Documentation How to build websites

HCL Domino Domino Forum
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Hi all,

I have to build up different websites using a *.nsf file. I looked up for FAQs in Google or in this forum but all I can find are online courses about this topic.

Are there some documentations like “A dummy guide how to build up websites with Lotus Notes step by step” or “A beginner’s guide of how to build up websites with Lotus Notes step by step”

Created a lot of sites using common languages like jsp or php but building up a website in Notes seems to be very special.

My site should be dynamically with the possibility of using css. All members can modify contain, upload files into the db, etc. and on the other site (the official web presentation) an anonymous person should be able to download the files, see the news, etc.

So if anybody know examples nsf files (simple or professional ones), book titles, documenations, etc. please post your links.

Appreciate this.

Thanks in advance

Holm Dressler

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Subject: Documentation How to build websites

Well, there are really a lot of questions here… fill in the blanks:

Do you have any experience building Domino Databases for the Notes Client? How much?

Do you have experience with the domino security model? How much?

Do you have any experience developing web applications around a database of any type?

Building a complex web application in Domino (as opposed to a web page with just static text on it) in a corporate environment is very involved and not something you’d just “throw together with Notes”. Granted, you can do this, and people do, but you leave yourself open to all kinds of issues. Security needs to be thought out. Site navigation needs to be thought out and built. Design work on the pages needs to be thought out (layout, style, etc). With the type of things you mentioned, while they are straightforward in the Domino environment, they are by no means simple or well known to someone who has not been in or learned the environment.

One approach, and one we used to build our corporate website’s design, is to build a few of your pages in html to get the layout the way you want, and add in markers for form fields, then migrate that to a Notes form.

The best advice is to hit one of the many sites out there created by members of the community (codestore.net at the top of the list, followed by places such as ferdychristant.com and http://esthermstrom.blogspot.com/ (she got me started using html views back when, a definate must for most web applications or sites built on Domino). Go to Google and search for “DOMINO WEB DEVELOPMENT” and hit the sites.

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Subject: RE: Documentation How to build websites

Also, if it is a book you want, I recommend “Lotus Notes and Domino 6 Programming Bible” published by Wiley (there is probably a r7 version out now). This book has a lot of information in it from basics to more advanced topics. The book is by Brian Benz and Rocky Oliver. Rocky (www.lotusgeek.com) is now back with IBM as a Senior Software Engineer.

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Subject: Documentation How to build websites

I would recommend you to attend a 3-day course called “Developing Dynamic Web Applications with Domino”. Both IBM and IBM’s education partners provide this course.If you can not attend the course, try to get the literature used in the course.

There are a couple of similar Domino-related courses, covering basically same area.

http://www-05.ibm.com/services/learning/se/ta-iris.nsf/(ExtCourseNr)/ND610SE

You can also buy books about Domino on Amazon, first check the index that they contain web-related information.

Domino Designer client trial version can be downloaded free of charge and used for previewing web pages without need for Domino server.

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Subject: RE: Documentation How to build websites

Hey Andrei,

well kind of thanks. But I am asking for documentation. We bought 30 licences from Lotus Notes and 1 from Domino so I think there should be documentation for this for free.

I think I will not be the only person who had this problem. Anyway: will have look for the slides.

Anybody else some links

Holm Dressler

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Subject: Sorry, but I don’t agree that training should be free. Anyway, here are something things to look at…

Look in the Designer help file for use of: $$ViewTemplate for viewname, $$NavigatorTemplate for navigatorname, $$ViewTemplateDefault, $$NavigatorTemplateDefault, $$ReturnAuthenticationFailure, $$ReturnAuthorizationFailure, $$ReturnDocumentDeleted, $$ReturnGeneralErrorLook in the Designer help file for customizing the “Form processed” confirmation for Web users

Styling Embedded Views Using CSS- http://www.notestips.com/80256B3A007F2692/0/403BBF8BC7EA9AAE80256DDC004127CC

Formatting Domino Checkboxes (Using CSS) - http://www.notestips.com/80256B3A007F2692/0/302B30B6EFC3113980256E6E007EED9B

Don’t use Domino generated views, instead use agents to generate views.

Towards the Perfect Web View http://www.codestore.net/store.nsf/unid/EPSD-5VBS6Y?OpenDocument

The ´Ultimate Domino View Navigator´- http://bob-obringer.com/A557B7/blog.nsf/dx/04172005013356DOM9QA.htm

Drag and Drop documents to change their order in a view - Welcome - Drag-n-Drop Sorting Demo [v0.5]

Lotus Notes client style views in a Domino web application

Domino Outline 2 AJAX Menu Transformer

Give your Domino views life with DHTML

Build a Dynamic Menu with CSS - http://my.advisor.com/articles.nsf/aid/16081

Faking Action Bars With CSS - http://www.codestore.net/store.nsf/unid/HUMR-67HEPN?OpenDocument

javascript for field validation - http://www.codestore.net/store.nsf/unid/BLOG-20060605

javascript calendar picker - nsftools - Lotus Notes and Domino Tips

Ajax for keyword lookups so you don’t reload the form

Adding a Richtext web editor - Talk to Ben Langhendrics

alternate row colouring on the web - http://advisorupdate.info/Articles.nsf/nl/13917

how to put a document into edit mode on the web

how to select multiple documents for processing on the web

Make Tabbed Navigation Look Good On The Web - Sliding Doors of CSS – A List Apart

Develop Domino Web Applications the AJAX Way By Richard Schwartz - http://my.advisor.com/articles.nsf/aid/16905

Alan Lepofsky - IBM/Lotus

Learn more at my Lotus Notes Tips and Tricks Blog

LOTs of US working together to innovate for success

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Subject: Documentation How to build websites - Thanks for response

Hi people,

have been on a business trip and just want to say thank you for the response. I will have a look into all this stuff you sent. And the Lotus Bible is now on my desk.

Talk soon and once again thanks

Holm

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Subject: Documentation How to build websites

As Andrei says, you need to educate yourself as a Notes Developer to be able to do this on your own. Begin by installing the Domino Designer client and learn to use it.

Then you can start looking for suitable examples or templates. OpenNTF (www.openntf.org) has lots of stuff to get you started. You could also take a look at my own little creation, Banana Website, on my site: http://www.bananahome.com/users/bananahome/blog.nsf/htdocs/PSTL6TDGW2.htm

Good luck!

/Peter