[Lotus Notes Sucks: Example 75]
Lotus Notes Automation Classes
Problem
Below is a screen shot of the Lotus Notes Automation Classes that are available from notes32.tlb.
Automation classes are really cool, because it allows you to programmatically manipulate data. For example, in Microsoft Word, I can write code that imports Microsoft Excel data, convert it to a table and then format it to look pretty. Given an automation class, a programmer can automate what would otherwise be laborious manual operations.
Let's look at snap shot of some classes that Microsoft Access 9.0 provides:
Notice how the Access classes are easier to read. Can someone tell me:
- Why are the Notes classes all capital letters? In other words, WHY IS LOTUS NOTES SHOUTING?
- Why is almost every class prefixed with
NOTES? Shouldn't the parent object of these classes containingNOTESprovide enough context? - Why is there a class named
NOTESDOMPROCESSINGINSTRUCTIONNODE? IsNOTESDOMPROCESSINGINSTRUCTIONNODEeasy to read? Why isn't itNotesDOMProcessingInstructionNodeorNotes_DOM_Processing_Instruction_Nodeor maybe evenNOTES_DOM_PROCESSING_INSTRUCTION_NODE?
If I am editing my code with the VB IDE, I should be able to type Notes followed by a period (.), when a drop-down list of applicable objects appear to choose from. Because of the prependded NOTES, I have to struggle more with classes named NOTESDOMPROCESSINGINSTRUCTIONNODE.
Why is it that no matter what Lotus Notes does, it has to do it badly?
User Interface Guideline Violations
- Interface does not follow established conventions. Constants are usually all capital letters in code.
- Forcing the user to deal with stupidity.
Conclusion
Lotus Notes sucks.