This blog entry will show you how to setup the integration of Windows File Explorer in a new cFolders system. As I searched around for a while and never found a solution for several problems, this blog is like a checklist with hidden features for your cFolder setup.

Introduction

As also known cFolders provides the user with the Windows File Explorer integration feature. This means: using the your local Windows Explorer for manipulating and editing files in your cFolders application. The setup of the cFolders integration is described as follows:

Activate the SOAP handler in the WebAS.

Execute the "Specify URLs for Windows File Explorer Integration" activity in Customizing for cProjects/cFolders.

Assign the users the authorizations in the user profile.

Activate the function in the personal settings.

OK, this seems all possible and therefore let us start now with the setup.

Activate the SOAP handler in SAP WebAS

This should be become very easy. Let us go to transaction SICF and active the service now: /sap/bc/soap/rfc After activating we should create several ext. aliases too. This will simplify our life later. Have a look on the next image, which show all the ext. aliases for cFolders:

Now that we have activated all the needed services and we are following the guide lines, we have to execute "Specify URLs...." activity in Customizing. The big question is: how to do this? Answer is: this blog entry will show you!

Specify URLs for Windows File Explorer

First one thing is clear: we have to go to transaction SPRO and there to the following node: Collaboration Projects -> Documents -> URLs for Windows File Explorer
As we execute the activity we reach a new screen where we can specify the URLs now. But what are the URLs? Well, have a look on the next screen and mention that you have to specify three URLs: the CFX cFolders Application-URL, the DPR cProjects Application-URL and the SOAP Communication Acc.-URL.

The first two URLs are simple, but the last one is for communication via SOAP to the content server. The full URL is:
http://g53as1.informatik.tu-muenchen.de:8053/cfolders-soap?session_mode=1&sap-client=701
As you see, it is important, that we created the ext. aliases first because the URLs would become much more complex without ext. aliases.
Now that we have the URLs specified, we can go on now and assign necessary authorizations for the users.

Assign user authorizations

Go to transaction SU03 and choose the node AAAB by double-click. Now you see all the authorization objects inside the node. If you scroll down you will discover the S_RFC object. By double-clicking you can now see all authorizations, which include the execution of RFC. You can choose now the right authorization for your users and assign the authorizations to them.

Activate the function in your personal settings

This activity is done in the cFolders application via web access. Log in to cFolders and select settings. There you can execute the installation on your local PC. When logging in again into cFolders, you have to select an available collaboration and select 'File Explorer' in the upper menu. A new window will appear then and execute a MFC application. This starts the local Windows explorer and show you all the available files in your choosen collaboration.

Quick review

This blog entry has shown you the main points for installing the Windows File Explorer Support for cFolders and cProject. Further questions are welcome!