Using UCM data controls in ADF application

Question

Using *.6 Jdeveloper/UCM/Protal Application/UCM
Calling all the experts in Webcenter/Spaces/UCM/ADF.
We have a requirement to design search inteface for Documents stored in UCM for Webcenter Portal and Spaces application.
Our approach is
Design simple ADF application (no security/templates)
Bounded task flows using fragments.
Framents to use UCM data controls (provided by oracle)
UCM data control definition is extended to use custom metadata.
package the application.
Added as ADF library jar to portal application
Added as Shared Library to Spaces application.
Question.
Is this approach sound?
Does UCM data controls provide all the functionality, for example if we want to read a option list for custom metadata or need custom metadata in return table?
Can we add other methods to UCM data control provided by Oracle or should we create different one?
Is there good documentation for such requirements. We have acces Webcenter developers guide which throws some light on UCM data controls.
Let me know if more clarity is needed...
Regards

Answer 1

Hi.
One of my last components was a custom "Document Explorer" and I used for first time JCR Data Control (Custom UCM Data Control provided by Oracle).
Sharing my experience I did something similar to you:
1) Create a ADF Bounded Task Flow and test it individually.
2) Add generated ADF JAR Library to WebCenter Spaces shared-lib.
3) Add your Task Flow to Resource Catalog.
Challenges that I found using custom Data Control:
1) When items retrieved are content/files all custom metadata can be retrieved OOTB.
2) When retrieving folders don't provide custom metadata like files. I used RIDC with JCR Data Control to provide all the information relative to folders. If you don't need more information about folders than the name, URI and icons then is OK :).
3) Using JCR Data Control registers in DataControls.dcx UCM Connection name used when generate JCR Data Control. After deploy your ADF JAR Library in WebCenter Spaces you'll have problems if you don't have a WebCenter Content Connection created with the same name. (Not talking about export UCM Connection with ADF JAR Library, Data Control uses a Connection name by itself :)).
I added extra functionallity with RIDC (not extending JCR Data Control).
I hope this help you.
Regards.