DOCman 
Manage documents across multiple categories and subcategories, give users permission to upload, download or edit documents. Store documents either locally or remotely and prevent direct linking using our build-in anti-leech system. All from within an intuitive and simple to use administration interface.
Features at a glance:
- Nested categories. Documents can be organized across infinite categories and subcategories.
- Custom Groups. Documents can be owned by a specific registered user, a groups of registered users, all registered users or everybody.
- Powerful Permission System. Easily set default guest, frontend and document and creator permissions and fine-tuned permission on a document level. DOCman's permissions system gives you full control over who can access, edit, manage and download documents.
- Remote or Local Storage. Files can either be hosted locally or you can easily link to files stored on a remote server.
- Statistics. You can display a download counter per document. All downloads are also being logged (by user, IP, browser, date and hour) to give you full overview of what is happening with your documents.
- Integrated Search System. Documents can be searched by name and/or description. The search system integrates with Joomla! using an optional Plugin.
- Security. The built-in anti-leech system avoids direct linking to documents. Real paths to documents are never displayed to users.
- Flexible Themes. Change the look and feel of your documents repository using our flexible themeing system. Easily create your own themes to match the look and feel of you site..
Is rather complex and not so polished as other extensions
We are in search of a non-commercial replacement
Thanks for your review. We believe DOCman is a very easy to use document manager for Joomla. DOCman could be a little bit too complex if you are just looking to offer file downloads.
To solve this problem. We are working on FILEman, a file and download manager for Joomla. FILEman alllows you to quickly and easily upload and manage your files and make them available for download through your websites. All with a few clicks.
FILEman is currently in beta and is available as part of our Joomlatools subscription. More info : http://blog.joomlatools.eu/2011/11/under-the-hood-of-fileman.html
Thanks for your review. I would like to clarify the change to a subscription model.
Previously customers bought an individual version of DOCman and got updates and support for that version. For example if you bought DOCman 1.5, you got support and updates for all DOCman 1.5.x versions.
With the new subscription service customer buy a subscription for a year 12 months and that subscription includes access to all our products and support service within those 12 months.
DOCman 1.5 customers continue to receive updates and don't need to upgrade to a subscription unless they want to get access to DOCman 1.6 for Joomla 1.7/2.5.
I hope this helps to clarify.
Johan Janssens
Joomlatools Managing Director
I recommend to check long track records of non-comercial activity before trapping yourself with a component. You will never be sure, but long experience may help in make a choose. If you are prepared to pay, I recommend it.
I thought I wouldn't be wanting to pay for many Joommla! items; but this was definitely worth it!
I give this DocMan tool a complete and unreserved recommendation.
I have just launched a site - its a resource Kit for teachers with over 360 downloadable files in doc and pdf format in over 20 categories.
This is a document management system not a file management system which means the file repository is held in one folder. I have had no issues with this, although it took me a while to feel comfortable doing it this way.
I found the Docman Populate feature invaluable in categorising the files for the Document management.
The ability to embed the file pathways into article and modules using Doclink was also invaluable.
This module enabled us to efficiently deploy the site in a cost effective way for the client.
It is a known bug, and frankly, were I JoomlaTools I would not have let customers purchase a product with such a major error. While I'm sure JoomlaTools will fix this, had I known I would not have purchased this component until it had been fixed.
My recommendations:
1. Check the support forum first.
2. Wait until a stable release of 1.5 is available
3. Use 1.4 until then
Clyde Ford
Clyde,
It is a known issue. As mentioned both on our forum and our support portal, the issue will be fixed in 1.5.8. In the meantime, there is a simple patch available: http://support.joomlatools.eu/faq/13-common-errors/155-error-when-clicking-new-doc-in-files-view.html
Mathias
DOCman Lead Developer
More, I've got a little problem with download permission and the authors worked out quickly!
Reccomanded to all!
Hi Juten,
Thank you for your review. I agree that there is plenty of room for improvement. Our team is working hard on improving DOCman further. Keep in mind however that lots of sites depend on DOCman. It's our responsibility to make sure these sites can keep running smoothly. That's why we steered clear of drastic code changes that could hurt the stability and security of DOCman for the 1.5 release.
We've already started work preparing for DOCman 1.6, so make sure to add your feature ideas to http://ideas.joomlatools.eu/pages/docman . But know that features and price are not the only things that make software great. You might want to read http://blog.joomlatools.eu/2010/01/why-docman.html
Johan Janssens
Joomlatools Managing Director