FIGURE E


Here is the front-end of the browser client. Roll over picture for a larger image.

All the clients are fully programmable. However, if you want to support all three clients in your environment, you should almost double the development time for each client that you want to support.

I would also add that it's easier to program to the Notes or browser client than to the ODMA interface or interfaces. However, you will see a way to use and customize the ODMA in a forthcoming article.

Domino.Doc is supported on many platforms, including both AS/400 and AIX, but do note that it's not currently possible to use the Domino.Doc API when using a non-Microsoft platform. This is also an item that could make your programming part more troublesome.

Structure: what you need to know to get started
Where do we put the document or file? What is the structure?

Basically, Domino.Doc is nothing but a bunch of well structured Notes databases. Typically, you have one Notes database containing the Binder structure and one database containing the contents. Both these databases are based on the filecab.ntf (File Cabinet) template.

Think of the Binder as a Notes folder, and you're almost back to the fact that it's a standard Notes database. The Binder can also be categorized to create more levels in a hierarchy. Domino.Doc calls this categorized binders.

Further to that you find the library (domdoc.ntf) database where you define which file cabinets you'd like to use.

The way to define metadata is by creating a subform in the file cabinet database (filecab.ntf). The subform should hold all fields that you'll need to recognize a document after archiving it in Domino.Doc. The name you give the subform is the name you should create as a document type.

Creation of these subforms can be one of the more tricky parts, especially if you support all three clients in your environment. There are all kinds of do's and don'ts when doing this, but I won't go into detail here. Have a look at the Domino.Doc forum at http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/ddforum.nsf. This will give you an idea of what to look out for.

Installation
Both the client (ODMA) and the server Domino.Doc installation is a straightforward procedure.

The current server version is 3.1, and the current ODMA client version is 3.5.

After completing Domino.Doc installation, open Notes and Domino and open the library database. In the library database you can create and manage your file cabinets.

When creating the file cabinets, you'll need to decide if you want to use OCX views or Notes folders. The option is called "Binder Table of Contents Design." If you want to customize the display options, it's far easier to use Notes folders.

There are several things that will make your life easier if you use folders, (i.e. running something on selected documents). This is easy when using folders, but if you choose the OCX views, it's a different matter; not quite the easy task.

You can change between the two at a later point, but it has proven to be problematic when doing so. It's also here that you choose the document types that you want to use in your file cabinet.