Can I prevent embedded view from putting a database on the workspace? - lotus-notes

Question

I have two databases, A and B. I want to surface a view from B into A. I can do this using an embedded view in an outline or a form and it works fine.
But I do not want database B put on a user's workspace. If I add it and the user opens a doc or opens the view, then it puts that db on the workspace.
Is there a way around this? What if I embed an Xpage?

Answer 1

That's a built-in behavior of Lotus Notes and unfortunately there's no way to turn that behavior off.
As an alternative you could write an Agent that pulls the data in from Database B into Database A, and then just display that data within a Database A view.

Answer 2

As Ken already said that it is a built-in behavior. You can try to programmatically remove the database icon. This Technote describes it.
#Command([AddDatabase]; "Server Name":"DatabaseB.nsf");
#Command([WindowWorkspace]);
#Command([FileDatabaseRemove]);
I haven't tried it myself, but you can put this code on close of form of embedded view. Also, its not possible to remove a database icon from the Notes client workspace using LotusScript, JavaScript, or Notes API.

Answer 3

It works as Naveen describes it. However, even if you manage to clean up the icon, in Notes there is a built-in fault when using an embedded view from another database.
The problem is -- you cannot use the traditional Notes templates because the link to the source database of the embedded view is hard-coded using the replicaid. So if you pull a template from your design and create a new database for production, the embedded view will still point to your test database.
I have used this configuration, but then each time you deploy a new template you need to modify design, so that it points to the correct database. It can be programmed for example by using DXL export/import but is not a trivial Notes deployment any more.

Answer 4

Multiple options here: computed text to display the contents of the view using HTML, creating an Xpage that displays the view, or some AJAX to get the data and display in HTML.
Computed text to display the view
This is relatively simple. Add computed text, set to use pass-through HTML, that does a DbColumn on a new view in the source database. Either add a hidden column at the end of the existing view or create a new, single column view that has the HTML for a single row in the view.
For the computed text, just a simple formula:
"<table>" + #DbColumn( "Notes" : "NoCache" ; "MyServer/Company" : "SourceDatabase.nsf" ; "HTMLview" ; 1) + "</table>"
Then, for the column formula, use something like this:
"<tr><td>" + PartName + "</td><td>" + PartNumber + "</td><td>" + Price + "</td></tr>"
XPage for view
Just create the XPage with a simple view, like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xp:view xmlns:xp="http://www.ibm.com/xsp/core">
<xp:viewPanel rows="30" id="viewPanel1">
<xp:this.facets>
<xp:pager partialRefresh="true" layout="Previous Group Next" xp:key="headerPager" id="pager1">
</xp:pager>
</xp:this.facets>
<xp:this data>
<xp:dominoView var="view1" viewName="COPApprovals"></xp:dominoView>
</xp:this.data>
<xp:viewColumn columnName="$11" id="viewColumn1" style="font-weight:bold;color:rgb(0,0,160)">
</xp:viewColumn>
<xp:viewColumn columnName="$10" id="viewColumn2" style="font-weight:bold;color:rgb(0,64,0)">
</xp:viewColumn>
<xp:viewcolumn columnName="$12" id="viewColumn3">
</xp:viewColumn>
</xp:viewPanel>
</xp:view>
AJAX
A good intro to using AJAX to display Notes data can be found in Scott Good's AJAX name-picker. I've built a number of views and picklists using that format. The laptop that has the modified designs is on the fritz right now. If I get access again, I will post samples.
Hope you get some ideas there.