BKLNCEGA.RVW   971210

"Lotus Notes Certification: Application Development and System
Administration", Thomas/Peasley, 1998, 0-07-913674-5, U$54.95
%A   Scott L. Thomas slthomas@earthlink.net
%A   Amy E. Peasley apeasley@earthlink.net
%C   300 Water Street, Whitby, Ontario   L1N 9B6
%D   1998
%G   0-07-913674-5
%I   McGraw-Hill Ryerson/Osborne
%O   U$54.95 800-565-5758 fax: 905-430-5020 louisea@McGrawHill.ca
%P   610 p. + CD-ROM
%T   "Lotus Notes Certification: Application Development and System
         Administration"

This book is an exam preparation guide for exams 190-171, 190-172,
190-174, and 190-175 of the Certified Lotus Professional (CLP) program
based on Lotus Notes version 4.0.  These four exams are the basis of
the CLP Application Developer and System Administrator designations.

The book is divided into four parts, for the four different exams. 
Part one covers Application Development I, with chapters on developing
Notes applications, forms, formulae and agents, and views. 
Application Development II deals with workflow applications and form
design, advanced fields and formulas, advanced view concepts, agents
and actions, and securing applications.  System Administration I has
chapters on infrastructure design, server installation, server
administration, domain address book structure, and security.  System
Administration II discusses advanced installation and advanced
security.

The text is somewhat tutorial in nature, but since the intention is
exam preparation rather than teaching, content can be rather sparse. 
The authors have no compunction about saying that a certain topic will
not be requested on a test, and then dealing with it no more.  The
organization of the information is by menu and dialogue box, even
where the topic deals with design or other conceptual subjects, so
that the work appears similar to a piece of operating documentation. 
Explanations, where included, are generally clear and meaningful. 
Notes, tips, and traps are strewn throughout the book.  Some refer to
suggested exam preparation or writing strategies, but most deal with
the program itself, such as information about year 2000 compliance in
Notes.

The sample questions at the end of each chapter tend to be a trifle
simplistic.  However, each answer is fully explained, which makes this
a more helpful book than others of similar ilk.

Even in a section as basic as the introduction, there is repetitive
material, and an odd sense of disorganization.  A paragraph found on
page two is copied, with the addition of three words, on page ten. 
The whole of page nine deals with registering for exams through a
certain testing company, while immediately overleaf the reader is
informed that Lotus may no longer be using that company's services.

The proof of an exam prep is in the writing of the exam, but this book
appears well suited to the task.  The exam based orientation of the
text makes it somewhat difficult to use as a general reference, but as
a basic introduction it seems to work as well.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1997   BKLNCEGA.RVW   971210