Alfresco Base64 JavaScript Root Object

Adds a small Java‑backed Repository JavaScript Root Object named base64 for Alfresco Content Services. It lets your RhinoJS scripts (Rules, Actions, Repo Web Scripts, Workflows) encode content to Base64 and decode Base64 back to bytes without resorting to Packages (which is blocked in unsafe contexts like Data Dictionary > Scripts).

What you get

A single root object available to Rhino scripts:

API	Description
base64.encode(node)	Streams the node’s primary content (cm:content) and returns a Base64 string.
base64.encodeBytes(value)	Encodes raw bytes you already have (e.g., document.content) and returns a Base64 string.
base64.decodeToBytes(base64String)	Decodes a Base64 string and returns byte[] (Rhino sees this as a Java byte array).

Why this exists

Scripts under Data Dictionary > Scripts cannot access Spring beans via Packages.org.springframework... for security reasons. Exposing a tiny, focused root object is the supported and safe way to extend the JS API for rules and other contexts.

Usage examples (Rhino JS)

// Encode the primary content of the current document (streaming, memory‑friendly)
var b64 = base64.encode(document);
logger.log("B64 size: " + b64.length);

// If you already have raw bytes (e.g., document.content), encode them:
var b64FromBytes = base64.encodeBytes(document.content);

// Decode back to bytes (Java byte[])
var bytes = base64.decodeToBytes(b64);
logger.log("Decoded bytes: " + bytes.length);

Tip: prefer base64.encode(document) for large files — it streams from the repository and avoids loading the full content into memory.

Requirements

• Alfresco Content Services: 25.2.x (built and tested with ${alfresco.platform.version} 25.2.0)
• Java: 17
• Maven: 3.8+
• Packaging: Repository JAR module (to be placed in the alfresco.war)

Should also work with nearby ACS 25.x versions. For older versions, re‑compile against the desired BOM and Java level.

Build

mvn clean package
ls target/
# alfresco-b64-jscript-root-1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar

Deploy

Deploy like any other repository JAR module.

Classic Tomcat/WAR

Copy the JAR into the repository webapp:

cp target/alfresco-b64-jscript-root-*.jar $TOMCAT/webapps/alfresco/WEB-INF/lib/

Restart Alfresco; you should see the bean base64Script registered and the JS root object base64 available in scripts.

Docker image (recommended)

Create a tiny image that layers the JAR into the repo webapp:

# Dockerfile
FROM alfresco/alfresco-content-repository-community:25.2.0
COPY target/alfresco-b64-jscript-root-*.jar /usr/local/tomcat/webapps/alfresco/WEB-INF/lib/

Then build and run with your existing Compose stack, or add a service override that uses the custom image.

Testing it quickly

Create a test script under Repository > Data Dictionary > Scripts > test-b64.js:

if (!document) {
  throw "Run this as a rule on a document.";
}
var s = base64.encode(document);
logger.log("Base64 starts with: " + s.substring(0, 60) + "...");

Attach a rule to a folder: when items are created or enter this folder > Execute script > test-b64.js. Upload a file and watch alfresco.log for the output.

License

Apache License 2.0 (see source headers).