If you run Alfresco Content App (ACA) and your users keep downloading files just to edit them, you know the friction. Every round trip out of the platform breaks the workflow and scatters versions across desktops.
The new ONLYOFFICE integration for Alfresco Content App v1.0.0 closes that gap. It brings document creation, editing, conversion, and real-time co-authoring straight into the ACA interface. No detours, no extra apps. Here's what it does, what you need, and how to wire it up.
ACA, not Share, and why that matters
ONLYOFFICE already had a connector for Alfresco Share. This release is different.
The v1.0.0 integration targets Alfresco Content App, Alfresco's modern Angular-based front end. So if you've moved (or are moving) your users to ACA, you no longer have to choose between a current interface and solid document editing. You get both.
If you're still on Share, that connector keeps working. The two are separate, so you can run whichever fits your environment.
What you can do inside ACA
Once the extension is registered, ONLYOFFICE actions show up directly in the Content App. The core capabilities:
- Create new DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, and PDF forms without leaving ACA.
- Edit documents in the embedded ONLYOFFICE editor.
- Convert files from other office formats to OOXML for further work.
- Co-author in real time with colleagues.
Real-time collaboration runs through ONLYOFFICE Docs. Multiple people can work on the same file in Fast or Strict mode, leave comments, track changes, and chat in the built-in panel.
You also get version history right in the editor, so teams can see what changed over time, and document permissions management to control who can view, edit, or review a file.
Advanced editor actions worth knowing
Beyond the basics, the integration exposes a set of editor actions that hook back into Alfresco:
- Insert images stored in Alfresco
- Attach files for mail merge
- Select documents for comparison
- Use plugins for extra functionality
- Insert data from external links
- Jump from the editor to the folder holding the current file
- Create new documents from inside the editor interface
These are the touches that keep developers and power users from bouncing between tools to finish a single task.
Prerequisites
Before you install, line up the pieces. At a high level you'll need:
- Alfresco Content Services — the repository backend
- Alfresco Content App (ACA) — the host Angular application
- ONLYOFFICE module package for Alfresco — version 8.3.0 or later
- ONLYOFFICE Docs — Community, Enterprise, or Cloud
The first three handle the host environment and the bridge to Alfresco. ONLYOFFICE Docs is the editing engine and is required. If you'd rather skip installation and maintenance, the Cloud option gives you the same editing and collaboration features without standing up your own instance.
Install steps at a glance
The integration ships as an extension package for your ACA project. Three steps get you running:
1. Install the package
npm install @onlyoffice/alfresco-extension
2. Register the extension in your ACA project so the new actions load with the app.
3. Start the application
npm run start
That's the short version. Check the project documentation for full configuration details, including how to point the extension at your ONLYOFFICE Docs instance.
Trying it out
After the extension is live, the new actions appear on supported files:
- Edit in ONLYOFFICE — right-click a file to open the editor.
- View in ONLYOFFICE — open a read-only preview without downloading.
- Create in ONLYOFFICE — generate a new text document, spreadsheet, presentation, or PDF form.
- Convert in ONLYOFFICE — convert a file to OOXML.
- Download As — export to another format without leaving ACA.
A quick note on formats: the supported list for editing, viewing, conversion, and export depends on the backend configuration and the installed version of the ONLYOFFICE integration for Alfresco. Confirm the exact set against your setup.
Takeaway for teams on ACA
If your organization has standardized on Alfresco Content App, this integration removes the last reason to leave it for document work. Contracts, reports, project docs - your team can create, review, and finish them in one place, with version control and permissions intact.
Set up a test ACA environment, install the extension, connect it to ONLYOFFICE Docs, and run a real co-editing session with a couple of teammates. You'll see fast whether it fits your workflow, and most ACA teams find the answer is yes.
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