Presented by Kevin Pettitt and Bruce Elgort at the Irish Lotus User Group conference in Dublin, June 2008. If you think the only application templates available for IBM Lotus Notes and Domino are the ones that are bundled with it (and even if you already know better) it's time you learned more about the many excellent free and open source Lotus Notes and Domino templates and where they come from. Join us for a fast-paced look at some of the best templates from OpenNTF.org, trade publications, bloggers, and other little known sources. While its easy to build your own applications in Lotus Notes, its even easier, and usually more rewarding, to build on top of someone else's. Whether you're a developer, admin, or both, you'll come away from this session ready to put these templates into action to become more productive, make your job easier, and impress your boss.

1. Templates, Templates Everywhere — If You
Know Where to Look
Kevin Pettitt
Bruce Elgort

2. Your Hosts for Today's Session…
Kevin Pettitt
a.k.a Lotus Guru
LotusGuru Consulting
Developer, Admin, Architect
Father of SuperNTF
Blog: www.LotusGuru.com
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3. Your Hosts for Today's Session…
Bruce Elgort
OpenNTF Co-Founder
Taking Notes Podcast
Idea Jam
Show-N-Tell-Thursdays
Mad Drummer
Blogs: www.bruceelgort.com
Contributing Editor: vowe.net
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4. Things You Will Learn About Templates
 There’s something for everyone
– Developers, Admins, and yes, even end users!
 Where to find the really good ones
 How to get the most out of them
 Tons of awesome ones are out there, both
free and commercial
– We're going to talk about free ones of course 
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5. Agenda …
 Templates – The Basics
 What does Lotus give us?
 Where to find more?
 Some of the best templates money can’t buy
 The Final Word

6. “Hello Template, Haven’t We Met Before?”
 Microsoft Word has *.dot
 Microsoft Excel has *.xlt
 PowerPoint has *.pot
 Access has *.mdn
 IBM Lotus and Domino have *.NTF
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7. Quickr Uses Templates, Too (PlaceTypes
Actually)
 QActivities  QPresent
 QAnnounce  QProject
 QContacts  QSite
 QIdeas  QSurvey
 QIssues
 QMeeting
 QPhotos
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8. Notes Templates 101 – A Review
 Easy way to create IBM
Lotus Notes and Domino
applications
 Easy to apply updates to
an application
– File  Application  Refresh
Design
– File  Application  Replace
Design
 Mass updates …
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9. Agenda …
 Templates – The basics
 What does Lotus give us?
 Where to find more?
 Some of the best templates money can’t buy
 Parting Thoughts
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10. What Templates Come Out of the (Virtual)
Box?
 Personal Journal
 TeamRoom
 Document Library
 Microsoft Office Library
 Discussion
 Domino Blog
 DDM Template and other administrative
templates
 RSS Feed Generator
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11. Discussion – Notes …
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12. Discussion – Notes … and Web
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13. Personal Journal – Notes
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14. Document Library – Notes …
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15. Document Library – Notes … and Web
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16. TeamRoom – Notes …
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17. TeamRoom – Notes … and Web
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18. IBM Blog – Notes …
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19. IBM Blog – Notes … Web
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20. DDM – Domino Domain Monitor
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21. DDM – Domino Domain Monitor
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22. Agenda …
 Templates – The basics
 What does Lotus give us?
 Where to find more?
 Some of the best templates money can’t buy
 The Final Word
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23. Where to find more?
 The extremely obvious
– The developerWorks Lotus Sandbox
– LDD Articles
– OpenNTF
 Not so obvious
– The Lotus Community Blogs
– Business Partners – both free and commercial
– Journals – THE VIEW, Databased Advisor

24. The developerWorks Lotus Sandbox
 The “original” place to download templates
and
other code
 Not community-oriented
 Not updated that often 
 IBM is placing code on
OpenNTF
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25. What Is Open Source Software?
 Open source software is …
– Software for which the underlying programming code is
available to the users so that they may read it, make changes to
it and build new versions of the software incorporating their
changes
– Free programs created through the collaborative efforts of
programmers from around the world
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26. The OpenNTF Site
 Projects (240+)
– Complete Applications
– Application Components
– And now Composite Applications
 Code Bin (1,500+)
– LotusScript
– Java
– JavaScript
– @Formulas
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27. Other Stuff on the OpenNTF Site
 Application Catalog
– Includes many non-OpenNTF but still free applications
 RSS is everywhere
– Use it to keep up with a projects, new template releases, new
Code Bin submissions
 Rate code and projects
– Social Networking really works!
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28. Seven-Step Program for Deploying Templates
 Download a template
 Sign the template – or better yet “clean” it
 File  Database  New or
File  Application  New (Notes 8)
 Configure ACL
 Configure application
 Make customizations if you like (and because
you can)
 Use your new application
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29. Not Everything Is Perfect …
 Your mileage may vary …
 Many templates lack documentation
 Some have not been updated in a while
 Some OpenNTF projects are “Rated” while
others aren’t
 Lack of screen shots and other collateral
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30. Community Blogs
 Ben Langhinrichs  Alan Bell
 Codestore  Alan Lepofsky
 Nathan Freeman  Mikkel Heisterberg
 Matt White  Chris Blatnick
 Ben Poole  Tim Tripcony
 Rocky Oliver  Ulrich Krause
 Jerry Carter  Chris Toohey
 Julian Robichaux
To name just a few …
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31. Agenda …
 Templates – The basics
 What does Lotus give us?
 Where to find more?
 Some of the best templates money can’t buy
 The Final Word
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32. !! HELP !!
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33. !! HELP !!
 Head Chefs: Ulrich Krause, Thomas Schulte
 Type: Complete Notes Client Application
 What is it?
– Help Desk application for IT support staff
 What can I do with it?
– Full-featured Help Desk application
– Easily convert an email to a help ticket
– Multi-lingual
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34. IT Help Desk
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35. IT Help Desk
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36. IT Help Desk
 Head Chef: Brian Green
 Type: Complete Notes Client Application
 What is it?
– IT Help Desk
 What can I do with it?
– Full featured help desk
This and other downloads: www.automatedlogic.com/domino
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37. (e)Help
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38. (e)Help
 Head Chef: Stephane Eursels
 Type: Complete Notes Client Application
 What is it?
– Full featured help desk application
 What can I do with it?
– Capture and track IT support tickets in centralized manner
– Integrate user/customer in resolution workflow
Design based on (e)notes core
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39. (e)Notes Core
 Head Chef: Stephane Eursels
 Type: Notes Client Application Framework
 What is it?
– Framework for building Notes client applications
 What’s it all about?
– Foundation for building Notes client applications
– Extremely flexible configuration
– Highly integrated with other “(e)” modules
– Geared for intermediate or advanced developers
– Origins in France, but translated into English
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40. domBulletin
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41. domBulletin

42. domBulletin
 Head Chef: Michael Bourak
 Type: Complete Notes Client and Web
Application
 What is it?
– Discussion database
 What can I do with it?
– Host multiple discussion rooms
– Organize posts by topic
– Enable voting
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43. OpenNTF Mail Experience
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44. OpenNTF Mail Experience – More Preferences
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45. OpenNTF Mail Experience
 Head Chefs: Vince Schuurman and (formerly)
Bruce Elgort
 Type: Lotus Notes Mail Template
 What is it?
– Alternate mail template for Notes 7 and 8
 What can I do with it?
– Additional views, e.g., by size
– Additional features in Outline – configure what shows
– Quick stuff
– Default reply actions – single click to start most replies
– Include vCard in outgoing messages
– Color-coded Calendar Categories 45

46. DominoWiki
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47. DominoWiki
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48. DominoWiki
 Head Chef: Ben Poole
 Type: Web Application
 What is it?
– Domino-based wiki Web site
 What can I do with it?
– User-generated documentation library
– Enable community interaction without heavy overhead (e.g.,
authentication, content moderation)
– Customize appearance with different themes
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49. OpenLog
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50. OpenLog
 Head Chef: Julian Robichaux
 Type: Logging Utility
 What is it?
– The emerging standard event logging framework for all of your
Notes databases, agents, scripts, and Web pages
 What can I do with it?
– Log errors in Notes and Web applications
– Log events (both good and bad)
– Set email notifications
– Subscribe to RSS Error Feeds
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51. Flow
 Head Chef: Corey Davis
 Type: Logging Utility
 What is it?
– Another Event and Error Logging framework
 What can I do with it?
– Log errors in Notes and Web applications
– Log events (both good and bad)
– Set email notifications
 Different from OpenLog
– Less document heavy – logs multiple events to single
document (like log.nsf)

52. Domino Team Mailbox
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53. Domino Team Mailbox
 Head Chef: Brian Green
 Type: Complete Notes Client Application
 What is it?
– Stripped-down mail template optimized for shared mail
 What can I do with it?
– Shared mailbox that isn’t a hack of standard mail template
– Auto-respond to inquiries to sales@company.com or
info@company.com
– Centrally manage large collection of mailboxes using
administration interface
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54. Vacation Request
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55. Vacation Request
 Head Chefs: Gary Cousins, Bob Brodsky
 Type: Complete Notes and Web Application
 What is it?
– Leave tracking and vacation and request system
 What can I do with it?
– Book time off, vacation/holiday requests
– Enable management approval of requests
– Automatically track remaining leave against annual allowance
– View scheduled leave in a calendar format
– Update the somewhat dated UI – it is open source remember
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56. VIC CRM
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57. VIC CRM
 Head Chef: Dave Leigh
 Type: Complete Notes Client Application
 What is it?
– Customer Relationship Management suite
 What can I do with it?
– Manage customer contacts, meetings, phone calls, and other
correspondence
– Track contracts and warranty information for your customers
– Manage schedule for all sales activity
This and other downloads: www.cratchit.org
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58. Import (AGE Consulting – Australia)
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59. Import (AGE Consulting – Australia)
 Creator: AGE Computer Consultancy
 Type: Data Utility
 What is it?
– Tool for importing Excel Data into Notes
 What can I do with it?
– Import spreadsheet data to update *existing* Notes documents
– Useful when LEI or Notrix is overkill but you don’t want to write a
custom import agent
– Define key matching, update behavior, field mapping, data
transformations, et. al.
– Schedule recurring import jobs to run automatically
– Download: www.agecom.com.au/agecom.nsf/ProductsByTitle
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60. Spreadsheet Import Wizard (THE VIEW)
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61. Spreadsheet Import Wizard (THE VIEW)
 Creator: Thierry Seunevel
 Type: Data Utility
 What is it?
– Lightweight tool for importing Excel Data into Notes
 What can I do with it?
– Quickly import basic spreadsheet data into Notes
– Map spreadsheet columns to form fields or view
columns
THE VIEW, March/
– Save import profiles for later reuse April 2007
This and other downloads: www.eview.com
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62. BlogSphere V3
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63. BlogSphere V3
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64. BlogSphere V3

65. BlogSphere V3

66. BlogSphere V3
 Head Chef: Declan Lynch
 Type: Complete Client and Web Application
 What is it?
– Feature-rich Notes-based blogging platform similar to IBM Blog
template
 What can I do with it?
– Create your own blog using Lotus Notes
– Quickly set up attractive Web interface using pre-defined skins
– Easily switch between multiple configurations
– Include integrated photo albums
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67. NOTESurvey Central
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68. NOTESurvey Central
 Head Chefs: Rocky Oliver
 Type: Notes Client Application
 What is it?
– User-configurable survey creation and capture tool
 What can I do with it?
– Leverage advanced DXL techniques to build survey forms
without code
– Questions can be multiple choice combobox, radio button, or
checkbox
Download: www.lotusgeek.com/SapphireOak/LotusGeekBlog.nsf/downloads/
ROLR-7B5TPD
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69. eTimesheets
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70. eTimesheets
 Head Chef: Rob Wills
 Type: Web Application
 What is it?
– Human resource tool for capturing and processing timesheets
 What can I do with it?
– Enable user entry of hours worked and mileage data
– Use an auditable approval workflow process
– Interface with a separate ERP system
– Entirely Web-based
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71. DocMaster
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72. DocMaster
 Creator: Chris Doig
 Type: Notes Client
 What is it?
– Single Database Document Manager
 What can I do with it?
– Store documentation, attachments, links
– Set up basic workflow for managing document completion
percentage, expiration, etc.
– Control access for reading and editing documents
– Re-use many of the code tricks from the template in other
applications
Download: www.chrisdoig.net

73. DomainPatrol

74. DomainPatrol
 Head Chef: Peter Narlund
 Type: Administration Utility
 What is it?
– Tool for analyzing server databases and making mass changes
to various settings (“catalog.nsf on steroids”)
 What can I do with it?
– Collect information about all databases in your environment
– Review database security and other settings
– Effect changes to most database settings from within interface
– Free version of scanner runs only from workstation – server-
based scanner sold as commercial (nsf design is open)

75. Conaex Admin Platform
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76. Conaex Admin Platform
 Head Chefs: Heinrich Hilbert, Marc Fischer
 Type: Administration Utility
 What is it?
– Tool for analyzing server databases and making mass changes
to various settings
 What can I do with it?
– Collect information about all databases across an entire
environment from a single server
– Review database security and other settings
– Effect changes to most database settings from within interface
– Set up recurring “task” definitions to carry out maintenance
operations on a schedule
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77. Agent Monitor (DAF)
 Head Chef: Jörg Reck
 Type: Administration Utility
 What is it?
– Utility to show data on all the scheduled agents on a server
 What can I do with it?
– Collect information about all scheduled agents on a server into
a single database
– Enable/disable, re-assign servers agents directly from the app
– Reassign server
 Design based on Domino Application
Framework
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78. Domino Application Framework
 Head Chef: Jörg Reck
 Type: Notes Client and Web Application
Framework
 What is it?
– Framework for Notes and Web applications
 What can I do with it?
– Use as a standard application foundation for Notes Client and
Domino Web applications
– Highly configurable
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79. AGE – Agent Manager
 Head Chefs: AGE Computer Consultancy
 Type: Administration Utility
 What is it?
– Utility to show data on all the scheduled agents on a server
 What can I do with it?
– Collect information about all scheduled agents on a server into
a single database
– Enable/disable, re-assign servers agents directly from the app
– Download: ww.agecom.com.au/agecom.nsf/ProductsByTitle
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80. Conflict Manager
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81. Conflict Manager
 Head Chef: Hynek Kobelka
 Type: Administration Utility
 What is it?
– Tool for locating and resolving replication/save conflicts on an
entire server
 What can I do with it?
– Check all databases on a server for replication conflicts
– View and resolve conflicts from within the application
Download: www.pylonware.com/www/en/download.jsp
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82. ASND Export Facility

83. ASND Export Facility
 Head Chef: Sean Burgess
 Type: Data Utility
 What is it?
– Reporting tool for Notes/Domino Data
 What can I do with it?
– Define and save report definitions that can be shared and
re-used
– Use formula- or form-based criteria for selecting data sets
– Include advanced formatting such as text colors and column
titles
Note: Integrated into SuperNTF!

84. Qenos Workflow Application Framework
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85. Qenos Workflow Application Framework
 Head Chefs: Mark Demicoli and Ray Thomas
 Type: Notes Client Application Framework
 What is it?
– Complete Notes client workflow application framework
 What can I do with it?
– Workflow-enable any Notes application
– Control all aspects of workflow through extensive configuration
– Customize notifications for each workflow stage
– Track and secure each step in the workflow process
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86. wfNote – Simple Workflow Plug-in
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87. wfNote – Simple Workflow Plug-in
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88. wfNote – Simple Workflow Plug-in
 Head Chef: Vilhjalmur Helgason
 Type: Notes Client Application Component
 What is it?
– Simple, yet flexible, workflow module for Lotus Notes
 What can I do with it?
– Sequential approval, conditional branching, approval
delegation, and multiple approvers
– Define the next task, mail to be sent, approver, and additional
approvers using either simple dialog list or complex @Formula
– Easily test and fine-tune workflow using special utility
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89. OpenSlice
 Head Chefs: Tim and Laurette Rynne
 Type: Notes Client and Web Application
Framework
 What is it?
– Application framework for building Notes and Web applications
 What can I do with it?
– Use as a standard application foundation for Notes Client and
Domino Web applications
– Highly configurable
Download: www.openslice.com
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90. Audit Manager/Trigger Happy
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91. Audit Manager/Trigger Happy
 Head Chefs: Neil Gower
– Trigger Happy: Damien Katz
– UI work by Thomas Gumz Windows only!
 Type: Administration Utility
 What is it?
– Powerful centralized database change tracking utility
 What can I do with it?
– Record document opens, deletions, and field-level changes on
select databases
– View activity history by several key attributes across entire
notes environment
– Set up and maintain audit configurations centrally
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92. SuperNTF
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93. SuperNTF
 Head Chef: Kevin Pettitt
 Type: Notes Client Application Framework
 What is it?
– Easy to use starter database framework
 What can I do with it?
– Use as a standard application framework for all your Notes
Client development efforts
– Quickly create applications that embody many development
“best practices”
– Easy enough for even novice developers to use
– Cherry-pick individual code modules for use in other
applications
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94. Agenda …
 Templates – The basics
 What does Lotus give us?
 Where to find more?
 Some of the best templates money can’t buy
 The Final Word
94

95. Making Code Your Own (Sort Of)
Arghhh!
95

96. Making Code Your Own (Sort Of)
 Use a Ytria ScanEZ or borrow from
SuperNTF to “Design Clean” templates:
– Purge $UpdateBy field from all design elements
– Goes beyond simply “signing” the database
– Avoid cross-certificate notifications
– Avoid ECL alerts
– Hide “foreign” origin of open source code
 User ActionBarEZ and ViewEZ to quickly
change appearance of application
– Enables mass changes to all action bar and view properties
– Apply a whole new quot;skinquot; to hundreds of elements in one go
– Make quick work of putting the new corporate colors everywhere
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97. Resources
 THE VIEW (of course)
– www.eview.com
 Databased Advisor
– http://databased.advisor.com
 DominoPower
– www.DominoPower.com
 Domino Blogs via PlanetLotus.org
– www.planetlotus.org
 developerWorks Lotus
– www.ibm.com/developerworks/lotus
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98. Parting Thoughts
 Open source is a driver for custom development
– Particularly for organizations with development talent but limited
software budgets
 Demonstrate value with minimal investment
– No/low cost “proof of concept” to help demonstrate value
– Helps to justify funding further custom development or buying a
similar commercial application
 Templates don’t have to be used “whole”
– You can also mine them for code to use in other applications
 Consider releasing your own templates
– You get the satisfaction of “giving back”
– It’s a way to gain notoriety, either for an individual or a company
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99. Parting Thoughts
 OpenNTF assuming more Sandbox
responsibilities
– E.g., Composite Applications
 Free templates can be gateways to
commercial offerings
– Commercial vendors can benefit from “competition”
– No/low cost “proof of concept” to help demonstrate value, either
to justify funding further custom development or buying a
similar commercial application
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100. Q&A
Ask us anything…well, almost anything.
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