veiwing lotus docs outside the server

If you need to view documents contained in an .nsf file, you'll need to install the Notes client first.  You'll also need a valid notes id to gain access to that .nsf file.  

so I can't set up shares that go to the documents so they could be viewed outside the lotus environment?

thanks,

DOn

No. U can't have any other alternative than installing Notes client. This easily can be done.
Download Notes client from notes.net which is free and u need to have a user.id to view those docs.

While installing Client, it asks whether u want to connect to server or not. Don't select Connect to Domino server.
And try to open client after installing and open the database.

Not sure what you mean by "outside the server."  If you mean "these documents were created ina Notes database that is not on our Domino server," then, yes, you can access them as a local file, e.g.,  a file share.  But there are some severe limitation to that.

Instead, why not just replicate the databse up to a Notes server where it will truly be shareable.

(In any case, users will need a Notes client to access the data locally/via share.  If on a Domino server, they will need either a Notes client, or, if the database and server are set up for web access, they can access via a browser.)

Some broad information to help you understand all of this:
Notes data is always stored in a database (filename.NSF).  The database is a proprietary format, and is only accessible via the Notes API -- which is what the Notes client and the Domino server use for all data operations.

The documents within the database are not documents in teh sense of a Word or Acrobat document -- they aren't just files embedded in the Notes database.  They are records containing fields.  Again, the Notes API can read and manipulate such doucmnets, and Notes.Domino does so via the API.

Notes databases can sit on a Domino server, or be local to a Notes client.  The file format is exactly the same, and you can in fact copy the entire database file from client to server or server to client. The server does not provide access as a file share -- the server responds to Remote Procedure Call (RPC) requests to open and manipulate its databases.  Most API calls can either be local or remote, so that the client can access local data, or have the server execute each request on its behalf for server databases.

Notes databases CAN'T be accessed by more than one file handle. Ergo, you can't have two users acess a file via a fle share simultaneously.  The Domino server is there to provide shared access.

Notes and Domino have a replication engine that allows clients to synchronize local database copies with server copies, or for multiple servers to synchronize their individual copies of databases.  If you have multiple users accessing a local copy (not at the same time, since that is impossible), the replication scheme can get fouled due to differents ecurity rights for the users.

I mean the documents are on the notes server and I want them to be accessible from file shares on other network domains.

thanks

dprice7,

You absolutely can't do that.  When Domino has them open, they will not be shareable.  If someone hooks into a share when Domino does not have it open, then Domino will hiccup when a user legitimately accesses it via Domino.


Plus, it seems kind of pointless.  If you have a user who wants to access these documents and has a Notes client, that user can access them via the Domino server, with all functionality preserved.  If that user does not have a Notes client, the user won't be able to use teh share anyway, because of the proprietary Notes database format.

The exception would be the user who has a Notes client, but is not certfied to access the server, or is not authorized to access the dataase.  Accesing the database is easily solved -- add user to ACL.  Accessing server is also easily solved, but requires more steps -- you need to get cross-certified.

If any of this doesn't make sense, ask, I'll explain in detail.  Main thing is, the whle requirement does not make sense to me as stated.

- qwaletee

qwaletee,


The thought behind my question is right now I have to store forms for users in two places because not everybody has access to the Lotus notes server. Some people only have access to our domain network which stores the forms in another format.

thanks,

Don

Possibilities
- using a browser (if the app has upload capabilities or you only need read-access)
- using Domino.Doc
- give everybody Notes access

Probably the latter is the cheapest solution if uploading is a requirement.