Reimporting the same file into the Content Store

The Import dialog allows you to choose whether you want to overwrite content that was previously imported or import the file as a new object.

IXIASOFT CCMS uses the following two indexes to identify whether the file already exists as an object in the Content Store:

  • originalFileName, which tracks the original names of files that were imported
  • originalRelativePath, which tracks the path of the file relative to its map

If Update existing documents is selected when you import a file, the system verifies the originalFileName index for a match to an existing object. If it discovers a match and the Use relative path along with file name to match documents to update checkbox is selected, the system also verifies the originalRelativePath index to verify that the base path of the imported file also matches the base path of the object in the Content Store. When a match is confirmed, the existing object is updated with the content from the imported file provided that it is in a lockable state. Once imported, all objects begin in the Authoring:draft state (or the equivalent initial workflow status for that object type in your deployment).

If the existing object is not in a lockable state (for example, it is locked by another user or not in the Authoring:Draft state), the existing object is not updated and the “Existing file NOT replaced” message is displayed in the Import dialog.

IXIASOFT CCMS does not automatically change the state of an existing object to allow the update since a status change in one object may trigger a cascade of status changes in other objects in the Content Store as a result.

When you import an image to replace an image in a multiple resolution image object, all the formats are replaced by the imported image. For example, suppose you have an existing multiple resolution image object containing a high resolution JPEG image and a low resolution PNG image. If you import an image with the same image ID as the existing image object, the high resolution JPEG image and a low resolution PNG image will both be replaced by the imported image.