IdeaJam(tm) feed for Bas van Gestel

Notes Client / Other: Replace Unread marks with attention indicators

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:54:11 +0000

Author: Bas van Gestel
Tags: unread unreadmarks workspace
Idea:

A nice feature of Lotus Notes is that you can see the number of documents you have not read in a particular database (ahum sorry.. application) from the workspace.

The downside of this feature is that it assumes a document requires a persons attention if the user has not read it/seen the updates. This may work for e-mail and (some) document libraries. However for many applications having read a document, it just doesn't mean anything.

Just think of a workflow application where you could display on the workplace icon how many documents really need the users attention.

For the calendar icon it could display the number of unanswered meeting requests. For e-mail it can just be the unread count as it is today.

Kinda like (yet again) the iPhone interface.

This would save a lot of notification mails and really add a lot of value to the user experience IMHO.

Don't know about the technical implementation: maybe replace the unread mechanism, re-use the unread mechanism or put a table on the side.

Domino Designer / : Allow scalars as first parameter to arrayappend

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:32:18 +0000

Author: Bas van Gestel
Tags: arrayappend
Idea:

I like the use of arrayappend to add a value to the end of an array. But if I want to add a value to the start of an array, I have to create a dummy array (size = 0) and add the value to that before I can add a value to it.

So instead of:

Dim strArrDummy(0) As String

strArrDummy(0) = "test"
newArray = ArrayAppend(strArrDummy, oldArray)

Be able to use:

newArray = ArrayAppend("test", oldArray)

Notes Client / Other: Include mini progress bar in workspace icons (new workspace)

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:11:22 +0000

Author: Bas van Gestel
Tags: workspace icons workspace
Idea:

As part of the new workspace IBM might (and IMHO should) develop for Lotus Notes, a nice feature would be to have progress bars on the workspace icons, indicating that the application is currently replicating or copying.

Kinda like the Installing progress bars on the iPhone icons.

Not much more than eye-candy, but if they redesign it to be more attractive to end-users eye-candy matters.

re: Include mini progress bar in workspace icons (new workspace)

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:54:23 +0000

Author: Vlad Sh
Comment: And why should the user know what's going on replication? What is it you?
In my opinion this is extra functionality, which will overload the Notes client as well as the need to constantly send requests to the server to obtain information about the beginning / end of replication.

re: Include mini progress bar in workspace icons (new workspace)

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:01:55 +0000

Author: Bas van Gestel
Comment: @1: The Notes client is already aware that replication (between local and the server) is taking place. It is more like the replicator page integrated in the workspace.

It will make the user more aware of the synchronization process.

re: Include mini progress bar in workspace icons (new workspace)

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:43:48 +0000

Author: Vlad Sh
Comment: It is known only for the current client, that is when the client starts the replication manually. When he does, the move of replication and so visible in the progress bar, so it is also not necessary.
Moreover, the user most of my time working in the databases, rather than considering how beautiful glitter icons...

re: Include mini progress bar in workspace icons (new workspace)

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:30:35 +0000

Author: Bas van Gestel
Comment: @3 sure current client only and only of value when scheduled replication or replication on start-up/shutdown takes place.

As I said the added value is very little, but if the workplace is to be re-designed to make it an easier entry point to applications, then in-context progress bars would be nice.

E.g. I dislike the replica stub icons when you create a new replica in the current workspace and that you have to open the progress pane to see if a new copy is completed.

re: Include mini progress bar in workspace icons (new workspace)

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:53:56 +0000

Author: Vlad Sh
Comment: @4: Replicator with open automatically, and you can watch the proceedings.
The whole thing only in the appearance of icons? Maybe it's good, but I believe in LND is more pressing ideas that are close to the critical...

re: Include mini progress bar in workspace icons (new workspace)

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:44:06 +0000

Author: Matt White
Comment: I like the idea, kind of like the "workspace" on the iPhone or iPad when you're updating multiple apps from the app store.

re: Include mini progress bar in workspace icons (new workspace)

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:35:05 +0000

Author: Patrick Kwinten
Comment: uhm something like this:

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re: Include mini progress bar in workspace icons (new workspace)

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:24:02 +0000

Author: Vlad Sh
Comment: Patrick,
and this is all on one icon of the database? :)))
uhm knowingly.

re: Include mini progress bar in workspace icons (new workspace)

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:33:47 +0000

Author: Bill Malchisky
Comment: This seems like a major performance issue for workspaces that have many icons. Also, what happens with stacked icons when the local replica is not on top, but inside the stack, the user would not see it and then wonder why they are not receiving data for one application....they would then call the Help Desk and state that "Application<x> is not receiving data," or that "Notes is broken." Also, if you utilize multiple tabs, you will need to change tabs and scroll to see everything...that can waste time.

The replicator page is the best place for this, and will show all the icons with local replicas in a nice concise format.

Nice idea in theory, but in implementation it breaks-down. I will demote as a result...just want to be cordial and provide my perspective with my vote.

Domino Designer / : Extra parameter to Remove and RemoveAll LS functions

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:23:43 +0000

Author: Bas van Gestel
Tags: lotusscript remove soft deletions
Idea:

Add an extra optional boolean parameter "RemovePermanently" to the Remove (doc, viewentry) and RemoveAll (doccollection, viewentrycollection).

Defaults to False and optional to not break existing code.

Why??

a) I hardly ever see RemovePermanently in code. Odd.. since Soft Deletions IMHO should be used mainly for user mistakes. Adding it as a parameter, code completion would show the option to developer, resulting in the developer questioning "Is it worth to keep a softdeletion of this dummy doc??"

b) There is no RemoveAllPermanently...

You know... The performance penalty of having many soft deleted documents is huge!

Domino Designer / : Agent visibility based on roles

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:24:18 +0000

Author: Bas van Gestel
Tags: role agent access
Idea:

Have an option to define who may use an Action Menu agent.

Similar to the way you can set a view to be only visible to users with e.g. the [admin] role.

Currently when you do not want normal users to have access to an agent you have two options:

1) Make a private agent -> other app admins don't have access to

2) Make the agent hidden and create view actions with hide-when's

In most applications when I open the actions menu, I see about 20 agents. Set field bla, Fix bla, Admin\Correct fields, Migrate documents, etc. AAAAARGH.

I know these agents are the result of crappy design by poor developers/functional app managers. But what real option do they have??

re: Agent visibility based on roles

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:56:19 +0000

Author: Vlad Sh
Comment: What does not suit the Security tab ("Default access for viewing and running this agent") to the agent properties?

re: Agent visibility based on roles

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:28:08 +0000

Author: Bas van Gestel
Comment: Wow.. never noticed that option for agents. Thanks Vlad. I will withdraw my idea.

Now to get the developers/super users to use it.

re: Agent visibility based on roles

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:26:40 +0000

Author: Bas van Gestel
Comment: Status changed to Withdrawn

re: Extra parameter to Remove and RemoveAll LS functions

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:52:03 +0000

Author: Peter Presnell
Comment: I don't like your chances of getting a change made to LotusScript!

Domino Designer / : Move the Welcome page entry in the Help menu

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:41:55 +0000

Author: Bas van Gestel
Tags: welcome page designer help
Idea:

Maybe it's just me, but if I want to use the Help: I select Help from the menu and automatically click the first entry., which happens to be the welcome page.

IMHO it would be more logical to have the Help Contents as the first entry, since that is the option used most often.

re: Move the Welcome page entry in the Help menu

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:01:59 +0000

Author: Michael Tassati
Comment: Which version do you use? I'm using 8.5.1 FP4 - Here is the help first.