Simple document repository

Question

Please recommend me a simple web-based document repository for keeping my small company documents (.DOCs, .PDFs) so i can access them from everywhere. There are many available on the internet, but they are heavy and filled with unnecessary features and requirements.

I have little requirements: pleasant interface (AJAX feels nice), folders or tags, maybe versioning, maybe CIFS mounting or batch upload/download, preferably not written in Java (won't be able to host it).

Regards, Todor

Note - The question submitter is using a LAMP based environment.

Debora

Answer 1

The most simple, and probably easiest to set up, would be a Subversion repository, so you can actually store, delete, add, and modify documents from anywhere, and then add ViewVC on top of it so that you can see the different files from a web browser.

Another possible option, although it is a little bit more heavyweight, would be to install Trac. Again, this still uses Subversion, but it has a web-viewer for the repository nicely integrated, as well as a Wiki capability to allow for versioned shared editing of simpler documents. If you need it, Trac also has an issue tracking system, but you don't have to use it if you don't want to.

Also, in addition to the viewing interface being via a web browser, there are many clients for Linux, Mac, and Windows for the Subversion repository itself to allow manipulation of the files. For windows, the best Subversion Gui is TortoiseSVN.

Wat

Is there a possibility for the Windows machines which produce and modify the documents to synchronize with the Subversion server when connection to it is available? Something with a simple GUI? – Debora

@Tilkov didn't mention the kind of documents he wants to store. Are they plaintext (source code) or "binary" (odf, xls...) documents? In our company, Clearcase is being literally abused to store tons of word and excel files, many of which are heavily edited (vacation schedules)... Before implementing SVN, I suggest reading this: svnbook.red-bean.com/en/1.7/… – Contingent

@ipip - If you read the question, it does indicate that they are ".DOCs, .PDFs", both of which are more binary in nature than they are plaintext. Also, this answer was posted in 2008, and there are likely many other better solutions available by now. (Google Drive comes to mind) – Wat

Answer 2

Check out Dropbox: https://www.getdropbox.com/home. Multi-platform (win, mac, nix; and accessible on the web), free, and very good execution. EDIT: I forgot to mention secure.

Azriel

Just to give you a heads up, your url is messed up. – Coset

They don't seem to clearly state their pricing and free storage policy. This exempt from their Terms terrifies me: "Dropbox reserves the right to use our discretion to delete some or all of Your Files so as to reduce your storage space to below 2 GB" – Debora

@tilkov: 2gb is quite a bit of storage for documents. You would have to have A LOT of them to fill it up. And, you can buy a subscription for 10gb of space: $9.99/mo or $99.99/yr ($8.25/mo) – Azriel

sorry, 50gb of storage not 10gb. if you signed up early when this was in closed beta, you got a 10gb account. its early :| – Azriel

Anders can you edit your original post to correct the hyperlink rather than just putting it in a comment? – Breach

Answer 3

If you want versioning, have you considered setting up a subversion (or CVS or whatever you like) repository and syncing to it? No need for a web interface in that case (though you can set up web repositories too).

Spacecraft

Answer 4

The simplest solution is always one that someone else provides and you just get to use their service. NetDocs provides secure online hosting of documents and other collaborative files.

If you're convinced that you want to host a solution on a LAMPP stack yourself, then I would recommend setting up Subversion. Its open-source, free and pretty easy to use once you get the hang of it.

Headcloth

Answer 5

Thought about Google Docs, but I am more confident hosting the thing myself. The documents may contain sensitive information.

Debora

Answer 6

Unfortunately Windows based solutions are not my strength. The setup is simple: a LAMP server in my office with publicly accessible IP address and three laptops running Windows XP with OpenOffice and MS Office.

Debora

Answer 7

how about a wiki like wikimedia

Abbatial

Answer 8

I would check out knowledgetree: http://www.knowledgetree.com/. It's a web based document management system. They have a free community edition. I evaluated this a couple years ago and it seems to fit what you're looking for nicely. It versions, allows you to impose process flow, has user restrictions, etc. Plus, it's usable by someone with absolutely no concept of what a source control system is.

(* I've no affiliation with them for reference *)

Mulhouse

I've already checked their software. Powerful, but it's huge, parts of it are written in different languages. It looks it will be hard to maintain and fix when broken. Thanks for the suggestion though! – Debora

Answer 9

Google docs

Not exactly what you're asking for, but great for creating and sharing documents online.

Tildy

Answer 10

What about SharePoint? Not simple enough?

Tildy

I prefer to stay away from Windows based solutions, as i have no experience with them. LAMP is my chosen environment. – Debora

Answer 11

What about WSS (Windows SharePoint Services), all you need is SQL Express, and windows with an external connector license, that gives you all of the features you need (except the ajax)...

Alternatively try www.umbraco.org although this is a bit more involved to configure

Messenia

Answer 12

Windows Sharepoint Services comes with W2k3, and has the features you are looking for.

One very nice thing is the windows explorer integration so that you can interact with document libraries as if they were network/local folders. You don't mention your server infrassturcutre, but you can use AD permissions/groups etc.

Ahn

Answer 13

Microsoft Office Live Workspace is free and integrates with office. (I know, your a LAMP shop, I just thought I would put the option out there.)

Save your documents to the Web—for free!
Access files from anywhere

View documents from almost any computer with a Web browser

No more flash drives—files are there when and where you need them

Password-protected document sharing; you control who views and edits

Simplified online collaboration; everyone works from the same documents

Work with programs you know

Save over 1,000 Microsoft Office documents in one online place

Manage documents in one convenient place

Open and save files from familiar programs like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Synchronize contact, task, and event lists with Outlook

Yeomanly

Answer 14

Download Alfresco and give it a try. Its perfect for your requirements. They have a versatile content repository and nice web based UI. You also have the option of running workflows etc.

And well .. the community version is free.

Paradox

It appears there are limitations on the newest version, however. Single subscriber. – Grimace

Answer 15

Using Google Docs and/or any other Google service is very risky - it's frequent to lose publication and/or sharing rights of your docs. There seems to be a bug or hack that blocks access to your files - you need to request a review in order to have your docs reappear on web-based Google services, and when Google replies with an -error- tag, its proof they have no control on who or what bans your docs from viewing on the web - use with extreme caution.

Glanti