Workplace Forms Integrated with Workflow-Xpress on Domino

I am just starting a project for a client to integrate IBM Workplace Forms with a Lotus Notes/Domino database. We have purchased a nice new IBM X-Series 346 server with plenty of memory & disk. I plan to install Linux as the host operating system and then utilise VMWare Server so that I can run up a few different installation options. At this point the first server will be a Windows Server 2003 Standard Edn.

The plan is to implement Workplace Forms Server Express onto a server running Domino. The Domino server will serve out the clients public web site where customers can fill in a Workplace Form (Loan application for example).

Once the Form has been filled in it would be submitted to the server  and saved as an attachment to a Lotus Notes document. I plan to parse the Workplace Form and then populate corresponding fields on the Notes document. Users within the clients Notes environment would then be notified that a client has submitted a form. They would be able to read the details parsed into the Notes document and if they have Workplace Forms Viewer installed they could open the actual form attached. If they don't have workplace Forms Viewer I thought I could add an option to launch the form in a browser via the Workplace Forms Server.

In a step based approach it will work as follows:

• The end-user fills in the form, using the Workplace Forms WebForm Server ( Translator ) or the Workplace Forms Viewer, and clicks the [Submit] button
• The data within the form -and- the form itself are posted into Domino using a J2EE servlet running on the Domino server
• The servlet parses the form, and extracts the data into a NSF.
• The servlet also stores the form as an attachment to the Notes document
• By integrating ISW's Workflow-Xpress with the NSF, the business-user receives an email notification, advising them of an update ( this is a Domino application trigger driven by Workflow-Xpress)
• They navigate to the relevant database, and view the data stored within the database schema
• They also choose to open the form by clicking on the attachment; alternatively, they click on a button which invokes the WebForm Server ( Translator ) and passes the form ( as an XFDL file )

and that is basically it.

So as I progress I will update here on.

Screen Resolutions? What size fits most

Just a question for everyone. I am in the  process of redesigning the layout of our standard look and feel for most of our Lotus Notes applications. What resolution do you think can be accepted as the normal? We used to design for 800x600 but I think that going up to 1024x1280 is probably reasonable nowadays. However I would probably like to go to a higher resolution again but that might be pushing it. Anyway if you have any thoughts on what should be the average resolution I would appreciate it. 

Lotus Notes on Linux

IBM have just announced the release of Lotus Notes 7.0.1 for Linux. This offers a real alternative for those sites that use Windows only because they want the Notes client. I know of a couple of clients that have wanted to do this for many years so it is great news.The software will be downloadable via Passport Advantage starting on July 24, 2006. Those organisations already licensed for a Lotus Notes client get it for free. Another exampe of IBM adding real value with Notes 7.

Some more info:
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/swnews/swnews.nsf/n/nhan6rfrrb?OpenDocument&Site=software
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6091872.html
http://crn.com/sections/breakingnews/breakingnews.jhtml?articleId=190301221 

New SMB/Express pricing for IBM Workplace Forms

This is great news. IBM Workplace Forms now has an Express pricing model for SMB business. We have been looking at Workplace Forms with a number of clients but the licensing has been a little on the steep side for a couple of them. Well the new express pricing should make it an acceptable proposition.

IBM Workplace Forms Express
http://www-142.ibm.com/software/workplace/products/product5.nsf/wdocs/formsexpress
       
IBM Workplace Forms Express V2.6 enables small and medium businesses to create electronic forms using open standards and local language support
http://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca/2/897/ENUS206-152/ENUS206-152.PDF

Product overview: IBM Workplace Forms Express eForms made "eZ"
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/tividd/software/saleskits/N473098Y88475O65/KEY_36.html

There are a number of different options, including: -
D59APLL                IBM Workplace Forms Viewer Express Authorized User License plus Software Maintenance for 12 Months        USD99
D59AVLL                IBM Workplace Forms Viewer Express 25 Pages License and SW Maintenance 12 Months                             USD25,000
D59ARLL                IBM Workplace Forms Server Express Processor License plus Software Maintenance for 12 Months                USD10,000
D56EFLL                IBM Workplace Forms Designer Registered User License plus Software Maintenance for 12 Months                 USD649

I have been distracted for the last couple of weeks but I am planning on spending a few days over the next week or so working on the integration of Workplace Forms with ISW's Workflow-Xpress. These two platforms integrated together will make an awesome package. 

More Sametime 7.5 tidbits. This time with Microsoft in mind

IBM have just announced some more great features for Sametime 7.5.

In particular "by providing integration with Microsoft Outlook, Office and SharePoint applications". This includes integration into Outlook's calendar for scheduling Sametime Conferences, presence awareness within Outlook, being able to send an IM, initiate a VoIP call, or share the current application from within Microsoft Office.

Also stressed again is the fact that Sametime 7.5 is built on the Eclipse Framework (as is Hannover - next version of the Notes client) which means that third parties, such as us, can built plugins and extensions for the Sametime 7.5 client. I am very excited about this possiblity we have a few ideas for extensions that will make the sametime client awesome.

Additional features of Lotus Sametime include:

-- No charge access to public instant messaging networks: Lotus Sametime 7.5 will offer access to leading public instant messaging vendors at no additional cost.
-- Audio/Video Integration: Lotus Sametime 7.5 will offer integration with leading audio and video providers, enabling features like "click to call" and integrated audio with phone and video conferences. Working with IBM in this area are Avaya, Avistar, Cisco, Nortel, Siemens, Premiere Global Services, Polycom and Tandberg.
-- Location-based Awareness: Lotus Sametime 7.5 is the only enterprise instant messaging platform to offer advanced location awareness.
-- Multiple person Voice over IP calls: Lotus Sametime 7.5 is the only enterprise instant messaging platform to offer voice over IP calls between multiple users.
-- Flexible support for multiple platforms and operating systems: The Lotus Sametime client runs on Windows, Mac, Linux® and on Windows, AIX® and IBM System i servers.

Lotus Sametime 7.5 is expected to be available in the third quarter of 2006. Mobile support for Lotus Sametime is expected to support RIM BlackBerry, Nokia and Windows Mobile devices with expected availability in the fourth quarter of 2006. Integration with Microsoft SharePoint, Outlook 2000 and above and Office XP and above is expected at the beginning of 2007.