This article focuses on two additions to the NotesUIWorkspace class: FileOpenDialog and Prompt. These new methods provide features sorely missed in previous releases. We will start with the FileOpenDialog method.

FileOpenDialog
It's always been a pain to work with external files (local hard drive or network drive) with previous versions of Notes, but Release 5 answers our prayers. The new FileOpenDialog method of the NotesUIWorkspace class provides a way to select one or more files from a local or network drive. It has the following syntax:

Here's what each parameter means:

• boolean: signals whether multiple file selections are allowed (True) or not (False);

• titleString: title displayed in the dialog box (optional);

• filterString: string that can be used to limit the type of files displayed (optional);

• directoryString: the directory in which the dialog box initializes (optional);

• fileString: the filename you want to appear when the dialog box initializes (optional).

Let's look at an example of how this is used. It allows the user to select multiple files to be deleted. We're going to use the standard Windows file open dialog to allow the user to select and delete multiple files. Figure A shows an example of what the dialog will look like once the code segment is executed.

FIGURE A


Now you can delete all the files you want. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Let's start writing the code. First, declare the variables to be used:

It's time to use the FileOpenDialog method. The first parameter is set to True to allow multiple files to be selected. The fourth parameter opens the dialog box in the root of the C drive:

Next, we want to see if any files were actually selected. If no files were selected, the filesToDelete return variable will be empty. If the user has selected files to be deleted, our routine asks to user to confirm using the MsgBox call. If, in fact, the user confirms, MsgBox will return a 1. Here's the code up through that conditional expression: