When you have many workstations to upgrade for each new release of Notes, it can be tedious or impossible to visit each desktop. Lotus provided an "Upgrade by Email" technique that works great -- IF you know the ins and outs.
To create the email message:
1) Go to the Admin Client
- Messaging (tab)
- Mail (tab)
- (action button) "Send Upgrade Notifications"
When you click this button, you will be creating a notice that you will send out to the specified user(s).
(A) Caveat #1 - No drop down is available for user names, type in the full hierarchical name (i.e.Ruth Inman/Seton). It IS a multi-value field, so you can type in multiple names separating with a comma.
(B) Caveat #2 - In the Build number field, I have found this to NOT work as described. If you want the user to be able to click the button labeled "Install Notes" in the email they receive, you will have to type in a build number higher than you know they have. The part that doesn't seem to work, is testing their build numbers. I used 168, since all tests come back showing 166 no matter what version they really have.
(C) Caveat #3 - Even though Lotus specifies that you should be able to use the machine name syntax (i.e. MacchineDir) to reference a network machine and directory to locate install software, we have found that to not work as well as mapped drive letters. IF you have a consistent lettering scheme on your network, it will work much better for you if you can use mapped drives.
There are 2 fields to fill in:
"Root path for Install kits":
k:InstallDirClientsW32Intel
"Path for Windows NT and Windows 95": You MUST modify this to the actual location or even just the file name of setup.exe
This works best if you use the first field to give the full path (ending in a ) and the 2nd field to just give the setup file name. (including the works well as shown above).
Above All.. Lotus has some updating to do as far as the text labels and pop-up text messages in this notice. DO NOT let this scare you! It does work! and it saves a lot of time...
Note: Even though this method is designed to perform TWO tasks (Installing Notes Client and Updating their mail file), If you prefer to use this to only perform ONE, that is also do-able.
If you want the button for "Upgrade Mail File" to not show up... simply go into the Form, in the names.nsf database, and HIDE the button.
I say this only to those that know how.. all others should call someone that knows how.
Cheers!
Ruth Inman
Seton Collaboration, Inc.
ruth.inman@SetonCollab.com
