IBM Forms V8 · Forms written in XFDL version 6.0 to 8.0 are supported. XForms and globalization...

© 2012 IBM Corporation

IBM Forms V8.0Webform Server vs WebForm Viewer

2 © 2012 IBM Corporation

Agenda

What is new in the Webform Server 8.0 What is the IBM Forms Webform Server? Where does Webform Server V8.0 work? Where does Forms Viewer work? How does Webform Server work? Differences Between Webform Server and IBM Forms Viewer JavaScript API Differences Between Webform Server and IBM

Forms Viewer Functionality Differences Between Webform Server and IBM

Forms Viewer Where to get more information


What is new in the Webform Server 8.0

Updated Tablet support● Webform server support Android 4.0 and

iPad 5.1 because the iPad has special requirements

Mixed orientation printing● If you need to print one page of a form in

landscape, rather than portrait, the <print orientation> option allow you to adjust the print setting to do so

Performance● Significant improvements to the user

experience around page refresh have been made

Browser Support● IE 9● Firefox 10● Google Chrome


What is new in the Webform Server 8.0 Minimizing the details section of the signature dialog WAI-ARIA

● Document accessibility has been enhanced by using ARIA markup to indicate mandatory field

Platform support change● Support has been added for WebSphere Portal 8.0

and WebSphere Application Server 8.0 XFDL support changes

● Webform server support XFDL 8.0 IBM Forms and Integrated Case Manager

Invokes Process

IBM Form in Portlet


What is the IBM Forms Webform Server? A Zero Footprint Forms Solution

● IBM Forms are rendered directly in a web browser as HTML and JavaScript

– Use same XFDL files as viewer

– XFDL forms are converted to HTML and JavaScript, then sent to user

– HTML is converted back to XFDL when user submit the form

● Forms look almost exactly as they do in the viewer

● Requires constant connection to Webform Server

● Removes the need to deploy and manage the viewer

– Forms are accessible to all users, including general public


What is the IBM Forms Viewer?

The IBM Forms Viewer provides a single interface for users to open, fill out, and save forms.

The Viewer can display forms within its own window (stand-alone) or within your Web browser. In either case, all Viewer functionality is available.

Client software and does not require constant connect to Server

XFDL Documents can be used locally or on the Webform Server


Where does Webform Server V8.0 work? Platform Support:

● AIX 6.1 TL3 Power System● AIX 7.1 POWER System● IBM I 6.1 POWER System● IBM I 7.1 POWER System● Redhat Enterprise Linux 5● Redhat Enterprise Linux Server 6● Suse Linux Enterprise Server 11● Mac OS X 10.7● Android 3.2 and 4.0● IOS 5● Solaris 10 Sparc● Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008

Server Support:● WebSphere Application Server 7.0.0.9● WebSphere Application Server 8.0.0.3● WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment 8.0


Where does Forms Viewer work? Engineering notes for IBM Forms Viewer: IBM Forms Viewer runs as a 32-bit application. The following

system configurations are supported: 32-bit version of IBM Forms Viewer running on other 32-bit

systems 32-bit version of IBM Forms Viewer running on other 64-bit

systems with some limitations. Viewer may not work with a 64-bit browser. Spell check functionality will not operate with Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit system.

Forms written in XFDL version 6.0 to 8.0 are supported. XForms and globalization features are supported in XFDL 7.x and 8.0 versions.

The IBM Viewer product contained within IBM Forms Server Unlimited Viewer Edition 8.0 runs on the same operating and software systems.

IBM Forms Viewer is supported for use with Portal version 7.0 or 8.0 when embedded within a portlet.

Not supported in this release are web services working directly with an XML model that has been defined as part of the XFDL layer of a form.

Tablet PC signing must be done using an external hardware device.


How does Webform Server work?

Requesting a Forms



Submit Forms



Performing Special Action


Differences Between Webform Server and IBM Forms Viewer

The Viewer requires a Client installation

When using Webform Server users do not need to install client software

In general any form work with Webform Server will also work with the Viewer

However! Any form that works with Forms Viewer will not necessarily work with the Webform Server


Differences Between Webform Server and IBM Forms Viewer Actions Item

● Webform Server instructs browsers to automatically refresh whenever the users interact with the form

● The side effect, action items that are set to occur once will actually occur each time the form refreshed

Appearance of forms● Webform Server draw forms using standard HTML widget● Produce slightly different look when compare to viewer● This does not change the functionality

Attachments● In Webform Server, user only can attach one file at a time

Computing URLs● Forms must submitted to a Webform Server framework-based application with

the same translator URL● This allowed form to be converted from HTML to XFDL● If forms are submitted to other server, Webform Server will not be able to

intercept the form and translate it back to XFDL



Dates● Although viewer allows you to configure your calendar date preferences,

Webform Server does not● Webform Server interpret ambiguous dates as Month,Day, Year

Emailing Forms● Webform Server does not allow users to email forms

Event Model● Computed based on the keypressed mouseover options do not work under

Webform Server● Computed based on the focused and focuseditem option will work under

Webform Server if the correct settings are modified in the translator.properties file



IFX files● Webform Server supports IFX files on the server● Webform Server does not support IFX files on the user's computer

List● If a form contains a list (the XFDL list item), and the text within the list is wider

than the list box, a horizontal scroll bar will be displayed within the list box when the form is viewed in the Viewer.

● If the form is viewed via Webform Server, the list box will not contain a horizontal scroll bar. Any text that does not fit within the list box will be truncated.

Locales● Webform Server cannot set the user locale, the locale will be determined by

the user browser not the form



Printing● Preview is generated on the server either as an image (PNG or GIF) or as a

PDF● Since the preview generated on the server, any font used by the form must be

installed on the server in order for the form to print correctly● In cluster environment, we can create a dedicated print server● Form printed from Webform Server with outpurt format either png or gif appear

slightly smaller than forms printed from the viewer Schemas

● XML Model – Only run on the server side● Xforms – Run both locally and on the server

Type checking and predictive input checking● Webform Server does not support predictive input checking● Webform Server does support type checking when user exit a field



URL● Webform Server does not allow users to

submit forms to multiple URL at the same time

● Submission restricted to a single URL XForms

● Xforms elements are enclosed or skinned within XFDL elements

● Webform Server support of Xforms based on Webform Server support of associated XFDL items and option

Xforms Submissions● Webform Server ignores URLs for

submissions of type replace=all● In Viewer, submitting to a URL submits the

data to the URL


JavaScript API Differences Between Webform Server and IBM Forms Viewer Both the Viewer and Webform Server implement the JavaScript™ API but you need

to adjust your application design if you are using Webform Server● The Viewer rendering handles calls made into the JavaScript API● When the form is rendered by Webform Server as HTML, the JavaScript API calls

are sent over the Internet and executed on the server

Limitations apply only to XFDL forms rendered by Webform Server as HTML

Limitations do not apply to XFDL forms that are delivered by Webform Server and rendered in the Viewer

Webform Server page loading ● JavaScript code must not use the API until the form is completely loaded into the

browser and registered by Webform Server● Two portlet solution: One portlet contains a button that the user must click to

initialize the JavaScript application. The other portlet contains the form. Review Viewer documentation for Portlet scenario

● Servlet solution: Separate your web page into frames, as described in Servlet scenario

● Use the onload event of the frameset element to initialize the API: the onload event of the frameset does not fire until all frames are completely loaded.


JavaScript API Differences Between Webform Server and IBM Forms Viewer

Webform Server page reloading considerations● Webform Server must still reload the entire page from time to time● When a page is reloaded, the JavaScript state information is lost; variables are

reset and any data in memory is destroyed● You can prevent page reloads by avoiding changes to the XFDL form options that

are updated by automatic refresh. These options are listed in Supported XFDL options

● A compute on a form that changes one or more of these options will also trigger a page reload

Webform Server Using Portlets● Must either avoid changing the values of the listed options or take steps to

preserve the state of your JavaScript application across page reloads. ● Webform Server support of Xforms based on Webform Server support of

associated XFDL items and option● Review Viewer documentation for Portlet scenario

Webform Server Using Servlets● Separate your web page into HTML frames. One frame contains the JavaScript

application and another frame contains the form supplied as HTML by Webform Server

● Review documentation for Portlet scenario


Functionality Differences Between Webform Server and IBM Forms Viewer

Functionality Webform Server ViewerCombobox Supported Supported, except for

type-ahead search function

Email Partial Support Full SupportForm version support Version 6.0 and later Versions 4.4 and laterInactive cells Inactive cells are

omitted from popups, comboboxes and list

Inactive cells are displayed but are disable

Popup Supported Supported, except for type-ahead search function

Rich Text Field Not Supported SupportedScreen Reader JAWS Only MSAA Compliant


Functionality Differences Between Webform Server and IBM Forms Viewer

Functionality Webform Server ViewerSlider Not Supported SupportedSmartfill Not Supported SupportedSpellcheking Not Supported SupportedUser modification of display or print preferences

Not Supported Supported

Viewer functions, such as fileOpen, messageBox, setCursor, and so on.

Not Supported Supported

Web services Supported in Xforms form only

Supported

Zoom capability Not supported Supported

URIs starting with "file:" Not supported Supported


IBM Forms Website– http://www-01.ibm.com/software/lotus/forms/

IBM Forms on YouTube– http://www.youtube.com/user/LotusFormsEnablement

IBM Forms Wiki– http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/lfwiki.nsf

IBM Forms Catalog– http://www-01.ibm.com/software/lotus/forms/catalog/

Experience Builder Download– http://www-

01.ibm.com/software/lotus/products/forms/designer/beta/

Where to get more information

Form Submission

http://www-01.ibm.com/software/lotus/forms/

http://www.youtube.com/user/LotusFormsEnablement

http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/lfwiki.nsf

http://www-01.ibm.com/software/lotus/forms/catalog/

IBM Forms V8 · Forms written in XFDL version 6.0 to 8.0 are supported. XForms and globalization...

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