Accounts.nsf - Now With Charts
If you took a look at the accounting database I showed you recently then I wouldn't blame you for being unimpressed. There wasn't much to it at all really. Take another look now though!
Using some of my spare time I've managed to make it look a bit more like a real application. There's now a tabbed interface and some basic charting.
Whether you're impressed or not what should impress you is that I did this in such short time. When I say I did this in my spare time that means, like, half an hour a day or so. And that's while learning as I go. Once up-to-speed there's no telling what you could bang out in no time at all using Flex - especially if I'm getting paid and can devote days on end to it.
Note: It says "Data Visualization Trial" on the charts as I'm yet to register my trial copy of Flex Builder. When I do I need to decide between the Standard version (~160 GBP and no charts) or Pro (~450 GBP but with charting).
A word on licencing: Like Ext it's the developer who pays the licence for Flex. End customers don't need to worry about any additional costs of using Flex -- there's no per-server costs or anything like that.
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Hi Jake
I just noticed the other day that Fusion Charts were doing a Flex plugin - I've looked again and it looks to be free at present...
Nice UI work Jake.
Methinks I'll give Flex a look in *my* spare time... as soon as I can find some! ;-)
Every Lotus Domino/Notes developer looking into Flex should pay http://flexdomino.net/ a visit.
Its amazing what Matthias Wille have accomplished.
Thanks PaulG. Their site says they don't know what the cost will be when they start charging but it "won't be much". I guess they mean less than Flex Pro, but who knows. Not sure I want to get to the point where I rely on them and they "not much" ends up being "quite a bit". Will have a play though....
Look like I need to try this out... I have a question before I get started though.... in a workflow application, I send emails with "links" for the user to click to open the document to "Approve."
How will this work with the Flex? Can you open a specific document by url, just like normal Domino?
Umm... one point though. Does Flex understand Date fields properly, or it is a typo on the database? Because the Date sort column is actually sorting the dates alphabetically rather than using proper dates.
Other than that, it does seem that Flex is an ideal partner to create some visually stunning applications.
Troy. That's an aspect I've not considered thus far. Flex could inspect the URL of the browser and fire off a request for the document in question. All would involve thinking "outside the box" though.
Dragon. Sorting of DataGrid columns involves writing your own sorting functions. I've done this for the amount/number column but not yet for the date column.
I have started to tinker a bit. Question. I am using the HTTP Service to call a Notes View with XML... I include count-1 as a paramater and so far, I have figured out how to make the call, pass in my parameters to the url (including login info) and able to fill out my data grid. Now I want to chart my info, much like you have... how are you getting your chart to total? Are you using the grouping collection, or are you calling your own web service and getting the totals that way?
Hi Jake,
Does Flex Supports attachment control as well?
Troy. My charts are built using my own-built XML. I have a categoried and totalised view. My HTTP service for the charts calls an agent to generate the XML needed. You can see it here: http://www.codestore.net/apps/accounts.nsf/getReports?OpenAgent
Good luck trying to do it with Domino XML ;o)
Nagarajan. Do you mean can you upload files to Domino from Flex? If so, yes. Although you'd have to tell the server to accept non-Domino uploads -- http://www.codestore.net/store.nsf/unid/BLOG-20051125
Hi Jake,
This was really nice...I did the some flex experiment using webservices in Lotus Domino. If you want I can share code/database with the codestore.
Dev
Hi Jake,
Thanks for the information on file upload to Domino.
Dev, it would be helpful if you share your code/database.
Hi Jake,
at the moment i also try to use flex with webservices in Domino. It would be verey helpful if you could share the code/database from Dev.
@Dev: Maybe ther is a chance to send me your code/database per e-mail ?
Martin
Hi Jake / Devprakash Dagar,
Could you please share your database? would it be possible?
Thanks in advance
Drop me mail and I will send you guys a copy per request basis. ( I need to make some modification...to take out client stuff).
Hi Dev,
Can you please send me a copy.
ocean_surf_1977@hotmail.com
Thank you!
Jake... thanks for the tip. I was able to create a view that categorized and totaled the almost 350k records in the database and then write an agent with a view navigator and just grabbed the column totals and spit out my xml. Takes about a minute to load the http request. So not too bad.
I then added a combo box and had the user select a key field (in my case, Year) and then called my domino agent with a view navigator from category method... and then grabbed the siblings from that (monthly totals)... basically letting me summarize my list. This works pretty quickly.
Thanks again for the tip. I think I like what I see.
Also.. another co-worker of mine pointed me to: the google javascript playground... http://code.google.com/apis/ajax/playground/
Which also looks like it has potential.
Hi Jack,
Woaw! Flex: I love it! Bravo!
It's a shame, I know but... Well... Um... My Dear Jake... Um... Can you please send me a copy of this masterpiece ? Um?
Thank you!!!!
Greetings from Switzerland
Hi Jack,
Always surprised
If you could with the code and its relationship with Flex & Notes, which would be more grateful !
Thank you!!!!
Greetings from Argentina
What is it with people calling me Jack all the time!? ;o)
I'll upload a recent version first thing next week.
Jake
@Dev, Would be great if you pass the sample db to me as well .. Thanks a ton..
Hi Dev,
Can you please send me also a copy?
my emailaddress is : bert.brouns@pandora.be
Thanks in advance
Regards
Bert
@dev, please send me a copy as well I would very much appreciate it, thank u
Matthew
Hi,
The same, please send me a copy as well I would very much appreciate it, thank you !
Alejandro M
Hi Dev,
Can you pls sene me the copy of the database.
email: nagarajanpv@gmail.com
Nagarajan P.V.
Hi Dev,
Can you please send me also a copy?
my emailaddress is : linhong71671@gmail.com
Thank you!!!!
I've played with flex beta and liked it but couldn't justify the cost, especially with IBM going with Dojo.
This will help me rethink that., thanks.
Please send me a copy of the database
Hi Dev,
Can you please send me a copy ?
amadia@gmail.com
Thank you!
As a learning exercise I am trying to create an app similar to yours. Did you have issues with caching when refreshing your datagrid?
Thanks, David
Hi David,
I didn't have any issues but I can imagine why one might. You could get round it by adding an extra parameter to each request that just adding the time or something like that.
Jake
I am totally impressed with your accounts.nsf application....really wonderful...as i am new to lotus...please send me the copy to lotussian@gmail.com...i can help u on any thing...u can use me as a worker...just i wanna learn flex in lotus domino...
Hi Dev,
Nice technology,
Can you send me the copy of the DB.
vijay@qafco.com.qa
Regards
Vijay
Head on over to OpenNTF for an OSS example of Flex/Domino. It has both WS and REST examples within to help anyone who needs a jumpstart. I have lots more in the pipeline, particularly a reskinning of some existing templates (Lotus Workflow) for one. Once licensing issues are resolved (technically they are derivative works of IBM) then I will release more into OSS. And yes, Lotus forms rendered in Flex is getting really close..just need to feed (test) the ugliest forms in the Domino universe before it is ready for production.
Flex & Domino rocks bigtime!
Hi Jake,
Great Tutorial!!! Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with all of us.
Actually I am new to flex and trying to learn more about flex, so that I can use flex with lotus.
If possible for you, can you please send me the source code for generating charts or dev copy of the same(accounts.nsf).
This database is really amazing.
Thanks in advance. :)
Warm Regards,
Sunaina
Hi All,
Do anybody have idea: how to use notes view to create chats in flex?
Warm Regards,
Suniana
Hi,
Can you please send me a copy ?
monica.alupei@ecoglove.com
Thank you!
Hi Jake,
Wow, this is great. What I could do if I got my hands on the flex source and the notes db. Have I missed that post?
Really getting into flex now thanks to you. I'm really enjoying it!
Thanks,
Heba
You know, I can't remember if I did post or not. Let me check. If not I'll try and post it today or Monday. Keep your eyes peeled.
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Hi Jake,
Very nice demonstration of using flex in domino. It would be helpful if you can send me a copy of this database.
Thanks in advance.
email: pjsaran@gmail.com
Thats great stuff man. awesome.
can you please email me the copy of the database
tmapfumo@tsb.toyota.co.za
Hi Jack, I was wondering if this accounts database is available for download?