WebDAV

WebDAV (Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning) permits you to work directly on documents that are stored on remote servers from different geographic locations.

You can use WebDAV to edit documents on remote servers directly. With a WebDAV-enabled client (such as MICROSOFT → Office → 2000), you open the file directly from the server and make your changes. When you save the document, it is updated directly on the server.

Locking and version control mechanisms support working in groups, and prevent unwanted overwriting of documents.

WebDAV is an enhancement to the http protocol and offers functions that permit cooperative work on documents as well as document management. These documents are stored on remote Web servers.

HTTP

The HyperText Transfer Protocol is the protocol used on the Internet. HTTP supports persistent connections, and provides cache and proxy support as well as secure, authenticated connections. However, the protocol only grants applications read permission. It does not allow you to edit documents.

WebDAV

WebDAV extends the HTTP protocol by affording applications write-access to contents.

Information such as length, MIME type, and date is sent in the HTTP header. WebDAV extends the scope of the information sent in the header. This means that the header also contains information on whether an item is locked (and therefore being edited). The header can also contain the target to which resources should be copied.

You can perform the following actions for documents and folders:

• Lock
• Release
• Create
• Copy
• Move
• Delete

Metadata can also be written and read.

WebDAV in Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management can be used as a WebDAV server or WebDAV client, and can therefore be implemented in various different scenarios.

Knowledge Management as a WebDAV server

You can use a WebDAV-enabled client to access CM repositories. This is recommended if you want to transmit a large number of files to KM (mass operations).

Access using MS Webfolder is also possible. For more information, see Accessing Documents Using WebDav and Including a Knowledge Management Folder as a Web Folder .

Knowledge Management as a WebDAV client

Through Knowledge Management, you can access documents that are stored on other WebDAV-enabled servers (for example, on another portal). You need a WebDAV repository manager to do this.

There are a number of servers and clients available on the market that support WebDAV. Below you find an overview of the most common WebDAV servers and clients.

WebDAV Server

• SAP Enterprise Portal including Knowledge Management
• Apache moddav
• MICROSOFT → IIS 5.0
• Zope

WebDAV Clients

• SAP Enterprise Portal including Knowledge Management
• ADOBE → GoLive → 5, Acrobat → 5
• MACROMEDIA → Dreamweaver →
• MICROSOFT → Windows → 2000
• MICROSOFT → Office → 2000
• MICROSOFT → Internet Explorer 5 and higher
• Mac OS → X

 Which Scenarios Profit From Using WebDAV?

You can use WebDAV for the following scenarios:

• You update documents directly on the server.
• You work with colleagues worldwide on documents that are stored in a central location (remote server).
• You use metadata in search queries. For example, you search for documents of a certain author or with a certain keyword.

The use of WebDAV is therefore recommended for Content Management purposes.