How to correctly use the GetDocumentByUnid method in LotusScript

• Marcel Dupont
• Published: 10 Dec 2007

Domino developers typically try to retrieve Lotus Notes documents by using the GetDocumentByUnid method in LotusScript like this:

set doc = db.Getdocumentbyunid(unid$)
if doc is nothing then
 ' Do something
else
 ' Do something
end if

This is actually an incorrect way of implementing the GetDocumentByUnid in LotusScript. When the GetDocumentByUnid method doesn't find a Lotus Notes document, it gives an error message. Also, if used improperly, it may return an irrelevant "ghost" Lotus Notes document, also known as a deletion stub.

Use this LotusScript function instead to correctly and safely return a relevant Lotus Notes document (or nothing, if there isn't one):

set doc = DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid
(db, unid$) if doc is nothing then
 ' Do something
else
 ' Do something
end if

Here is the LotusScript function:

Function DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid
(db As NotesDatabase, unid$) 
As NotesDocument
 
On Error 4091 Resume Next

Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid = 
Nothing

Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid = 
db.GetDocumentByUnid(unid$)

If Err = 4091 And 
( DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid Is Nothing ) 
Then
Err = 0
Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid = Nothing
Exit Function
End If

If DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid Is Nothing Then
Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid = Nothing
Exit Function
End If
 
If DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.Size = 0 
Or DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.UniversalID = 
"" Or DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.IsDeleted 
Then
Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid = Nothing
Exit Function 
End If
 
End Function

MEMBER FEEDBACK TO THIS TIP

I would add one additional check to the bottom of this method, which I think is an excellent example of code reuse and data abstraction in LotusScript.

I would modify the following block of code:

If DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.Size = 0 
Or DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.UniversalID = 
"" Or DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.IsDeleted 
Then
Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid = Nothing
Exit Function 
End If

I would include an additional check for .IsValid. The .IsValid command will tell you if the document is initially in existence (not a deletion stub). Because deletion stubs are visible from the indexer, any Lotus Notes documents that are deleted before the indexer runs will not be valid -- but they won't appear as deleted either. You must check for .IsValid as well. Try the following:

 
If DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.Size = 0 Or _
  DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.UniversalID = "" Or _
  DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.IsDeleted Or _ 
   (Not DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.IsValid) Then
     Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid = Nothing
     Exit Function 
End If

—Todd F.

******************************************

To accomplish this, I simply use GetDocumentByUnid and code similar to:

If not (doc is nothing) then

If doc.IsValid And Not doc.IsDeleted Then…

—Larry D.

******************************************

This is how this function should have been written:

Function DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid
(db As NotesDatabase, unid$) As NotesDocument
      On Error Goto ErrorHandler

      Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid = Nothing
      Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid =  
db.GetDocumentByUnid(unid$)

      If DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid Is Nothing Then
            Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid = Nothing
      Else
            If DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.Size = 0 Or _
            DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.UniversalID = "" Or _
            DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid.IsDeleted  Then
                  Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid = Nothing
            End If
      End If
      Exit Function

ErrorHandler:
      If Err = 4091 Then
            If DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid Is Nothing Then
                  Set DatabaseGetDocumentByUnid = Nothing
            End If
            Resume Next
      Else
            Resume ExitWithError
      End If
ExitWithError:
End Function

—David D.

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