Add a new type to the list of external source types

You can specify additional external source types to the list of those recognized by IXIASOFT CCMS.

Note: This can be applied within a Hosted environment, but only within a test server.

The externaltypes.xml file, found in the Repository in the /system/conf/ folder, contains the current list of the external source types. External sources are links to sources such as documents and sites that exist outside the Content Store. Any DITA reference (link) which starts with a declared external type is handled as an external resource, meaning it will not be validated upon a status change, deletion or as part of any other validation process.

The CCMS evaluates links as follows:
  • If the scope attribute is set to "external", it is identified and handled as an external source type.
  • If the scope attribute is not set to "external", it checks the link against the externaltypes.xml file to determine if the link is an external source type. If the link matches a declared external type, it is identified and handled as an external source type.
  • If the scope attribute is set to "peer", it is identified as either and internal or external source type depending on how the peerasexternal is set.
  • If the link is not identified by any of these means to be an external source, then the link is identified as an internal source type and is validated.

You can add your external source types to the list by editing the externaltypes.xml file.

To add a new external source type:

  1. Open the TEXTML Administration perspective by clicking the TEXTML Administration shortcut on the tool bar. If the shortcut is not displayed, follow these steps:
    1. Select Window > Perspective > Open Perspective > Other
    2. Click TEXTML Administration.
    3. Click Open.
  2. In the TEXTML Administration view, double-click the server. If your server is not displayed in the view, you must add it to the view.
  3. When the Connect as dialog opens, type your username and password and click OK.
  4. Double-click the name of your Content Store to open a connection to it.
  5. Expand the Content Store's Repository node and browse to /system/conf/ to locate the externaltypes.xml file.
  6. Right-click externaltypes.xml and click Check Out.
  7. Double-click the file to open it in the XML editor area.
  8. For each new type that you want to specify, insert a new line in the <externaltypes> section using the format <type>[new source type]</type> and replace [new source type] with your external source type.
    For example, adding an external source type called "scp:" would appear as:
    <externaltypes peerasexternal="true">						
   <type>scp:</type>
</externaltypes>
  9. Save, close, and check in the externaltypes.xml file.
  10. Inform users of the changes.
    The changes will be applied automatically once users close and then reopen their IXIASOFT CCMS Desktop. Users can also apply the changes without restarting their CCMS Desktop by clicking IXIASOFT CCMS > Synchronize Configuration.