Lotus Rock Star | Almost as good as free beer, SNAPPS AnyPlace SiteMap is now available for free

Thursday, 3. April 2008

Almost as good as free beer, SNAPPS AnyPlace SiteMap is now available for free04/03/2008 10:00 AM

SNAPPS Galactic Headquarters

Back in January, I announced that we intended to take our commercial products for QuickPlace/Quickr, update them, remove license code, and make them free. What I didn't know at the time was how much work that really is, and that we'd be hit with new projects in early February with no end in sight. So while my intent was well-meaning, execution on this has taken a back burner to our clients' priorities and projects.

That said, last night we (which as you know is the executive's way of saying 90% Viktor, 10% me) completed the recoding and repackaging of SNAPPS AnyPlace SiteMap as a free license. In case you haven't been introduced to AnyPlace SiteMap, it is a completely intuitive, security-aware remote control for your QuickPlace and Quickr sites. With a Windows Explorer-like navigation, it reduces the number of clicks and screen redraws significantly (by about 90%), making your users more productive and lowering bandwidth requirements for QuickPlace/Quickr. It's a big hit as it benefits every user in the organization. And it works with QuickPlace 2.08 through Quickr 8.1.

As a commercial product, AnyPlace SiteMap sold for $2,000 plus $400 maintenance per year. Now it's free, no keys to unlock, and you can optionally buy support for $299. We can also customize it for you as a project, just contact me. I should note - this is free software, not open source. The distinction is important as they both have the same effect on your budget, but there is a license and intellectual property (very well) protected in our free AnyPlace software.

I delivered the first copy to a colleague in Miami last night. Here's what he said:

"For background, I received a request from one of our place managers a few days ago asking if I could provide her with a site map utility. I started researching what was available and discovered your tool, that fact that you are now releasing it as a free utility is guaranteed to generate some business for Snapps! This could not have happened at a more opportune time!

Best of all it required ZERO IT resources to implement, which is consistent with the concept of Quickplace/Quickr's Self Service model. It also demonstrates the awesome power of QP forms!

[...] You are the MAN! Please give my BEST regards to "Developer Extraordinaire" Viktor as well! I can't thank you guys enough!!!!! "

We have decided to use the QuickrTemplates.com website to manage delivery of the AnyPlace products. The storage mechanism is already in place, and we can easily track downloads. This is also where we'll offer support. And before I forget, big thanks to Martin Vereecken for the new banner design!

More good stuff coming soon, folks. Enjoy the SiteMap.

Technorati: Free Software QuickPlace Quickr

Comments :

1. Jen04/03/2008 03:40:43 PM

Thats why you're both RockStars!!
Thanks so much!
Hooray for SNAPPS!!
(what a great support deal too!)

2. Ronald Veldhuizen04/07/2008 05:52:45 AM

Looks promising, but how to install?

3. Rob Novak04/07/2008 09:38:50 AM
Homepage: http://www.LotusRockStar.com

@Ronald: There's documentation in the download.

4. Ronald Veldhuizen04/08/2008 04:11:53 AM

Ugh... the zip wasn't unpacked correctly.
Got it. Thanks!

5. Ronald Veldhuizen04/08/2008 09:03:41 AM

Hmmm, I tried to implement it in Quickr 8.1 but I can't :(
Are there other SNAPPS places necessary for AnyPlace to work?

6. Rob Novak04/08/2008 09:35:06 AM
Homepage: http://www.LotusRockStar.com

No - we have it working in all versions. What happens?

7. Ronald Veldhuizen04/09/2008 06:22:08 AM

The problem is that I'm totally new to Quickr. I'm a domino administrator and I'm going to administrate Quickr too.
At the moment I'm learning myself, nobody to support me
Set up Domino, Quickr, created a place, logged in...
Can't find: Create new Imported HTML Form under Customize/Forms

Could you please...?

8. Ronald Veldhuizen04/09/2008 06:25:01 AM

The problem is that I'm totally new to Quickr. I'm a domino administrator and I'm going to administrate Quickr too.
At the moment I'm learning myself, nobody to support me Set up Domino, Quickr, created a place, logged in...<br>Can't find: Create new Imported HTML Form under Customize/Forms
Could you please point this out...? Much regards

9. Rob Novak04/09/2008 08:18:20 PM
Homepage: http://www.LotusRockStar.com

@Ronald - to see the Imported HTML forms you have to have ActiveX enabled in the place (Customize - Change Basics), have to be using IE, and have to allow ActiveX in your browser settings.

The reason is that the HTML forms interface uses an ActiveX upload control to upload, parse and carry dependent files to the Quickr proxy document for the form.

10. Ronald Veldhuizen04/10/2008 06:21:32 AM

IE did the trick :(
Thanks!

11. Eric DUTTO04/22/2008 02:38:33 AM

Hi,
I tried AnyPlace SiteMap. I got an error when opening the page. Line 471. It was in French. I try to translate: "this object cannot manage this property or method". But it seams to work fine after acknowledging this message. Do you know how to fix it.

Best regards

Eric DUTTO

"An error was thrown and caught.
Error: Cet objet ne gère pas cette propriété ou cette méthode
Line: 471
URL:
“……//wp.workplace.astrium.eads.net/QuickPlace/smos_mgt/Main.nsf/h_Index/3B995EE103BD1CFFC12574330027488A/?OpenDocument&Form=h_PrintUI”

I just removed http