Got a busy day - so signing the week and the month off with a short 'blog' - thanks for your valuable feedback over the month - and the over 2,000 unique visits of my Web Cam page over the last week - maybe I should work naked - no? - ok!!

This series therefore will show you:

• Constructing an XML Document using JavaScript to send to Domino
• Building a Domino Java Agent
• XML receiving/parsing using a Domino Java Agent
• Creating a Notes Document from a Java Agent
• Demonstrate how to create Notes Documents from remote/3rd Party applications

Today I have published the following:

1) Domino XML Receive Utility - Part 1 - Introduction

2) Domino XML Receive Utility - Part 2 - HTML/Javascript/Constructing the XML

You can download the demonstration files from here to go with the series.

Further articles coming soon on the Java and XML parsing involved and also on using this utility to create Notes Documents from remote/3rd party web applications.

Finally - 'I kid you not' - British farmers have 90 days to put a toy in every pigsty or face a £1,000 fine or three months in jail. In a new EU ruling farmers have to supply an object to keep pigs happy and deter them from chewing each other.

Official instructions to farmers are to give pigs "environmental enrichment" by providing "manipulable material", which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs defined as balls. A spokesman said: "We mean footballs and basketballs".

Another piece of news to come out of Lotusphere 2003 in Florida, was that IBM have released the beta version of the 'Lotus Domino Toolkit for Websphere Studio'. The claim is that this will allow Domino developers to expand their existing skills into J2EE application development. Another is that you will not have to rewrite a Domino application to integrate it with WebSphere.

This move by IBM is interesting and I feel key to the future - not of the product - but of the careers of the people that have worked with Lotus Notes/Domino for so many years. IBM go on to claim that they have a vision to make Websphere Studio as simple as the Domino Designer - well that remains to be seen! - That is a task and a half.

To take this concept further - 'you will not have to rewrite a Domino application to integrate it with WebSphere'. Probably about a year and a half ago I took the decision that when I write Domino web applications I would do so in a better and more future proof way.

Better because they followed 'best practice' not necessarily for Domino but for Web Development in general - organised in a way you would expect from packages like Dreamweaver - making full use of browser caching - the ability to make pages fully w3.org compliant - I could go on.

The future proofing comes from how the applications are structured - I tend these days to have all my 'Domino data' in 'data stores' - ie on their own in notes databases - if a Notes Version is required then that database is where the Notes functionality and UI stuff is done. The browser side of things is stored in what I call a 'Web Store' - a structured notes database that organises web 'resources' in a more logical manner.

There are many benefits of this - which you may pick up on by reading through this site - but my point here is that they are 'normal' web files - images, .htm, .js etc - so can easily be used on another platform, piece of software etc. So going back to the Domino toolkit for Websphere studio - that uses a similar concept. It reuses the Domino 'data stores' - as just that 'Data' - you then 'rebuild' your front end logic using the studio and inserting JSP tags.

As mentioned above, the DXFramework works in the same way - 'data stores' and 'seperated web logic'. I was on my own with this years ago - however the concept now seems to have 'come of age' - hopefully I am still one step ahead of the game - with Websphere Studio you still have to rewrite the front end logic/ui - you can reuse this from the DXFramework!

I've said this before - but if you value your careers, your software etc - start making those directions into J2EE - I will help with this site (will shortly be a section dedicated to it) - and the DXFramework - the rest is up to you.

The promised article for today missed my 'print deadline' - so will be posted tomorrow instead. I thought I could see the light at the end of the tunnel with this one, but it was just some b*stard with a torch, bringing me more work!!!!

Don't worry if you missed it, - it will be replayed via the highlights program (I hope you understand I am joking!).

I note from Ed Brill's site that Domino 6.5 and 7 are already being mentioned (2003 & 2004 releases respectively). He also mentions the option to use DB2 as a data store option for Domino - it has its critics but I'm looking forward to that day!. For those 'doom mongers' amonst us maybe the announcement that IBM are to release a low cost e-mail solution to run on Websphere and DB2 might give you some fodder!

Got loads of work I have to get through today - first of all finishing off the article that I promised yesterday - that will be here for tomorrow - I promise!

Finally - If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation!

Im working on a utility/article today on how to develop a Java agent that will take an xml document and create a Notes document. This agent will work with any of your Domino applications as all the configuration information required by the agent will be contained with the xml. This should be posted tommorrow.

I have added another site to the links page - www.qtzar.com - a Domino site authored by Declan Lynch.

Finally, I thought this was an English football disease!!

The bad news is it will not be available until Monday 3rd February (week monday). However I can assure you that it will be worth the wait - it has been developed together with some 'users' (I know a new concept i'm working with!) and has some very neat features. I will release more information over the next week. Needless to say if you have any blog template 'wishlists' email them to me.

On the blog front, I came across this 'blogsticker' site - whats your favourite?

I also found another Domino Blog via codestore - the gutted geek! As always it has been added to my links page. Last of all - for all those lazy people who don't do or hate doing housework - The 'cruise missile' vacuum cleaner!!

I have added an update to the Excellent Lotus Notes/Excel Reporter database to my downloads. Many thanks to Guy Thomas for this one - it has been popular with well over 400 downloads so far!

I must mention the software I am using for my web cam - ConquerCam - I tried loads of freeware, shareware, commercial software - but this shareware came out tops - you can download an evaluation which works as per the paid up product - then it is $10 if you want to keep it - I recommend it!

Talking of webcams - so far I have remembered not to pick my nose, get dressed etc before being 'in front of the camera' - I even now have a makeup department that I have to go to before sitting down to work!! - shame Brendon (puakma.net) doesnt have the same memory!! Read this comment here!!

And finally (should be a news reader) I will leave you with this - maybe we could do the same for spam emails - which are the bain of my life at the moment - no I don't want your p*rn, loans, 10 million dollars because your late great uncle has died in cambodia, viagra, p*nis extension!!

Stop press - my girlfriend suggests that actually I do need at least two of the above!!

I must get back to being technical on this supposingly technical site - but I am having good fun at the moment - its a great community out there! Have had loads of comments about my web cam - I have put a highlights page together for you (tongue in cheek - I honestly don't think you can have highlights from a web cam!!) - it includes a 'mickey take' from Mr Upson of Puakma.net - just because its always raining where I am and hot 'n' sunny where he is - any of you have web cams? - put up a weather board and send the link to me!!

Ok serious stuff! - found a very 'good looking' domino/websphere site - www.davison.uk.net - i recommend a browse - it has been added to my links page!

I got up on Saturday morning (bad hangover) and alas - I still did not have broadband. I unplugged everything (even read the instruction manual for the router) - then it hit me - my router did not seem to be even trying to connect - hmm - lets borrow another - worked staright away - so I had broadband all that time - just my brand new router was not working properly!!!!

So I now have 'high speed' internet access - yipee! To celebrate I have created a live! ProjectDX Web Cam - you can see it here!! Do not view if you are easily offended - I often work wearing scruffy clothes/hair etc!

Remind me not to complain about the weather/temperature in my homeland - ie -2 being the end of the world as we know it!! - I have had comments from Canada (Stan Rogers/Ben Dubuc) - reminding me that -30 is the norm in winter - without windchill - blimey!

A bit political today (as I find some things that go on in the world bizarre) - found an empty marmite jar in my cupboard today - expecting to be arrested at some point today for planning a chemical attack on my girlfriend! For those of you who have experienced 'marmite' then you will know it is a substance not to be messed with!

As promised yesterday, a bit of a 'Project Update'. Firstly the main DXFramework toolkit is being 'polished' off for public release - I have set a date of Mon 10th February for public availability.

There are also other software to be released from this project. Firstly a Domino Web Site/Content manager - I will be providing further info soon - but this currently has a public release date of Mon 3rd February.

There is also another piece of software - which will be free and open source - to be released on Mon 27th January - but keeping what that is to myself for now - will release details nearer the date - but I'm confident it will be very popular.

Whilst I feel this country is slow to roll out high speed internet I remembered today how things have changed over the last couple of years. I used to have a 128k framerelay connection to the internet at a small cost of about 600 uk pounds a month! Needless to say - outsourcing hosting etc was a good business decision at the time!

On a different issue, apparantely Sun are attempting to "demystify the dark art of Java programming" in the delayed 1.4 of J2EE - that would be a bonus - survival for developers in the 'Domino Arena' may depend on it - with the Domino job market at an all time low. Although Ed Brill seems to disagree with this!

I myself have actually decided to give contracting a rest for a while and concentrate on this project. Hence my 'I am available for hire' banner at the top of this page - I have put together finances to fund the project for the next six months - all I need to do is to make myself available for short periods of time direct to companies who may have previously contracted me via an agency - im very cheap (anyone who knows me will confirm this!!!) - especially off site! If you require help - for whatever period of time and think I might be your man - then get in touch.

Coming tomorrow - an update on the state of play of this project - together with other announcements regarding spin off products that will shortly be available - some for free - and 'open source'.

My bl**dy mouse has just packed up - batteries must have gone - when are they going to invent corded mice - then I wouldn't have to worry about the batteries - power could be fed from my PC!!!

Apparantely IBM is going to rename most of the Lotus product range sometime this year - apart from Domino/Notes - they are going to change the names to reflect what the product actually does.

I don't know why they are leaving domino/notes alone - how many times have I heard - what is Lotus Domino - and what is Lotus Notes? - maybe they should be called "IBM Web application/content/workflow but is not Websphere - with a dab of email, collaboration and tea making server".

A couple of additions to my links page today. Firstly dominocode.net has gone english speaking - I am one of the ignorants - I only speak english! Theres also anthonyjhicks.com/weblog/ - a very well put together web site that runs on Domino.

You can read about this demo here and download the notes database here. I am already 90% towards a third version - I shall be releasing this in due course.

Some good news yesterday - I have an installation date for my high speed broadband connection - this Friday!! - that means from order to delivery thats less than a week - and a confirmed installation date within 1 business day - I'm shocked - but well done to Zen Internet!! I also get a batch of fixed IP's at no extra cost - which is more than I can say for British Telecom - who charge for each one!

In the UK its certainly cold up north! - I've moved 32 miles north of where I used to live and on average its always at least a degree colder! - I'm a southern softie who prefers the warm!

I've been catching up this morning with the blog sites etc that are on my links page. The biggest thing I notice is a lot of them have had some very good design tweaks/changes done over the holiday period.

I also have a few apologies - so early on in the new year! - I haven't yet published a follow up to the DHTML Tabbed Tables article that I mentioned in my previous blog. I am working on this today - so should be available tomorrow.

In addition apologies to those DXFramework testers that have not received an update recently - my excuses are - moving house, flu, christmas, new year, no internet - there will be a major update very shortly!

Now I have internet access again I can promise this site and associated software are now full steam ahead!

Bit limited on content at the moment - what with christmas, new year, moving house, no internet connection - you can hardly blame me. Going to try and complete an upgrade to a previous tabbed table article for tomorrow though.

Normal service for this site will be back next week when I dont have to travel 32 miles to upload site changes!