Il blog di Enzo Stanzione

Lotus Quickr 8.5 : finally takes off

Enzo Stanzione — Tue, 8 Jun 2010 11:27:07 +0200

Was finally announced the release of new J2EE Quickr 8.5 for WebSphere Portal. In the last six months I have been involved in projects where Quickr was crucial to introduce the concepts of collaboration in documentary.
This new version promises well, because, apparently, are supported different operating systems than its predecessors, is also secure support for WebSphere Portal 6.1.5 and is returned to the integration of Quickr portlets within the portal and more yet.
But wait for the downloadable version. And I'm also very curious to see the new interface and new administration features.
Certainly many things will change.

Availability informations link

Soon

One years hand in hand with Lotus Foundations. Now you can go by yourself!

Enzo Stanzione — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:11:32 +0200

Also this year I attended the Dominopoint Day 3 as a speaker, which was held in the headquarters of IBM Milan. Experience of these two days is truly exceptional and always leaves you something good, when everything is finished!
In addition to the good old and new speaker, a special special thanks to Franziska Tanner of MartinScott Consulting and Mary Beth Raven, the lead designer for Lotus Notes at IBM. They are really special.
Once again I have dedicated my session in Lotus Foundations Start, because I think it is a good solution and actually ready to use, especially in a market made up of very small holdings, which is that of Italy.

I think, by this my last presentation, close the chapter of Foundations, and return to talk about what I do every day, although I must admit that the time spent on Lotus Foundations has amused me very much. Now my colleagues will be continued in this business and I wish them many satisfactions.
However, I will always follow the evolution of the product, why not?

A flash from my session

For those interested, here you can find my presentation in English, and if you want we can exchange point of views and ideas on this.
Soon I will make available the Italian version of my session for the community Dominopoint.it

My slideshare area.

Lotus Foundations Start : One year later

View more documents from Enzo Stanzione.

Domino/Notes 8.5.1 Tip!

Enzo Stanzione — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:19:44 +0200

A deep information for Domino lovers!

Dominopoint Day 3 : not miss it!

Enzo Stanzione — Fri, 2 Oct 2009 12:19:46 +0200

As you already know, this year the Italian community it is organizing the third Domino technical event open to all fans and not just talking about Lotus Notes and Domino.
For the third time I will be present as a speaker, and I will speak for the second consecutive year of Lotus Foundations, its evolution after it was launched, I will tell you about my experience with IBM Appliance, and I get into (if Time will let me) in detail in the IDB and we'll talk about the Toolkit to deploy Domino applications.
I will tell as far as possible, the news gathered at Lotusphere 2009, for those who still do not know.
I am preparing the session and a live demo if you have special requests, whenever possible, I satisfy you, since my goal is to share and extend knowledge of this technology.

Here you will find all the news of the event.

See you Soon, Enzo.

Strategy Guide for Migrating from Domino Document Manager

Enzo Stanzione — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:31:26 +0200

Was finally issued the draft of the Redbook for the migration from Lotus Document Manager for Lotus Quickr and ECM.
We were waiting since the announcement made at Lotushere 2009 (see my article at the bottom) and now we can plan our future activities on migration.
Although it is still in draft (the final version is scheduled for August 31 2009), it makes very good methodology of approach to migration and how we must ask ourselves towards the customer who wishes to migrate.
I would propose to the introduction of the faithful Redbook, in order to give you a quick first read calmly, perhaps after the holidays.
Happy holidays to all!

Introduction

"Change is inevitable, especially when it comes to the world of information technology.
Certainly, change brings obstacles and challenges to overcome. But it also brings
opportunities. This book is about change and the information that you need to cope and to
come out on top.
If you're reading this book, you are no doubt aware that IBM has announced the withdrawal of
Lotus Domino Document Manager (formerly known as Domino.Doc), with sufficient warning
for you to plan, to prepare, and to rise to the challenge of what to do next. Our goal with this
book is to get you started, to help you recognize and overcome the potential obstacles and
challenges, and to help you explore the opportunities opened up by alternate solutions.
There is no exact equivalent to Domino Document Manager (DDM) that we can offer as your
next step. The options available are both less than DDM and more. Perhaps most
importantly, they are different. You'll have to make some mental leaps to go from what you're
used to with DDM to how things might be organized and presented in a replacement product.
We'll do our best to help you make those leaps and to make the adjustments as easy as
possible for your end users. And along the way, we'll also point out the benefits so that you
can say “Yes, I know it doesn't look exactly the same, but look at what else you can do once
you learn the new way."

Translation from italian of this my old post

Lotus Document Manager: Soon retired!

Since the far-off release 2.0 of 1997 (year more, year less), I have always considered the Lotus Document Manager (known also as Domino.doc) a leading product in the Lotus world for a featured document management.
Thanks to its structure composed of libraries, directories, folders and documents, users could create document databases thematic in kind, that, most important, reflected the concept of the so-called “binder”.

Lotus Document Manager was created to satisfy the need to archive any kind of documents and its main features are as follow:
Type of storage: *.NSF
Creation of subforms called “metadata”, which extend the standard descriptive basic fields, enhancing the value of the document as for its weight, processing and search.
Creation of departmental sites (additional Domino server), i.e. through replication it is possible to dispatch libraries to other servers, physically external to the company, hence remote-ones.
Management of the life-cycle of the document and maintenance of the versions.
Workflow management (even the advanced-one).
Integration with IBM backup systems.
High-level and widespread security management.
Simple or advanced search of documents with the Domino Full Text Search.
Customization of views, thanks to the @formula and in advanced modality with Lotus Script (of course, as it is a Domino product), or to say it better, it is possible to develop yourself of the library in order to solve even complex problems of storage, as for example the storage of Lotus Notes Applications developed by third parties, etc.
Management of the full modality with Client Lotus Notes, i.e. exploiting all the functionalities of the system, and for its administration and configuration as well.
Management and access through browser (even if it has some limitations).
Integrate the Library with Windows Explorer thanks to a given connector.

For many years, the Lotus Document Manager has made the great job it was created for, and today, in 2009, at the Lotusphere (Session ID610) the IBM staff have confirmed to us (though it was in the air since some time…) that the Lotus Document Manager is going to be discontinued.

Today, as we have to choose another performing alternative, some considerations arise, and it is not simple at all.

A very important thing to do - and it is precisely my case - is to check whether the Lotus Document Manager has been applied “as is”, i.e. applying the original template (with no changes), or it has been customized, not much at the metadata level (as above-mentioned), but by the creation of any kind of agents, reports and integration of ad-hoc applications.

As for myself, I administer installations operating since many years, which have been developed, for several reasons, far beyond the standards.

Hence I face today the following situation:

Not consider contents, i.e. subform metadata and attachments, (which are going to be migrated), what can I do for all the customizations developed with LotusScript or @formula, that I have used to develop some functionalities, as for example to create statistical reports about the life-cycle of groups of documents, to export documents processed in other applications ?(Web editing, to say), to retrieve WorkFlow results to my applications.

These are some of the questions I asked to myself on January 19th 2009, between 11 and 12 a.m. (local time) in the Mockingbird in Orlando, at Lotusphere.
Panic? At the beginning (to be honest, yes!)… And then I decided to analyze in a detached and analytical way the situation, paying much attention to what IBM was proposing to us. I would like to introduce to you a general overview about what is going to change and what will be possible to do in order to come to a decision, but mostly what documental solution we can choose instead (without leaving IBM), in order to migrate the databases we have built up all these years.

Let us see now the Road Map about the withdrawal of Lotus Document Manager and the solutions IBM offers to us concerning migration.
We shall analyse the question of the migration of standard Lotus Document Manager systems (not customized) and the question of customized Lotus Document Manager systems.

Road Map for the discontinuance of Lotus Document Manager
Withdrawal from Software list: May 2009
End of Service: September 2012
Possibility to extend the maintenance support (for 2-3 years) after the end of service deadline (September 2012)
Automatic migration of Lotus Document Manager licenses to IBM Lotus Quickr before May 2009 or soon afterwards, the important thing is that customer has got the Active Maintenance Agreement.
After the May 2009 deadline, one can choose among the following options:
IBM Content Manager Collaboration Edition + Lotus Quickr as frontend
IBM Filenet Content Manager Collaboration Edition + Lotus Quickr as frontend
Attention please! If you do not have the Active Maintenance Agreement you had better to consider its reactivation before May 2009.
Redbook of Self-Assessment available within May 2009.
Migration Tool within May 2009 are available for IBM Staff and qualified Business Partners

First of all, the migration from Lotus Document Manager 6.5.1. And 7.0. versus Lotus Quickr Service for Domino.
Then with Business Partners others migration tools will be available versus Lotus Quickr Service for J2EE, IBM Content Manager, IBM Filenet.
Migration Tools will be supported by ISSL or Business Partners themselves.
An open-access wiki about migration problems will be available
A list of qualified Business Partners will be available too.

The panic over (as I wrote before), having listened carefully what they said about the migration plan, I felt for sure better, even if I think that what they have said to us it is certainly perfect and exemplary for all those who have used the Lotus Document Manager without modifying the standard structure, I.e. the standard templates.

The first slide I shall show you “compares” the Lotus Document Manager with Lotus Quickr Service for Lotus Domino and introduce in detail the functionalities concerning the structure and programming of both environments.

Please note that it is not possible to use formulas and VB anymore, so if you have customizations in LotusScript, you have better to reorganize all that in order to let it fit to Quickrs’ logic .
Something not really unimportant concerns the security of the structure, i.e. of Libraries, Cabinet, Binder and Documents on one hand, and the corresponding Server, Place, Room, Document on the other hand. Structure is slightly different, and here too there will be much work of adjustment to do. Very important is the forthcoming release of a fix pack for Lotus Document Manager concerning the integration with Office 2007.
This aspect is very important too, and it is a great news.

The second slide I shall introduce to you concerns an example of migration between Lotus Document Manager and Lotus Quickr (not specified whether for Domino and J2EE, that is something to check)

You can easily notice that the migration process, the correspondence between the two environments is almost identical, and I do appreciate the effort made by IBM to avoid to those who have to migrate to have to change the logic they were accustomed to before. I think that for the migration from Lotus Document Manager to Lotus Quickr some training is needed, in order to migrate also the way of thinking / operating from an environment to the other one. It would be unsuitable to proceed only to the migration of data without a clear and effective training program for administrator and final end-users. That is why both IBM and the qualified Business Partners will be very important resources during this difficult change of product, operative logic and impact on enterprises.

The third slide I shall introduce to you concerns a comparison between Lotus Document Manager and IBM File Net Content Manager, as well as IBM Content Manager. Here the comparison is a little bit more complex, because first of all we are talking about ECM (Entreprise Content Management) and then because both these Content Manager products are very complete and elaborate and undoubtedly reserved to an advanced public, i.e. Enterprise (even if Enterprise solutions can be used in well-structured environments, even the medium-sized ones).

Although I know well IBM Content Manager and having just started an in-depth evaluation of IBM Content File Manager, I feel like saying that these two Enterprise solutions need a careful assessment and a close analysis, especially concerning the organizational impact and of the hardware infrastructure supporting the system.
In the end, everything has to be weighed up. But not impossible to realize.

The last slide, the 4th one, recapitulates from a chronological point of view the way we have to go from now up to 2012. I draw your attention on the column about Quickr “next”, that I consider being the arrival point, and please note that it is very near.

NOTE: ALL THE SLIDES HERE REPRODUCED SHOW THAT THESE TOPICS ARE GIVEN PURELY AS INDICATION AND COULD BE SUBMITTED TO CHANGES. THE REDBOOK OF SELF-ASSESSMENT WILL BE THE OFFICIAL STARTING POINT.

To conclude:

In short, I think that the migration plan proposed by IBM is definitely good and well organized. It is very important that they have announced a training program for the Business Partners interested in this difficult phase. It is also very important that IBM too is in the front line to assure that everything will be done for all the those who, all these years long, have believed in this product and used it: IBM Lotus Document Manager has always been a leading product, much more complete than many others. IBM company can also guarantee continuity regarding the Domino platform, offering at the same time another choice - IBM Lotus Quickr -, that is growing and strengthening so quickly that it cannot but arouse optimism, especially among those who still have some doubts.

As I find this topic very interesting, I intend to write again about it, perhaps with an approach much more technical.

Thanks to Vale DM, to help me in translation!

IBM WebSphere Portal 7.0 and IBM Lotus Web Content Management Open Beta

Enzo Stanzione — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:57:06 +0200

At last it is available the beta of Portal 7.0. I had heard about at Lotusphere and now has arrived!
From the initial information it appears that it is truly spectacular, I shall tell you shortly.
For all those who wish to try here are the links:

Here is the download

Here is the read me

And here is the documentation.

The beta is based on the code next level of Portal. It works with the newer JDK level which is included with WAS 7.x.
Stay tuned. A vmware version should be available soon.

Have fun!

P.S. I have already download in advanced ..

Enterprise 2.0 secondo Max Ardigò ed IBM Italia

Enzo Stanzione — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:28:07 +0200

Veramente interessante ed alla portata di tutti. Il filmato è in lingua Italiana
A brevissimo una mia recensione sulla soluzione ODW di IBM Italia, per raccontarvi cosa si può fare ed in quanto tempo si può essere produttivi con soddifazione del CLIENTE!

Le presentazioni di Max Ardigò le trovate qui http://www.slideshare.net/ardigo/slideshows

We’ve done! The first Lotus Foundations appliance in Italy was sold!

Enzo Stanzione — Tue, 7 Apr 2009 08:48:02 +0200

After a year of intense activity, my company Xerum Srl and I are really excited in being able to engage a customer and after a brief presentation close the deal for both Lotus Foundations Stard and the Lotus Foundations Appliance with more than 20 end user licenses.

Roberto Vivian, "the seller for excellence" was contacted by the customer to address and resolve issues related to backup and data security.
I can not tell you the whole story of the sale, but the customer, which is already Microsoft Small Business Server customer, had reported to us, the need to accommodate and simplify:

Management of the backup. Avoiding, if possible, to use tape backup
Operate a safe and simple FTP
Manage the internal mail (currently not used)
Access the system from outside, perhaps with a VPN
Have antivirus and antispam software on the server for mail

and much more ... that's inside "Lotus Foundations Start"!

Roberto, told us that after a brief economic negotiations, where among other things he has proposed to the customer the appliance in its maximum configuration (Mod 9234 Xeon,4 hard drives 500GB, 1TB IDB and 8GB ram), the order was first placed by phone and confirmed the next day by email.

The First Appliance Lotus Foundations Start sold in Italy. Xerum tagged,too!
We arrived first, the road is still long but we believe in it.!

The integrated display at boot

I waited a week before publishing this post, just because we wanted, Michele and I, install and configure it completely, not just speculate on the features!. It's a fantastic "toy" ! Yes, just a "toy", because you pull it out of the box, connect it to the network (DHCP activated, of course) and configures it with your browser.

The integrated display shows CPU Load

Just as I told at Dominopoint Day 2 with my presentation (at that time there was'nt yeat an IBM branded appliance). It 's true and it's confirmed!
Everything I told you, is the truth.!

System version is also on the integrated LCD

Apart from the enthusiasm for the new toy, in the last week Michele Peschechera and I started in activating a complete configuration, which provides direct connection to the Internet, and everything possible with new Lotus Foundations Start 1.1 : Vmware Server and Scalable Services. It 'really wonderful what you can do, and what is Lotus Foundations Start can do for himself.

Setting up DHCP is matter of seconds

Now, past the initial euphoria, we must approach the market with more energy and our initiatives will be many, including a complete technical post, already in the works!. So stay tuned, because we will share with you our experience. For now we just Reviving the message that was given to Dominopoint Day 2: It 's true!
And we will also launch to you our server, Lotus Foundations Start!
And that bodes well for all of you!

P.S. I dedicate this post to all those who believe, who have shared this adventure with me, and Julia, my daughter, now entering her second decade!

Versione Italiana

Dopo u n anno di intenso lavoro ed attività di marketing, la mia società Xerum Srl ed il sottoscritto è realmente soddisfatta nell'essere riuscita a chiudere la prima vendita in Italia, con una brevissima presentazione, il primo server/appliance Lotus Foundations Start 1.1 e 20 licenze utente.
Roberto Vivian, "il venditore per eccellenza", era stato contattato da un possibile cliente che voleva risolvere problematiche legate al backup ed alla sicurezza dei dati.
Non vi racconto l'untera storia della trattativa (tra le altre cose è stata velocissima nella sua chiususra!), ma il cliente, che già ha Microsoft Small Business Server per il gestionale, voleva in modo semplice, economico e veloce avere i seguenti servizi aggiuntivi :

Gestire il backuop dei dati centralizzato, possibilmente senza ricorrere al backup su nastro giornalmente con i classici tapes
Gestire in modo semplice il servizio FTP verso i clienti e i fornitori
Iniziare ad utilizzare la posta interna
Accedere dall'esterno in modo sicuro, magari con una vpn.
Avere un controllo antivirus ed antispam sulla posta in/out

e tanto altro ancora...che Lotus Foundations Start gli da in modo economico e semplice!

Roberto ci ha raccontato che dopo una breve trattativa economica, il cliente ha optato per la soluzione nella sua massima configurazione (Mod 9234 Xeon,4 hard disk da 500GB, 1TB per l'IDB e 8GB ram), anticipando l'ordine telefonicamente ed il giorno dopo confermato via e-mail.

La Prima Appliance Lotus Foundations Start venduta in Italia, è anche un po marchiata Xerum!
Siamo arrivati per primi, la strada è ancora lunga ma noi crediamo nella soluzione!

Il display integrato all'avvio.

Ho aspettato una settimana prima di scrivere questo post, proprio perchè, il mio collega Michele ed io, volevamo installare e configurare l'appliance da vivo, e non solo descriverla, E' un giocattolo vermente fantastico, Sì proprio un giocattolo,perchè la tiri fuori dall'imballo la colleghi alla rete (con DHCP attivo, ovviamente!) e fa tutto in automatico (per la parte di configurazione iniziale) .Poi passi alla configurazione completa con il browser.

Il display integrato mostra il carico della CPU

Come vi avevo anticipato al Dominopoint Day 2 con la mia presentazione (allora non era ancora disponibile l'Appliance IBM, se ne sentiva solo parlare). E' tutto vero, confermo!Quanto vi avevo detto è vero!

Il display integrato mostra la versione base installata sul disco di startup

A prescindere dall'entusiasmo del nuovo giocattolo, nell'ultima settiamana Michele ed io abbiamo attivato una configurazione completa, che prevedeva connessione diretta ad internet in modalità Gateway, e tutto quato possibile con la nuova versione di Lotus Foundations Start 1.1 : Vmware Server e gli Scalable Services. E' veramente fantastico quello che può fare, e sopratutto quello che Lotus Foundations Start fa da solo!.

Entrare in rete con il DHCP è questione di pochi secondi.

Ora, passata l'euforia iniziale, siamo pronti per affrontare il mercato in modo più determinato, anche grazie a questa prima esperienza e stiamo già partendo con parecchie iniziative, e da parte mia vi aggiornerò con post tecnici di feedback sul campo! Seguite l'evoluzione degli eventi, perchè condivideremo con voi la nostra esperienza. Ricordo ancora il messaggio che ho lanciato al Dominopoint Day 2 : E' tutto vero!
E vi possiamo anche lanciare il nostro Lotus Foundations Server! Perchè sia anche di auspicio per tutti voi.

P.S. Dedico questo post a chi crede, a chi ha condiviso questa esperienza con me e a Giulia, mia figlia, che si è entrata nella seconda decade! .

Lotus Foundations Start 1.1 : My new server is here!

Enzo Stanzione — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:30:33 +0200

Today I read the post by Daniele Grillo (www.dominopoint.it) that told of the availability of the new version of Lotus Foundations Start 1.1, then I have not resisted the temptation, I downloaded the packages and I have installed my new server.
I had participated in the beta program for the newly released version, but I had not been able to say anything about.
Today, back on the product and I intend to surprise you with interesting news about it.
For now I will give you a screenshot of the administration console.

See you soon and be tuned!
Lotus Foundations Start 1.1 documentation is here, where is available also for new Branch Office features.

Awaiting new information on the newest version you can review my presentation given at Dominopoint day2 on SlideShare

English Version

Lotus Foundations Start 1 0 English Version

View more presentations from Enzo Stanzione.

Versione Italiana

Lotus Foundations Start 1.0 Italian Version

View more presentations from Enzo Stanzione.

IBM Open Collaboration Client Solution (OCCS) for Ubuntu®

Enzo Stanzione — Thu, 5 Mar 2009 09:42:12 +0200

Very interesting opportunities for companies that intend to reduce costs of TCO of their clients, and IBM remained in line with the IBM Open Collaboration Client Solution (OCCS) for Ubuntu ®, which can be downloaded directly from the Ubuntu site Partners.
The DVD that you can freely download as a trial with a duration of 30 days, contains, in addition to the operating system Ubuntu, the client Lotus Notes, Symphony and more.
IBM had already distributed the same solution for SLED Suse and RedHat RHEL early as 2007.
You can find more information about Open Client Collaboration Solution here and here.

1st Lotus Foundations in New Zealand!

Enzo Stanzione — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:50:30 +0200

I want only to point out this wonderful event on the other side of the world. My congratulations to Vaughan Rivett for this news and Bilal Jaffery' s blog (To read his blog!) , and the originality in the telling.
Thanks to Chris Sparshott that he told me.
Great! And go ahead!

Lotus Document Manager : it’s time to rest! (Lotusphere Session ID 610)

Enzo Stanzione — Sun, 8 Feb 2009 12:56:04 +0200

Lotus Document Manager : lo mettono a riposo. (Lotusphere Session ID 610)

Dalla lontana versione 2.0 del 1997 (anno più, anno meno) ho sempre considerato il Lotus Document Manager (anche conosciuto Domino.Doc) un prodotto di punta nel mondo Lotus per la gestione documentale di tipo "strutturato". Infatti l'organizzazione in librerie,raccoglitori,cartelle e documenti, permetteva agli utenti di creare delle base dati documentali tematiche, e sopratutto che rispecchiavano il concetto del così detto "faldone".

Lotus Document Manager era nato per soddisfare l'archiviazione di documenti di qualsiasi tipo, e le caratteristiche principali erano le seguenti (almeno le più evidenti ed importanti) :

storage di tipo *.NSF
creazione di subform dette "metadati" che estendevano i campi base descrittivi standard, valorizzando ulteriormente il documento a livello di peso, processo e ricerca
creazone di siti (server Domino aggiuntivi) dipartimentali, cioè mediante la replica si potevano distribuire le librerie su altri server fisicamente esterni all'azienda e quindi remoti
gestione del ciclo di vita del documento e manutenzione delle versioni
gestione del workflow ache in modo avanzato
integrazione con sistemi di backup IBM
gestione della sicurezza in modalità sofisticata e capillare
ricerca del documento in modalità semplice od avanzata mediante il full text search di Domino
personalizzazione delle viste, mediante @formula, ed in modo avanzato con lotus script (ovviamente essendo un prodotto nativo Domino) , o meglio era possibile una verticalizzazione spinta della libreria per risolvere problematiche di archiviazione anche complesse, ad esempio poteva essere lo storage di applicazioni Lotus Notes sviluppate da terze parti ecc.
gestione tramite client Lotus Notes per la modalità full, cioè sfruttando tutte le funzionalità presenti nel sistema e per la sua amministrazione e configurazione
gestione e consultazione tramite browser (anche se con alcuni limiti)
integrare la libreria con l'esplora risorse di Windows tramite un connettore dedicato

Per anni, il Document Manager della Lotus, ha assolto egregiamente il fine per cui era stato creato, e oggi nel 2009, al Lotusphere (sessione ID610) , ci hanno confermato (vi era già il sospetto da tempo) che verrà dismesso, lo metteranno a riposo.

Oggi, con la necessità di dover scegliere un'alternativa valida vi sono delle considerazioni da fare in merito. e non è affatto semplice.

Un fattore molto importante , ed è proprio il mio caso, è verificare se si è usato Lotus Document Manger "as is", cioè come veniva proposto a livello di template base (senza modificare nulla) , oppure se lo si è personalizzato, non tanto dal punto di vista dei così detti "metadati" (come descritto precedentemente), ma creando agenti, report e verticalizzazioni di ogni sorta (integrazioni di applicazioni ad hoc ). Personalmente mi trovo in una situazione dove ho installazioni in produzione da anni, e che si sono, per vari motivi, evolute oltre gli standard.

Pertanto la situazione che mi trovo, oggi, ad affrontare è la seguente :

"Indipendendentemente dai contenuti, cioè subform "metadati" ed allegati (che verranno migrati), cosà potrò fare per le personalizzazioni sviluppate in LotusScript o con @formula, che mi sono servite per estendere alcune funzionalità, come ad esempio creare report statistici sul ciclo di vita di gruppi di documenti, esportare i documenti processati in altre applicazioni, magari di pubbilcazione Web, restituire il risultato di un WorkFlow alle mie applicazioni, magari di tipo gestionale?".

Queste sono alcune tra le domande che mi sono fatto il giorno 19 gennaio 2009 tra le 11.00 e le 12.00 (ora locale) nella sala Mockingbird ad Orlando, cioè al Lotusphere.
Panico? All'inizio (sono sincero, sì) poi mi sono riproposto di analizzare in modo freddo ed analitico la situazione, seguendo attentamente cosa IBM ci proponeva. Vorrei farvi un breve panoramica di cosa cambierà e di cosa si potrà fare per prendere una decisione ,e sopra ogni cosa che soluzione documentale si potrà scegliere in alternativa (restando sempre in casa IBM) per migrare le basi dati create in tutti questi anni.

Vediamo ora la Road Map relativa alla dismissione di Lotus Document Manager e delle alternatiche che IBM ci propone per la migrazione. Analizzeremo quello che riguarda la migrazione di sistemi Lotus Document Manager standard (cioè non personalizzati) e quello che riguarda la migrazione di sistemi Lotus Document Manager personalizzati.

Road Map di dismissione Lotus Document Manager :

Rimozione dal listino software, Maggio 2009
End of service Settembre 2012
Possibilità di estensione della manutenzione (per due o tre anni) dopo la data di End of Service Settembre 2012
Migrazione delle licenze Lotus Document Manager in automatico vs IBM Lotus Quickr prima di Maggio 2009 o subito dopo, l'importante è che il cliente abbia una Active Maintence Agreement.
Succesivamente alla data di Maggio 2009 si può scegliere tra le seguenti opzioni :
IBM Content Manager Collaboration Edition + Lotus Quickr utilizzato come frontend
IBM Filenet Content Manager Collaboration Edition + Lotus Quickr utilizzato come frontend
Attenzione : se non avete l'Active Maintence Agreement vi conviene valutare di riattivarlo perima del Maggio 2009.
Redbook di Self-Assessment disponibile entro Maggio 2009
Tool di migrazione entro Maggio 2009 e gratuiti e saranno diponibili per personale IBM e Business Partner qualificati
Inizialmente si procederà con la migrazione da Lotus Document Manager 6.5.1 e 7.0 vs Lotus Quickr service for Domino
Succesivamente, tramite Business Partner saranno diponibili tools di migrazione vs Lotus Quickr service for J2EE, IBM Content Manager, IBM Filenet
I servizi di migrazione saranno foriti da ISSL o dai Business Partner stessi.
Sarà diponibile un wiki pubblico dedicato alla problematica di migrazione
Sarà diponibile la lista dei Business Partener qualificati.

Passato l'attimo di panico (come prima accennavo) , ascoltato attentamente il piano di azione per la migrazione, mi sono sicuramente risollevato, pur restando dell'idea che tutto quanto elencato va benissimo ed è ineccepibile per chi ha usato Lotus Document Manager senza intervenire sulla struttura base, cioè senza alterare i template standard.

La prima slide che vi propongo riguarda la "comparazione" tra Lotus Document Manger e Lotus Quickr service for Lotus Domino, e rappresenta in modo approfondito le funzionalità relative alla struttura e alla programmazione dei due ambienti:

Nota : non è più possibile utilizzare le Formula e VB, pertanto se avete personalizzazioni in questo ambito, è il caso di rivedere il tutto ed adattarlo alla logica di Quickr.
Qualcosina, non proprio trascurabile, riguarda la sicurezza a livello di struttura, e cioè delle Library,Cabinet, Binder e Documents da una parte ed il corrispettivo Server,Place,Room e Document dall'altra. La struttura è leggermente diversa. Anche qui c'è da fare parecchio lavoro di adattamento. Importante è l'imminente rilascio di un fix pack per Lotus Document Manager relativamente all'integraione con Office 2007. Anche questo aspetto è molto importante, ed è un'ottima notizia.

La seconda slide che vi propongo riguarda un esempio di migrazione tra Lotus Document Manager e Lotus Quickr (non specificato se per Domino e J2EE, da verificare)

Si può notare chiaramente che il processo di migrazione, di corrispondenza tra i due ambienti è pressochè paritetico, ed apprezzo lo sforzo di IBM nel mettere in condizione chi deve migrare a non dovere cambiare totalmente la logica cui abituato in precedenza. Ritengo che per la parte della migrazione da Lotus Document Manager vs Lotus Quickr, si debba fare un pò di formazione, per migrare anche il modo di pensare/operare tra un ambiente e l'altro. Sarebbe inopportuno, attenersi meramente alla migrazione del dato senza un chiaro e valido piano di formazione per gli amministratori e gli utenti finali.
Ecco che sia IBM che i Business Partner qualificati, saranno risorse molto importanti in questo delicato cambiamanto di prodotto, logica operativa ed impatto sull'azienda.

La terza slide che vi propongo riguarda la "comparazione" tra Lotus Document Manger e IBM File Net Content Manager e IBM Content Manager. Qui il raffronto diventa un po più complesso, in quanto stiamo parlando innanzi tutto di ECM (Enterprise Content Management) e poi perchè i due prodotti di Content Management, sono molto completi e complessi e senza dubbio rivolti ad un pubblico evoluto, quindi Enterprise (anche se soluzioni Enterprise si possono utilizzare in realtà ben strutturate, anche se di medie dimensioni).

Pur conoscendo bene IBM Content Manager, ed avendo da poco intrapreso la valutazione approfondita di IBM File Net Content Manager, mi sento di dire che la migrazione da Lotus Document Manager a queste due soluzioni documentali enterprise, prevede una attenta valutazione, una buona analisi , sopratutto sull' impatto organizzativo e sulla infrastuttura hardware a supporto del sistema. Tutto da valutare, in definitva. Ma non impossibile da realizzare.

L'ultima slide, la quarta, riassume a livello temporale, dove si arriverà da qui al 2012, e vi faccio notare, la colonna relativa al Quickr "next", che ritengo sia il punto di arrivo, e che è molto vicino.

Nota : TUTTE LE IMMAGINI QUI RIPORTATE INDICANO CHE LE TEMATICHE SONO PURAMENTE INDICATIVE E SOGGETTE A VARIAZIONE. IL REDBOOK DI SELF ASSESSEMENT SARA’ LA BASE DI PARTENZA UFFICIALE.

Update 10-02-09 : Software withdrawal and support discontinuance: Domino Document Manager

Conclusione

In definitiva mi sento di dire che il piano di migrazione così come proposto da IBM sia indubbiamente molto valido e ben strutturato.
E' molto importante che sia stato annunciato il piano di formazione anche per i Business Partner che siano interessati in questa fase delicata, e che ci sia anche IBM in prima linea per far sì che tutto sia garantito a beneficio di chi da anni aveva creduto ed utilizzato un prodotto, IBM Lotus Document Manager, che è sempre stato molto avanti e completo rispetto ad altri, e per mantenere continuità nella piattaforma Domino con una alternativa, IBM Lotus Quickr, che sta crescendo e si sta consolidando con una rapidità che fa ben sperare, sopratutto per chi ha ancora dei dubbi.
Mi riprometto, visto che l'argomento mi interessa in particolar modo, di parlarne ancora, magari con una veste decisamente tecnica.

Lotusphere 2009 OGS: you was not there?

Enzo Stanzione — Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:37:48 +0200

For those who could not come to Lotusphere 2009, or for those who had them and wants to review the Opening General Session, here there is the link

Lotus Foundations Start: the show continue with new incoming 1.1v and 1.2v (ner future)

Enzo Stanzione — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:30:27 +0200


This morning, after the "Portal bricks" of yesterday, I dedicate my time (which is never enough) for the Foundations. Do you remember it? I am talking about the session that has just ended and which was entitled "Lotus Foundations: The" Everything and the Kitchen Sink "Solution for Small Business" held by Jane Wilson, Senior Product Manager, and Lotus Foundations and Julie Reed, Senior Development Manager, Lotus Foundations. They are fantastic. Among other things, I had the pleasure to meet again Papić Ozzy, you know a long time ago. The session (slides and demos) was very pleasant for the mastery of two "Lotus Foundations Stars" (so I would define) and carry forward quickly in the new incoming 1.1 (and that I was able to prove having participated in the beta program) and what happen with the 1.2 (by the end of year). The view that I was spontaneous, at the end of the session, is that we are working seriously and with response times worthy of the term "really fast" and read, here, that some of the questions that I had done to Dominopoint Day 2 now have an answer. You can REALLY start planning a new business based on Lotus Foundations. Now the most important points emerged from the session.
Jane ,Ozzy,Julie and I And now the news from Foundations World!

Lotus Foundations Start 1.1

Lotus Foundations provides customers the benefit of a stable Linux-based system while enjoying the ability to support the wide array of Microsoft Windows-based applications.
Provide VMware Server technology as an add on to Lotus Foundations Start to host any guest operating system supported by VMware Server 2.
If there is an unplanned outage Microsoft Windows, the business can still access its operating system, virtual private network and server without rebooting Lotus Foundations.
Business partners benefit as they no longer have to go onsite to diagnose Windows system crashes or blue screens.
Additional Languages
Distributed deployment
Differential backups
Lotus Notes / Domino 8.5

NEW. Support deployment of Lotus Foundations Start as branch office solution for organizations with existing Lotus Domino infrastructure at head office.
Deploy Lotus Foundations in branch office but Foundations manage Lotus Domino server as a node on Lotus Domino server enterprise systems and user administration for Foundations done from Lotus Domino enterprise server
Lotus Foundations administration - from done either locally or branch office

Lotus Foundations Start 1.2

Remote Monitoring
Lotus Live Integration (we will talk about later ... to understand)
Mobility support and support for more applications
Desktop Backups and offsite backups.

That's all for now ... and I believe it a lot.
I keep my LS2009 with a session on 8.5 new functionality (Meanwhile I'm posting) and then back on Lotus Foundations, for a meeting as Ozzy entitled "IBM Lotus Foundations Start: Create a New Market for Your Application Using Software Appliances".
P.S. Spectacular appliance for Lotus Foundations (black and yellow). !!!

Finally LotusSphere!

Enzo Stanzione — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:11:08 +0200

Finally LotusSphere !. After 15 hours of travel and more i'm ready to start.
The feeling is great and very many people. We are staying at Disney's Port Orleans Resort inside nature .
This morning the registration to the event (finally the much-dreamed of backpack LotusSphere) and then breakfast at a salon at least 1500 seats and more!
The adventure has started and the conditions are good for success.
Stay tuned!!!

Registered and Hungry!

My back and my departure

Enzo Stanzione — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:35:52 +0200

Back to writing after a long period of rest (dreamed of for years!) And I wish you a Happy New Year with optimism and prosperity.
I am leaving for Orlando, which will participate for the first time in my life to LotusSphere edition in 2009.
Thank you IBM and my company that I can participate in this great world event, I have already made a path of study that will be based primarily
on WebSphere Portal and derivatives, some of Domino / Notes and a tour of the sessions of Lotus Foundations are required.
Meet and understand, I hope, many people very well prepared and knows that the concept of collaboration and information sharing.
This opportunity, I will open even more eyes that the universe exists and is active outside of Italy, both in content and relationships between professionals.
Goodbye LS2009 finished with a lot of news to share with you all.

Lotus Domino Access for Microsoft Outlook 8.0.2. Interim Fix 2

Enzo Stanzione — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:27:59 +0200

New interim fix for Lotus Domino Access for Microsoft Outlook 8.0.2 Update, issued on November 12 2008.
Personally, I had already tested version 8.0.2 with Microsoft Outlook 2003 and with Microsoft Outlook 2007, appreciating the significant improvement in stability and performance.

There are corrections for errors generated in Windows Vista, some problems with some characters when sending mail via SMTP and more.
For complete information please refer to the following link: www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=3025&uid=swg27013650

Lotus Notes 8.0.2 Standard Client Interim Feature Release 1 (IFR1).New!

Enzo Stanzione — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:14:38 +0200

After the last interim fix CCH1 for Lotus Notes 8.0.2 Client Standard, IBM release this new one about the integrated Sametime client.
To implement this new IFR1 interim fix, you must have previously uninstalled interim fix CCH1.
Here is a summary of what is proper about new functions and how to install it.

The interim fix isn't provided with an exe file, but it need of manual installation. Link here for full details.

Included in this Interim Feature Release

The following key features have been added to the Notes embedded client after installing Notes 8.0.2 IFR1:
1. Added Primary Contacts to the sidebar
2. Provides Sametime awareness in web pages developed with the Sametime Connect Web API Toolkit
3. Optional Microsoft Office integration providing the ability to chat from within MS Office (Default is Off)
4. 3rd party plug-in support parity with 8.0.1
5. Provides secure TLS FIPS 140-2 connection to a Sametime server
6. Accessibility features added to the chat window

Features	Plugins	Plugin Version
Accessibility - Adds accessibility features to the chat window.	com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.accessibility	8.0.0.20080904-1238
3rd party plugin support parity with 8.0.1	com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.installhandler	8.0.0.20080904-1238
Primary Contacts - New sideshelf that shows primary contacts	com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.primarybuddies	8.0.0.20080904-1238
Secure TLS FIPS connection to a sametime server. i.e. some government agencies require this.	com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.sslite	8.0.0.20080904-1238
Web API Plugins - Provides sametime awareness in web pages on the machine if those pages were developed with the sametime web api that provides awareness. think bluepages.	com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.webapi	8.0.0.20080904-1238
Office integration (optional) The following should be set in plugin_customization.ini: com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.brokerbridge/startBroker=false This is set to true when any OI feature is installed	com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.brokerbridge com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.brokerbridge.constants com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.jsthelper com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.exchange com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.exchange.win32.x86 com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.oi.baseFiles com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.oi.outlookOptionsFiles com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.oi.smarttagsFiles com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.oi.toolbarFiles com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.oi.webconfFiles	8.0.0.20080904-1238 8.0.1.20080904-1238 8.0.1.20080904-1238 8.0.1.20080904-1238 8.0.1.20080904-1238 8.0.0.20080904-1238 8.0.0.20080904-1238 8.0.0.20080904-1238 8.0.0.20080904-1238 8.0.0.20080904-1238

You can lint to IBM Fix Central for full description.

Lotus Notes 8.0.2 CCH1 cfix for Windows .Install it as soon as possible!

Enzo Stanzione — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:53:49 +0200

During the daily tour on IBM Fix Central, I found a fix for CCH1 Client 8.0.2 standard and having occasional problems, such as blocking, scroll bar that hangs so, I proceeded to install it.
It seems that everything works fine!.

We list the fast fix on this issue which can be downloaded at the following address http://www-933.ibm.com/eserver/support/fixes/fixcentral/swg/selectfixes

SPRs Included in this CCH1

SPR	Description
KUMA7FWPXR	Fix Basic ST configuration appearing during Standard client setup
STAA7EUB4L	Fix CD->MIME Conversion: Some Symbolic characters in subject being garbage
TAIA7EKEEX	Fix a Notes Client hang when previewing a document with the scroll bar
RCFE7DJNKD	Prevent the client from trying to update the design of a read-only database
LKIM7JCMB6	Fix a Client hang upon authentication
MFRL6YD599	Fix a problem where deleting in inbox attempts to delete side calendar entries
THIO76GCTW	Prevent IME setting from being changed when performing quick search
RCFE79FK2F	Fix client launches separate browser instances for url's in memo using external browser
JPDC7HAA6A	Fix failure with to "Add to place","Open from place".
ZPEG7H45AX	Fix XPD closing when open "Portal Application" by setting PAC configuration
LFOS7JJM5Y	Brazilian time zone changes
MBUT7J4L99	Pakistan time zone changes
JMOE7GBUH5	Fix RSS Feeds not working when server protected via TAM
BLIE7FPPVZ	Update manifest import-package to use version and matching attributes
MHAR7AAELQ	fix maximized chat window aligns to the right and down after the previous window was closed
WWGO7CP494	fix Rich text tools and file transfer buttons greyed out in Sametime chat window
GFLY763S2Z	fix 'Your Lotus Notes password is missing or incorrect" entering password in Sametime Calendar Service
GAKI7DXEYH	fix Integrated Sametime Calendar integration: Auto-status-change not configurable via plugin_customization.ini.
CSMH7FPMR5	fix intermittent login issue with integrated Sametime
VROI7GFL3C	fix string in Instant Meeting join dialog is incorrect
RDES7J5MJ9	fix starting the Notes client, the entire Sametime Shelf on the right side of the Notes client is greyed out.
n/a	fix cursor keys becoming unresponsive in Sametime chat window, apparently specific to left-right arrow keys.
SSYD7JQLA5	fix client error dialog popping up when closing Sametime chat

Collaboration without boundaries : Lotus Vs Competition meeting in Padova, Italy.

Enzo Stanzione — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:19:35 +0200

Meeting very interesting and rich in content devoted to a wide audience ranging from customer to more of the specialized IT Manager, Project Manager, IT Processor.
The event, which is a resumption date updated fact that in Milan some time ago, is a moment of reflection, perhaps enjoy customer company, where you can experience all aspects related to the IBM Collaboration through all products now known, but not yet exploited well as Lotus Domino / Notes, Lotus Quickr, Lotus Sametime, Lotus Connections, Lotus Symphony and Websphere Portal.

The agenda of the meeting was as follows (click the link for official presentations):

(you can find all presentations on DeveloperWorks for a complete reference)

This is one of my favorite slides, which use very often with my clients, and that is part of the introduction of Emily.

I do not want to enter the technical merit of events (I leave you to read the slide that are truly complete), but only express the perceived positive air during the event, which in these times of negative economic conditions, it is difficult to see a optimistic future.

The two excellent speakers IBM Emily O. Farmer and Mark A. Moore has alternated presenting the different areas where you can place the various IBM's products compared with competitor Microsoft, both with traditional slides with live demonstrations.
As already happened in Milan in the last edition, the method of comparing the technical and economic value of the two competitors, was very serious, clear and not explicitly partisan, that it has done a comparison of features and pricing in a very relaxed atmosphere .

What I noticed was the interest of the participants, many who remained until the end, and otherwise after Milan were able to see live demonstrations of Lotus Connection 2 and Portal 6.1 (update of the previous event) . Their comments were hot, roughly, on the formula adopted by these types of mobile workshops, namely, first to explain clearly and immediately after a demo in context with frequent targeted just heard, thereby giving the fluidity of the event, allowing so a detailed presentation from Emily and immediately after the live demo from Mark. All in a straightforward and easy to perceive by the customer.

I must point out, also, that was introduced in the presentation slides,Lotus Foundations as evident in the new house IBM.

The presentations that I liked the most were those relating to Lotus Connections 2.0, explained and demonstrated very clearly, and finally, the session on the Portal 6.1, with practical examples related to the development of portlets and Dasboard, and the new Site Builder, which allows you to create customized portal areas very easily and quickly.

One day, therefore, I am sure that he has fulfilled any, and the formula proposed by IBM event, and winning is certainly tested by time.