Agent start a windows script 1

[jges]

I'm new to agents and lotusscript, but here is what I would like to happen. When the user receives mail, run a windows script.

I see that I can create an agent to run after mail arrives, how do I get it to run a windows script?

I am currently on notes version 5, scheduled for an upgrade to version 6 soon.

 

[pmonett]

To run an agent on new mail events, the agent needs to be scheduled.
Scheduled agents are run by the server, not by the client. That means that, in the case where we could get it to run a Windows script, said script would run on the Domino server. I doubt that that is what you want.

Pascal.

 

[jges]

The script would need to run on the client machine. It sounds like an agent is not the way to go. Is there any other way to start a windows script when mail is received? Outlook has VBA, is there any similar functionality in Notes?

 

[pmonett]

As far as programming is concerned, you can use Notes Formulas, LotusScript, JavaScript, you can even use VBA with the JavaScript library. You can probably use any language that can call on the JavaScript object library - although that is probably stretching it on my part.
The code can be called by a button in a view, or in the Actions menu. It can be triggered when a document is opened, when the database is opened, when a view is accessed or even outside the Notes client (The Notes client would still have to be running though).
The code can still be put in an agent (not scheduled though), or in a Script Library, or directly in the button.

What exactly is it you want to do ?

Pascal.

 

[jges]

When a mail is received, I would like to open a certain text file and read/write some data then possibly do some file manipulation (rename and/or copy a file to a specific folder).

I'm familiar with VB/VBA so my first thought was to write a windows VBscript file and activate it when the mail is received. If it can all be done in some form of Lotus automation I'd be glad to hear it (I do not have the script written yet, I'm still in the planning stage).

 

[pmonett]

I think Notes can handle this, programming-wise. It's not easy to browse files with Notes, but saving at a specific filepath is not an issue.
Notes can also deal with text files, so that's not an issue either.
I see no reason yet not to do this in Notes. Of course, you'll have to learn quite a few things on the way, but that won't be a problem.

Pascal.

 

[jges]

I found a small, relatively unhelpful section on agents in the help file but found almost nothing on lotusscript or notes formulas (except definitions in the glossary). Can you suggest some terms to search on? How do I start the LotusScript editor? Thanks for your time answering such basic questions (let the learning begin!!).

 

[pmonett]

You need to have the Notes Designer client installed to do any Notes development.

With the Notes Designer, you'll have a local copy of the Designer Help database, which is also stored in the Help folder on the Domino server.

For beginners, I believe the bast place to start is by checking out the Notes FAQ, or NotesDesign. These sites have good tutorials to help understand how Domino works.

But one thing you need to learn right away : Notes is NOT a relational db system. At least, not until everyone starts using the DB2 file format in R7 ;-). Until that day, please remember that Notes is a document-oriented storage system. So whatever you do, do not expect Notes to react like Access or Oracle databases, because it won't.

Good luck !

Pascal.

 

[jges]

Pascal,
You have been very helpful, thank you for your time.