Widgets and the Widget catalog actually came along in 8.01 or 8.02. They were first created/used in something called a "Toolbox". 
Users can create a local widget catalog and add widgets to show up in their Standard 8.x client's sidebar. It's better to deploy one on a server so that all users can get the companies widgets. 
 
You can create widgets from a Notes element (form, view, etc) or use an existing widget (e.g. Google Gadgets). However, apple dashboard ones, don't work. They are too different. Once a widget is added, live text can be used to recognize an address to map, a phone number to dial, etc. 
 
To create a widget catalog: 
1. Create the new catalog. File --> Application --> New. Choose the server and the template, Toolbox.nsf. 
2. Setup the ACL.  
a. Users who will administer this catalog should have Editor access or higher and the [Admins] role. 
b. Users who will just download/use the catalog can have Reader access. 
3. Create categories for the Catalog's widgets in the Administration/Keyword view. 
4. Enabled the Toolbox Sweeper agent, in the Designer. This agents checks the widgets and if one is added that's not properly added/populated, the widget is removed from the user views and placed in the Administration/Document Queue view. The administrators get an e-mail, too, so they can kill it or fix it. 
 
A local Copy of the toolbox is created locally on the user's machines and updated on a 24 hours schedule (by default). 
 
Widgets are maintained either by Domino policy (Desktop Settings document --> Widget tab) or by editing the PLUGIN_CUSTOMIZATION.INI file (<install dir/framework/rcp/plugin_customization.ini). Policy settings take precedence over file settings. 
 
To assign users by Policy: 
1. Edit the Desktop Settings document (or create a new one and add the the policy). 
2. Switch to the Widgets tab. Under Widget Settings: 
Widget catalog server: myserver/Mydomain 
Widget catalog application name: toolbox.nsf (or the name you used) 
Widget catalog categories to install: <category name> (if you want to force down some widgets) 
Enable Live text: Enabled. 
<other fields as desired> 
3. Save and close the settings document. 
4. Now when users go to add a widget, from the sidebar window. (By clicking the Browse the Widget Catalog icon in the Widget window with the toolbox icon.) 
 
 
Bonus Info on Desktop Policy Custom Settings: 
 
INI Parameters: 
com.ibm.notes.branding/enable.update.ui=true 
This allows the File --> Application --> Install option to be displayed. 
(This functionality is supplied via the Eclipse Update Manager (EUM).) 
 
(not used much, just here for easy reference) 
com.ibm.rcp.security.update/UNTRUSTED_SIGNATURE_POLICY=PROMPT 
com.ibm.rcp.security.update/EXPIRED_SIGNATURE_POLICY=PROMPT 
com.ibm.rcp.security.update/UNSIGNED_PLUGIN_POLICY=PROMPT 
 
Managed Settings  
- Set Sametime Community Server: 
/instance/com.ibm.rtc.meetings.shelf/stms1354024510799;communityServerName=sametime.mindwatering.net 
- Set Meetings Server: 
/instance/com.ibm.rtc.meetings.shelf/stms1354024510799;meetings.serverName =meetings.mindwatering.net 
 
Note: 
Enter in this order: 
Name: authServerUrl 
Value: gpcst2.gracepacificcorp.com 
Plugin: com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.community 
Enforce - <checked> 
 
. . . Gives you this:
authServerUrl=gpcst2.gracepacificcorp.com; com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.community, Enforce 
  
previous page
 
   |