McGarelGramming

A new field in Notes 8 saved me much development time.

The issue: The day after Notes 8 was installed on our server, I finished a small intranet database which I'll call "DbX." DbX copied the look and feel from the main intranet database by referencing its style sheet. All was well when I compared the two databases in FireFox, but I saw major font differences in I.E.

The solution: After much searching and verifying that the styles matched everywhere, I finally noticed the cause. In DbX, Domino was generating the usual doctype of HTML 4.01 Transitional for the $$ViewTemplates. In contrast, the main database used WebQueryOpen agents to display views. A doctype of XHTML 1.0 Transitional was hard-coded in the agent. I mentioned this situation to my co-worker, Declan, and he suggested the $$HTMLFrontMatter field. I added the field, entered the XHTML doctype information above and my font issues were gone.

I better get going on my Notes 8 reading.

Before I post anything else, I should probably provide a little background:

• I have been a Notes/Domino developer since 1999, starting with Notes 4.5. It was a case of love at first sight.
• Like many other N/D developers, I come from a non-programming background. My degree is in broadcast communications.
  
• I live and work in the Chicago, Illinois area.
  
• I have the good fortune to work at the same company with both John Roling and Declan Lynch.
• I first started reading Lotus blogs right before Lotusphere 2006. Doing so re-invigorated my enthusiasm for the future of Notes.