What is Database Type for?

HCL Domino Domino Forum
1

I’ve been developing apps for Notes and Domino for a long time now, so I’m almost too embarassed to ask this. I’ve never really paid much attention to the Database Type, but now, in Release 6, the number of database types has increased significantly. I first noticed the new types when looking at the freaky design of the Mobile Directory, and now my curiousity is piqued.

Can someone please tell me the significance of these types, and are there any benefits of choosing one type over the other? Our Domino Directory has the Domino Directory Type, and our Mobile Directory is a Directory Catalog, but most of our databases have Standard as their type. That wouldn’t surprise me so much if there weren’t a Mail File type now, which doesn’t seem to be used even on new mail files using the new templates. Also, I haven’t been able to find any documentation for types other than as related to the LotusScript and Java Properties, but those just define the different types, not what they actually do. Are there benefits to choosing a certain type over another? Are there problems with choosing a type which doesn’t fit the purpose of the database? Is it just a way to categorize the databases? Inquiring minds want to know!

2

Subject: What is Database Type for?

http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/46dom.nsf/55c38d716d632d9b8525689b005ba1c0/50488c8795c92a4e85256d500066707e?OpenDocument

3

Subject: What is Database Type for?

After following the link from Joydeep Gupta, I took a look at the Domino Designer 6: A Developer’s Handbook Redbook, and found the following:

Standard - This type is used most of the time. Unless you have a specific reason for specifying the database as something else(such as, the database is a Domino Directory), the database type should be Standard.

Library - This type is generally created from the Database library template. It’s used to record and store information about the databases located on a Domino server or on a workstation, which provides an easy way for users to browse the list of databases available to them.

Personal Journal - This database type is a place for you to store private documents you don’t want to share with others. You can use the personal journal as a diary, a notebook, or as a holding place to compose documents before they are ready for distribution.

Domino Directory - This type creates a database based on the Domino Directory format.

Directory Catalog - This type creates a database based on the Domino Directory format, but with fewer features than the full Address Book.

Multi DB Search - This type is used to specify a database type of Search Through Multiple Databases, which uses the SRCHSITE.NTF template. This type of database is used to configure searches among databases that have been designated to participate in Multi Database indexing by selecting the appropriate option in the Design tab of the database InfoBox.

Portfolio - This type allows users to keep a collection of databases that are used frequently, or that are related.

IMAP Server Proxy - Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is used to send and receive electronic mail, using the internet.

News Server Proxy - This type allows users to keep a collection of news groups and conversations about news.

Subscriptions - This type is used to keep track of user subscriptions to various databases, and is used by the headlines databases.

Mailbox - This type is used for mailing purposes. Note that this is not a user mail file, with Inbox and Sent folders; instead, it is used by the mail routing process to hold mail until it can be delivered to a user.

Mail File

4

Subject: cool, thanks for sharing

5

Subject: What is Database Type for?

as far as i know there has never been any article or documentation that lists all db types and their meanings.

the database type isn’t just for categorization, e.g. there’s a difference if type is “Domino Directory”, than some fields are write-protected by default. Other types could be used by server to “special treat” those databases (for performance or whatever).

but most files that are created at installation or automatically by notes/domino will just have the right tpye, so maybe there’s no real need for documentation?

i’ve never seen any difference between mailfiles that have tpye “mail file”, most i’ve seen have type “standard”. at least in r5 mailfiles created are set to standard by default.

and setting your dbs to a type that “doesn’t fit” could well crash server / client.

Markus Seitz

markus.seitz@icodex.com