It is possible to take a simple Notes client database and convert it for use from the Web with very few (and very minor) changes to the underlying database. The great thing about that approach — as I demonstrated in my previous article in this series on the basics of Domino Web development — is that it makes it possible to quickly and easily get something presentable up onto the Web.

On the other hand, to make that happen, I had to take a few shortcuts and do a few things that, while they certainly worked, were arguably not using the best techniques for solving the various problems. And, while some of the solutions worked fine for the very simple database in that earlier article, they may not hold up as well for the more sophisticated applications most of us actually work with.

Arguably, the biggest no-no in the earlier Web solution was the use of framesets. Framesets, while easy to implement and very effective for many things, are widely reviled in the Web development community, and not without some justification. I’ll explain why and then show you the best techniques for getting rid of them when converting Notes applications for use from the Web.