Even though Notes 8.5.1 can be expected soon reality learns us however that a lot of users are still on versions 7 or even 6. Ofcourse you could use the limitations in the UI as an argument to force them to upgrade to newer versions of Notes, but then still a lot would run the basic client, not the standard one, so nice looking Java Views are still a long way to go.
I wrote before something about UI’s in Lotus Notes but now I was thinking about adding an example so those who are interested can test it and give feedback or use it for their projects. Whatever.
Here is the link to the download. Below you can find some snapshots of the UI:
Notes View used as horizontal menu
Collapsible Vertical Menus
Vertical Menu placed in preview pane
Preview on bottom by default
Option to switch place for preview pane
Form example 1
Form example 2
Form example 3
Form example 4
Well hopefully one day we have a “CSS Zen Garden” equivalent somewhere one OpenNTF where people can post good UI examples. Further may we say:
with every Notes Client installation with a version of Notes 7 or older a kitten dies?
faster pussycat
Patrick said
Patrick,
Looks good. The Basic client is going to be with us for a much longer time that IBM would want.
Sven said
Hi,
looks great but when I try to open the file it says “invalid notes version”
I have 7.01.
Patrick Kwinten said
hmmm…. I saved it with Designer on 8.02
Palmi said
I like this framework and like to take this to Xpages with same functions. am going to try.
Uwe said
I tried to download the file. But this damn site always says “your download slot has expired”
(
Ralf said
does not work on my notes 7
tom said
I was surprised by your use of environment variables just for the UI (boxes on the left).
Is that really a best practice we want to introduce to new(ish) developers?
Patrick Kwinten said
@tom: feel free to come up with other suggestions, I do not want to create profile files for everyone…
Patrick Kwinten said
apologies… the database was initially created with a 8 client =)
I have updated the link, it should point now to a real Notes 7 database…
Giulio said
Patrick,
Nice and clean is never out of style. I really like it, and I am sure general users would think the same.
The frameset management is a little complicated and it seems to be geared at Notes 7.0.3. Re-saving the design elements in a version 7 client should fix some of those Notes prompts indicating version incompatibility. (Signing will not do it, each design element must be re-saved.) Perhaps using the “Recompile All Lotusscript” may be do it (?)
Rather than use environment variables to switch the boxes, try a couple of fields on the form to do the job instead.
Any opportunity to avoid writing to disk should be taken. Make sure though that form is “Available to public access users” so users who are just readers can use the form.
I would prefer to exploit outlines as it’s a native feature and doesn’t require alot of work to customise like the collapsable boxes. But still it works quite well and smoothly. I particularly like your use of a view to implement the “Application” and “Document” options.
Decent UI design in the Notes client has been a huge un-exploited opportunity. I suspect had this been promoted earlier, the “Notes is legacy” / “Notes sucks” whiners would never have made as much impact as it did in the last couple of years.
James Tan said
Hi
Thanks for the database. The design look sweets.
I can’t download from the file. I try to download the link, the link keep redirect to main url.
I would like to try the template. Appreciate if you could provide another download link.
Thanks.
Manfred Meise said
Hi,
i tried to download this great looking example. Unfortunatly the download limit has exceed and you have to either re-upload or mail the attachment.
Manfred
Patrick Kwinten said
hej Manfred here you go
http://www.easy-share.com/1908047589/tmpl_Notes7_frmwrk.zip
KR Patrick
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