Workplace Forms Integrated with Workflow-Xpress on Domino

I am just starting a project for a client to integrate IBM Workplace Forms with a Lotus Notes/Domino database. We have purchased a nice new IBM X-Series 346 server with plenty of memory & disk. I plan to install Linux as the host operating system and then utilise VMWare Server so that I can run up a few different installation options. At this point the first server will be a Windows Server 2003 Standard Edn.

The plan is to implement Workplace Forms Server Express onto a server running Domino. The Domino server will serve out the clients public web site where customers can fill in a Workplace Form (Loan application for example).

Once the Form has been filled in it would be submitted to the server  and saved as an attachment to a Lotus Notes document. I plan to parse the Workplace Form and then populate corresponding fields on the Notes document. Users within the clients Notes environment would then be notified that a client has submitted a form. They would be able to read the details parsed into the Notes document and if they have Workplace Forms Viewer installed they could open the actual form attached. If they don't have workplace Forms Viewer I thought I could add an option to launch the form in a browser via the Workplace Forms Server.

In a step based approach it will work as follows:

• The end-user fills in the form, using the Workplace Forms WebForm Server ( Translator ) or the Workplace Forms Viewer, and clicks the [Submit] button
• The data within the form -and- the form itself are posted into Domino using a J2EE servlet running on the Domino server
• The servlet parses the form, and extracts the data into a NSF.
• The servlet also stores the form as an attachment to the Notes document
• By integrating ISW's Workflow-Xpress with the NSF, the business-user receives an email notification, advising them of an update ( this is a Domino application trigger driven by Workflow-Xpress)
• They navigate to the relevant database, and view the data stored within the database schema
• They also choose to open the form by clicking on the attachment; alternatively, they click on a button which invokes the WebForm Server ( Translator ) and passes the form ( as an XFDL file )

and that is basically it.

So as I progress I will update here on.

Sametime Server on Linux

IBM has announced that they will soon be porting Sametime server to Linux. So with the release of the Sametime Linux client (due in Sept with Sametime 7.5 and now in beta) and then in the first half of next year, the release of Sametime server on Linux enterprises will be able to adopt a pure linux instant messaging environment if they so choose. I am not aware of any other vendor that has offered IM support on Linux. Choice is such a great thing and definately puts IBM ahead of its competitors.

http://www.arnnet.com.au/index.php/id;1174295407;fp;8;fpid;0
http://edbrill.com/ebrill/edbrill.nsf/dx/sametime-server-for-linux-being-announced-today 

New SMB/Express pricing for IBM Workplace Forms

This is great news. IBM Workplace Forms now has an Express pricing model for SMB business. We have been looking at Workplace Forms with a number of clients but the licensing has been a little on the steep side for a couple of them. Well the new express pricing should make it an acceptable proposition.

IBM Workplace Forms Express
http://www-142.ibm.com/software/workplace/products/product5.nsf/wdocs/formsexpress
       
IBM Workplace Forms Express V2.6 enables small and medium businesses to create electronic forms using open standards and local language support
http://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca/2/897/ENUS206-152/ENUS206-152.PDF

Product overview: IBM Workplace Forms Express eForms made "eZ"
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/tividd/software/saleskits/N473098Y88475O65/KEY_36.html

There are a number of different options, including: -
D59APLL                IBM Workplace Forms Viewer Express Authorized User License plus Software Maintenance for 12 Months        USD99
D59AVLL                IBM Workplace Forms Viewer Express 25 Pages License and SW Maintenance 12 Months                             USD25,000
D59ARLL                IBM Workplace Forms Server Express Processor License plus Software Maintenance for 12 Months                USD10,000
D56EFLL                IBM Workplace Forms Designer Registered User License plus Software Maintenance for 12 Months                 USD649

I have been distracted for the last couple of weeks but I am planning on spending a few days over the next week or so working on the integration of Workplace Forms with ISW's Workflow-Xpress. These two platforms integrated together will make an awesome package. 

More Sametime 7.5 tidbits. This time with Microsoft in mind

IBM have just announced some more great features for Sametime 7.5.

In particular "by providing integration with Microsoft Outlook, Office and SharePoint applications". This includes integration into Outlook's calendar for scheduling Sametime Conferences, presence awareness within Outlook, being able to send an IM, initiate a VoIP call, or share the current application from within Microsoft Office.

Also stressed again is the fact that Sametime 7.5 is built on the Eclipse Framework (as is Hannover - next version of the Notes client) which means that third parties, such as us, can built plugins and extensions for the Sametime 7.5 client. I am very excited about this possiblity we have a few ideas for extensions that will make the sametime client awesome.

Additional features of Lotus Sametime include:

-- No charge access to public instant messaging networks: Lotus Sametime 7.5 will offer access to leading public instant messaging vendors at no additional cost.
-- Audio/Video Integration: Lotus Sametime 7.5 will offer integration with leading audio and video providers, enabling features like "click to call" and integrated audio with phone and video conferences. Working with IBM in this area are Avaya, Avistar, Cisco, Nortel, Siemens, Premiere Global Services, Polycom and Tandberg.
-- Location-based Awareness: Lotus Sametime 7.5 is the only enterprise instant messaging platform to offer advanced location awareness.
-- Multiple person Voice over IP calls: Lotus Sametime 7.5 is the only enterprise instant messaging platform to offer voice over IP calls between multiple users.
-- Flexible support for multiple platforms and operating systems: The Lotus Sametime client runs on Windows, Mac, Linux® and on Windows, AIX® and IBM System i servers.

Lotus Sametime 7.5 is expected to be available in the third quarter of 2006. Mobile support for Lotus Sametime is expected to support RIM BlackBerry, Nokia and Windows Mobile devices with expected availability in the fourth quarter of 2006. Integration with Microsoft SharePoint, Outlook 2000 and above and Office XP and above is expected at the beginning of 2007. 

Are you a Lotus Notes Nomad?

Are you one of these users that wants to access Lotus Notes from everywhere? Don't like the browser interface to your Notes Apps and would much rather use a Notes client when on the road. End up lugging around your Laptop when on holidays so you can still access Notes?

Well here is a great innovation from IBM with Lotus Notes 7.0.2. Notes on a USB memory stick install . With Notes installed onto your USB memory stick you can just plug it into a computer and wammo you have Notes. When you leave that machine you take everything with you.

This would be great when travelling, in lets say Phuket Thailand. Simply get into an internet cafe at 1 Baht per minute (28 Bahts is about $1AUD), plug in your USB memory stick and off you go.

Or maybe you are travelling thru an airport, quick jump on that PC, plug in the USB stick, and off you go. Full Notes access.

This is a great innovation from IBM and I can see many of our clients making great use of it.