Last week, we hosted our new Domino Volt July release webinar covering the latest features and enhancements. We had several demos on how to directly access your Domino data, workflow enhancements, service catalogs, PDF integrations and more. For IBM z and IBM i customers, we covered the latest integration with Z and I Emulator (ZIE) to turn green screen apps into REST endpoints that Domino Volt can use to build new workflows and apps.
We received a lot of great questions. You can find those questions — and the answers — below. Or catch all the excitement in this replay here:
Want more Domino Volt?
Try v1.0.1 in the updated Domino Volt sandbox. Register for a free sandbox account. For those who already have a sandbox account, new sample apps have been uploaded here.
We recently launched a Domino Volt roundtable series, where we introduce different important topics and host open discussions with our customers and partners. Join us for the following sessions:
- Domino Volt App Integration Strategies: Learn about integration techniques and options within Domino Volt. August 12, 2 pm ET. Register now.
- Domino Volt Deployment Topologies: Learn about different deployment options to fit your needs. August 27, 2 pm ET. Register now.
DOMINO VOLT FEATURES
Q: What additional resources are needed on a Domino server to handle Domino Volt?
A: Domino Volt requires Domino V11.0.1 or greater. That’s is all!
Q: If an app is built in Domino Volt, can it be modified in Domino Designer?
A: You could add additional views, agents, or other elements as long as you do not change or delete things that Domino Volt created.
Q: Where do you upload the PDF for fill–in?
A: In settings, there is a File section where you can load PDFs as well as images, CSS, JS, etc. as needed in the app
Q: Can a signature from a Domino Volt form be printed in PDF? Or even pictures from your smartphone?
A: The PDF fill capability in Domino Volt does not support adding an image or picture to a PDF.
Q: Can you deploy your own Service to the Service Catalog?
A: Yes, on a service that leverages the HTTP Transport (REST). You could have one that gets an OAUTH Token or returns a list of customers from CRM.
Q: How do Domino Volt apps render on HCL Nomad?
A: Forms and views which are created by Domino Volt can be rendered in HCL Nomad. What you will see is a basic form and view without styling. This is because Domino Volt renders apps as web apps that use HTML, CSS and JavaScript – which does not work in Nomad.
Q: When it comes to getting data from a Domino database, can the database filename be computed (based on supplied data at runtime) rather than having to select a database when defining the service?
A: There is no ability to dynamically select the database currently based on supplied data at runtime.
Q: When selecting a Domino DB resource and viewing the drop-down list of Domino DBs, how is the list generated? What happens when a DB has multiple replicas – either clustered or non-clustered?
A: With this release, it reads the files system in the local server (where Domino Volt is installed) and shows the directory in which the app is located. The next release will handle external Domino server queries.
Q: What are the implications of the depositor access limitation for anonymous users on application complexity. For instance, lookups to data in views for populating drop-down fields, invoking services, etc.?
A: Domino Volt designers will need to be mindful of access rights when building anonymous apps that use services. This will in some cases limit what data you can expose to anonymous users.
Q: Is it possible to get hidden field information, like creation date or current stage?
A: Yes. There are JS calls to get all of this. You can find these here as well as in the new type ahead of the JS editor.
Q: Is there a way to import JavaScript files to use in your application?
A: Yes, JavaScript file can be referenced or directly imported into your apps. There are some samples in the community on using external JS libraries. Check them out here.
Q: Is it possible to define a conditional number of approval stages? For approvals related to monetary value usually the higher number will require more approval.
A: You could do this with a display rule. You’d have different submit and maybe stage based on the criteria you choose. You would have two “Submit” buttons, but they show up based on different criteria and may go to a different stage that has different requirements.
Q: Is Domino Volt available without Docker?
A: Yes, it is.
Q: Could you provide the link to download Docker image to test offline?
A: The Docker image install option is only available to entitled customers in their Flexnet download area.
Q: Where do you download the SAP Connectors and find the HEI downloads?
A: The download area for Domino Volt in Flexnet will provide access to these.
Q: Is it possible to access data from previous Domino versions?
A: Yes. Data stored in NSFs that were created in earlier versions of Domino can be accessed by Volt. The only requirement is that the NSF be on the same server as Domino Volt.
Q: The user interface looks like HCL Leap. Are you planning to merge HCL Leap and Domino Volt?
A: They are separate products. Domino Volt is for Domino customers whereas HCL Leap is a standalone offering. You will see more alignment between these two offerings in the future.
Q: Can I use Bootstrap templates?
A: You can use HTML5 components (in the HTML palette item) and I’ve used jQuery components as well. You can use components of it, but not a Bootstrap page template to house the entire application (yet).
Q: What are current limitations of Domino data access?
A: With this release you’re limited to accessing data from Domino apps that are on the same server as Domino Volt.
DOMINO VOLT LICENSING
Q: How are anonymous users licensed?
A: Anonymous users don’t require licenses. Authenticated users require licenses. Domino Volt requires an organization to purchase the equivalent number of Domino Volt licenses as their base Domino licenses.
Q: Can you clarify how anonymous access includes guest users? Are these user accounts authenticated in a secondary address book?
A: The CCB entitlement includes access for Guest Users to HCL Domino servers deployed under this entitlement. A “Guest User” can be Anonymous, where “Anonymous Access” to the Program is without verification of a user’s unique identity, or Authenticated Access with restricted maximum level of Domino application access (ACL) as “DEPOSITOR”.
The user records in a Domino directory or a federated LDAP will contain the HTTP userid an Password for the user – either created by an Administrator or by an app allowing user registration with creation of credentials and admin of these – typically an administrator would designate a particular LDAP for this (can be a Domino directory). And this use must be set with a max ACL authorization as Depositor.
Depositors and Readers
Depositors can insert documents into a database but they cannot read those documents. Readers, on the other hand, can read documents, but cannot deposit them. Although opposite in function, they complement each other conceptually because each is dedicated to a single purpose. (One additional right Readers have is that they can run agents.)
So, for Domino Volt this means – Anonymous users (ACL=Reader) can:
- read public web info,
- participate in surveys
Logged-in users (ACL=Depositor) can:
- deposit info, no edits
- post blog comments
- create interest profile
- read community content
Q: Will Domino Volt support guest users (AzureAD guests or Connections Community guests) for free?
A: The concepts are unrelated. If you are anonymous to Domino, for example, going to a URL without any specific transfer of credentials (SAML) and no login to Domino you’re classified as anonymous. Hence supported as an Anonymous Guest to Domino and Domino Volt. Note that we also have a Logged-in Guest which do login using valid credentials but limited by Domino on what this user can do. (See above)
Q: How many paid Domino Volt licenses will I need for external authenticated web utility server users when I licensed Domino Volt for all our internal domino users? Is it unlimited like utility itself?
- All your internal users of Domino Volt must have an Authorized User entitlement to Domino Volt. And all external users who customer permits creating Domino Volt applications and running full capabilities of Volt applications must be Authorized Users.
- You need Domino Volt Authorized User licenses for all internal/external users needing full capabilities
- Utility Server also support unauthenticated, anonymous access to applications on the server, which also applies to Domino Volt on Utility Server.
Q: Is it possible to try Domino Volt on my own server without buying licenses for all my users?
A: Yes, a trial can be requested from sales or you can try the Domino Volt sandbox. To purchase Domino Volt all Domino licensees must also be licensed for Domino Volt.
Z AND I EMULATOR (ZIE)
Q: What is ZIE? Is that an additional LICPGM?
A: HCL ZIE for Transformation is a licensed program which needs to be purchased separately to Domino Volt. This product transforms green screen application to REST APIs which can be consumed by Volt applications. Please look at the series of videos. If you have additional questions, please contact ZIO@hcl.com and we would be happy to help.
Q: Is there a solution on Domino Volt for Green Screen Application (Mainframe CICS Apps)?
A: Yes. HCL ZIE for Transformation enables integration of green screen applications (including mainframe CICS apps) into Domino Volt application.
Q: What is the license cost for ZIE?
A: ZIE for Transformation is licensed based on the number of users. We do not publish our price. Please contact your sales rep or contact ZIO@hcl.com.
Q: Is ZIE a separate Machine/Docker?
A: ZIE for Transformation is a) development tool to transform green screen applications, and b) run-time library to perform the transformation of green screen applications. In the example we presented during the webinar, the green screen application is transformed to a set of REST APIs. These APIs are consumed by Domino Volt application.
Q: Do the HCL Quick Start Services only apply to IBM Z and I platforms?
A: HCL Quick Start Services is available for any customer who is interested in integrating green screen applications on System Z and I platforms in Domino Volt applications using HCL ZIE for Transformation product.
Q: Is there any way to query a green screen?
A: You can invoke green screens and retrieve output using HCL ZIE for Transformation. It is possible to retrieve output from a single green screen or combine outputs from multiple green screens.
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