Lotus Training : Lotus Domino Designer 7: Basic Browser Applications

The Lotus Domino Server is a powerful and flexible application server. What distinguishes it from other application servers is that it supports both Lotus Notes and browser clients. The same database can have two user interfaces!

This course leads you through the essential steps to adapt a simple Notes developed for Notes so that it can be used by browsers. You will see how Domino Designer 7 is uniquely suited to building powerful and versatile applications for Notes and browser clients.

Lotus Training Learning Objectives

In this course, you will learn how to:

distinguish the responsibilities of the Domino Web Engine and the Domino HTTP server task in serving browser requests

describe the various configuration documents necessary for Domino to host powerful and secure Web sites and applications available to users

describe the conversion capabilities of the Domino Web Engine as well as its limitations

adapt an application so that it can be used by both Notes and browsers and utilize the various mechanisms to create distinct experiences for both clients

use both pass-thru HTML and WYSIWYG Form and Page development techniques

understand how the Domino Web Engine renders Fields

compare various mechanisms to translate and validate Field values

refresh, interim save, or save and close new or edited documents

redirect users after saving a document to a specific location in the application

adapt Views for browsers and use embedded Views in creative ways

provide browsers with easy-to-use tools to navigate around an application and to have functional parity with Notes

establish document-response relationships and inherit Field data into new documents

explain several ways that Domino authenticates users and then employ the full range of database and document security mechanisms based on authenticated user names

interpret the cause of HTTP and Domino Web Engine errors seen by browsers and develop custom error Forms to improve the quality of recovery information provided to users

compare the application processing model of Notes and browsers and then use that knowledge to maximize application performance for browsers.

Lotus Training Audience

This course is designed for Notes programmers well versed in using Domino Designer 7. It assumes that you have:

thorough knowledge of the Domino Designer 7 development environment, including Form and View design, as well as how to use properties boxes, and how to set the ACL
mastered the Topics covered in Domino Designer 7: Basic Notes Applications
knowledge of Web technologies, including servers, browsers, HTML, Cascading Style Sheets, and some basic JavaScript.

This course is part of a series of Domino Designer 7 training courses. Follow these paths to master all aspects of developing applications using Domino Designer:

Domino Designer 7: Basic Notes Applications provides the base knowledge for this additional training:

Client Track

Configure Domino to use DB2 as a database engine and build applications that access relational data, DB2 for Domino 7 Administrators and Developers.
Specialize in programming Notes applications to respond to built-in user interface features, Domino Designer 7: Special Notes Features.
Convert an application written for Notes clients to be used in browsers, Domino Designer 7: Basic Browser Applications.
Provide data to cutting-edge Web applications, Domino Designer 7: Web Agents and Web Services.

Language Track. These languages apply to both Notes and browser clients:

Learn sophisticated application techniques that fully exploit the formula language in Domino Designer 7: Formula Language.
Develop sophisticated applications and Agents with LotusScript in Domino Designer 7: LotusScript.
Add powerful client-side scripting to browser applications in Domino Designer 7: JavaScript.

Lotus Training Course duration

This course is sold as a 1-day course.

Lotus Training Course design

This is a lecture/lab course that follows a task-oriented approach. During the many course exercises you will adapt a working Notes application to work in browsers. As you expand your knowledge about Domino Designer, you will immediately apply the concepts and techniques as you work on your application.

Lotus Training Course outline

Topic 1: Domino Web Engine and the HTTP Server

Browser access to Domino services and objects

Server configuration

Incoming URL parsing

Serving file system resources

Serving database resources

URLs to Domino database resources

Domino Web Engine conversion

Conversion of @Commands and application navigation

What the Domino Web Engine cannot convert

Topic 2: Coding for Notes and Browsers

Domino Designer

Notes and browser capabilities

Design considerations

Conditional coding

Exercise: Create project application and open it from a browser

Topic 3: Forms

HTML or WYSIWYG Form development

Add HTML to a Form or Page

HTML Pane and pass through HTML

Fields

<Input> widths

Rich Text Field properties

Interoperability warning

Exercise: Set Field properties

Exercise: Pick a department

Generate HTML for all fields

Exercise: Generate HTML for all fields

Address book lookup dialog box

Attach files

Detach attached files

Delete attached files

Exercise: Attachments

Display image attachment in browser

Topic 4: Field Formulas and Form Submit

Form processing for browsers

WebQueryOpen event Agent

Trigger a refresh or save

Exercise: Field Input Translation event formulas

Input Validation using formula language

Possible Form caching issue

Exercise: Field validation error page

Redirect user after saving a document

Exercise: $$Return

Open a Page or Form after the save

Useful @Functions

WebQuerySave event Agent

CGI variable Fields

Topic 5: Views

Purpose of Views

View limitations for browsers

Standard View format options

Exercise: Enable View Java applet

Embed Views in a Page or Form

Exercise: $$ViewTemplate for

AllProductsByDateCreated Page

Topic 6: Navigation

Problem: Invalid Outline Entries

Exercise: Hide invalid Outline Entries

General @Commands

View-level @Commands

Non-working Action buttons

Problem: Delete Action button in Form

Exercise: Redirect user after deleting an open document

Problem: Inventory Adjustment

Create response document

Inheritance

Exercise: Inventory Adjustment

Future work on Inventory Adjustment

Problem: Cancel Action Button navigation

Exercise: Cancel Action button

Problem: Action buttons and Outline control are HTML

Exercise: Use Java Applet for Action Bar

Problem: Deleting documents from a View

Exercise: Delete documents from a View

Exercise: Hide Form elements from browsers

Topic 7: Application Security

Domino network and server security

Force authentication

Security handoff

Anonymous users

Maximum Internet name and password

Exercise: Define ACL and roles

Database encryption

Two design changes to prevent URL hacking

Require SSL connection