[Zope-CMF] GS content profiles

[Miles Waller]

Hi,

What is the correct pattern for FTP representations of a CMF content 
type?  I am trying to create a content export/import mechanism for some 
custom objects, but I've found a few different patterns to follow:

First of all, all content tries to use it's WebDAV representation.  This 
is good for links and documents because it captures all the properties 
in one place.  It's not so good for Files and Images because their 
metadata doesn't get exported/imported at all.

Secondly, the types which export a full set of information implement 
their own manage_FTPget methods which hard-code in the representation in 
some way.  Document uses aliases, but only if the content type is 
text/html - if it is text/plain for example, aliases are bypassed.  Link 
doesn't use aliases at all, and News just does whatever Document does.

Thirdly, folders store the title and description in a .properties file. 
   The properties to be included in this file (title, description) are 
specifically specified in the import/export adapter.

My questions are:

  - what sort of pattern should be aimed for (ideally) here?

  - should all the types use aliases to work out their DAV 
representation or was this abandonded?

  - are there any 'hidden' advantages of im-/exporters adhering closely 
to the DAV views (as opposed to an im/export specific representation. 
e.g. a binary file and associated .properties file)

  - should each object's representation take care of including all the 
required properties, or should there be some way of ensuring that all 
common metadata (DC values) are treated via some sort of common route

Thanks,

Miles