Category: Notes In 9

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Java Notes In 9 Podcast XPages

NotesIn9 106: Intro to Java Controller Classes

In this show Jesse Gallagher, a great new contribitor, comes on to give us an over view of using Java Controller Classes to help seperate your business logic from your XPage.  By moving your logic outside of the XPage you get much cleaner XML source for your XPage.

If you’re new to the thought of using Java inside XPages, I’d suggest don’t focus on the actual syntax that Jesse’s using here but the overall concepts.  This is very similar to using Lotusscript custom classes to hold your business logic so you have cleaner agents and view buttons.

Hope you like it.

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Notes In 9 Podcast XPages

NotesIn9 105: Introduction to SSJS Debugger

In this show an Fredrik Norling, and IBM Champion and awesome develolper, comes on NotesIn9 for the very FIRST time!

Frederik, is going to give us a really good and indepth demo on using the new SSJS debugger of Designer 9.0.  This isn’t just a getting started, but an indepth guide on using it.  Not to be missed!

I also announce my next “event” in the show.  It’s called “XPages Mobile Madness”. Basically I want to get a bunch of mobile related shows on.  I’ll talk about this more in a seperate blog post.

Thanks for watching!

Dave

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Learning XPages Notes In 9

NotesIn9 104: Viewer Question – Comboboxes

In this show I answer a question from a poster on the XPages Forum. Ursus Schneider posted that he was having a problem with Arrays (http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/xpagesforum.nsf/topicThread.xsp?action=openDocument&documentId=646EB71744203F5C85257B38006321C2)  but when he sent me a small sample to look at he had actually was having problems with working with comboboxes and partial refreshes.

So in this show I take a look at the sample I was sent and dissect it.  I’ll try and show you how it was originally coded and what the current problem that Ursus was having it.  I’ll fix that but then take a more indepth look at trying to modify the original code so it’s more on the lines of best practices.

Coding is an art, and I’m only so good at it myself, but hopefully this will be a contructive look at some possible ways to improve things via a code review.  I thank Ursus for sending me this and letting me using the discussion on the show.

One of the main reasons I wanted to do this example, was I thought pretty early on that I could work in an example that I’ve been trying to get on the show.  I wanted to demonstrate how you can return multiple values from a document from 1 SSJS function.  So instead of doing multiple lookups you might be able to do more at once.

Anyway – hope you like the show.  This should be a good one for people newish to XPages.

P.S. Theres like 3 seconds of black at the beginning of this video.  I’ve no idea what I did there.  Sorry about that.

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Notes In 9 Podcast

NotesIn9 103: Installing Domino Designer 8.5.3

In this show John Jardin returns with a good demonstration on how to not only install the free Domino Designer, but how to actually find it on IBM’s website. He even show’s you how to get started creating a database.

Also a big Happy Birthday to a great person and NotesIn9 contributor – Mr. Russ Maher!!!

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Notes In 9 Podcast

NotesIn9 102: Introduction to Apache FOP in XPages

In this show Paul Calhoun returns with a great video on how to get started using Apache FOP to create PDF’s from XPages. Apache FOP has potentially better licensing terms then iText which has been mentioned on some previous NotesIn9’s. So it’s something you might want to look at for PDF creation.

UPDATE:

Download Demo File

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Community Notes In 9

NotesIn9 Update

Just to give anyone a heads up as someone asked me about NotesIn9 and new shows.

I wanted to get more shows out by now, but I’m in the middle have some heavy traveling as I’m training people on how to use this XPages Application I’ve been working on for the day job. It uses Mobile controls and a bluetooth barcode scanner so it’s pretty cool. At least I think so. haha

As I type this I’m heading out in 30 minutes for 2 days off with the family. Then Saturday I come back and need to cook 3 Porks and a Brisket for my son’s schools “International Food Fesitval” on sunday. I’m doing a BBQ booth because really… what’s more international then Texas?

As soon as I have time I’ll have more new shows coming. I’m probably sitting on 4-5 shows still that have been delivered by great contributors that I just need to wrap up and get out. And I keep getting emails from people with more to offer. So I’m really sorry I’m having trouble keeping up but hope to clear the backlog as soon as possible. There is great stuff coming. And even more new contributors coming!!

If anyone has emailed me and I’ve not responded – please feel free to email me again. That’s hard to keep up with as well but I do try and respond to everything I get.

So as always thanks for watching. The best is yet to come!!

Dave

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Notes In 9

NotesIn9 101: Jailbreak Your View Columns

In this show Brad Balassaitis, a wonderful new contributor, comes onto the show to talk to us about how to get complete control of your view columns. He does a great job showing how to do different things with a view column. It’s also a really good demonstration on using client side JavaScript. So even if you’re not a big fan of View Controls, there’s really good content in here and it’s explained extremely well.

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Notes In 9 Podcast

NotesIn9 100: XPages – Modernize Yourself!

Welcome to the 100th Episode!!! This show is pretty much my actual session from IBM Connect. Unfortunately there were no room monitors and I ended up running a little long.
Here is the original Abstract:

XPages Development:  Modernize yourself!

Theres a lot of tools available to the XPages Developer. @Formulas, Server and Client side JavaScript, Expression Language, Java, and even Source Control are the tools of the trade these days. But which tools should you use?  Which should be avoided and why?  Come to this session and learn about their strengths and weaknesses. See how easy it is to go from @Formulas and LotusScript to JavaScript.  Learn how to get started with new tools and concepts like Java and Source Control. Find out what resources are available to go further. Before you can modernize your applications you need to modernize yourself!
===


In this show I look at several really important topics for the XPages Developer.  I talk about how you need to change you’re thinking when approaching XPages applications and why that’s important. I also talk about the different languages in XPages and how similar some are and when you should use some instead of others.
In the beginning of this show, in what I think is the most important part really, I talk about how you can actually learn more about XPages by SHARING more!  Bascially I implore you to either blog, or post to the forum or wiki.  And for your convenience I’ve already anticipated your excuses for not doing so and succesfully debunked them all.  haha
That section starts at 24:52.  So if you do nothing else – watch that little bit please.  I think it’s that important.


In the code section near the end I talk about Expression Language and show you how to use that and even Custom Language.  But the best bit I think is how to use a Managed Java bean to toggle between Edit and Read mode for your fields and save data from the Bean itself.


The bad part about this show is that I ran WAY too long.  People always say you talk faster live and here’s proof.  This 60 minute session became an 80 minute NotesIn9!  This actually beats my 73 minute Introduction to XPages show.  I really thought about throwing this away since it’s so long but the Intro to XPages is my most popular show.  So since this is done, I figure I’ll release this and see what happens. I’ve actually reviewed this to try and see what happened, and other then a little stumble or two I don’t think it’s too bad.  I did get lost for a minute in the demo section…  it was late.


So anyway, I’m sorry this is so long, but here it is.  I hope you like it.

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Community Notes In 9

NotesIn9 Live! Coming to IBM Connect

Next week I’ll be speaking at IBM Connect.  I’m presenting 3 times.  When speaking at Lotusphere I’ve always had awesome partners.  Long before I worked with him I presented with Declan Lynch in 2010 on CSS and Themes.  Then in 2011 I teamed up with Paul Withers and even though he made me wear a Karate headband we had a lot of fun with a Dojo session. Now I’m really excited to present with the wonderful Kathy Brown from PSC.  Not only is Kathy an excellent speaker and developer – she also runs more in a week then I drive my car.

We’ll be presenting a Show and Tell on Monday at 4:30 – 6:15 in Swan Osprey 1-2.

SHOW111: XPages: No Experience Needed

Want to build an XPages application, but not sure how? Kathy and Dave will show you how to build a sample help desk application from start to finish. Step by Step they will show you how to create, read, update, and delete tickets. Along the way you’ll be introduced the most common XPages concepts like SSJS, Custom Controls, View and Repeat Controls, Extension Library, CSS frameworks, and much more. Go home with a working application that you can use today!

This is a very beginner session.  We’re going to try and show you how to build an app with XPages.  Rather then throwing the kitchen sink at it, we’re going to try and focus on the “meat and potatoes” aspect.  Using App Layout control and form tables.  Working in the Source pane, creating reusable custom controls, and more.  I hope you like it. My goal is to try and introduce the new XPage developer to the toolset and try and establish a comfort zone of what the pieces are and how to use them.

Then for the first time ever I’ll be presenting a solo session. This session is on Tuesday and <GASP> repeats!  The first one is at 10:00 in Swan Mockingbird 1-2 and the other is at 5:30 in Swan Pelican 1-2

BP202: XPages Development: Modernize Yourself!

There are a lot of tools available to the XPages developer. @Formulas, Server and Client-side JavaScript, Expression Language, Java, and even Source Control are the “tools of the trade” these days. But which tools should you use? Which should be avoided and why? Come to this session and learn about their strengths and weaknesses. See how easy it is to go from @Formulas and LotusScript to JavaScript. Learn how to get started with new tools and concepts like Java and Source Control. Find out what resources are available to go further. Before you can modernize your applications, you need to modernize yourself!

This session is also geared for the newish XPages Developer but hopefully will be good for the Intermediate Dev who might have plateaued.   I’m going to talk about why you want to learn XPages and methods and resources you can use. XPages is not the Notes Client and if you don’t adjust your approach a bit, you might run into problems. We’re going to look at what tools and languages are available and how it’s not that difficult to move from one to another. And finally we’re going to look at some example code in Java Beans that I think is a pretty modern approach to building a report.

Public Service Announcement:

Just to help anyone who might be on the fence with planning their schedules.  I’d say that there’s a REALLY REALLY GOOD chance these sessions will hit NotesIn9 in some shape or form.  So I’d love to see you there, but if you do have a conflict with another XPages session and are torn as to which one to go to, keep that in the back of your mind.  Just don’t skip out for some dumb Admin session! 🙂

Thanks.  I do hope you like the presentations.

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Community Notes In 9

The NotesIn9 CheatSheet

IBM Connect, the conference formerly known as Lotusphere, is closing in.  Once again I’ll dusting off “NotesIn9 Live” and will be actually presenting during the show.  I’m doing 2 sessions this year.  The first is a Show and Tell called “SHOW 111 XPages: No Experience Needed”.  I’m presenting that with the awesome Kathy Brown. I’m also presenting “BP202 XPages Development: Modernize Yourself!”  But I’ll talk more about these sessions in a future post.

Today I wanted to release my internal “NotesIn9 Contributor, Sponsor, Advertising Cheatsheet”.  This is a document that I typically send to the great people who contribute to the show.  Since they take time out to do something for the community I like to try and make it as easy for them as possible.

NotesIn9 Contributor Cheatsheet

I’m getting more and more people asking me either, how to contribute to the show,  or what tips do I have for their own screencasting projects. So I wanted to put this out for any one who’s interested.  Even if you don’t want to contribute to the show, but are interested in screencasting – hopefully this will be helpful to you.

I’m looking forward to Connect and meeting people.  Please don’t be afraid to just come up and say hi!  I do like talking to and meeting new people!!

I also wanted to post this ahead of time to get YOU thinking about the possibility of contributing to the show. My hope is that maybe YOU will read it and realize that  it’s not that difficult to record YOUR screen. So I’d also be interested in talking to YOU about being on the show, or in helping YOU come up with a means of sharing information that works for YOU.

Often people will say to me:

  1. “I have nothing to share.”
  2. “I can do something but it’s not like I’m an expert”.
  3. “This has been posted before so there’s no point of me posting it.”
  4. “This has been posted before and I don’t want to take away from the original poster”.
  5. “This is too easy. Everyone knows this”

To each of those excuses I call BUNK!

  1. Everyone has something to share.  If it took you 5 minutes to figure something out it might take someone else (probably me) 10 minutes.  So you might just save someone 50% of their time.
  2. No one is an expert on everything. It doesn’t matter.  If you post something and it’s not perfect then guess what?  Someone will probably comment on it and then you and anyone who follows the post will learn.  It’s “Social Education”
  3. So what if it’s been posted before.  People forget, Google does not always find everything, and new XPagers keep coming in.  Have you ever heard the expression “The more the merrier?”
  4. When someone posts something they WANT to share it.  Don’t feel like you can’t do a topic because someone else did.  Everyone has their own voice.  Some people learn better from a different voice.  Several NotesIn9’s came from other peoples blog posts. Just link back to the original article as a courtesy.
  5. There is no such thing as “Too easy” or “everyone knows this”.

So please – if you’re nervous or scared about blogging, posting in the forum, creating videos just talk to me.  I have all those things memorized. 🙂 Regardless I’d love to meet you at Connect no matter what.  If you want to talk about contributing we can do that also.

The cheatsheet also has a section for potential advertiser’s or sponsors.  So if you’re interested in that I’d love to talk to you also.

Finally – It looks like IBM will be re-printing the Original XPages Cheatsheet and the XPages Social tools cheatsheet. So look at for them if interested!  Since I’m doing 2 sessions I’m not doing a 3rd cheatsheet this year, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a brand new one at Connect.  Paul Withers has created something really cool.  I won’t say the topic yet until he does – but I suspect you’re going to want more then one copy of his new cheatsheet!

Thanks for the interest in NotesIn9!