PPM Workbench and the standard interface.

  • Access documents from PPM

  • Ability to check documents in and out, and to override check-outs

  • Version control of attached documents and maintenance of version history

  • Add key words and versioning information to documents at check-in

  • Search for entities based on key words in documents attached as references to PPM entities or to user data fields

  • Ability to conduct both keyword and full text content searches of the document repository from within PPM Center, including historical versions

  • Ability to retrieve archived document versions

  • Full text indexing supporting multiple languages

Note: For information on how to use Micro Focus document management, see What Document Management Users Need to Know.

Micro Focus Document Management Use-Case Scenario

The following use-case scenario exemplifies how Micro Focus document management system is used within large organizations.

A large national insurance company, XYZ Corporation, has just installed PPM. A business analyst working with the IT organization at XYZ is preparing a proposal for new software to be used by insurance investigators across the corporation. Before submitting the proposal for review, the analyst must complete a business case document.

The PPM workflow associated with the proposal enforces this requirement. If the business case document is not attached to the proposal, the analyst cannot move to the next workflow step.

As the analyst checks out the business case document, and later checks in new drafts, document versions are created and stored. If necessary, users can access earlier versions of the business case document.

Documents managed using the Micro Focus document management system follow the same security rules (including field-level security rules) that apply to all PPM entities. This means that application users view only information that applies to their current roles and tasks.

The business analyst can use the document management system to search for entities based on the contents and metadata of documents attached to the entities. The analyst can use key words to locate relevant proposals, assets, requests, and other entities related to a business case, regardless of where the details about the entities reside.