alt

Paul Withers

Follow me on Twitter
 
 
alt

Tim Malone

Follow me on Twitter
 

Tutorials with Free Code


 

Intec Blog

The Lotus Notes In-Built Formula Tester

Paul Withers  4 March 2010 01:52:02 PM

Here's a nice little tip if you want to check the output from an @Formula. I don't think it's documented anywhere, but I've been using it since R5 (I think) and it's come in quite useful. I'm sure that when I tried it in the new Eclipse client in R8, it didn't work. But I happened to try it yesterday in the 8.5.1 client, and it does work again.

All you need is a text field, your @Formula and two fingers. I usually create a new memo and use the Subject field. Type or paste your formula into the text field, like so.

Formula in Text Field

Then press Shift + F9 (this is the Windows shortcut, I'm not sure about Macs). Hey presto! The @Formula is evaluated.

Formula outcome

This can be particularly useful for testing an @DbLookup, complex formula or formula you want to put into an Evaluate statement in LotusScript. It also gives you an opportunity to quickly test formulae including a value from a field.


Comments

1ChrisC  04/03/2010 1:59:05 PM  The Lotus Notes In-Built Formula Tester

Paul,

Nice one - I cannot believe I have not picked up on that!!

Chris

2Ulrich Krause  04/03/2010 2:01:33 PM  The Lotus Notes In-Built Formula Tester

This tipp is around for ages; but always good to bubble these little helpers to the surface from time to time.

3Wayne Sobers  04/03/2010 3:26:06 PM  The Lotus Notes In-Built Formula Tester

It makes me wonder how many other little gems like this have been floating around, especially if you started notes around version 5 like I did.

4David Leedy  04/03/2010 3:58:29 PM  The Lotus Notes In-Built Formula Tester

Great tip!!! I've known and forgotten about this tip several times over the years. Currently I was in the "Forgotten" state until your blog post.

Thanks!

5  04/03/2010 6:00:28 PM  The Lotus Notes In-Built Formula Tester

Thank you for the helpful reminder!
Disclaimer: Please be aware that the views expressed in the blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of either Intec, IBM, or any other third party.