We have some old code that suggests that default values can be assigned via the notes.ini file. I have of course heard of set and get coding logic for environment variables but the codes states that default values can be picked up through notes.ini if the variable is added to notes.ini. Can not find any suggestion in Help that this is true but I remember very vaguely that early releases of Notes might have supported this. Seems like a very bad design approach if true and I am hoping that it is not. Anybody able to comment on this?
Subject: How is notes.ini file treated in Notes Client app?
That’s where environment variables are stored. “User” variables will appear as .ini entries beginning with “$”:
$DefaultValue=My Value goes here
“System” variables do not have a “$”.
Subject: RE: How is notes.ini file treated in Notes Client app?
I am very aware of this logic which is tied of course to set and get coding logic for environment variables within the application. What I am concerned about is not this sort of thing but something that is manually added. Key question is can user enter a variable in ini file that is not among those supported by Notes and is not of the $ type you note. If I say FIELDA = 123 in notes.ini and I have a field called FIELDA on the form, what happens? In essence is this another way to try to do what you’d do with the $ variables? Very bad design approach if it really works this way.
Subject: RE: How is notes.ini file treated in Notes Client app?
What happens? Nothing happens, unless there is some LotusScript or Java code that is looking for a system-type environment variable named FieldA.
And there is no difference between entering the variables directly in an INI file and using environment variables; in fact, it can be a good way to deploy some types of values during an install.
Subject: RE: How is notes.ini file treated in Notes Client app?
Thanks! If I manually add it as $FIELDA = 123 does it do anything? I assume that I have to write code to get the value. Basically any way the app can see the notes.ini values without the normal coding for environment variables? I have alwats assumed you have to explictely get the value and that there is no “automajic” kind of thing.
Subject: RE: How is notes.ini file treated in Notes Client app?
You assume correctly. Those that are used automatically are reserved values called by the Notes client code itself. Any “weirdness” you add needs additional code to become useful – but it can be very useful if used wisely.