Database Change Management

1) Have the programmer supply you with a template updated with her changes. Confirm that the new template's ACL matches the existing template (if there is one). (To add the existing template to your workspace, do a File-Database-Open and specify the actual file name in the bottom box (Eg. ABC.ntf). The template's filename will be the same as the database's filename except the filetype will be NTF rather than NSF. Note: This assumes that you have placed the new template in C:notesdata on your PC.)

2) Confirm that the new template has a file type of NTF and that in it's properties it specifies that it is a template and that its name matches up with the template name in the database(s) that use it.

3) Confirm that the programmer has documented what she has changed in the About This Database document in the template. (What better place to keep an audit trail of the changes than right there in the template.)

Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT Database LotusScript code rebuilds corrupted busytime.nsf file How to move Notes databases off Domino 8 servers and save disk space Top 10 Lotus Notes/Domino administration tips of 2008 Batch file runs scheduled Lotus Notes database maintenance tasks Fix and update Lotus Notes documents with limited access Programmatically replace the design of Lotus Notes databases Add a program doc to compact Lotus Notes databases automatically More efficient local Lotus Notes database replication Remove orphaned Lotus Notes documents on Domino databases with a 'virtual delete' Detect and fix 'Manager' access control list settings in Lotus Notes Domino

RELATED RESOURCES 2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary

4) Backup the existing template to your Local. Since the new template is probably on your Local, you'll have to give the backup a different file name. (E.g. If the template is called "ABC Template" and the file name is ABC.ntf, I would File-Database-New Copy it to my local as "Bkp ABC Template" with a file name of bkp_ABC.ntf)

5) File-Database-New Copy the template to your production Notes server, replacing the existing one.

6) If you're using release 5 you'll need to sign the template with a master blaster userid that won't generate those pesky Execution Security Alerts on your clients' workstations.

7) If the programmer would like the design changes to take place immediately, do a File-Database-Refresh Design on the appropriate database. (Note: If the database has replicas, these need not have their design refreshed since they will refresh automatically at the next replication.) If you prefer not to do this, the design will refresh automatically at 1:00 a.m. the next morning when the Design task runs on the Notes server.

Rate this Tip To rate tips, you must be a member of SearchDomino.com. Register now to start rating these tips. Log in if you are already a member. DISCLAIMER: Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.