I need some help developing a solution that manipulates embedded Excel files using LotusScript

I was hoping to do this with the new Lotus Spreadsheets Productivity Tool. but it’s not quite ready in time - see http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/nd8forum.nsf/5f27803bba85d8e285256bf10054620d/80773a2d1dd7dd8b852573c100602101?OpenDocument

I have developed a simple invoicing solution for a system I am developing, but the client has now realised that users will quite often have to edit the information on the invoices manually before they go out. I have therefore decided to get Notes to build up a spreadsheet-based invoice, which the user can then edit as much as they like - as long as various key cells still contain all the important information (like invoice total etc.), then when saved, the Notes database will be updated with all the updated values. I have used a similar idea before, although in that case, the invoices were just manually completed, rather than initially completed by Notes using LotusScript.

Anyway, as usual, every way I can think of to get started seems to have an issue associated with it. For example, I don’t want the user to be able to accidentally delete the spreadsheet from the Invoice document, so I’d like to embed it on the Form, rather than in a Rich Text Field. But that seems to cause difficulties in getting hold of the embedded file, at least with a Document that I’ve created using LotusScript. Maybe I have to embed it into a Rich Text Field in LotusScript? If I do that, then I need to get hold of a copy of the file from somewhere, & I don’t want the Notes database to reply on having an Excel file or template file available in the file system, so I’d like to store it as a File Resource. But how can you get hold of these file resources from LotusScript? I can’t find a way.

The solution I developed before where the invoices were filled in manually simply had the file embedded on the Form, & I had some code that created an Invoice document, populated some fields with information (Customer Name, Address etc.) then opened it in the UI. But in this case, I actually need LotusScript to edit the embedded file, rather than just the NotesDocument containing it.

So to sum up, I need, using LotusScript, to create an Invoice Document, either one that already contains an Excel file I can manipulate or one that I can embed the file into, in which case I need to store that file somewhere, preferably inside Notes, & then I need to get hold of the embedded file & manipuate it using COM.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Subject: I need some help developing a solution that manipulates embedded Excel files using LotusScript

I tried getting ahold of files in the Shared Resources for a similar reason and also never found a way. Found lots of frustrations posted, but no solutions. I’m pretty sure its not possible.

This was a ways back, but I think we wound up putting the file in a PROFILE document. Sucks that it isn’t in the design that way, but at least it isn’t in the servers file system.

Subject: RE: I need some help developing a solution that manipulates embedded Excel files using LotusScript

Yes, that’s what I’ve ended up doing, with some help from Experts Exchange (http://www.experts-exchange.com). I’ve placed the Excel file in a System Settings Profile Document, then I extract it to the temp folder in the file system, then embed it into an Invoice NotesDocument that exchanges certain fields using Notes/FX. This is starting to come together, although right now I have loads of issues with Excel bringing up ‘Do you want to save?’ dialogue boxes all over the place, often hidden underneath the Notes windows!

Thanks for your comments though - it’s good to know I’m not alone in trying to do this.