Domino Connection


Domino Connection Definitions

This section lists definitions for many Domino Connection tasks and concepts.

Naming conventions: Domino versus Notes

Along with many technical advances Lotus Notes has been rebranded to Lotus Domino. The only component that is still referred to as Notes is the Notes client. VisualAge for Smalltalk Connection for Lotus Notes has consequently been renamed to Domino Connection, because it is based on a technology now know as Lotus Domino. The product will support access to local Notes installations as well as connections to Domino servers. The Smalltalk class names have not been changed, but the names of the parts reflect the new naming schema (for example a Notes form part is now a Domino form part). User code created with Connection for Lotus Notes will still run with Domino Connection.

Domino Connection Alias

Use a Domino connection alias to make a Domino connection specification available by a symbolic name. You can use the alias in all settings pages of the Domino parts.

Automatic Error Reporter Creation

If you selected Automatic error reporter creation in a Domino parts settings view, the part will automatically create an error reporter part as a tear-off attribute

Using Forms and Fields

A Domino document usually contains a number of fields. You can view or enter data for a document using a Domino form part . Be aware that a document might have more or less fields than you can see with the Domino client or your form parts.

Domino Database

A Domino database is used to store Domino documents (sometimes also referred to as Domino). A Domino database may be located on your workstation or on a Domino server . To access a Domino database you need to know its name and its location and you need to have sufficient access rights. See your Domino documentation for more information on Domino databases.

Domino Database Name

A Domino database is accessed using its name. The database name is composed using the Domino server name, the path, and the actual file name of the database. See your Domino documentation for more information on database names.

Domino Form

A Domino form is used to visualize the contents of a document. A form usually contains a number of fields for data entry and display. A form can be referenced by its name (see Domino form name). See your Domino documentation for more information on Domino forms.

Domino Form Name

Every form in Domino database has a name and may have one or many alias names. You can use a form to specify the properties of a form part in its settings pages. See your Domino documentation for more information on Domino forms.

Domino View

A Domino view is special list of selected documents in a Domino database. Views are used for navigation and are the primary tool to access data with the Domino parts. See your Domino documentation for more information on Domino views.

Domino View Name

Every view in Domino database has a name and may have one or many alias names. You can use a view name to specify the properties of a view part on its settings pages. See your Domino documentation for more information on Domino views.

Domino Server

A Domino server is a computer which runs the Domino server software. It is usually accessible through local area networks or other communication lines. The Domino server holds Domino databases for remote users. See your Domino documentation for more information on Domino servers.

Domino Server Name

Every Domino server is distinguished by its unique server name. When you want to access a Domino server from Domino parts, you must know the server name. See your Domino documentation for more information on server names.

Port

A Domino server is accessed via a communication line, which is either a local area network or a remote communication line. See your Domino documentation for more information on ports.

Domino Connection Specification

A Domino connection specification is used to bundle the information required to access a Domino database. It contains the Domino server name and the database name. You can reference a connection specification with an Domino connection alias when using the Domino parts.

Location of a Domino Database

A Domino database may be located on your workstation or on a Domino server. There might be multiple copies (replicas) of a database on different servers. See your Domino documentation for more information on database location and replication.

Domino Directory Structure

Domino databases are stored in a directory tree. See your Domino documentation for more information on Domino directories.

Domino Access Set

A Domino access set is used to store Domino Connection Specifications. If you need to make your connection specifications available for applications, you must store them in a Domino access set. A Domino access set is referenced by its name.

Managing of Domino Connections

There might be multiple Domino connection specifications defined in a VisualAge Smalltalk image. Each connection specification is stored in a Domino access set. To access a connection specification, you have to assign a Domino connection alias. Use the connection specifications window to maintain your connections.

Accessing a Domino Database

To access a Domino database you must create a Domino connection specification and assign a Domino connection alias to it. Use the settings window of a Domino view part to specify the connection alias and to access the database contents.

Changing a Domino Connection Specification

You can change the properties of a connection specification or the connection alias after you have designed an application. Be aware that your application might require the existence of certain views, forms, or fields in a database. Make sure that your new connection points to a database which has those properties.

Handling Errors with the Domino Error Reporter Part

Use the Domino Error Reporter Part to catch exceptions caused by the underlying technical layers. A Domino Error Reporter Part is available as a tear-off attribute from form parts, view parts, and mail parts.

Lotus Domino Naming Convention

When you specify additional fields for a form part, be sure to comply with the Domino naming convention for fields. See your Domino documentation for more information on field names.

Using Domino Views

Domino views can be used to index documents in a Domino database. Use the Domino view part to take advantage of the power of views. See your Domino documentation for more information about views.

Using Domino Mail

To use the Domino mail system you have to understand the roles of the following databases: mailbox, mail file and names and address book.

Depending on your Domino installation the mailbox is a local or a remote database. The mail box is used to deposit documents to be passed to the Domino mail routing facility. To be successfully processed, a document must have a text field called RECIPIENTS holding the names of the receivers.

The mail file is used to read and store mail which was sent to you. The Note mail routing facility drops mail documents in your personal mail file.

The names and address book is used as a reference for all valid recipients. There are views in the names and address book that contain certain columns which present valid recipient names.

To create a Domino mail you have to set up a Domino mail part. Use the settings pages to connect the mail part to your personal mail file and to the mail box. In addition to that, you have to specify a mail form to use. If you want, you can use the Domino address book part to open the names and address book database to present a list of valid recipients.


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