HCL Connections is a great tool to collaborate, work and share information. But did you know you can integrate your email system, as well as Office 365, with Connections, so that you can work directly with files, status updates and activities? Even offline? Join Hogne as he gives you a tour of, and the best tips on, the HCL Connections plugins for HCL Notes, Windows Explorer, Office 365 and even Outlook. Hogne will even share his complete Notes plugin manual with you. So get plugged in!

1. Get plugged in
HCL Connections for Office, Notes and
Outlook

2. Thanks to the sponsors!

3. About me
• Name: Hogne Bø Pettersen
• Age: 48
• Day job: Information adviser at Nord University
in Bodø, north of the Arctic circle
• Also: Writer, photographer, user trainer,
developer and Lego enthusiast
• Worked with collaboration tools since 1995
• Notes enthusiast since 1997
• Connections enthusiast since 2008

4. What plugins are there?
• HCL Notes
• Microsoft Office and Windows Explorer
• Finder for Mac OS
• Outlook (discontinued)

5. Plugin for HCL Notes
• Divided into three sidebar panels
– Status Updates
– Files
– Activities
• Also includes right click functions for Notes
• You can only connect to one Connections site
• Currently doesn’t work with Connections cloud services 

6. Status Updates
• Displays the Connections activity stream (newsfeed)
• Makes it possible to:
– Post status updates
– Upload a file with a status update
– Comment on and like postings
– Post in communities
– Post on a person’s profile
• Can be sorted in different ways
• Search for profiles and communities

7. Files
• Upload files from your computer
• Drag and drop emails and/or attachments into Connections
• Share Files with people and communities
• Create folders and sub folders
• View:
– Your files
– Files Shared by or with you
– Community Files
• Search for Files

8. Files
• Does not:
– Support My Drive files
– Make it possible to edit files and save changes to Connections

9. Activities
• Work with Activities like you were inside Connections
– But better!
• Create, edit, delete, archive and complete an activity
• Add entries, sections, To do, comments, files and tags
• Work with private, shared and community activities
• Drag and drop to move stuff around inside the activity!
• Drag and drop emails and turn them into To dos!
• THIS PLUGIN IS AWESOME!

10. Plugin for HCL Notes
DEMO!

11. Plugin for HCL Notes
• You can download a complete manual for this plugin:
– http://domino.elfworld.org/ibm-connections-tip-3-ibm-connections-plugins-for-ibm-notes/

12. Plugin for Microsoft Office and
Windows Explorer
• Maps Connections like a drive in Explorer
• Work seamlessly with files as if they were local
• Drag and drop files straight to Connections
• Sync and work offline with files via My drive (PS! You lose version control!)

13. Plugin for Microsoft Office and
Windows Explorer
• Tag, comment and like
• Lost of right click functionality
• Your own Connections tab in Office
• Connects to as many Connections sites as you want
• Works with folders and nested folders
• Version control only works for Office files
• With My drive you can work with files from any program
• Upload files to Activities

14. Plugin for Microsoft Office and
Windows Explorer
• You can brand the plugin
• Replace title “IBM Connections” with your own brand name
• Replace the Connections logo with your own
• Read all about it here:
– http://domino.elfworld.org/make-the-ibm-connections-plugin-your-own/

15. Plugin for Microsoft Office and
Windows Explorer
• DEMO

16. Plugin for Mac
• Works in Finder only
• Can ONLY access My Drive files (synced files)
• Can connect to several sites, but only one cloud site
• Accessible from all programs that work with files

17. Plugin for Outlook
• This is discontinued!
• HCL has announced a new integration between Outlook
and Connections Q4 2020
• Sidebar panel in all Outlook windows
• Can connect to several Connections sites

18. Plugin for Outlook
• Doesn’t work with My drive-files
• Limited functionality with Activities
• Lots of integration with Connections
• Contact me if you want a copy (sssshhhhhh!)

19. Plugin for Outlook
• DEMO

20. Wrapup
• Hogne can be found here:
– Blog: https://domino.elfworld.org
– Twitter: @NordicCUG
– Instagram: @elfworl
– Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/elfworld/
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hognebp/
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hbpettersen/

21. Questions?