XPage Control: Multi Select Dialog Picker
Tue, Mar 16th 2010 7:34a Steve Castledine I have just released an XPages Multi Select Dialog Picker control on OpenNTF. The multi-select dialog picker allows you to specify a Lotus Notes View/column based data source, or via an api any list you may choose and return a list of selected values. There is full documentation here. You can also bind to any field for automatic selection and updating of values. I will write a follow up article on some of the client side coding techniques. Further features: 1) The picker can easi [read] Keywords: lotus
notes
xpages css
database
dojo
openntf
properties
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199
Dominoblog: Templates
Thu, Mar 11th 2010 11:35a Steve Castledine Denny had a question: I want to have a 'Home' page that starts when the blog is opened, then I want to have a link that will take me to the Blog and I want to do all this with the .nsf file. So I took and made a copy of the 'Home Page' found within the 'Page Templates'. I then renamed the copy to "Blog" and saved it. Next I changed the 'Home Page to look like what I wanted. Now my question is this, How do I Call the new page I made from my top menu or is this not possible and I'm g [read] Keywords: domino
ibm
ldd
lotus
notes
script library
application
archive
css
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268
Spotted on Google Street View
Thu, Mar 11th 2010 6:56a Steve Castledine Leicester finally has Google Street View from today (must be nearly 2 years since they took the images). I remember the Google car passing me whilst out with Millie, who must have been 3 months old at the time and sure enough: [read] Keywords: google
308
Dominoblog - give me the dirt
Fri, Feb 26th 2010 6:14a Steve Castledine The subject is slightly tongue in cheek, but the question is a serious one. I've read on more than one occasion this week the line "difficult to use" for DominoBlog. So I need to find out what is the part that is difficult to use. From a user standpoint creating a blog entry should be no more difficult than creating a new email. Creating a new blog is no more difficult than "File > Application > New" (not that I like that, but its the same for all Domino applications). So I can onl [read] Keywords: admin
connections
domino
ibm
ldd
lotus
notes
application
applications
archive
blogging
community
email
enterprise
openntf
wiki
XPages: Validating Radio Groups Client Side
Wed, Feb 17th 2010 5:15a Steve Castledine This has come up twice recently so thought I would share a few tips. Server side validation of radio groups and also check box groups on a basic level is very simple. You navigate to the component properties and add a "required" (xp:validateRequired) validation rule via data > validators. I say simple however other components do have this available on a specific validation tab whereas these you have to drill down to the properties: If you want to do more advanced validation then th [read] Keywords: xpages application
javascript
properties
server
203
XPages: Hide Detail Rows
Tue, Feb 16th 2010 10:54a Steve Castledine Very quiet around here as very busy (some very cool stuff) and still catching up on "I will document that for you" from Lotusphere. So here's one off that list "Hide Detail Rows". So in Notes development we have the ability to add numeric values to columns and add totals. Often we are not interested in the number per row but just the totals, maybe by category: So we set the view column property "Hide Detail Rows" to achieve this: When we want to do the same for XPages, this particul [read] Keywords: lotusphere
notes
xpages development
properties
Millies first snowman
Wed, Jan 27th 2010 11:07a Steve Castledine We finally have a winter this year. The rest of the country has had a fair bit of snow, but we have had about 2cm max. But we still have a snowman: [read] Keywords:
OpenNTF Open Source Lotus Awards nominations close Wednesday
Wed, Jan 27th 2010 11:07a Steve Castledine Just a quick reminder that the OpenNTF Open Source Lotus Awards nominations close Wednesday, see here. A reminder also that there are entries where the submitter has been asked to add a licence file etc and so far have not. These queries by the IP manager will need resolving to qualify for entry. [read] Keywords: lotus
openntf
Simple XPages Theme Tip
Fri, Dec 18th 2009 6:54a Steve Castledine There was a question "how do I allocate a particular theme to a particular XPage?", this is because in general the theme set is for the entire nsf and changing it for one XPage means changing it for all (via the application properties). However if you think about this differently, and almost as an extension to the XPage itself when it builds its header information, you will see that one theme does not mean fixed settings for all as the power of the theme is about computation via the rendered [read] Keywords: javascript
xpages application
css
properties
Don’t forget the Open Source Lotus Awards
Wed, Dec 9th 2009 6:51a Steve Castledine For Lotusphere in January 2010 there will be two new Open Source Lotus Awards: 1. Best Open Source Contribution by an Individual(s) (up to 2) 2. Best Open Source Contribution by a Business Partner Nominations are coming in, however we would like many more (and the deadline is January 6th). Read this blog entry for more detail. Last minute entries increase the chance of not being accepted due to any resolvable legal issues. So its imperative to get your entries in as soon as possible. [read] Keywords: lotus
lotusphere
openntf
14
XPages - common "upgrade my existing application" questions
Mon, Dec 7th 2009 6:09a Steve Castledine A bit of a call for help, but at the same time an offer of help. One of my Lotusphere sessions, with Stephan Wissel, will be about upgrading "existing" applications to using XPages, and also showing how some out of the box stuff can get you quick wins for doing this. A question I have is what common patterns, use cases or general questions do "you" have for this scenario. What do you need to know the equivalent of doing from standard Domino to XPages, what questions do you currently have w [read] Keywords: domino
lotusphere
lotusscript
xpages application
applications
6
Millie’s Band
Mon, Dec 7th 2009 5:28a Steve Castledine Millie really did think this was "her" band. Shame I didn't take this with a real camera, or got any when she was facing frontwards and dancing. [read] Keywords:
6
Did you complain about the OpenNTF forums?
Fri, Dec 4th 2009 6:23a Steve Castledine That's not meant to be a rude blog title, but merely to get your attention if you were originally displeased with the discussion template used on OpenNTF. I know there were many frustrations, including my own, with the original template and we have patched it a couple of times to try and improve things. However we have now done some work to fix some of the underlying issues and so the best way to avoid future frustrations, is to help us to work out whether the changes go some way towards fixi [read] Keywords: template
openntf
planetlotus
planetlotus.org
4
We grew our own pumpkins this year
Wed, Nov 25th 2009 7:00a Steve Castledine I say "we" my wife just thought I was mad, together with most of our friends (who incidentally now seem a lot keener to do same next year). Mr Happy Scarface Dr Evil All shapes and sizes Almost perfect On the vine Growing up In the beginning [read] Keywords:
My sessions for Lotsuphere 2010
Tue, Nov 24th 2009 1:00p Steve Castledine I have two accepted sessions for Lotusphere 2010 (with two rejected - one year "ask me one on Tropical Fish" and "Looking after Spider Plants" will be popular session's) with two of my esteemed colleagues - Niklas Heidloff and Stephan Wissel. Lotus Notes Discussion Template Next Generation and Other OpenNTF Assets Come to this session to learn about how developers can benefit from OpenNTF. We will start with an overview and show how you can leverage various assets within your projects. We [read] Keywords: domino
ldd
lotus
lotusphere
notes
template
xpages application
applications
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web2.0
17
XPages - multiple data sources different read/edit modes
Tue, Nov 17th 2009 5:36a Steve Castledine Slow rate of posting right now, hopefully will pick it up over the coming months as I do have a list of topics waiting to be blogged about. So a quick one which personally I had been stuck on for a while but for me is a very common use case: Having a document or data source open in read mode and having a second data source open but in edit mode so you can submit new data. The usual scenario here is content related pages with the ability to add comments. Now I had achieved this before howev [read] Keywords: document
domino
notes
xpages development
properties
15
Some titbits for when developing XPages for the client
Thu, Oct 29th 2009 12:43p Steve Castledine I need to create a wiki page for this really to note down everything as I find it when developing XPages for web and client. To start, one of the things I often need to handle is I do not always uses a link control but maybe have some links computed/generated. However when you navigate around an XPage application in the client you need to supply a session id for each request. This is handled automatically for your fixed links but not when you are a hack like me. So the first tip is to add [read] Keywords: notes
xpages application
bug
server
wiki
22
Providing illustration for your XPage custom controls (Design Definition)
Fri, Oct 16th 2009 5:41a Steve Castledine Something added to Lotus Domino Designer (DD) in 8.5.1 was the ability to better illustrate our custom controls when laid out within an XPage (within Designer itself). For example in 8.5 a tag cloud may look like this: whereas in 8.5.1 we can now make it look like: This is a simple example so big deal you may think, however with more complex custom controls (and XPages) and the fact that they are reusable so you want them to be as polished as possible its a great improvement. You ca [read] Keywords: composite
designer
domino
ibm
lotus
xpages tag cloud
xml
60
XPages Repeat Control enhancement for 8.5.1
Wed, Oct 14th 2009 5:45a Steve Castledine Repeat controls are probably one of the top tools in an XPage developers box. By their very nature we, the developer, decide how they are used and the html that is sent to the browser. So typically we would want a list, a table or maybe a list of divs (preferably the first two) to display our data. At 8.5 this was possible with repeat controls, however at a cost. This cost was either you lost the ability to link to a "pager" or the repeat control sent out "incorrect" html. Let me explain [read] Keywords: domino
javascript
lotus
xpages
39
OneUi Documentation available
Mon, Oct 12th 2009 1:29p Steve Castledine The "look and feel" that makes up the styling for XPages development and other Lotus Products (also known as OneUI) now has some officially published documentation. You can read about it in this Domino Designer wiki article. This documentation is actually for v2.01 of the css etc that Domino ships as "evaluation only" (from 8.5.1) and XPages, out of the box, uses the older version. However it should still be very useful, and going forwards will be the version used by XPages. I also plan on ad [read] Keywords: designer
document
domino
ldd
lotus
xpages css
development
openntf
wiki
2
First half marathon completed
Mon, Oct 12th 2009 10:25a Steve Castledine Yesterday I completed my first half marathon (Leicester) in 1 hour 39 minutes 50 seconds (on my watch - waiting for chip time). I came 273 out of 1646 runners (my target was 250), my "ok" target was 1 hour 40 and my real target had been 1 hour 35. My only injury is a bruised knuckle playing the wii after a few beers in the after run party. I made the classic first timers mistake by starting way too fast doing 7 minute miles for the first 4/5 miles, then hitting 10 miles and wondering why I [read] Keywords:
3
Leaving for UKLUG shortly
Wed, Oct 7th 2009 9:28a Steve Castledine I will be at UKLUG thursday and friday (presenting with Vince at 11am Thursday on OpenNTF) - so say hi if you are attending. My flight arrives at Edinburgh 19:45 this evening and I will be staying at the venue hotel. [read] Keywords: openntf
2
Domino Blog (and other templates) will be available Open Source on OpenNTF.org
Tue, Oct 6th 2009 12:34p Steve Castledine As announced on the Lotus User Group Webcast today, openNTF.org is to receive most of the Notes/Domino base templates as open source contributions. Look out for the official announcements on openNTF.org. This will also be covered at UKLUG, Edinburgh this Thursday/Friday. One of these templates is Domino Blog, which sets up an interesting situation. Its interesting because if there are any bugs or pieces missing that you would like, it gives you the opportunity to get this fixed quickly via [read] Keywords: designer
domino
lotus
notes
openntf
Tesco - every little helps
Fri, Sep 25th 2009 10:38a Steve Castledine I do like Tesco, aside from a few things, however their labelling and the application of prices/special offers on shelf to the actual bill can be a little annoying. Here's a good one from this week - bargain. [read] Keywords: application
4
Customising the DominoBlog template
Wed, Sep 9th 2009 5:50a Steve Castledine Just a reminder that you too can customise the IBM Lotus Notes Domino blog template to look exactly how you wish, as long as you have "basic" html skills. You can also take existing free blog skins used for other blogging platforms such as WordPress (google is your friend) and use them with DominoBlog, and this is what we did for Ed Brill's site update. To find out more, check out part 1 of an article how here, and part two here. There is also more advanced information here, and further in [read] Keywords: domino
ibm
lotus
notes
template
archive
blogging
google
4
Education standards are rising
Thu, Sep 3rd 2009 6:57a Steve Castledine Yes its been a while, I have my head down right now trying to churn out as much work as possible, with no end in sight yet. With Notes Domino 8.5.1 just around the corner I will have a lot of tips/tricks/information at that point. Anyway, something I came across the other day which made me smile (even though I wish they would leave the poor trees alone). [read] Keywords: domino
notes
5
Using html characters in XPages
Tue, Aug 18th 2009 6:25a Steve Castledine Just a quick tip for using html characters in your XPages. Because XPages are essentially xml, you cannot add, for example, " " for a space etc directly into the source. You need to use instead the xml reference " " (you can press space twice for this to be inserted automatically). You can find a quick list of these entities here. [read] Keywords: xpages wiki
xml
5
XPages Wiki update and request for help
Wed, Jul 29th 2009 9:48a Steve Castledine So been getting hit on the head (in a nice way) with regards an update of the XPages wiki on OpenNTF. Well I have been working on it, but I have been slowed by work schedule, testing it on 8.51 and also waiting for some people who have submitted code to me to do the contributor sign up on OpenNTF.org. Some of these things have come together now, so an update will be available very shortly. Its actually been great people sending me code and then signing up to OpenNTF so I can use it, whic [read] Keywords: ibm
xpages openntf
wiki
4
Logging onto Domino SSO with Safari
Thu, Jul 23rd 2009 8:21a Steve Castledine So the title may indicate that I know, but actually this post is because I do not. Dumb developer and all that, maybe. Anyway, as someone that has rarely used Safari it was brought to my attention that you cannot logon to Domino over SSO using Safari on OpenNTF.org (well today there is one part only of the site that you can, but its not great still). Presumably this has always been the case, but now we need to fix it properly. So does anyone have any insights into this issue - like why [read] Keywords: domino
openntf
3
Millie on Holiday
Thu, Jul 9th 2009 5:50a Steve Castledine Here's some snaps from last week. Glad we picked the heatwave fortnight - been raining ever since we got back. All the family Can we go now? Daddy the floor moves - help! Ah - got the hang of it now - what's that water? If I look all serious - please can I have an ice cream? Shaving is plain stupid Took this through a glass window - turned out ok (even if I don't agree with zoo's that much) Simples [read] Keywords:
13
XPages Memory Usage and Performance Tips - 8.5
Thu, Jul 9th 2009 4:46a Steve Castledine This maybe a two part post, but just before I went on holiday we did some analysis/work on a few XPage apps to improve performance and memory consumption. So heres a few tips that will help your applications. I have to state it is not official IBM documentation or guidelines, just my own based on discussions/working with some really clever people. I cannot be held responsible and all that jazz. JVM Memory The amount of JVM memory used by XPages is stored in the server ini parameter HTTPJVM [read] Keywords: ibm
javascript
xpages applications
java
properties
server
4
A few updates, about to recharge
Fri, Jun 19th 2009 5:18a Steve Castledine So things been quiet around here, lots of things been going on and I've been bogged down a bit. I'm now going to be away for two weeks so the quiet will continue a while. I have lots of emails and blog comments yet to be returned. I apologise for this, I will get to them when I can. The XPages wiki on OpenNTF is due an update and its in progress but its not finished so I will have to release that when I return. The developerWorks Lotus product wiki's are currently being migrated as we sp [read] Keywords: domino
ibm
lotus
xpages application
community
development
openntf
wiki
5
OpenNTF IP Working Group Conference Call
Tue, Jun 16th 2009 1:45p Steve Castledine If you are a project chef on OpenNTF than mark your diary for Friday, June 19th, 2009 - 10 AM EDT. The IP Working Group will be having a conference call to present our initial thoughts on the following topics: 1. Copyright Education 2. Company Alliance Membership 3. Employee Copyright Waivers 4. Repository Workflow More [read] Keywords: workflow
openntf
2
Growing up fast
Thu, May 14th 2009 11:07a Steve Castledine 14 months old and started to walk (well walk and fall a lot). Not quite grasped growing hair yet though, pretty sure she had more when she was born. [read] Keywords:
7
OpenNTF feedback
Wed, May 13th 2009 7:06a Steve Castledine So we have been receiving feedback regarding openNTF, which is fantastic, and we will try our best to make sure every bit of feedback is listened to and where appropriate actioned. Remember that this is not an IBM controlled initiative only an IBM "resource injected" one. The steering committee, as with the previous one voted for by OpenNTF community members, will be responsible for its direction etc (IBM is just one of many members - intentionally). The steering committee is also not fixed a [read] Keywords: domino
ibm
lotus
lotusphere
notes
template
xpages community
development
linking
openntf
wiki
5
OpenNTF has new clothes
Wed, May 13th 2009 6:05a Steve Castledine I will not regurgitate post's on the new OpenNTF Alliance which you can read about here : OpenNTF DeveloperWorks article Niklas Heidloff Volker Weber Ed Brill John Head As you can see OpenNTF is making steady progress and one of the "to do" was to "spring clean" the website and create a common theme throughout (with our recent additions it was looking disjointed). So we set about creating images and stylesheets to work across XPage applications, classic Domino web applications and [read] Keywords: domino
ibm
ldd
lotus
notes
template
application
applications
blogSphere
bug
openntf
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XPage Login Control for basic and session authentication plus detection code
Thu, Apr 23rd 2009 4:57a Steve Castledine Yesterday I uploaded a new XPage custom control to the openntf catalog. Wow you must think, this is going to change my life ;) In all seriousness it occurred to me that there is not a set of login code that works no matter the use case. These could be: 1) Basic Authentication (where logout is not technically available so really should not be shown to the user) 2) Session Based authentication 3) Logging in on application entry 4) Having Reader access on application entry and then click l [read] Keywords: notes
template
xpages application
openntf
server
4
Xpages Wiki Iteration 4 available
Tue, Apr 21st 2009 6:43a Steve Castledine I have posted an updated XPages wiki template on openntf.org here. This is a minor release aimed at bug fixing, performance improvements and general tidy up to create a good platform to move forward on. Please, please, please if you get anything out of / use this template please add to the usage document here (no need to leave your name). You can find release notes here and a getting started guide here. One thing to note, is with blind faith I used profile documents originally for th [read] Keywords: document
notes
notes client
template
xpages bug
openntf
profile
wiki
6
Domino Server ini settings for Firefox rich text font size issue
Mon, Apr 20th 2009 11:30a Steve Castledine Maybe no-one has been troubled by this, or messed with web/client rich text as much as I have in my life (what do you want to know? :) ), or perhaps everyone just knows it, but Firefox, Domino and Notes really struggle with font sizes when passing rich text backwards and forwards. Between them they interpret the font size differently and causes a perpetual increase in font size. In order to restrict this, there is a set of ini settings detailed below. I recommend you use them if you use rich [read] Keywords: domino
lotus
notes
rich text
rich-text
firefox
server
So maybe I will get my cup holder - thanks!
Thu, Apr 16th 2009 8:06a Steve Castledine To me it is these small things that make a big difference - fingers crossed it happens! Mary Beth Raven - update on insert links. Its funny - I'm running an 8.51 build and I just used Create > Hotspot instead of using the rich text bar. Old habits die hard, however its just more important for new users and removing the small things that can make a product look outdated. I guess the next step is to actually have it above the rich text field - I should lay off them a while :) [read] Keywords: rich text
8
So what the hell is a hotspot?
Thu, Apr 9th 2009 5:35a Steve Castledine EXACTLY! In england a popular tv quiz show from years back you had the saying "whats a hotspot not?". Well unless you are a notes user of old, you have not a clue because its a "LINK". Well the good news is there is finally a link icon on the rich text tool bar (welcome to the new millennium), the bad news it just links to old hotspot behaviour. So if you have any love for me, or failing that the Lotus Notes client this is my begging letter to go post a comment on Mary Beths blog entry [read] Keywords: domino
lotus
notes
notes client
rich text
php
5
Usage log for XPages wiki
Tue, Apr 7th 2009 11:40a Steve Castledine In order to monitor usage so we can make decisions on where to spend resource on openntf, I have setup a usage log on openntf for the XPages wiki. There is no need to give company and/or your name (but it does help me), it just makes a good record to use internally for interest in wiki for Dominio, usage only for xpages education from it etc. I also welcome any direct information to steve dot castledine at uk dot ibm dot com. Comments here are of course are always welcome. There's a sec [read] Keywords: ibm
xpages openntf
wiki
4
XPages Wiki Iteration 3 available
Thu, Apr 2nd 2009 2:12p Steve Castledine I have uploaded iteration 3 of the XPages wiki to openntf. The main change being the wiki markup engine based on the Creole standard has been implemented. There is also a documentation, demo, sandbox available on openntf here. A warning if you used iteration 1/2 - heading markup has been changed (one less = to match the creole specification). I will not be changing it again - promise :) With the markup engine it is now easy to do source code, tables, automatic table of contents etc: [read] Keywords: xpages openntf
wiki
8
Setting Template Build Version and Build Name
Fri, Mar 13th 2009 10:27a Steve Castledine Ever wondered how to set/control the template version and build name that appears on a nsf/ntf? Well this information is available read/write, and you need to add a shared field "$TemplateBuild" in your template in order to do it. You can get access to the values by getting a handle on this "design note" and setting/getting $TemplateBuildName, $TemplateBuild, $TemplateBuildDate. You would set this on your original templates, and then the receiving nsf's will show this information (you ca [read] Keywords: domino
lotus
notes
ntf
template
openntf
4
XPage Wiki - Iteration 2 available
Thu, Mar 12th 2009 11:23a Steve Castledine I have uploaded iteration 2 of the XPages wiki on openNTF. Release information is in the help document within the zip file. There are only bug fixes from the first release and the addition of comments (see below). I didn't want more than a month between release 1 and release 2, but unfortunately workload made it that way. Ideally I want to get into 2 week release cycles, but that's not always possible. At iteration 2 I would say its still basic and not something to write home about. How [read] Keywords: document
xpages applications
bug
openntf
wiki
9
XPages - Getting the count from a repeat control outside of the repeat control
Wed, Mar 11th 2009 6:58a Steve Castledine A common pattern of design in a domino application and really any web application is to have a list of data, say comments, and have a "counter" display how many are in the list. So in the image below you can see collapsed sections with a counter to indicate if anything is within them (and how many). In XPage development you would often use a "repeat control" to produce this list of data, however you may wish to get hold of the properties from this repeat but "outside" the realm of the repea [read] Keywords: domino
xpages application
best practice
development
properties
server
4
Designer 8.5 Productivity Tip
Wed, Mar 11th 2009 6:46a Steve Castledine Something I should have done a long time ago but for some reason I didn't, is to structure "designer" the best way for me (which is now possible since it is based from Eclipse). A few days ago I finally got tired of the three column layout, which considering I do not have multiple monitors or even one huge monitor sometimes it makes the code editing area like doing it on a postage stamp. So I must have had too much coffee and got brave and dragged the application list from the left to the [read] Keywords: designer
domino
lotus
notes
application
applications
eclipse
2
Update on life, the universe and openNTF
Mon, Mar 9th 2009 1:58p Steve Castledine So as per usual been rushed off my feet, however things are moving onwards and upwards. OpenNTF governance/framework is making progress, anything legal is always slow and time intensive, however for good reason (sometimes). Currently it is recommended we manage governance by creating an Alliance so Niklas and I (well on the legal side actually mainly Niklas) have been busy putting this together with Vince. Some more information here including a call for some founding organisations. The XPa [read] Keywords: ibm
ldd
lotus
ntf
template
xpages community
development
email
openntf
server
wiki
7
Using standard java packages in your XPage code
Fri, Mar 6th 2009 8:05a Steve Castledine One thing that makes XPages very powerful is the fact that you can use standard java packages/classes directly in your XPage "javascript". Take for example something I needed to do recently to the toolbox nsf, the ability to drag and drop a "widget" from a web page directly into your Notes client and record "hit" details. The main part of the operation is an attached xml file in a notes document and we need to be able to stream the enclosed xml using functions from "java.io". Previously y [read] Keywords: agent
document
javascript
notes
notes client
xpages java
server
widget
xml
7
openNTF has been idea jammed
Fri, Feb 27th 2009 12:53p Steve Castledine We are starting to get some momentum now with openNTF. Not just the legal things internally, but the pipeline of delivering content, completing actions and getting towards a great collaborative, community development environment. As part of this we now have Idea Jam running on the site. Right now it is just "plonked" on top of the existing site. Over time it will be integrated better and used in many more ways. Many thanks to the people at "el goo gee" (Elguji). More news coming next week. [read] Keywords: community
development
idea jam
ideajam
openntf
A development challange for java/pim views in your templates
Wed, Feb 18th 2009 7:06a Steve Castledine So you can see from my last two blog posts that I have published the details required to take your own Lotus Notes templates and give them a make-over so they get the benefit of the work done to improve the UI within pim apps for Notes 8/8.5 (this is only supported in 8.5). On top of that you get the benefit of business cards, alpha tabs, preview on side, right click context menus etc etc. This benefit only really extends to the sort of default layouts you tend to see for notes application [read] Keywords: domino
lotus
lotusphere
notes
applications
development
java
5
Part two of using java views in your templates
Wed, Feb 18th 2009 6:50a Steve Castledine Part two has now been published on developerWorks on using "java/pim views" (still do not know a better description) within your Lotus Notes templates. Part one really was the "must do" bits to successfully use the new standard client/pim views etc in your templates so covered how to start from scratch etc. Part two adds on this by showing how to: 1) Preview on side (3 column layout) 2) Narrow Views (how the view behaves when screen width is reduced or preview on side in operation) 3) [read] Keywords: domino
ibm
lotus
notes
application
java
Millies first snowball
Fri, Feb 6th 2009 7:02a Steve Castledine Yesterday we took Millie out in the snow, as she might be 13 by the time we get the next lot! [read] Keywords:
6
Lotus Notes Form/View Design Catalog
Tue, Feb 3rd 2009 4:49a Steve Castledine Something I was thinking could be useful for openNTF.org, is an ntf/nsf which contained a whole bunch of different form/view/outline design combinations. Sometimes when you are starting a new template the UI can take up too much time, as you want it to look good, when really you want to get the functionality in as soon as possible. As someone that does not "do" UI design particularly well, it would really help me if I had a selection of cool sets of view/form designs/layouts to kick off from [read] Keywords: domino
lotus
notes
ntf
template
openntf
4
Back to real football
Mon, Feb 2nd 2009 7:09a Steve Castledine I tried to stay awake last night for the Superbowl, but as with most years I failed. I lasted until half time and that Bruce fella sent me fast drifting. It was a shame as it was the best game I had seen in a long time so I will have to watch the second half when I can. Anyway back to real football, you know the one where the foot is actually used, and we are well into the second half of the season and its been so long since Leicester lost (kiss of death) that we are now pulling away from the [read] Keywords:
3
Proper Weather
Mon, Feb 2nd 2009 7:09a Steve Castledine It actually snowed today, but as usual it is just a light amount. I think elsewhere they had a lot more. It did make the walk to drop Millie off more interesting though. Can you believe this amount brings us such chaos: The whiteness of it all made the two swans that live in front of my house look dirty: [read] Keywords:
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My Lotusphere 2009
Wed, Jan 28th 2009 12:25p Steve Castledine So its been and gone, its the next week and its all a blur still. Once again it was an incredible experience, without being there you cannot truly know what an amazing and huge event it is. I was on lab duty for the Domino Designer team rather than PIM this time around, and the XPage questions were coming quick and fast. The blog was not forgotten though and still plenty of questions on that. I did socialise less than last time due to being really tired and also some work deadlines I ne [read] Keywords: designer
domino
ibm
lotusphere
lotusphere2009
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My Lotusphere 2009 Lab Schedule
Wed, Jan 14th 2009 8:32a Steve Castledine You can find me in the developer Labs (Lab 1 - Domino Designer / Xpages) at Lotusphere: Monday 9th: 12:30 > 16:00 & 17:30 > 18:00 Tuesday 10th: 9:00 > 13:00 & 14:00 > 15:00 Wednesday 11th: 14:30 > 18:00 Thursday 12th: 09:00 > 10:30 Also in: AD220 Real world examples of how customers are utilizing XPages (Weds 10-11am DL S. Hemisphere 1) BOF 205 Meet the developers (Tues 7-8am SW Osprey 1-2) BOF 207 XPages and Web 2.0 (Weds 7-8am SW Macaw 1) [read] Keywords: designer
domino
lotusphere
lotusphere2009
xpages web 2.0
2
Happy new year, Lotusphere and all that
Tue, Jan 13th 2009 5:25a Steve Castledine Its been a while. Its that time of year with the holidays and the run up to Lotusphere (and two weeks with the flu) - so happy new year (belatedly) to everyone. I will be attending Lotusphere next week and staying at the Dolphin. I will be flying direct from Manchester (a whole lot more pleasant experience than getting to London Gatwick and back) and arriving Saturday afternoon. I will be in the developer lab 1 from mon to thurs a lot of the time (I will publish a schedule here today or [read] Keywords: ibm
lotusphere
xpages web 2.0
2
Leicestershire in Winter - December 2008
Mon, Dec 8th 2008 8:28a Steve Castledine Some photos from being out and about yesterday in Leicestershire. We do not get much snow so frost is the best we can hope for to add the wintery "whiteness" (and most of that had melted by 9am). Santa on his "horse". [read] Keywords:
3
Openntf and Idea Jam
Thu, Dec 4th 2008 9:47a Steve Castledine Don't forget there is an openntf.org idea jam. I did until today. We are currently looking at ways projects like openntf can be best utilised by IBM, so any ideas put there between now and Lotusphere may just be listened to. If you don't want to put them on a public site - then feel free to email them to me (steve dot castledine at uk dot ibm dot com). [read] Keywords: ibm
lotusphere
email
idea jam
ideajam
ideajam.net
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3
Lotus Notes Domino templates and open source
Tue, Nov 11th 2008 6:54a Steve Castledine Its an age old discussion and on/off has been discussed to death within this community, however I have been thinking about "templates" again recently. As a developer who has had the opportunity of developing applications inside and outside IBM, I have strong, probably "fan boy", views on their upkeep and also how important they are for stimulating the use of and development of new Lotus Notes/Domino applications. I have an opportunity, together with a few colleagues, to think about how [read] Keywords: composite
domino
ibm
ldd
lotus
notes
template
xpages application
applications
community
development
openntf
5
Another java view property template developers should be aware of
Mon, Nov 10th 2008 6:06a Steve Castledine When developing applications using the standard client framework there is, I think little known, a switch/property that is really important and it is not set by default. This one is the "bookmark default" property. By default this uses "NRPC" for the bookmark settings, which in my experience does not work well (performance wise and some usability issues) and also mean's the correct icon is not picked up when user's do bookmark a custom/template application. So if you ever create a custom a [read] Keywords: composite
domino
ibm
lotus
notes
template
application
applications
java
properties
2
Switching off the default switcher in templates when using java views
Mon, Nov 10th 2008 5:51a Steve Castledine I dislike the phrase "java views", but I never know a better one. If I mention "java view" I am referring to the standard client framework that was used from Lotus Notes 8.0, and originally was the basis of the new mail client and was also used for the blog template from 8.01 (and others from 8.5). As mentioned previously, I have a document waiting to be published which has a lot of detail on how you can reuse this framework within your own templates. I am just waiting on feedback on "where" [read] Keywords: composite
document
domino
ibm
lotus
notes
template
application
applications
java
properties
3
Switching off the default switcher in templates using java views
Mon, Nov 10th 2008 5:49a Steve Castledine I dislike the phrase "java views", but I never know a better one. If I mention "java view" I am referring to the standard client framework that was used from Lotus Notes 8.0, and originally was the basis of the new mail client and was also used for the blog template from 8.01 (and others from 8.5). As mentioned previously, I have a document waiting to be published which has a lot of detail on how you can reuse this framework within your own templates. I am just waiting on feedback on "where" [read] Keywords: composite
document
domino
ibm
lotus
notes
template
application
applications
java
properties
20
XPages - webQuerySave equivalent or using Lotusscript to process data
Fri, Nov 7th 2008 7:09a Steve Castledine I'm planning some "how to" XPages posts for "Domino Developers", in the meantime here's something for this week's "tip" theme. You may currently have a lot of logic sitting in Lotusscript agents or libraries, and you want to use these when trying out XPages, as its probably a big job to rewrite all of them from scratch in server side JavaScript etc (especially just for the purpose of testing or proof of concept). Whilst in the long term, using the XPages way of doing things is probably be [read] Keywords: agent
document
domino
javascript
lotus
lotusscript
notes
xpages database
server
6
Automatically send emails to users who post comments on your site when you reply
Fri, Nov 7th 2008 4:09a Steve Castledine Something I often forget exists, is the ability to send an email to someone automatically when you respond to their comment (Notes Client Only) within the blog template. To set this up, you need to go into the configuration document, tabs "Discussion > Basic". The field is right down the bottom (UI best practice this stuff) and is called "Email Prompt for Notes Comment Response?": Set to "Yes" and it will try and send an email to everyone you respond to with the detail of the response [read] Keywords: document
domino
lotus
notes
notes client
template
best practice
email
9
Accessing the standard/java view properties in Designer
Thu, Nov 6th 2008 4:55a Steve Castledine Another ini setting that may be useful for developers is "Designer_ShowPropForJavaViewsUI=1". This setting exposes the properties in Designer for standard client/java views. I have written a large document on building/converting your applications to use Notes Mail v8+ standard/java views etc as it now is supported (with caveats) from 8.5. I am just waiting on finding out where we are going to publish this. [read] Keywords: designer
document
domino
lotus
notes
applications
java
properties
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Upgrading local Lotus Notes templates
Thu, Nov 6th 2008 4:49a Steve Castledine No tips yesterday, busy day and I'm guessing the whole election thing was crowding out the news/blogs anyway. Anyway, I was in a meeting yesterday where a couple of customers mentioned (running Notes 8.5) that their bookmark templates had not updated. They resolved this by using Replace Design and restarting. What you can also do is reset an "ini" setting in "notes.ini" - "TemplateSetup". For example, mine currently is set to "TemplateSetup=850004". If I changed that to a number less t [read] Keywords: domino
lotus
notes
notes client
template
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Lotus Notes 8.5 Feature - Notebook
Thu, Nov 6th 2008 4:49a Steve Castledine One of the new features for Notes 8.5 is "Notebook". It gets less coverage than other "new" stuff as essentially it is the old Personal Journal with a new colour lipstick. Visually it is a huge improvement, feature wise there's not much "new" but it gives a good base to go from. Its templates like these that a lot of people do not realise exist. I for one never used Personal Journal "at all" but Notebook now is part of everything I work on (and there's less scraps of paper on my desk). [read] Keywords: domino
lotus
notes
template
interface
3
Hiding advanced sections in blog template for users
Tue, Nov 4th 2008 5:43a Steve Castledine Just a quick tip today, I have a lot of work I need to complete by close and its my wife's birthday so I guess I should finish work before 10pm (kidding). By default the blog template is a "personal tool" and there is no real restriction on what you can do. User's can go into the configuration, they can also change the theme etc at will. Most of this is accessed via the "advanced" link. Within the enterprise, administrators (don't you just love them ;) ) like to add restrictions. So in [read] Keywords: template
database
enterprise
security
3
Accessing the Web Client for the Blog Template
Tue, Nov 4th 2008 5:01a Steve Castledine Publishing something I replied to in an email yesterday: You can access the web client for the blog template via the "admin" link (within the default "yellow" theme) which can be found in the top right corner: This goes to the url ".nsf/webadmin?open&login": You will need the following roles to access (and at least Author access): You then get to: [read] Keywords: admin
template
email
2
Using formula to open a designated users Calendar, To Do or Contacts - undocumented feature
Mon, Nov 3rd 2008 6:28a Steve Castledine Starting this week with a very simple tip. Hoping to do at least one a day this week with at least one lengthy one for xpages by Friday. Anyway, there is a documented formula @Command( [OpenCalendar]; username ) that allows you to open a designated user's calendar. This may be useful in your custom apps or as part of a "portal" solution. The username part can be a specific user, or if you leave empty a prompt will ask you for a user to navigate to (bearing in mind you will need t [read] Keywords: domino
formula
lotus
notes
template
xpages application
2
Powerful advertising
Fri, Oct 31st 2008 5:27a Steve Castledine When I went to Google this morning (.com not their office), I see they are advertising the "G1 phone" on the home page. Considering how many times a day (and how many countries) Google is hit, that's one hell of a position to advertise a product. Based on hits, it may be the most expensive position in the world to place an on-line ad, and they can for free. That's powerful stuff. Blogging has been very quiet, as usual, of late. Too many things on my plate and I can see no coming up for air [read] Keywords: notes
blogging
google
office
2
Switching on anti spam in Dominoblog
Thu, Oct 9th 2008 5:48a Steve Castledine I've mentioned this a few times, but it can't be mentioned too many times due to its importance for web facing blog's. The Domino Blog template has a pretty effective anti spam mechanism to prevent rogue comments on your public sites (my site blocks hundreds every day - of course you cannot block all the manual one's - but it still can block some of these as well). This setting is not turned on by default. Why? Well back in the day when wheels were square, a lot of people did not trust jav [read] Keywords: domino
ibm
javascript
lotus
notes
template
5
My office/desk meme
Fri, Oct 3rd 2008 5:32a Steve Castledine I don't think so. My wife would kill me and my manager would be on the phone in an instant. I am one messy pup. Paper here, paper there, four monitors, lots of kit lying around. You wouldn't want to see it, my wife winces when she thinks about it. But maybe at the weekend I will do a spring clean and then do a photo. [read] Keywords: office
2
Domino Blog Theme editing and Tag Library
Thu, Oct 2nd 2008 9:09a Steve Castledine I have today published an article on editing the default theme within the blog template and general information about the html templates etc on the Domino Wiki site. You can access the document here. There is also a full library of dx tags with information on each attached as a 64 page pdf. [read] Keywords: document
domino
ldd
lotus
notes
template
wiki
4
New season - better results!
Wed, Oct 1st 2008 6:28a Steve Castledine Finally after many seasons of loss after loss Leicester are winning games again. There's still a long way to go in the season, and a long way to restoring our place in the top division, but top of the league after eight games is a good start! [read] Keywords:
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UKLUG 2008 - a great event
Mon, Sep 22nd 2008 5:59a Steve Castledine I was at UKLUG last Thursday and Friday in central London, and had a great time. To put on yet another event like this "for free" is just incredible and Warren Elsmore can not be praised enough for it (together with the team of people helping him out). Some points of interest: 1) Turnout was very good, although it would have been polite for a few of the non showers to let the organisers know. "Free" maybe a little misleading as it costs someone, somewhere and sponsors "sponsor" on the pr [read] Keywords: ilug
2
UK Lotus User Group Conference 18th & 19th September - London
Tue, Sep 9th 2008 4:12a Steve Castledine A reminder that UKLUG will be held next week (18th & 19th September) in Westminster, London. This will be a great event to attend, so if you can, I encourage you to register here. A full list of speakers are here (although I know other Notes gentry will also be in attendance that have spoken at Lotusphere etc), agenda is here. I will be in attendance, probably handing out the interval ice creams, so feel free to stop me to talk. [read] Keywords: lotus
lotusphere
notes
7
Some basic info on how the Tag Cloud tag works in Domino Blog
Mon, Sep 8th 2008 11:10a Steve Castledine Reproduced from forthcoming documentation: DXTagCloud provides an automatic tag cloud within your web pages: The system outputs the tags in an unordered list. You need to surround the tag with unordered list html (UL) to complete it (this is so you can attach your own style if you wish). You can set some configuration in the Configuration document within tabs "Formatting > Categories > Basic" fields: No of Tag Cloud Levels: Default Value 4 - Used with the style sheet to [read] Keywords: document
domino
template
tag cloud
3
Knowing which folder a document is in - @WhichFolders
Mon, Sep 8th 2008 4:49a Steve Castledine Sometimes people don't see the release notes (I'm not saying this is definitely in them), or new formula etc can be forgotten, but a nice new formula in 8.5 was @WhichFolders which can be used to determine, surprisingly, which folder the current document is in. To see it in action, it was added to the mail template, all documents view. Funny, I'm not even sure this made it into the designer help db, I will have to check. [read] Keywords: designer
document
formula
notes
template
2
Charity: Water
Mon, Sep 1st 2008 8:47a Steve Castledine Still on a "blog vacation" and back shortly, but in the meantime via Paul Mooney: [read] Keywords:
New Lotus Wiki’s - powered by Domino
Tue, Jun 17th 2008 4:55a Steve Castledine I bleed yellow, but I bleed a "Notes/Domino" shade of yellow the most. So its great to see good looking stuff coming out of Domino via the "Domino Powered" product wiki's on developerWorks. Ed Brill also wrote a piece here. Content in each wiki is organised by top level categories, however content is also joined across categories by tagging. So you have a "master" tag cloud on the home page, that allows you to see content by tags across all areas, but when you enter a content area th [read] Keywords: domino
ldd
lotus
notes
tag cloud
wiki
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Content encoding information within HTML or XHTML markup
Mon, Jun 16th 2008 11:48a Steve Castledine Its a question I ponder over a lot at the minute, do I actually need to include the content encoding information inside my html? Generally a web server includes the content encoding information in the http header when serving up web pages. For whatever reasons (I think stemming back to getting html to 100% pass the html/xhtml validator test's) I have tended to also include the encoding information in my html. I am wondering whether excluding this encoding from html, and maybe more importan [read] Keywords: domino
best practice
server
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Probably my favourite Eclipse Domino Designer feature - search
Sun, Jun 15th 2008 2:07p Steve Castledine Search in the new Domino Designer for Eclipse just rocks. If I have a string I need to locate, or a function I need to track all instances of where it is called etc, I am now in my element, at last. You can search entire databases or even across multiple databases at the same time. Its just great: Then a simple right mouse click, and select HTML Editor: and I am away: [read] Keywords: designer
domino
lotus
notes
eclipse
