ELEMENTS OF LOTUS NOTES


Using the My Work home page
You can replace the default IBMR Lotus NotesR home page with another type of home page called "My Work." My Work has three portal-like tabs that are divided into multiple panes that display your Mail, Calendar, To Do list, and so on.

Several panes allow you to display your most frequently used NotesR applications and Web sites -- helping you to organize and manage your daily tasks and communications with others in your company.

My Work has different tabs for different sorts of activities, as well as tools that you can use from any tab. The following sections describe how to use each tool or tab:


Instant Contacts, Search, and Launcher tools

By default, you see the Instant Contacts (WindowsR systems only), Search, and Launcher tools at the right-hand side of My Work, regardless of which tab you are on.

Note: You will not see the Instant Contacts tool unless you are set up to connect to your company's IBM LotusR SametimeR server. If you see the Instant Contacts tool, but it displays <Unavailable>, you need to log on to Notes instant messaging or Lotus Sametime Connect. For more information, see Working with instant messaging.

Instant Contacts

You can perform the following tasks using the Instant Contacts tool:


Search

You can search the Web using the Google™ search engine or you can use other search engines. See Editing the My Work home page. for information on how to select a different engine. You can also search your Notes domain for applications whose titles contain your search terms.

Launcher

Use the launcher to start Notes or other applications, and to open Notes documents or Web pages by dragging them to the Launcher. You can also add a Notes application to the Launcher using the following steps:

1. Click File > Application > Open.

2. Select the application, and then click Bookmark.

3. Expand the More Bookmarks folder, select the My Work Launcher folder, and then click OK.

Tips


Today tab

You can use the Today tab to scan for new mail, view today's calendar entries, or show your To Do list. You can choose to include one or all of these on your Today tab.

Here's what you can do by default from each pane of the Today tab. For changes you can make to this tab, see Editing the My Work home page.


Today tab options
    Option
    Tasks
Show Recent Messages
    • Read recent mail. The Recent Messages section is refreshed with new messages from your Inbox throughout the day, and the position of the cursor is refreshed at 8-hour intervals. (If it has been more than 8 hours since you exited your Notes client, the cursor position will be refreshed when you restart Notes.)
    • Start a new memo
    • Display a mail view other than your Inbox, or display contents of a folder
    • Expand the Recent Messages area to include Threads, so that when you click on a message, it is shown grouped with its replies, letting you view the entire conversation. (Threads display for the current session only.)
    • Open your Inbox full-view
Show Today's Calendar
Show To Do's/Notices/Follow Up
    • See the list of items from your To Do view
    • Add a new To Do item to the list
    • Open your To Do list full-view
    • Display Follow Up or New Notices mini-view instead of To Do's
Note: Options for this pane differ depending on which mail template you are using

Tips
Collaboration tab

You will probably spend a large portion of your day in the Collaboration tab. The bottom pane is a good place to display the application or Web site that your company uses to provide general information to all its employees.

Here's what you can do by default with each pane of the Collaboration tab. For other changes you can make to this tab, see Editing the My Work home page.


Collaboration tab options
    Option
    Tasks
InboxUse your Inbox as you normally would (has action bar) without leaving the My Work page.

Note: You cannot use this Inbox to filter unwanted mail to the Junk Mail view -- you must use your full-view Inbox in Mail.

Bottom paneDisplay one of the following items by clicking its link below the bottom pane. Change which item displays by clicking another link. Action and scroll bars are available in each item. Note: You can use the Edit this page link to set up all the items now, and then quickly switch which item displays by clicking its link below the pane. If you want, you can substitute any Notes application for the Domino Directory, notebook, or TeamRoom.

Tips
Team tab

Keep abreast of new postings in the application or Web site your project team uses to communicate among its members, or plan with your team members' schedules in mind by showing your group calendar. To create Team tabs for additional project teams, see Editing the My Work home page.


Team tab options
    Option
    Task
Top paneSet up one or both of the following:
    • A team Web site
    • One of your team's Notes applications, such as its Discussion application.
Bottom paneSet up one or both of the following:
    • Another of your team's Notes applications
    • Your group calendar (you must first create a group calendar in your Mail file)

Tips

Related topics
Your home page