How to automatically delete old files 1

[pengbsam]

Hello All:
I am very new at lotus notes. Actually justed started using this few weeks ago. I wanted find a way to archive my old email. My plan is to have all old files be automatically backup to my local machine, and delete 30 day old email so server database always have space for new ones. So far, I found out how to use replica to automatically backup my file to my location folder. But I still don't know how to get notes delete the old files. <B>Thanx in advance if you can help! ^_^<B>

 

[pmonett]

If you do backups via replication, you can set your mail file on the server to not replicate deletions. That way, you can replicate to your location folder and then delete the "old" mail - which will remain archived in your replica.
To do so, while reading your mail open the Properties box (should be the first icon under the File option in your menu). With the Properties box, choose the Database option in the box title. In the Settings section, click on the Replication Setting button.
In the dialog box that opens, choose the Send option in the left menu. Now you can click the first option : "do not send deletions ...". That should solve that part.

Now, what we need to do is find an easy way to choose old mail. Since you are new to Notes, I'm not going to suggest any programming. That would probably be too confusing, therefor risky.
I am going to suggest that you use the view All Documents. In this view, you have a Date column. You can click on the column header to change the sort by Date/Descending. That means that you have your mail sorted by most recent to oldest. Now, you can manually go and select that date at which you want to cut off "live" storage. From that document on down, just put your mouse curser in the left margin and click and hold the left mouse button. Pull the mouse down a bit, and you'll be selecting everything you want to rid the database of.
Once you have got to the bottom, you can let go the mouse button and press Del on your keyboard. I suppose that you know how deletion works.
I know this is manual, but it is also simple enough to be useful. Think about and post your comments below.

You could set up an archive profile, and archive your mail instead of replicating it. If you wish, we can talk about that option.

Pascal.

 

[pengbsam]

I have no experience in Lotus programming at all. But I am experienced in VB, C/C++. Is there anything I can start doing to learn programming in lotus? Any website? or books?

 

[pmonett]

Of course there are. You can start with familiarizing yourself with NotesDesign, a site dedicated to helping beginner programmers.
I also suggest reading the content of the Designer Help database (installed with the Designer Client). Most of the time, it is very well written. The only gripe I have with it is that Examples tend to be short, and always cover the simple versions of the instruction, not the complicated ones (which are obviously the ones you need more help with).
Since you state you're an experienced coder, then you should quickly be at home with LotusScript in itself. I might ruffle some feathers here, but it is a lot like VB in its structure.
However, a Notes db structure is like nothing you have ever worked with before. Bear that in mind when coding for Notes - even if the language is familiar, you are in uncharted territory.

Good luck !

Pascal.

 

[pengbsam]

Thank You very much pmonett!!
You have been very very helpful... I will take your suggestion and dig into it!
"Bear that in mind when coding for Notes - even if the language is familiar, you are in uncharted territory." Sounds very interesting!! hehe ^_^