Laserfiche Data Export Automation: API Alternative for Government Records Management

Introduction

Laserfiche is a comprehensive government records management platform used by municipalities and government agencies to manage document digitization, archival, public records requests, retention schedules, and audit compliance. While Laserfiche provides web-based records management tools, the platform has limited or restricted API access for most government users. Browser automation provides a reliable solution to automate document digitization and archival workflows, sync public records with online search portals, automate retention and audit exports, and export records data directly through the Laserfiche web interface, enabling streamlined government records management and compliance operations.

Why Use Browser Automation for Laserfiche Data Export?

• Limited API Access: Laserfiche has restricted or no API access for most government users and agencies
• Document Digitization: Automate document scanning, indexing, and archival workflows
• Public Records: Sync public records with online search portals and transparency systems
• Retention Management: Automate retention schedule enforcement and document lifecycle management
• Audit Exports: Export audit trails and compliance documentation for regulatory requirements
• Records Search: Automate document searches and export search results for public records requests
• Metadata Management: Export and sync document metadata with external systems
• Compliance Reporting: Generate reports for records retention compliance and audit requirements
• Multi-Department Sync: Collect records data across multiple departments and sync with external systems

Setting Up Laserfiche Data Export Automation

Here's how to automate Laserfiche data collection using browser automation:

import { chromium } from 'playwright';

const response = await fetch("https://api.anchorbrowser.io/api/sessions", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "anchor-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    'headless': false,
    'proxy': {
      'type': 'residential',
      'country': 'US'
    }
  }),
});

const { id } = await response.json();
const connectionString = `wss://connect.anchorbrowser.io?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY&sessionId=${id}`;

const browser = await chromium.connectOverCDP(connectionString);
const context = browser.contexts()[0];
const ai = context.serviceWorkers()[0];
const page = context.pages()[0];

// Navigate to Laserfiche
await page.goto("https://yourcity.laserfiche.com/");

// Login with AI agent
await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
  prompt: 'Log in to Laserfiche using the provided credentials. Complete any security verification steps and wait for the dashboard to fully load.'
}));

Automating Document Digitization

Automate document scanning and digitization workflows:

const digitizeDocuments = async (page, ai, documentBatch) => {
  // Navigate to document import section
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Document Import or Scanning section in Laserfiche'
  }));
  
  // Upload documents
  for (const document of documentBatch) {
    await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
      prompt: `Upload document: ${document.filename}. Set metadata including: document type, department, date, retention schedule, and any required tags.`
    }));
    
    // Wait for processing
    await page.waitForTimeout(2000);
  }
  
  // Process batch
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Click Process Batch to complete digitization and indexing'
  }));
  
  // Wait for completion
  await page.waitForSelector('.success-message, .processing-complete', { timeout: 30000 });
  
  return true;
};

Archiving Documents

Automate document archival and organization:

const archiveDocuments = async (page, ai, documentIds, archiveLocation) => {
  // Navigate to documents section
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Documents or Records section'
  }));
  
  // Select documents to archive
  for (const docId of documentIds) {
    await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
      prompt: `Search for and select document ${docId}`
    }));
  }
  
  // Archive to location
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Move selected documents to archive location: ${archiveLocation}. Apply retention schedule and update metadata.`
  }));
  
  // Wait for confirmation
  await page.waitForSelector('.success-message, .archived', { timeout: 10000 });
  
  return true;
};

Exporting Document Metadata

Export document metadata and indexing information:

const exportDocumentMetadata = async (page, ai, dateRange) => {
  // Navigate to documents section
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Documents or Records section'
  }));
  
  // Filter by date range
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Filter documents from ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}`
  }));
  
  // Export metadata
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export document metadata including: document ID, title, document type, department, creation date, last modified, retention schedule, tags, and file path. Export as CSV.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Syncing Public Records with Online Search Portals

Export and sync public records for online search portals:

const syncPublicRecordsToPortal = async (page, ai, dateRange) => {
  // Navigate to public records section
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Public Records or Searchable Documents section'
  }));
  
  // Filter public records
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Filter public records from ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}`
  }));
  
  // Export public records data
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export public records including: document ID, title, document type, publication date, department, keywords, and public access URL. Export in format compatible with online search portal requirements.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  const recordsData = await download.path();
  
  // Process and sync with search portal
  const records = await parseCSV(recordsData);
  
  for (const record of records) {
    // Sync with online search portal
    await syncToSearchPortal(record);
  }
  
  return records;
};

Exporting Public Records Data

Export data in format required for public records portals:

const exportPublicRecordsData = async (page, ai, recordType, dateRange) => {
  // Navigate to public records
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Public Records section'
  }));
  
  // Filter by record type
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Filter records by type: ${recordType}`
  }));
  
  // Filter by date range
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Filter records from ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}`
  }));
  
  // Export public records
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export public records data in the format required for online search portal. Include: document metadata, full-text search index, public access links, and categorization. Export as JSON or CSV.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Automating Retention Schedule Management

Automate retention schedule enforcement and document lifecycle management:

const applyRetentionSchedule = async (page, ai, documentId, retentionSchedule) => {
  // Navigate to document
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Search for and open document ${documentId}`
  }));
  
  // Navigate to retention section
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Retention or Lifecycle Management section'
  }));
  
  // Apply retention schedule
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Apply retention schedule: ${retentionSchedule.name} with retention period: ${retentionSchedule.period} years. Set review date and disposal date. Save the changes.`
  }));
  
  // Wait for confirmation
  await page.waitForSelector('.success-message, .retention-applied', { timeout: 10000 });
  
  return true;
};

Exporting Retention Reports

Export retention schedule compliance reports:

const exportRetentionReports = async (page, ai, dateRange) => {
  // Navigate to retention reports
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Retention Reports or Compliance section'
  }));
  
  // Filter by date range
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Filter retention reports from ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}`
  }));
  
  // Export retention data
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export retention schedule compliance data including: document ID, document type, retention schedule, retention period, review date, disposal date, and compliance status. Export as CSV.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Exporting Audit Trails

Export audit trails and compliance documentation:

const exportAuditTrail = async (page, ai, dateRange) => {
  // Navigate to audit section
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Audit Trail or Audit Log section'
  }));
  
  // Filter by date range
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Filter audit trail from ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}`
  }));
  
  // Export audit trail
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export audit trail including: timestamp, user, action, document ID, document title, IP address, and details. Export as CSV or Excel.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Generating Compliance Reports

Automate compliance report generation:

const generateComplianceReport = async (page, ai, reportType, dateRange) => {
  // Navigate to reports section
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Reports or Compliance section'
  }));
  
  // Select report type
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Select ${reportType} report (Retention Compliance, Audit Summary, Public Records Disclosure, or Document Lifecycle)`
  }));
  
  // Configure date range
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set the reporting period from ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}`
  }));
  
  // Generate and download report
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Click Generate Report, wait for processing to complete, then download in Excel or PDF format'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Syncing with External Systems

Export data for integration with external systems:

const syncToExternalSystem = async (page, ai, recordsData) => {
  // Export data for external system sync
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Export or Integration section'
  }));
  
  // Export in format compatible with external system
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export records data in the format required for external system integration. Include all necessary fields for syncing with public records portals, state archives, or other records management systems.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Best Practices

• Security: Use secure credential storage and enable proper handling for multi-factor authentication and government security requirements
• Rate Limiting: Add appropriate delays between requests (5-10 seconds) to avoid triggering security flags or account restrictions
• Data Validation: Verify exported data completeness and accuracy before processing or syncing with external systems
• Error Handling: Implement comprehensive retry logic for transient failures, network issues, and temporary system unavailability
• Compliance: Ensure data handling meets government records retention laws, public records requirements, and platform terms of service
• Data Privacy: Follow proper data privacy protocols when handling sensitive records and public information
• Audit Trail: Maintain detailed logs of all automated actions for compliance and accountability
• Session Management: Handle session timeouts gracefully and implement automatic re-authentication for long-running workflows
• Retention Compliance: Ensure exported data meets records retention requirements and disposal schedules

Resources

• Anchor Browser Documentation - Complete API reference and guides
• Anchor Browser Playground - Try browser automation in your browser

Conclusion

Browser automation provides a flexible and reliable alternative to API access for Laserfiche data export and workflow automation. By leveraging intelligent browser agents, you can automate comprehensive government records management workflows that aren't easily achievable through manual processes or limited API access. Whether you need to automate document digitization and archival, sync public records with online search portals, automate retention and audit exports, or export compliance documentation, browser automation enables efficient operations for government agencies using Laserfiche.

Start automating your Laserfiche workflows today and streamline your government records management operations!