When used in a form action, this code will invite users to click a button, browse for a file, and then insert a shortcut to that file in a rich-text field. This is ideal for items like a Lotus Notes discussion database, because it provides an easy way for users to create a pointer to a shared file.
This code is made up of Formula language for a form action, and a LotusScript agent that is called by the Formula script.
Formula language for the form action:
REM {Runs LotusScript agent, which prompts
user to browse for file...};
REM {...saves the Shortcut, and passes back the filepath};
@Command([RunAgent];"(file shortcut)");
REM {inserts shortcut at insertion point of a Rich Text field};
@Command([EditInsertFileAttachment];
@Environment("fileshortcutpath"))
The LotusScript agent:
(called '(file shortcut)' in this example)
Runtime: Agent list selection
Target:None
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sub Initialize
Dim ws As New notesuiworkspace
Dim s As New notessession
a = ws.openfiledialog(False,"Select file to link to")
If Isempty(a) Then Exit Sub ' exit if user clicks Cancel
' else continue
' get filename
fname = Strrightback(a(0),"",5)
Set SH = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
' Shortcut is actually stored in Windows
Temp directory, ready for attaching into document
DPath = SH.ExpandEnvironmentStrings
("%windir%" & "Temp")
Set SC = SH.CreateShortcut(DPath &
"Shortcut to " & fname & ".lnk")
' sets environment variable, to pass the filepath
of the 'Shortcut, so it can be picked up
by the formula language action button
Call s.SetEnvironmentVar("fileshortcutpath",DPath
& "Shortcut to " & fname & ".lnk")
SC.TargetPath = SH.ExpandEnvironmentStrings(a(0))
SC.WorkingDirectory =
SH.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%windir%")
SC.WindowStyle = 4
SC.Save
End Sub
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MEMBER FEEDBACK TO THIS TIP
A pseudo protocol is a very simple way to create a shortcut for a file. If you add a string that looks like the following, it becomes a clickable hyperlink to the file:
file:\\servername\directory and path\filename.
—Thierry S.
******************************************
I believe there are a couple of errors in this agent that I'd like to point out:
First, in the (file shortcut) agent,
dpath=sh.expandenvironmentstrings("%windir%" & "temp") is incorrect. Instead, there should be a backslash with "temp" to read dpath=sh.expandenvironmentstrings("%windir%" & "\temp").
Also in the (file shortcut) agent, fname=strrightback(a(0,"",5) returned nothing, which may have been by design. But changing this to fname = strrightback(Strleftback(a(0),".",5), "\", 5) returns a file name.
—Chris L.
******************************************
Thanks for the feedback, Thierry, although the drawbacks to the pseudo file protocol are originally what prompted me to develop this workaround.
For example, when using file:\\servername\directory and path\filename, there are often issues if there's a space in the filename. Also, I have had reports of Internet Explorer 7 users struggling to launch links created with this protocol.
—Jon Urwin, tip author
Do you have comments on this tip? Let us know.
Related information from SearchDomino.com:
Learning Guide: LotusScript
Learning Guide: Formula language
FAQ: LotusScript advice
FAQ: Formula language advice
Reference Center: LotusScript tips and resources
Reference Center: Formula language tips and resources
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