Lotus Notes Domino and Web: Application Development ? Tips for Programmers
December 31, 2007
Beginning with Domino version R4 it has integration with the Web, and the server itself becomes a HTTP-server. The next releases of Domino Web-server add new functionality (for example servlet managers, supported JVM versions upgrade, etc). To give you general picture and abstracting from details we’ll talk about two major Domino Web-server functions:
1. Domino Web-server is the full-featured HTTP-server. In other words, it can provide static (or conditionally static) files as the reply to HTTP-browser’s requests (including HTML, image, JavaScript, applets, etc);
2. During the browser’s requests to Domino dynamic resources by specific URL, the server can create in passing HTML-pages, making the Domino object visible.
For sure, it is reasonably simplified model (we mentioned that, for example, Domino Web-server supports servlet technology), but this model allows to discuss the major issues in creation of Web-applications based on Lotus Domino technology. Following the major problems are:
? in Domino-based Web-applications creation developer is strongly limited to use built-in program languages’ possibilities. Thus, from 380 inbuilt @-commands of @-formulas language nearly 40 are supported in Web. LotusScript is supported only in three types of Web-agents, etc;
Linux vs Windows Operating Systems
December 31, 2007
With so many Microsoft Windows related viruses, errors, and other software problems, many average computer users are looking at alternative operating system platforms, such as Linux. It is important that users, frustrated with Windows, don’t simply install a version of Llinux without knowing what they are in for. There are many important differences between Windows and Linux that anyone considering a change should be fully aware of. Herein we discuss some of the similarities and differences between Windows and Linux so you can get a better idea as to which operating system is really best for you.
The major difference between Linux and Windows is the open-source nature of Linux and closed-source nature of Windows. Linux, as an open-source OS, can be modified by the user as he/ she sees fit. Open source really means that anyone can modify the underlying code, and that no one completely owns it. Microsoft Windows, on the other hand, is not an operating system you can modify easily - it was designed to work a particular way with a certain user interface as designated by Microsoft software engineers.
Is Your Small Business Ready For A CRM Software Solution?
December 30, 2007
I have yet to see a business that, sometimes in spite of themselves, didn’t benefit from implementing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or a simpler Contact Management software solution.
Your small business might be the rare exception, but if you can relate to some of the following scenarios, you may be ready to take advantage of the improved and inexpensive CRM systems coming on-stream.
Mary, your star sales performer, has just been poached by your opposition. She departs your employ with immediate effect. You are left wondering:
What deals was she working on?
What is the status of those deals?
Mary’s replacement would be able to hit the ground running, taking over where Mary left off if you have a small business CRM solution installed.
You need to do an e/mail marketing campaign to your customer base, but even the simple task of extracting a targeted list of all your client’s names and addresses proves difficult. And you haven’t even begun to send out your mailer yet, never mind manage and follow through with your responses.
Database Guru James F. Koopmann Reviews DBxtra Reporting and Query Tool
December 29, 2007
DBxtra is a powerful query and reporting tool that hides many of the complexity and technical expertise required for creating connections to disperse data sources, building queries, designing reports, and delivery information throughout an enterprise or to your customer base.
With the ability to connect to multiple databases or data sources at the same time, DBxtra allows for cross platform data aggregation and the ability to answer questions that would typically take IT time to migrate data into a single reporting database. Through powerful query and filtering mechanisms users have the ability to browse and achieve fine grained retrieval of data to answer detailed business questions.
DBxtra uses a project level approach and Explorer type tree structure to categorize database and DBxtra objects that facilitates the production queries and reports. This explorer tree structure drastically improves the reusability of objects, speed in access to information, and reduces the man-hours required to design and produce subsequent reports.
The production of reports can be produced in a variety of formats including HTML, Microsoft Excel, CSV, XML, or PDF with the option to be merged into personalized E-mails. Also available is a visual report designer where your choice of formatting options can be employed to produce just the right look for your report.
Microsoft Great Plains SOP: Sales Order Processing
December 28, 2007
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is marketed for mid-size companies as well as Navision (which has very good positions in Europe and emerging markets where it can be easily localized).
Great Plains Sales Order Processing (SOP) module forms a third of the core Inventory and Order Processing part of Great Plains. SOP allows you to manage the entire sales process, from start to finish, with pinpoint accuracy. This makes you capable of serving top customers more effectively, monitor fulfillment and invoicing and more precisely, and streamline processes to minimize shipping costs and labor.
The SOP module builds stronger relationship between you and your customers by optimizing the invoicing and distribution process which speeds inquiries and order deliveries and reduces errors. Work the way you want by defining tracking numbers, information fields, fulfilled quantities, and other order entry functions to fit your needs.
Features:
? Repeating Documents ? Save time and help ensure accuracy by transferring information from an existing sales order to a new sales order.
? Ship to by Line ? Speed time to delivery through multiple ship-to addresses on an individual order. Send each line item on an order to a different site for that customer, saving order entry time and consolidating tasks for faster throughput.
Editing Your Photos Using Microsoft Picture It Publishing Platinum 2002 - A Great Dinosaur
December 27, 2007
I started using PIP (Picture It Publishing) Platinum 2002 right after I got it in a bundle with my HP Pavallion N5295 Notebook more than several moons ago!
I don’t want to be a rocket scientist to produce edited photos quickly and with quality results, again and again.
I had a terrible time at first with the edited pictures. Once I saved them and re-opened them they were out of focus. I tried everything I could think of and then I realized what was wrong.
Just before you save it, it gives you the option as to what type of file. eg. JPEG, PNG, BMP etc. I usually had saved things as .jpg’s and so I naturally clicked on the JPEG choice and then entered my new name and hit “Save”.
Well… while in the SAVE menu, there’s another button for “options” and THAT is where I went wrong. If I’d opened the options menu I would have seen the preset value of 10. I immediately changed the value 10 to a 1, meaning you get 1 to 1 results. The next file saved was perfect.
Basic Steps To Optimize Your Internet Security
December 26, 2007
After seeing many people complain about their weak Internet security I decided to write down some things that will help you for your Internet security.
First, here are some tips to make windows safer :
For basic security and update patches install Service Pack 2 for Windows XP or Service Pack 4 for Windows 2000.
Once a month use Windows Update so you can get the latest pacthes.
When you download software from the Internet make sure you download it from the original website.
Always run anti Trojan and anti virus software.
Even if you don’t use it you have to make your Internet Explorer as safe as possible.
When you access the Internet you are browsing the web using a browser such as Internet Explorer. The Internet Explorer contains several security vulnerabilities. You should make it as safe as possible or switch your default browser to an alternative. You will have to set some options from the Manage Add-Ons in the Internet Options. You will see a list of add-ons that can be activated or deactivated. If you see any unusual entries just deactivate them so you can be sure you don’t have a trojan/worm.
Free PDF Publishing Software
December 26, 2007
In a previous article, I wrote about OpenOffice which an excellent suite of Free Office software which is in the Public Domain.
What I did not know is that the Writer (word processing) program creates PDF files too.
I have uninstalled MS Word because OpenOffice opens all my old Word Documents and I like OpenOffice better than MS Word.
How To Create a PDF File for Free
After OpenOffice is installed, open any Word document or create a new document with the OpenOffice Word processor.
Now simply click the PDf creator button located on the Function Bar.
Another way to do this is to select Export As pdf from the File Menu.
That’s all there is to it.
Generate PDF for Free or pay $95
The created PDF document is a regular PDF file except it has no bells and whistles. This is a bare bones PDF Creator.
For example, hyperlinks do not work within the PDF file and I have not figured out how to create the handy navigation menu. For this you will need to buy the full version PDF Writer from Adobe.
Keeping Track
December 25, 2007
One of the things we can be as certain of as death and taxes is that in every meeting at least one person will hand out a document for comments and discussion. But think of the huge workload this gives rise to for the author. She can only hope that not too many people respond, or that they don’t all do so at once!
But there’s another way…
Microsoft Word has a nice feature called tracking. When you go through a document by hand, you cross words out here, insert a line there — but of course the original document is still visible, no none of the changes is irrevocable.
Word has exactly the same facility:
Go to tools - and now when you delete a word it doesn’t disappear, a red line is put through it. By the same token, when you insert a word it appears in green.
Next, place the document in an area where it’s accessible to everyone, such as in the global directory in Mulberry place, and ask people to make their comments and alterations there. (save a copy elsewhere, though, in case somebody deletes it!)
Microsoft and Webmasters
December 24, 2007
Does Microsoft care for Webmasters
It’s always been a problem with websites appearing exactly the same on different platforms. As a web developer / webmaster it is extremely difficult to make user experiences rich by having the site look the same in any OS / Browser. The biggest problems they have with there famous Internet Explorer browser is security issues and W3C Standards compliance issues.
Does Microsoft have a vision of having the world’s most popular browser still? Yes but currently IE is dropping it’s rate pretty fast as Mozilla and Firefox support CSS2 and PNG Transparent Alpha where’s IE does not support. What’s really interesting is IE 5 for Mac supports both CSS2 and PNG Transparent Alpha but IE for Mac development has been discontinued. Makes me think Microsoft likes Apple more then there own Flagship Product "Windows".
So why is it important for Internet Explorer to follow the W3C Standards?
- Makes it easier on a developers end to produce 1 website that looks great on other browsers besides just IE
- Provides developers with more choices for design formats a.k.a. PNG24 with Transparency, CSS2, etc. that want to develop for Internet Explorer.
- Make IE continue to be the worlds #1 web browser
A look into Microsoft’s next generation Longhorn with IE
