Currently I am in the process of trying to make webfm work with Drupal 7. I have completed everything that is mentioned in this guide so far (http://drupal.org/update/modules/6/7) and am currently reviewing the new file handling (http://api.drupal.org/api/group/file/7), changes in forms api and changes in database api that could help speeding things up. (http://api.drupal.org/api/group/database/7)

Its all far from done, nothing works :-) - just to give a heads up.

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#1 webfm-7.patch84.11 KBnhck
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nhck’s picture

nhck CreditAttribution: nhck commented
Assigned: nhck » Unassigned
Status: Active » Postponed
FileSize
webfm-7-fail.patch84.11 KB

Okay, I investigated the file issue and its sad to say this: There is a LOT of work to be done.

Due to the changes in the file api (which are a big improvement) there are two ways webfm could work:

Simple port
... and thus creating a "shadow" world of unmanaged files. In my opinion this is impossible.
Complex port
Basically a rewrite utilizing the new file api - this comes down to being a file browser a lot more and being a file manager a lot less. But still I would clearly suggest this way, because it allows other modules to intercept and work with the files as well. The whole fileh andling can bascially be done by core - webfm only needs to provide the file browsing.
Metadata, Access Rights and all the good stuff could be provided through hooks from webfm_submodules.

Sorry, I thought it was easier to port this. I attached a patch which implements all the changes mentioned in (http://drupal.org/update/modules/6/7) - if someone decides for the simple way this could be a good starting point.

robmilne’s picture

robmilne CreditAttribution: robmilne commented

Thanks for taking a long hard look at this Niels. I agree that the second option makes more sense. The rational for creating the module in the first place was to address the limitations of Drupal's file handling. If D7 fixes those limitations then WebFM should move with the times and either obsolete itself (no D7 port) or provide added value on top of the D7 file api.

Fenwick’s picture

Fenwick CreditAttribution: Fenwick commented

Would it be possible to get an update, here? (This is, after all, the #1 result for "Drupal 7" in the issue queue. Pointers to another thread welcome, if this is being worked out elsewhere.) I've found WebFM to be an awesome privacy-aware tool (with bonus hooks into WYSIWYG via the amazing work on webfm_popup module), and would love to see it thrive in the D7 environment. What will it take to make that happen?

enkara’s picture

enkara CreditAttribution: enkara commented

I would love it too!

nhck’s picture

nhck CreditAttribution: nhck commented
Version: 6.x-2.9-alpha2 » 6.x-2.x-dev

As of now no project plan/roadmap has been created nor are resources available to achieve this.

Webfm exits since 4.7 and for #D7 it seems that it will need a more than just a little upgrade.

Taxoman’s picture

Taxoman CreditAttribution: Taxoman commented
Title: Going Drupal 7 » WebFM for Drupal 7
nhck’s picture

nhck CreditAttribution: nhck commented
Status: Postponed » Closed (won't fix)

Currently nobody is looking into evolving webfm for D7.
See here for further discussion: #1088656: WebFileManager Alternatives for D7

mgifford’s picture

mgifford
he/him
Primary language English
CreditAttribution: mgifford commented

@nhck did you run it through Coder? Not that it will fix everything, but trying to see if D7 is going to actually kill this module or if there's a community that can invest in a solution.

It could be that we need to collect some $$ to ensure that someone gets paid up front to develop this module. There are nearly 6k sites registered as using this module. There are 233 Drupal 5 sites alone that are using this module. They are going to need to upgrade to something ASAP & for some of them it may well be less expensive to invest in maintaining this module so that they don't have to migrate their data elsewhere and train up all their users on how to use the new interface.

As a community we need to find ways to make sure this happens in a timely fashion.

DrupalDan’s picture

DrupalDan CreditAttribution: DrupalDan commented

subscribe

wethackrey’s picture

wethackrey CreditAttribution: wethackrey commented

This thread seems to have died with no resolution. The lack of WFM functionality in D7 is preventing migration of several of your sites to D7. Can anyone speak to the issue of undertaking a rewrite for D7? Or is there another module out there that leverages the new File API to provide similar functionality? Mgifford suggested it might make some sense to raise some money for the effort. Perhaps it was the mention of $$ that killed the thread. :) We would contribute some funding, and I'm sure others would as well. As mgifford points out, there are more than 6000 registered users. Surely many of use would ante up to make a D7 version happen.

To other WMF users out there... Have you found another method to implement file management in D7? If not, would you contribute some funds to the development effort?

nhck’s picture

nhck CreditAttribution: nhck commented

Look,

as stated above there will probably be no Drupal seven version for webfm. I am aware that this isn't the otpimal solution, but I don't have the resources to do a full rewrite of webfm. A full rewrite is, by all means necessary, in order to make this module run efficiently with D7.
The "new" maintainer that took the module over here #592956: [discussion] Ground-up rewrite of WebFM hasn't contributed much - and I have been busy with minimizing the bug count and implementing the most pressing features.
In my humble opinion it would be best to write a migration tool that moves webfm away from the filetree and down to fields attached to nodes.

drupal a11y’s picture

drupal a11y CreditAttribution: drupal a11y commented

Have you already seen File Depot? http://drupal.org/project/filedepot

Maybe join forces instead of developing two modules for the same need.

Taxoman’s picture

Taxoman CreditAttribution: Taxoman commented

Yes, joining forces with the filedepot module should be considered.

LBGreg’s picture

LBGreg CreditAttribution: LBGreg commented

Has anyone who used WebFM migrated to D7? And if so, how did you deal with the lack of WebFM for D7?

I have a site with thousands of files stranded. Thinking of simple migration paths that might simply read the table and write file links so the old /webfm/ read the actual file located elsewhere.

nhck’s picture

nhck CreditAttribution: nhck commented
Issue summary: View changes

In my humble opinion there are two possibilites:

  1. Moving to file entities and Media: This could be nice for people that relied more on the attaching of files rather than the file browser. For media there isn't a real file browser that works (https://drupal.org/project/media_browser_plus isn't quite ready yet), but maybe that isn't so important?
  2. Moving to elfinder: This would require a specific migration path for it, but it would also be very nice because elfinde supports WYSIWYG API.

Sorry to not be of anymore use, I have tried to be a good side support for this module, but all maintainers jumped ship so far.

clivesj’s picture

clivesj CreditAttribution: clivesj commented

If you are looking for a module that enables users to upload and download files to a folder/directory on the server (FTP-like functionality) you can have a look at www.drupal.org/project/filebrowser