Course Description Course Title:Lotus Domino Designer 8: LotusScript Course Code:DDLS8 Product:Lotus Notes/Domino R8.0.1 Provider:wareSource Duration:4 days Topics/Pages:36 topics / 574 pages Price (US dollars):$85 per user Description LotusScript is a BASIC derivative that uses many of the same statements and function names, so most developers will find it easy to understand and use without too much relearning. While this course teaches the basics of LotusScript, its primary emphasis is not on the language itself, but rather on how to use it to operate on Notes database, view, document, field, and ACL objects. With this knowledge, you will be able to develop powerful custom applications and extend the standard templates such as Mail or Discussion. Course goals This course will teach you how to: use fundamental LotusScript language elements as you program and debug applications using Domino Designer use LotusScript in various Notes events to operate on objects in the Domino Object Model configure client, server, database, and document security mechanisms to allow LotusScript to operate reconcile LotusScript and Notes data types and validate user input design error handling routines to gracefully recover from runtime errors operate on new and existing documents as well as on collections of documents use messaging to send email, documents, and newsletters operate on the database ACL and develop an alternative user interface so users can more easily administer database security interact with users with both the primitive LotusScript and sophisticated Notes dialog boxes use Profile documents to store application and user-specific configuration settings develop custom procedures and classes and use Script Libraries to store and share commonly used procedures across design elements and applications develop server-based Agents that use LotusScript and Notes objects to process documents debug Agents using the Remote LotusScript Debugger, report errors to a log file, profile Agent performance, and work with your server administrator to develop application probes to monitor ongoing Agent performance operate on file system based text files generate MIME content that can be used to send formatted emails with intact HTML parse XML files to extract element data and attributes run procedures stored in Windows, Notes, and other product DLLs instantiate objects from other products such as Office applications, Windows Script Host, and Windows Management Instrumentation via COM to use their properties and methods. Audience This course is designed for Notes programmers well versed in using Domino Designer 8. It assumes that you have: extensive experience using Notes 8 thorough knowledge of the Domino Designer 8 development environment, including Form and View design mastered the concepts covered in the Domino Designer 8: Basic Notes Applications course. The course does not review any aspects of the non-LotusScript specific development environment such as how to design forms or views. Though not required, experience in any event-driven or structured programming language is helpful in understanding LotusScript. If you have used LotusScript in other Lotus applications or have built applications using Microsoft® Visual Basic™, you will find that this course won't be repetitive as it focuses mostly on Notes objects. This course is part of a series of Domino Designer 8 training courses. Follow these paths to master all aspects of developing applications using Domino Designer: Domino Designer 8: Basic Notes Applications provides the base knowledge for this additional training: Client Track Configure Domino to use DB2 as a database engine and build applications that access relational data, DB2 for Domino 8 Administrators and Developers. Specialize in programming Notes applications to respond to built-in user interface features, Domino Designer 8: Special Notes Features. Convert an application written for Notes clients to be used in browsers, Domino Designer 8: Basic Browser Applications. Provide data to cutting-edge Web applications, Domino Designer 8: Web Agents and Web Services. Language Track. These languages apply to both Notes and browser clients: Learn sophisticated application techniques that fully exploit the formula language in Domino Designer 8: Formula Language. Develop sophisticated applications and Agents with LotusScript in Domino Designer 8: LotusScript. Add powerful client-side scripting to browser applications in Domino Designer 8: JavaScript. Duration This course is sold as a 4-day course, but it is unlikely that you can finish all the topics in four days. To finish in four days, it is recommended that you defer the last few topics for self-study. Many training centers allocate five days to cover this material. Course design This is a lecture/lab course in which you will closely examine demonstration code and create additional code. You will immediately apply the concepts and techniques as you work in your own project database. This is not an introductory programming course. Its emphasis is on how to use LotusScript to manipulate Notes objects. All major concepts are reinforced with examples and exercises, during which you will code and debug LotusScript. From this experience you will have the necessary skills to build sophisticated applications. All code fragments are labeled to make talking about them and reusing them in exercises easier. The intent in labeling them is also to help build a sense of modularity, purpose, and a way of "thinking" about LotusScript. Outline Topic 1: LotusScript in Notes and Domino What is LotusScript? Advantages of LotusScript for Notes/Domino When to use LotusScript Where the code runs LotusScript respects security What LotusScript cannot do Limits and performance Other resources Topic 2: Lotus Notes Events Event-driven language Enter LotusScript code Automatic code completion Programmers Pane properties Print code Syntax errors Compile and test the code Exercise: Create button event script What is the sequence of events? Exercise: Experience the event model What happened? Create document events Query what? Post what? Recalculate document event Save document event Close document event Switch modes events Read document events Agent events Database events View events Field events Topic 3: Debugging Script errors Remark code Script Debugger Find errors Debugger Buttons Debugger tabs Exercise: Use the Debugger Exercise: Break points Persistent breakpoints Debugging with Msgbox and Print Topic 4: Language Fundamentals Basic language rules MessageBox parameters and return values InputBox Variables Declare variables Advantages of explicit declaration Global variables Exercise: Global variables Constants User-defined data type Statements and functions Exercise: Experience LotusScript functions String functions Math functions Date functions Data type conversion Boolean operators How Designer Help helps Platform considerations Topic 5: Program Control Structures Program structure Experience control structures Branching structures Exercise: Branching structures Looping structures Looping performance Code benchmarking Exercise: Looping How to exit a structure Break out of an endless loop Exercise: Exit a structure Topic 6: User Input Validation and Error Handling Check for empty variable Failure to exit loop Check data type Other data type tests Exercise: User input validation Error handler Resume after error Goto after error Resume 0 Specific error number handling Reverse engineer Err codes Error cases Exercise: Error handling Multiple error handlers Error handlers and the Debugger Topic 7: Domino Object Model What is an object? Object class properties and methods Domino Object Model Back-end vs. Front-end classes Back-end object classes Front-end object classes How Designer Help helps Topic 8: Notes Object Instantiation Object instantiation steps How to instantiate an object Container objects Object reference variables Best practice: Use generic object names Access current database using back-end methods Best practice: Use constants Use Domino Designer 8 Help Exercise: Object containers Access other databases using back-end methods Access other database on server Exercise: Instantiate object in another database Best practice: Public declarations of Notes objects Notes object properties Read object property Set object property Chain/pipe references "With" statement Notes object methods Run Notes object methods Three types of methods Exercise: Open method LotusScript is not a keystroke macro language Interact with users via front-end methods Exercise: Open database for user Delete object reference Topic 9: NotesSession Object Operations Session properties NotesName object class NOTES.INI access Data type assignment from environment Exercise: Set environment Topic 10: NotesDatabase Object Operations Paths to instantiate NotesDatabase Select and open database Ways to create a new NotesDatabase object Is the database really open? Open database on servers Exercise: Database Info Iterate \data to look for a database NotesReplication class Exercise: NotesReplication class Open database for user in UI Open a database by property Error handling when opening databases Exercise: Find database Create non-replica database copy Who can create a database? Copy documents to new database Exercise: Database Copy Error handler review Create replica copy New database from template ACL of new database from using template Delete database Case Study Topic 11: New Document Object Operations New document (back-end) Security issues with back-end methods Document properties Exercise: Create Document (back-end) New document using Form (front-end) Security issues with front-end methods Exercise: Create NotesUIDocument object Topic 12: NotesItem Object Operations Create a new item Option 1: Extended class syntax Data type of a new item Create a new item Option 2: NotesItem object New method Item properties you can set Create a new item Option 3: Document object method Create a new item Option 4: AppendItemValue method Read item values Option 1: Extended class syntax Read item values Option 2: NotesItem object Values property Read item values Option 3: Use GetItemValue method Modify existing item values Best practice: Be sure an item exists before using it Access system fields Read all items Remove item Exercise: Manipulate NotesItem objects Challenge Exercise I: System Inventory Objects required for Challenge Exercise Pseudocode for Challenge Exercise Topic 13: UI Object Classes NotesUIWorkspace object Close method NotesUIDocument object Instantiating the current UI document object Front-end UI methods Back-end to front-end interaction Example of back-end to front-end interaction NotesUIDocument limitations Using the "Source" object reference variable Instantiating container object Exercise: Flip-Flop via back-end methods Exercise: Flip-Flop via front-end methods NotesUIView object Refresh a View Topic 14: Notes Data Validation Form translation and validation Check empty object Example: Check empty object Check for empty item (Field) Example: Check for empty item (Field entry) Accessing fields in a Form Field focus Simple Field validation Exercise: Item validation Compute with Form Continue variable Example setting Continue I: Stop a Form from closing Example setting Continue II: Require Action Button clicks Stop users from deleting documents in folders Stop users from pasting documents Topic 15: Multi-Value Items and Arrays Array basics How to declare an array Assign values to an array Split Join/Implode Read single array element value Iteratively read array elements Examples of object properties returning an array of values Find an array element Replace values in an array Replace Determine the number of elements in an array Remove blank elements ArrayUnique Dynamically sized array Create copy of an array Erase array values Exercise: Dynamic array Append one array to another array Multi- dimension arrays Items and multi-value Fields Variable assignment Testing equivalence Read an array of strings or array of objects? Get multi-value Field in current document Set multi-value Field in current document Append to existing multi-value Field Exercise: Translate a multi-value Field More on "Item" versus "Field" Sort array Challenge Exercise II: System inventory Arrays and performance Lists Topic 16: Date-Time Operations How time is handled Date and time in LotusScript NotesDateTime object Date/Time parameter format NotesInternational object Topic 17: RichTextItem Object Operations Rich Text programmatic issues Instantiate NotesRichTextItem object Accessing existing NotesRichTextItem objects Things you can add to Rich Text item Append text Append spacing Append character styles Best practice: Style arrays and subs Append doclink Exercise: Formatted Rich Text Append file attachment Detach attachment Append another NotesRichTextItem Abstract text Navigate through the elements in a Rich Text item Insert object into existing Rich Text Example: Append and populate table Reopen document to show Rich Text NotesUIDocument techniques to work with Rich Text Field Validate Rich Text entry NotesRichTextItem object Update and Compact methods Challenge Exercise III: System inventory RTF versus MIME Topic 18: Collections of Document Objects Work on existing document(s) NotesDocumentCollection object Security issue GetNextDocument requirements Exercise: Loop through NotesDocumentCollection Solution: Loop through NotesDocumentCollection Add or remove documents from a collection AddDocument and DeleteDocument method tricks Bulk changes to document collections Security issues with StampAll and RemoveAll Other collections of document objects Sort a collection Collections and performance Topic 19: View-Based Document Object Collections NotesView object Exercise: Loop through NotesView Solution: Loop through NotesView NotesDocument object ColumnValues property Primary key and View concerns Get a document or document collection by View key Example: Build a collection by View key Process descendent documents Iterate all levels of a document hierarchy Sibling documents Access a documents parent document View.EntryCount property NotesViewEntryCollection object NotesViewEntry and NotesDocument objects Exercise: Status summary Solution: Status summary NotesViewNavigator object Topic 20: Search-Based Document Collections Collection from GetModifiedDocuments method Collection by Full Text Search The query Search items using [FIELD] Search on special items Full Text Search options Use the results About the accuracy of Full Text Search Refine an existing collection Exercise: FTSearch Summary Solution: FTSearch summary Collection by ordinary Search Change a View Selection Formula Exercise: Search summary Solution: Search summary Search method performance Switch search methods on-the-fly Domain Search Code the FTDomainSearch method Topic 21: Unprocessed, Selected, Unread Documents Unprocessed documents Unprocessed documents and user interaction Efficient processing by Agents Unprocessed flag and Agents Unprocessed search accuracy Exercise: Unprocessed documents Documents highlighted and/or selected in a View Unread documents Topic 22: Existing Document Object Operations Make a copy of the current document Delete a document Security issues Exercise: Archive selected documents Delete open document Test for locked document Lock document Does the document really need to be saved? IsDeleted and soft deletes IsValid document? IsDeleted document? Is document open in the UI? Open user-selected document Put document in Folder (back-end) Put document in Folder (front-end) Exercise: Put document(s) in Folder Remove document(s) from Folder Remove all Folders Remove only personal Folders Make Response document Topic 23: Newsletter Object NotesNewsletter object Create newsletter object Exercise: Newsletter report Case study: Custom search Form Optional exercise: Order report FormatDocument method Topic 24: Messaging Send document Example Agent Send method parameters Source database Read the Directory for user mail information Change the apparent sender name from Notes Change the apparent sender name from an Agent Prevent Agent mail "ping-pong" Exercise: Send message Optional properties and Fields Exercise: Status Checker Agent Solution: Status Checker Agent Challenge Exercise IV: System inventory Programmatically send Sametime instant messages Topic 25: Evaluate @Functions Which @Functions cannot be used? Why evaluate @Functions in LotusScript? Evaluate syntax Sum two Fields String functions Uppercase Field @Functions outside of object context Sum an array Lookups Exercise: Using @Functions Performance implications Topic 26: Dialog Boxes OpenFileDialog SaveFileDialog Prompt Choose Database dialog box PickListCollection PickListStrings Exercise: PickListStrings Free Time dialogs Folder dialog DialogBox From where you can call the DialogBox method Status information Case study: Bring the data here Topic 27: Database Access Control List Minimum access requirements Best practices Find a known ACL entry level Name storage in the ACL ACL level constants Iterate ACL entries Other ACL permissions Resolve group or Organization wildcard name Why control the ACL with LotusScript? Add an ACL entry When to save ACL changes -Default- special handling Exercise: Set ACL Change the level of an entry Rename an entry Delete an entry Exercise: ACL control Set permissions Set entry type Add a Role Associate an entry with a Role Role resolution Disassociate entry from Role Rename Role Remove a Role ACL and replication ACL, your Domino administrator, and company policy Topic 28: Profile Documents What Profile documents are used for The nature of Profile documents Profile document security and replication Create Profile document Back-end method to access Profile document Read profile Fields List Profile documents Delete Profile document Topic 29: Procedures and Script Libraries Advantages of using procedures How/where to define procedures Function procedures Call a function Single function argument Pass an array as an argument Multiple function arguments Example: ConvertTemp function Example: ReplaceSubstring function Exercise: Value translation Exit a procedure Sub procedures Example: Sub procedure Pass argument by reference Pass argument by value Script Libraries Use "LibraryName" statement in Options Exercise: Use a Script Library Resource strings Script Library tips Recursion example: Process all child documents Recursion example: Find root parent document Recompile all LotusScript %Include LSS file Topic 30: Custom Classes Custom classes Derived classes (inheritance) Memory management Example: Custom helper class Advantages of object-oriented programming Learn more about custom classes .LSO files .LSX files Topic 31: Server-Based Agents Create new Agent Trigger Target Document selection "event" Unprocessed documents Before New Mail Arrives trigger Agent security Handling UI method errors in Agents DelayUpdates property for Agents Pass arguments at run time Work queue architecture Usage guidelines Topic 32: Agent Logging, Profiling, and Debugging Domino Server Log Private Agent log Custom Agent Log Agent performance and Agent Profiling DDM Application Probes Remote LotusScript Debugger Topic 33: Text File Operations Write to a text file (Output) Read lines from a text file (Input) Read performance Delete a file Example: List Databases to File Exercise: Append to text file Export records to text file Easy comma delimited export Import records from text file NotesStream class Open, write to, and close NotesStream object List databases example MIME in email messages Agents and MIME/HTML Topic 34: XML Processing What wont be covered NotesDOMParser and NotesDOMDocumentNode classes Example XML file Walk DOM Tree Exercise: Correlate XML file to walkTree report Create Notes documents from XML Open a NotesStream to a URL Topic 35: Call DLL Procedures Declare DLL procedure Call the DLL Procedure Caveats and tips Win API: GetFolderName Win API: Read/Write INI file Win API: Get registry value Notes API: Close any Notes window Notes API: Run file from Notes Other DLL examples Resources Topic 36: Use Other Product Objects Component Object Model (COM) Instantiate Excel objects Start and stop an application Product object hierarchy Access the object methods and properties Where to find object data files Example 1: Create Excel object from file Example 2: Create new Excel object and set formula Example 3: Create new Excel chart object Example 4: Export View to Excel Example 5: Create new Word object Example 6: Create new Word object (labels) Compound Document Container Example 7: Work with embedded object Notes and OLE Example 8: Create OLE object in PostOpen event Troubleshoot OLE problems Example 9: Operate on attachment Windows Script Host (WSH) Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) COM access to Notes objects Buy versus build Lotus Symphony Contact Us Privacy Policy ©2010 wareSource
This course is sold as a 4-day course, but it is unlikely that you can finish all the topics in four days. To finish in four days, it is recommended that you defer the last few topics for self-study. Many training centers allocate five days to cover this material.
Course design This is a lecture/lab course in which you will closely examine demonstration code and create additional code. You will immediately apply the concepts and techniques as you work in your own project database. This is not an introductory programming course. Its emphasis is on how to use LotusScript to manipulate Notes objects. All major concepts are reinforced with examples and exercises, during which you will code and debug LotusScript. From this experience you will have the necessary skills to build sophisticated applications. All code fragments are labeled to make talking about them and reusing them in exercises easier. The intent in labeling them is also to help build a sense of modularity, purpose, and a way of "thinking" about LotusScript. Outline