There have been a number of post where people have been trying to use a Notes URL with the ?OpenForm tag.
They were getting “Unable to create document, database does not contain design element”.
If the database is first opened, after the new form was added, by the user using the Notes Client or if the user had never opened the database before then the Notes URL works fine.
I contacted Lotus Tech support and they tell me “working as designed”. Working as designed??? Is it me or does anyone else have a problem with this. Why would you set out to design Notes urls to operate in this manner?
They tell me they have a request to change Notes urls to not require opening of databases to see new design elements. If you use Notes urls, I suggest you call tech support to voice your opinion on getting this changed.
Subject: ?OpenForm Link AND Design Element Not Found
This is the way all design elements work.
If you create a new form and then put an action in for someone to compose a document using it they won’t be able to use it if they’ve already got the db open. It isn’t an issue with ?OpenForm at all.
And, if you make a change to a view and the user doesn’t quit the db and reopen it they won’t get the design change. etc. etc.
I don’t see there’s an issue here (have demoted the idea on ideajam as well)