The Oracle Universal Content Management Handbook – Build, administer and manage Oracle Stellent UCM Solutions
By Dmitri Khanine
I have found it very easy in my ten years with Content Server to make enough room on my book shelf for books on the topic – there just have not been that many. When I do get the opportunity to make room it is generally a celebrated day.
In much the same way that Bex Huff’s The Definitive Guide to Stellent Content Server Development exposed many ‘sysadmins’ and developers to a single source of reference, I am happy to need room on the shelf for Dimtri Khanine’s The Oracle Universal Content Management .
Conversationally delivered, this book tackles the 10gR3 Content Server picking up where The Definitive Guide left off. Khanine delivers overview treatment of items that warrant “higher level” coverage, and then drills down through the key concepts and fundamentals of Content Server. Special attention is paid to the importance of metadata, security and documentation and other resources available to the beginning and/or practicing UCM professional.
Security in the Content Server – as pointed out by the author – is generally an assured point of confusion during the planning and implementation phases of initial efforts in an environment. There have been some clarifying moments in the UCM-focused blogs, but the treatment of the topic in this book places the basics in plain view, in a simplified context. The relationships between Security Groups, Roles and Users are highlighted, and Accounts are then added into the mix. However, Mr. Khanine’s treatment of the topic does not require a whiteboard for understanding. This, in itself, is quite an accomplishment.
If you have been in the “business of technology” for more than 24 hours, it is likely that the acronym “RTFM” (read the friendly manual) is deep-seeded in your everyday life. In this book, the importance of knowing how to find and address the documentation is explored and given its due attention; there is – as alluded to by the author – a ton of information on Content Server. These many pages cover all tasks associated with deploying, maintaining, customizing, etc. However, how do you navigate this swath of information, locate what you need, distill, consume and use it all in a timely manner to avoid adding days to your projects? This topic is addressed, as well as enhanced with the author’s – a successful UCM consultant – preferences when in need of documentation to solve issues. Additionally, Appendix B of the book includes a reference guide to many of the most respected independent resources on the topic of UCM.
The Oracle Universal Content Management Handbook does not delve deeply into the mechanics of the many ways to customize the Content Server, but instead delivers a nice, wide overview of the many approaches to be considered. In combination with the overviews of the many “moving parts” and the available development resources, the book’s chapter on customization definitely does what it sets out to do:
“Unlike all the previous chapters though, this one has a different purpose. I’m not trying to teach you how to customize and integrate Oracle UCM in an hour or two. It just won’t be possible but what I can do well here is give you a few pointers and insider tips that will save you hours and days down the road.”
This is very useful for the beginning Content Server developer and the veteran alike; to have a reference of the many ways to get things done in UCM as well as a reference to additional resources, all in one place, all to save time the next time a customization is required.
This book will serve as a great reference guide to anyone already living with content management, day to day, and is well worth the cover price for the invaluable compendium of resources in Appendix B.
Jason Stortz
Jonathan Hult
Anton Bondar
