While ContactsLaw uses a relational database back-end to store its data, it opts to use Microsoft SharePoint as the back-end for its document management system. Hence, every installation of ContactsLaw will also include an installation of SharePoint.

 

Users of ContactsLaw are not intended to browse or visit the SharePoint site directly; the application provides a complete front-end that has the advantage of integrating with contacts, files and all other constructs used by the system. Everything that is possible from the document library is therefore also possible directly from within the ContactsLaw application.

 

Internally, the SharePoint site is structured for efficiency rather than organisation or readability. ContactsLaw ensures that no subfolder contains more than 2000 documents.

 

ContactsLaw integrates with the document library (and the Windows SharePoint Services Search) using a custom web service (SOAP/WCF) that is installed during the initial configuration process.

 

It should be noted that, through its versatile plug-in system, ContactsLaw can provide document management functionality even without an installation of Microsoft SharePoint (using, for example, a flat-file store or third-party document management system).