Configure notification SMS in Lotus Notes calendarIn this guide you can read about how to
integrate SMS technology into your corporate IT system with the help of an SMS
gateway software. Below you can find step by step instructions for
sending SMS messages from the calendar application of Lotus Notes.
Please check our video tutorial, as well.
This SMS communication system makes it possible to send SMS messages from
the calendar of Lotus Notes. If you create a reminder in this calendar
then it is possible to send your reminder in SMS messages to mobile phones.
Ozeki NG SMS Gateway can read calendar entries with the help of a built-in
"Database user". Since Lotus Notes uses a unique database, NotesSQL needs to be used.
NotesSQL makes it possible for Ozeki NG SMS Gateway to read data
from the database via standard ODBC connection.
What are the prerequisites
To adopt this solution you will need a connection between the mobile network and your
system. You can establish this connection in two ways: using an Internet connection
or using a wireless connection by attaching a GSM phone or GSM modem to your PC. Please
check this website if you need some help for your decision: Internet based SMS connections
vs. GSM modem based (wireless) SMS connections.
Preconditions for Internet based connection to the Mobile network
To establish the connection between your system and an SMS service provider via the Internet, you will need these devices:
Figure 1/a - Internet based connection with Ozeki NG SMS Gateway
With this type of connection you will need an SMS service provider
who provides access to its services and ensures Internet based SMS services. On our
webpage we have collected some providers to help you in your decision:
SMPP SMS Service
providers. After you have decided which provider and which service is the most
appropriate for you, you need to sign a contract and you will receive connection
parameters from your provider. Once you got the necessary parameters you can setup
your Ozeki NG SMS Gateway software.
Preconditions for wireless (GSM modem) connection to the Mobile network
With this type of connection all you need is a GSM modem or a GSM
phone and you can join it easily to your PC with a data cable. The GSM device will
be operated by your Ozeki NG SMS Gateway software and it will be able to handle SMS
messaging wirelessly. You will need the following components to use this type of
connection:
Figure 1/b - GSM modem connection with Ozeki NG SMS
Gateway
For GSM modem connection you will need the following components:
*The SIM card will come with a plan, that will
determine how much money you will spend on each SMS.
System architecture
On Figure 2 you can check how the SMS gateway sends SMS text messages
from Lotus Notes:
Figure 2 - SMS sending process from Lotus Notes Calendar
with Ozeki NG SMS Gateway
Configuration guide for Lotus Notes SMS
To create a reminder message first you need to generate an
ODBC connection. This connection will be connected to your database. Then you
also need to configure Ozeki NG SMS Gateway. In the calendar you have to
create a reminder. This entry can be sent in SMS to a given mobile phone.
Step 1. Install and configure Lotus NotesSQL.
First you need to
download Lotus NotesSQL. Then follow the setup instructions and install it
to your computer.
If you finish installation, update your System Environment Variables
in Start menu/My computer/Properties/Advanced/Environment Variables. You need
to click on "Edit" in "System Variables" window. "Edit system variables"
window appears. Now add your Lotus Notes Path to "Path Variables". There is a
given "Variable value" in the box. Now type the following after the
end of this value: C:\Program Files\IBM\Lotus\Notes and click on
"OK" (Figure 3).
Figure 3 - System variables
After this you also need to create a new Lotus Notes ODBC
connection. You can do so if you go to Start menu/Control panel/Administrative
Tools. Here you find "Data sources (ODBC)" option. An "ODBC Data Source
Administrator" window appears. Here select the "System DNS" pane and click on
"Add..." (Figure 4).
Figure 4 - System DSN
Now select a driver for
which you want to set up a data source: Select Lotus NotesSQL Driver. Click on
"Finish" (Figure 5).
Figure 5 - Select a driver
In the "ODBC Lotus Notes Setup" window, which automatically
appears, you need to provide a data source name: "LotusReminder". Under this
box there is a "Description" option, here type "Lotus Reminder". To select
your Domino server you need to type in your password. Then select:
"vmxpeng/vmxpeng" (Figure 6).
Figure 6 - ODBC setup
You
also need to select your database: Now select your email database because
it will be the database of your calendar entries also. It needs to be
"mail\user.nsf". If you click on "Options" of Notes SQL, you can select
your username ("user/vmxpeng") and type your password in (Figure 7). Click
on "OK". Now the connection is ready.
Figure 7 - ODBC options
Step 2. Setup Ozeki NG SMS Gateway
To setup Ozeki NG SMS Gateway, select the "Manage/Configure"
option of Ozeki NG SMS
Gateway. Login with your admin user. To create a new database user click on "Add
new user or application" in the right hand side of the interface of Ozeki NG SMS
Gateway in "Users/Applications" pane (Figure 8).
Figure 8 - Add new user or application
Select "Database user" in the list and
click on "Install" next to it (Figure 9).
Figure 9 - Install the application
In the "SQL installation application" window you need
to provide a name for the database user: "LotusSmsReminder". Click on "OK"
(Figure 10).
Figure 10 - Provide a name for the
application
Now setup the database connection. In
"LotusSmsReminder-Configuration" window select the "Database connection" pane
and change Connection string type to "ODBC" and the connection string to
"DSN=LotusReminder;" (Figure 11).
Figure 11 - SMS reminder configuration window
Now open
"SQL for sending" pane. In "Polling" tab change the "SQL select statement
used for polling messages" to the following statement (Figure 12):
SELECT ApptUNID AS id,'' AS sender, Body AS receiver, Subject AS msg, ''
AS msgtype, '' AS operator FROM Appointment WHERE Categories = 'sms'
AND AppointmentType = '4' AND ((StartDate = '$currentdate' AND StartTime
<= '$currenttime') OR StartDate < '$currentdate') |
Figure 12 - Poll option
Still in "SQL for sending" pane, select "Sending" tab and
type the following statement for SQL update. This statement will be used if
polling process has been successful (Figure 13):
UPDATE Appointment SET Categories = 'sms - sending' WHERE ApptUNID = '$id'
|
Figure 13 - Sending option
The category of the reminders always shows the current status
of SMS messages (it shows if it is sent, not sent, delivered, undelivered).
Select "Sent" tab and type the following statement
(Figure 14):
UPDATE Appointment SET Categories = 'sms - sent' WHERE ApptUNID = '$id'
|
Figure 14 - Sent option
Select "Not sent" tab and type the following statement
(Figure 15):
UPDATE Appointment SET Categories = 'sms - not sent' WHERE ApptUNID = '$id'
|
Figure 15 - Not-sent option
In "Delivered" tab type the following statement
(Figure 16):
UPDATE Appointment SET Categories = 'sms - delivered' WHERE ApptUNID = '$d'
|
Figure 16 - Delivered option
In "Undelivered" tab type the following statement
(Figure 17):
UPDATE Appointment SET Categories = 'sms - undelivered' WHERE ApptUNID = '$id'
|
Figure 17 - Undelivered option
Now go to "SQL for receiving" pane and uncheck the
"Use this database connection for receiving messages" option as you cannot
receive SMS in this database connection. Click on "OK" (Figure 18).
Figure 18 - Uncheck the option
In the "LotusSmsReminder" (SQL) window which is on the left
side of the gateway's interface click on "Events". Here you can see if
the database connection is successful.
Step 3. Create a new SMS reminder in Lotus Notes
You can provide the exact time when you want to send your
SMS reminder.
To create a new SMS reminder you need to start Lotus Notes.
Login with your username and password. To create a new reminder open the
Calendar of Lotus Notes. Click on "New" and select "Reminder" (Figure 19).
Figure 19 - New reminder
In the
"Subject" line type your message. You also need to provide the exact time of
the reminder. Then provide the category of the reminder: "SMS". In the
"Description" field you can provide the phone numbers of recipients. In case
of more than one recipients separate the phone numbers with semicolons. Finally,
click on "Save and close" option at the upper left side (Figure 20). In the
calendar you can check the generated reminder.
Figure 20 - Reminder settings
Now open Ozeki NG SMS Gateway and login with your username
and password. On the right side, select LotusSmsReminder and in the outbox
you can check your reminder SMS as it is ready for delivery (Figure 21).
Figure 21 - Sent reminder
If you click on the reminder in the
calendar of Lotus Notes you can see that the category of the reminder
has changed to "SMS-sending" from "SMS" (Figure 22).
Figure 22 - SMS sending
Thank you for reading this guide
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