10/24/2007

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QPresent

QPresent is a similar animal to QIdeas. But instead of collaborating on an idea document, you are collaborating on a Powerpoint presentation. How it works is you upload a powerpoint, and users can page through the slides in place and make comments on a per-slide basis, or on the presentation as a whole. The comments show up underneath each slide and also rollup into a summary. You can then set up workflows for approvals as well.

QSurvey

QSurvey is a really neat template that allows you to create surveys quickly and easily. You can piece together a survey in a nice wizard that allows you to choose Radio Buttons, Checkboxes, Lists and Text fields. You can setup start and end dates, require fields, and make it so a user can only take a survey once.

Once you create your survey, you have people submit their answers. Once the survey is complete, you can see a standard report, or even have a report open in Excel. As a Domino developer, I must have created a zillion survey applications. This can replace all of those with far more ease.

QActivities

In order to use QActivities, you also need to be using Lotus Connections internally. Lotus Connections has an activity management piece called, oddly enough, Activities. Activities allow you to store files, emails, chat transcripts, and bookmarks and have them all tied to a particular activity. QActivities allows you to integrate Quickr content with individual Activities.

Think of it as you having a normal team room, but if you want to add something from the team room to an Activity over on Lotus Connections, you can do so quickly and easily.

QSite

QSite is your Quickr Frankenstein monster. QSite allows you to create a site with elements from all the other templates we've listed above. You can pick and choose which pieces you want in your team room. So, if you want QProject, QIdeas, QContacs and QSurvey all in one team room, you can use QSite to accomplish that task.

Normally in Quickr, you can create one team room based on the templates. So if you wanted the QPresent engine, you would create a room based on QPresent. You would then have a room with the QPresent features and any of the typical built-in Quickr features. You didn't have the ability to add multiple features.

QSite changes this and is great for consolidating all of the features you really want in one team room. The only caveat is, SNAPPS stresses that this is "proof-of-concept" only and you shouldn't use it for full-time production use. Due to the complexity of the code, and the fact that Quickr doesn't really do this on its own, they aren't really recommending you use this for large full-time communities.

Getting the templates

To get this set up on your Domino-based Quickr server, you need to download the templates you want to use, as well as some common files that the databases use. There are some common elements as well as the QEngine workflow piece.

You can go to http://templates.snapps.com and register for free. Once you log in, you will see a download list that allows you to grab the pre-requisite files and any of the templates you wish to use. Download the documentation and it will walk you through installing the files, and you'll be up and running in no time.

You should also visit Rob Novak's blog at http://www.lotusrockstar.com. Rob heads up SNAPPS and if you scroll down to the "On With The Show" block on the right side of his blog, you will see demos for every one of the applications I've outlined above. These are all 12-15 minute video presentations in which Rob talks you through how each template works and what functionality each template has. Be sure to check these out for a more in-depth look at the things I've talked about.

As you can see, these templates add quite a bit of functionality that is lacking in a default Lotus Quickr install. Best of all, they're free to download and free to modify. So what are you waiting for? Update your Quickr intranet now!

About this Series

This series of articles on intranet solutions with IBM Lotus Notes/Domino and it's companion products is intended to help readers understand the fundamental methodology and capabilities of the product and how to utilize it to deliver a feature-rich, secure, and functional corporate intranet solution. It will include implementation strategies, case studies, industry-tested tips and tricks, and, with your input, true value to the administrator or developer who wants to utilize IBM Lotus technologies to deliver winning intranet solutions.

If you have any questions on the series, Lotus Notes/Domino, or if there's something you'd like to see addressed, visit the Intranet Journal Discussion Forum.

About the Author

John Roling is the Senior Groupware Administrator for a North American trade-show exhibit company and a certified Lotus Notes Administrator, Developer and all-around geek. You can keep up with him at his blog or drop him an e-mail at jroling@gmail.com.

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