Note Some of the OLE technologies available in IBMŸ LotusŸ NotesŸ/IBMŸ LotusŸ DominoŸ are platform-dependent. Windows offers the greatest range of options for sharing information and launching objects. Unless otherwise noted, activities covered in this chapter apply only to Windows.

• Link and embed objects in forms

  Using object linking and embedding (OLE), you can design a form that displays the same object in every document created from that form. When you link an object, every document created from the form refers to the source of the link. When you embed an object, the object itself appears on every document created from the form. Linking and embedding objects is supported for Notes applications only.

• Launch objects automatically

  Using object linking and embedding, you can design a form that automatically launches an embedded object or a new object created using any OLE desktop application. The autolaunch can occur when users create, edit, or read a document based on the form. Autolaunch helps create a smooth workflow involving multiple applications. It also allows users who are familiar with other products to work within those applications without leaving the Notes application. This autolaunch feature is not available for Web applications.

• Add custom controls to a form

  If you use Notes with Windows and have OLE custom controls installed, you can create custom control objects in documents or on forms. An OLE custom control, also known as OCX or as ActiveX, is a small, self-contained software module with its own data. Your organization may create OLE custom controls from various manufacturers and use the controls in Notes. Some OLE custom controls may not provide online Help for their application.

• Set up forms to exchange field information with other Notes documents

  You can create forms in Designer that automatically share information with documents created in other OLE applications. Then, when users modify the contents of a field in a Notes document, the changes are automatically made to the corresponding fields in the other application's document. Data exchange can occur in both directions: users can edit fields in Notes or the other application, and the modifications are automatically exchanged. OLE applications must support NotesFX in order to use field exchange in Notes. Field exchange is not available for Web applications.

• Publish an action

  This is the most powerful of the OLE-based tools because it is the most flexible. You can automate complicated or repetitive tasks that involve multiple operations across multiple applications. You design an action using formulas or scripts, and then publish it. The action appears on the Action menu in any Notes/FX 2.0-enabled application. This feature is not available for Web applications.

Linking and embedding objects in forms

Glossary