News and tips about NotesTracker -- an SDK from Asia/Pacific Computer Services that adds powerful features to your HCL Notes/Domino database apps. Also info about related apps such as SDMS and CAPTURE, plus general commentary about HCL and its offerings.
NotesTracker was originally developed by Asia/Pacific Computer Services (APCS) and launched initially around the turn of the century.
In 2013, AGE Computer Consultancy (AGECOM) took over the sales and support of NotesTracker, up until 2021 when they ceased operations.
Since NotesTracker offers unique value to the HCL Notes/Domino application development community, APCS has decided to resume sales and support of NotesTracker in order to fill this gap in application design tools. Progress will be careful, and steady in order to maintain our extremely high design, coding and usability standards.
We are working towards making the NotesTracker's unique capabilities available again to the HCL Notes/Domino community.
Watch this blog for news about NotesTracker version 7.
The guide introduces NotesTracker, explaining what it is and how it can be of value to your organization by enhancing your IBM Notes and Domino applications.
Following that is a section that shows how to configure and administer NotesTracker in each application, and finally a section for Notes developers explaining the steps used to add NotesTracker to the design of the applications.
Hyperlinks in the table of contents make it easy to jump to the various sections and subsections.
The guide introduces NotesTracker, explaining what it is and how it can be of value to your organization by enhancing your IBM Notes and Domino applications.
Following that is a section that shows how to configure and administer NotesTracker in each application, and finally a section for Notes developers explaining the steps used to add NotesTracker to the design of the applications.
Hyperlinks in the table of contents make it easy to jump to the various sections and subsections.
Version 3.0 of Secunia’s Personal Software Inspector (PSI) for Windows has just been released, see here. I’ve just upgraded to it and run a scan, and reckon that the improvements are well and truly worthwhile.
Secunia PSI 3.0 is a free computer security solution for Windows PCs that identifies vulnerabilities in non-Microsoft (third-party) programs which can expose the PCs to attacks.
If you don’t already have it or use it, I’d strongly suggest that at the very least you should evaluate it. It’s a very valuable additional weapon in your armory against malware attacks.
It extends (rather than replaces) the protection offered by anti-virus and firewall software, which are still essential. I’ve been using Windows 7 built-in firewall plus Microsoft Security Essentials, and find them very competent. I also use Spybot Search & Destroy, and regularly run the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. I’m striving to not personally suffer from malware attacks, and to not pass on malware to family, friends and clients. I have a few spare CPU cycles left to do real work too, in case you wondered~
There’s a nice, fresh user interface in Versions 3.0. displaying icons for all the software products that it detects. Here’s part of the results from my first Secunia PSI scan:
At last I’ve gotten back to a 100% Secunia system score, because there was one program that has reached its “end of life” -- not being updated any longer. The previous version of PSI always complained about this, and reduced my score to just below 100% which annoyed me (because I was confident that the program’s developer was trustworthy).
Now in Version 3.0, as illustrated in the circled area, you can right-click on a product’s icon and tell PSI not to warn any more (include in system score) for such an end-of-life product. Hooray!
Other enhancements include automatic updating of software products that are scanned and determined to be “insecure” – which means out of date, not at the latest software level. I’d say this really should be termed “potentially insecure” or “possibly insecure” (but that’s not quite as easy to rattle off the lips).
Once again, you can get Secunia PSI version 3.0 and find out more here.
Simple Signer version 1.2 is now available for download.
It’s your simplest and easiest way to “sign” Lotus Notes database applications, that is, to stamp tall the design elements that make up each application: forms, view, XPages, agents, etc. When signed with your own organization’s Lotus Notes signature the applications are properly prepared/authorized to run in your organization’s IBM Lotus Notes/Domino production environment.
Signing is usually required when you obtain a Notes application from an external source, or before your own in-house-developed applications are moved from the development stage into productions.
Simple Signer was developed to make application signing easy for anybody to carry out.
UPDATE: Please download a refreshed copy of Simple Signer v1.2 that was uploaded on 23rd June, without local encryption (which was causing the error "This database has local access protection"). Apologies for the slip up.
The self-extractor requires a PASSWORD … NotesTracker (what else would you expect from me?)
Apart from a few minor changes, the main enhancement is the ability to keep an audit trail of the various database signing events, for example:
As usual with applications provided by Asia/Pacific Computer Services, it is fully documented -- via the built-in Help About This Application and Help Using This Application menu items.
Simple Signer’s design is unhidden (“open source” more or less, you might call it) so you can tweak it to work exactly how you like.
Simple Signer version 1.2 is now available for download.
It’s your simplest and easiest way to “sign” Lotus Notes database applications, that is, to stamp tall the design elements that make up each application (forms, view, XPages, agents, etc. When signed with your own organization’s Lotus Notes signature the applications are properly prepared/authorized to run in your organization’s IBM Lotus Notes/Domino production environment.
Signing is usually required when you obtain a Notes application from an external source, or before your own in-house-developed applications are moved from the development stage into productions.
Simple Signer was developed to make application signing easy for anybody to carry out.
The self-extractor requires a password, which is NotesTracker (what else would you expect from me?)
Apart from a few minor changes, the main enhancement is the ability to keep an audit trail of the various database signing events, for example:
As usual with applications provided by Asia/Pacific Computer Services, it is fully documented -- via the built-in Help About This Application and Help Using This Application menu items.
Simple Signer’s design is unhidden (“open source” more or less, you might call it) so you can tweak it to work exactly how you like.
Tony Austin ... Trained in science and engineering, and still tend to approach life from a scientist's or engineer's viewpoint, but over the years have picked up broader skills in sales/marketing, journalism and other non-technical areas. Taught Chemistry / Mathematics / Science in Victorian high schools. Joined IBM Australia in 1970, retired from IBM in 1995 (thus joining the IBM Quarter Century Club), then set myself up as a so-called independent consultant running my own company Asia/Pacific Computer Services. A melanoma intervened in 2013 -- "Very lucky you're still alive" I was told by one doctor -- so after dodging that bullet I decided to drop out of the rat race by closing the company and refocusing my life. ... If you're adding comments to this blog and expecting a reply, please take into account that I reside in the Melbourne, Australia time zone.
