Are You Ready for an Alternative in
Application Development?IBM Domino Designer vs. IBM Forms Experience Builder
Felix Binsack, IBM Champion
Founder & CIO TIMETOACT GROUP
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You and I have been developing applications with the Domino Designer for most of their professional lives.
Are we ready for an alternative?
IBM Domino Designer vs. IBM Forms Experience Builder
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Intro & History Comparison
Forms Notifications Approval Workflows Access Management Views & Reports Cross Browser & Mobile Support
Data Limitations Advanced Programming Application Management Hardware Requirements Cloud Availability
Conclusion
Domino Designer & Forms Experience Builder
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IBM Forms was originally a product called PureEdge Forms, developed by PureEdge Solutions based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. IBM bought PureEdge in 2005 and renamed the technology IBM Workplace Forms. In 2007, it was renamed Lotus Forms, starting with version 3.0. In 2010, it was rebranded IBM Forms, starting with version 4.0.
IBM Forms is a suite of products by IBM's Lotus Software division that interact to develop and deliver data-driven, XML-based electronic forms (e-forms) to end-users. IBM Forms consists of a server, designer, and client viewer that enables creation, deployment, and streamlining of forms-based processes. IBM Forms originally used Extensible Forms Description Language (XFDL) as the format for its electronic forms, and it has gradually added Xforms to XFDL as that standard has matured.
FEB History
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Forms
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Domino
Input mask generates the database = NSF
Free design consisting of text, graphicsand fields
Modern Design via Xpages & CSS
Versatile, powerful Tool
FEB
Input mask generates the database = DB2/Oracle
Frame oriented design consisting oftext, graphics and fields
Beginner-friendly Drag & Drop basedgraphical user interface
Enables use of stat-of-the-art web technologies (CSS3/Responsive)
Versatile tool
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Notifications
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Domino
Mail and Newsletter integration
Programming knowledge required
FEB
Easy configuration throughWorkflowstages
Missing Doclinks
No newsletter support
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Approval Workflows
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Domino
Realization of both simple and complexworkflows
HideWhens
Interaction between documents
DBLookup / DBColumn / etc.
FEB
Quick implementation of Workflows / Approval HideWhens
Allocation to certain users/groups
Lookups and interactions with different are possible but complex
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Access Management
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Domino
In-depth read/write access for
Database layer (ACL)
Document layer
Field layer
FEB
Dataset related read/write access
Rights management for Stage- or form-layer
Definition of roles and assignment ofgroups and users
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Views & Reports
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Domino
Extensive funcitons for designing views
Different views
Standard export
FEB
Single view configurable
Standard reports
Export e.g. to Excel
Graphical analysis
Downloading forms as PDF
Realization of individual views via REST-API
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Cross Browser & Mobile Support
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Domino
Possible in application developmenthas to be determined at the concept
FEB
Release >= 8.6 full support
Release < 8.6 mobile support andresponsive design via CSS adjustments
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Data Limitations
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Domino
64 GB database size
32 KB limit (will be revoked)
FEB
Dependent on the underlying databaseDB2/Oracle
irrelevant
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Advanced Programming
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Domino
Four programming languages
Formula Language
LotusScript
JavaScript
Java
Virtual (colloq) no limits
FEB
JavaScript
Java
REST APIs
Up-to-date and common languages(contrary to LotusScript)
No limits, possible integration intostate-of-the-art environments andframeworks (e.g. angularJS)
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Application Management
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Domino
Detailed in regard of rightsmanagement and a multitude ofapplications, patterns, etc.
FEB
Applications can consist of severalrelated forms
Simple deployment, Import/Export including collected data
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Cloud Availability
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Domino
Well… (Bluemix)
FEB
Cloud, but not yet Connections Cloud
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FEB can do
Domino Designer has even more to offer:
CRM, Office, Web Content Management
Conclusion
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Summary
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Domino
Extensive development tool
Four programming languages + Designer
Background processes
Reaching across documents and databases
Different data sources possible
Detailed access control
FEB
Simple and intuitive workflow creation
Allows departments to autonomously developapplications without programming knowledge
The extensive Rest API provides optimal integration possibilities into intranet andextranet systems
Capable of the realization of extensive applications and an alternative to JEE and .net applications
Integrated PDF functionality
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Marty Lechleider, FEB Product Offering Manager
http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/ibmformexpebuilhttps://www.youtube.com/user/mlech23http://www.slideshare.net/mlech23
Information on the Forms Experience Builder
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Thank you for your attention
