IBM Workplace
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section reads like an advertisement. Please help rewrite this article from a neutral point of view per Wikipedia policy. Mark blatant advertising for speedy deletion with {{db-spam}}. (help, talk) |
IBM Workplace is a family of products and technologies from IBM for creating adaptive, unified, secure work environments that can be customized based on users' unique roles and/or skill levels in the organization.
IBM Workplace Client Technology is a client-side framework for creating server-managed business applications. It is built on open standards and can be used to create "rich client experiences" that can be centrally deployed and managed. IBM Workplace supports open standards including Java EE and Eclipse, and runs on multiple client and server operating systems (including Linux and Microsoft Windows).
The IBM Workplace family of products includes IBM Workplace Collaboration Services and IBM Workplace Managed Client.
Contents |
[edit] Components
[edit] IBM Workplace™ Collaboration Services
IBM Workplace Collaboration Services is a single product that provides a full range of integrated communication and collaboration tools such as e-mail, calendaring and scheduling, awareness, instant messaging, e-learning, team spaces, Web conferencing, and document and Web content management.
[edit] IBM Workplace Managed Client
IBM Workplace Managed Client is a server-managed, rich client which extends and enhances the capabilities of IBM Workplace Collaboration Services. IBM Workplace Managed Client offers offline support for email, calendaring, scheduling, and document management. IBM Workplace Managed Client includes an office productivity suite of applications for creating, editing, and sharing a variety of document types including: word processing, spreadsheet, presentations, and project management. The IBM productivity tools are compatible with OpenOffice applications and support the open standard OASIS open document format (ODF). The IBM Workplace Managed Client productivity tools can also be used to create, edit, and save documents in a variety of other formats – including Microsoft Office application formats. By supporting open standards document formats, IBM Workplace Managed Client ensures cross-platform and cross-application document exchange without being locked into the proprietary vendor formats.
IBM Workplace Managed Client also offers a new collaboration tool called “Activity Explorer”. Activity Explorer lets teams of users manage projects via an ad hoc workflow which groups together information objects that are related to an ongoing project and are shared among team members. The information objects can be documents, files, and notes. The ad hoc workflow is presented in graphical, hierarchal format and makes it easier to refer to past work, visualize project status, and discover opportunities for further progress.
For Lotus Notes 7 users, IBM Workplace Managed Client includes a plug-in which allows end users to run Notes applications from within the Workplace Managed Client.
[edit] IBM Workplace Client Technology
IBM provides a framework over the "Eclipse RCP 3.0" framework. Its name is "Workplace Client Technology". It aims at providing extended tools to manage rich client issues. For example, when working with a rich client on a client-server application, one can want to disconnect his client for mobile purposes. IBM WCT seems to allow that by replicating parts of the main database to the local machine, so that the user becomes mobile. WCT seems to provide synchronization services, as well as authentification of data source.
Here is the conceptual stack of the IBM WCT, according to IBM. Please consider that this comes from a promotional source and, in a few weeks, I will complete this vision.
- Eclipse RCP
- Eclipse 3.0 framework
- Generic contributions : System tray integration, context-sensitive status bar, ...
- IBM Workplace platform extensions
- IBM Extension services (non-business-oriented extensions):
- SyncML for data synchronization
- WebSphere Portal Integration
- IBM Extension Services for Websphere Everyplace
- IBM Cloudscape Local Datastore (DB2j) (since IBM bought Informix)
- Enterprise JavaBeans Container
- IBM generic user interface components : rich text editors, live names, custom tables, WSRP...
- IBM Extension services (non-business-oriented extensions):
- Business-oriented components and applications:
- IBM Lotus Workplace shared application components: people finder, alerts and notification, search, mail, calendar...
- IBM Lotus Workplace
- Microsoft Office
- ...
IBM WCT includes both a Rich Edition (for connect platforms) and a Micro Edition (for mobile purposes).
[edit] IBM Workplace Forms™
IBM Workplace Forms helps to reduce the time, costs, and problems inherent to paper-based forms processes. It unleashes information trapped in paper, making it instantly available to anyone, at any time, and anywhere - helping speed business transactions and increase responsiveness. It builds intelligent, easy-to-use dynamic eForms that reduce or eliminate errors at the point of entry, helping reduce staff requirements and expensive exception processing. By leveraging open standards such as XForms to integrate an intelligent user interface with high-value back-end systems, Workplace Forms aids in streamlining global business operations, breaking down language barriers and helping to reduce the cost of integrating information to business resources. And it enables efficient and productive development of forms-based processes, supporting team development and reuse of business components used across forms applications.
IBM Workplace Forms 2.6 is a suite of products that interact to develop and deliver data-driven, XML-based electronic forms to end-users:
- IBM Workplace Forms Viewer 2.6 - A rich client viewer that automates multi-person workflows by providing role-based signing authority and access to specific form sections. Role-based wizards enable users to efficiently move through the form- filling process, helping increase accuracy and improve efficiency.
- IBM Workplace Forms Designer 2.6 - A what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG), eForm design environment, based on the Eclipse open source framework, that promotes team development of form-based applications and enables reuse of business components across forms.
- IBM Workplace Forms Server 2.6 - Delivers zero-footprint e-forms to external users within a browser, without requiring additional downloads or plug-ins. Workplace Forms Server caters to complex forms that may require multiple sessions and people to fill by enabling saving the form's state to the server or local desktop, so it can be continued a later time. It also provides a mechanism to automatically distribute client-side software such as IBM Workplace Forms Viewer.
IBM Workplace Forms utilizes and extends existing IT investments. Rather that including dedicated, proprietary software for eForm management and delivery, IBM Workplace Forms creates an open standards, intelligent message that flows through and leverages IT components dedicated to content management, collaboration, e-mail, messaging, workflow, portals, web serving, and more.
