Since the beginning of 2018, Teamstudio Export has been helping organizations archive their old Lotus Notes databases, creating easy-to-navigate, web based archives that allow users to search and view data. Since that time, we have been striving to create ever more faithful reproductions of the look and feel of the original Notes database in the archive. In other words, we attempt to recreate, as closely as possible, the same user experience in the archive as the user would have had by viewing the database in a Notes client.
With each new release of Export, we add new features that enhance that user experience. And version 4.3 of Export, released today, is no exception.
We’ve added two significant new features in this version of Export, and neither of them require regeneration of the XML archive. If it’s not exactly clear what that means, allow me to explain. Going from a native Notes/Domino database (.NTF) to a freestanding HTML web site that you can distribute to users, is a two-step process. First, Export creates a full, XML-based archive of the database. Once the XML is created, there is typically no need for the Notes database any more - every aspect of the original database is exported to the XML archive.
The second step in the process is to create either a pure HTML based site, or to convert the Notes documents to PDF files that can be uploaded into a content management system. The new features in Export 4.3 only require the second part of the process to be executed, so if you have already deleted the old Notes databases, you can still benefit from the new version simply by recreating the HTML or PDF output from the XML archives.
This new version of Export adds support for embedded views and stored forms.
Embedded View Support
Export will now create a representation of embedded views when exporting to HTML or PDF. Most embedded views can be exported, but there are a couple of limitations:
The view must be in the current database.
The embedded view must have the Show Single Category option set.
Exporting embedded views will slow down the export process a little. The current implementation has been optimized for views up to a few hundred thousand entries. If you have significantly larger views and encounter performance problems, please contact support.
Stored Forms
Notes/Domino allows a developer to store a copy of the form design with each document. While that may seem odd to the uninitiated, there are some unusual circumstances where it’s a good idea. Previous versions of Export, on encountering a document with a stored form within it, would use the database default form to attempt to render the document.
Export 4.3 will now honor a stored form stored with a document rather than defaulting to the database default form. You may encounter situations where the stored form rendering is missing some aspects of the original Notes document. Please contact support if you run into this.
In addition to these two major features, there are many other fixes and updates to the product. You can read all the detail on the Export Release Notes page.
The new version of Export can be downloaded from the download page on teamstudio.com. If you have a current active subscription, you can download the latest version at any time and your existing serial number and key will work with the new version.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!