Converted Documents in SharePoint Server 2010 (ECM)

  • Article

Applies to: SharePoint Server 2010

When you choose to convert a document, either through the user interface (UI) or programmatically, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 invokes the DocConvLoadBalancer service for the Web application. This service in turn invokes the appropriate DocConvLauncher service, which passes the document to the document converter. The document converter generates the converted copy, SharePoint Server 2010 retrieves the converted copy, processes it, and finally, places it in the same document library as the original file.

When processing the converted copy, SharePoint Server 2010 does the following:

  • Applies document metadata from the original source file to the converted copy. This includes the content type, version, and permissions information from the original. To learn more about how the document converter applies document metadata from the original source file to the converted copy, see Document Converters in SharePoint Server 2010 (ECM).

    If the converted copy is a 2007 Microsoft Office system file format, SharePoint Server 2010 also demotes the appropriate document metadata into the converted copy itself.

  • Adds the following information to the converted copy’s metadata:

    • ParentID   A string that represents the name of the original file on which the converted copy is based.

    • ParentVersionID   An integer that represents the version number of the original file on which the converted copy is based.

    • Converter   The GUID of the document converter that generated the converted copy.

    The ParentID and ParentVersionID fields are columns that are actually included on each document library. However, the columns are hidden for document libraries in Web applications that do not have document converters enabled.

  • Places the converted copy into the same document library as the original file.

  • Optionally, sends alerts by e-mail to anyone specified to be notified.

  • Raises a transform list event that a document conversion has been performed.

You can edit and update converted copies in the same way you would any other document stored in a document library. However, making certain changes to the converted copy may affect its relationship to the original file from which it was generated. For more information, see Relationship Between Original and Converted Documents in SharePoint Server 2010 (ECM).

See Also

Concepts

SharePoint Server 2010 Document Converter Development Overview (ECM)