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HCL Domino Designer User Guide and Reference
This guide provides information on using HCL Domino Designer and programming language reference information.
LotusScript/COM/OLE Classes
LotusScript® Classes Coding Guidelines
The following topics cover some general guidelines for writing LotusScript® code using Domino® objects:
Accessing Domino® databases
Opening a database
The New method for the NotesDatabase class opens an existing database if you specify the file name as the second argument. The New method does not create a database. The first argument specifies the server and defaults (empty string) to the local Domino® directory.

HCL Domino Designer User Guide and Reference
This guide provides information on using HCL Domino Designer and programming language reference information.
- What's new in Domino Designer 14.5?
  The following features are new for developers in HCL Domino® Designer 14.5.
- What's new in Nomad Designer?
  HCL Nomad for web browsers v1.0.10 introduces the capability to design Notes databases. For more information, see HCL Nomad for web browsers User Documentation, Nomad web Designer.
- Accessibility and keyboard shortcuts
  Accessibility features assist users who have a disability, such as restricted mobility or limited vision, to use information technology content successfully.
- Application Design
  Welcome to the Application Design section of Domino® Designer Help.
- Application Management
  Welcome to the Application Management section of Domino® Designer Help.
- Domino® Query Language
  Domino® Query Language (DQL) is a facility running on a Domino server that provides a terse, shorthand syntax for finding documents. It supports a wide variety and complexity of search terms. It leverages existing design elements, avoiding the need to write detailed code to access them. DQL consolidates all methods in Domino for searching document contents.
- Composite Applications - Design and Management
  Composite applications are a key element in a service-oriented architecture (SOA) and contextual collaboration strategy. The ability to create and edit composite applications lets you easily integrate different types of components and technologies.
- DB2® Access views
  Domino® Designer includes two types of design elements to assist you in managing data contained in DB2® enabled Notes® databases:
- Programming Overview and User Interface
  This section contains general guidelines and examples that show where to use Java, LotusScript, and the formula language.
- Formula Language
  This section documents the formula language.
- LotusScript® Language
  Welcome to the LotusScript® Language section of Domino® Designer Help.
- LotusScript/COM/OLE Classes
  - LotusScript® Classes Coding Guidelines
    The following topics cover some general guidelines for writing LotusScript® code using Domino® objects:
    - Using the Domino® classes
      Domino® Designer defines LotusScript® classes that allow you to access Domino structures on two levels:
    - Using LotusScript® features in Domino®
      All LotusScript® features work in Domino® exactly as specified in generic LotusScript, with the following exceptions and clarifications:
    - Accessing Domino® databases
      - Accessing database properties
        The following table lists the NotesDatabase properties:
      - Locating a database on a server and local disk
      - Opening a database
        The New method for the NotesDatabase class opens an existing database if you specify the file name as the second argument. The New method does not create a database. The first argument specifies the server and defaults (empty string) to the local Domino® directory.
        Examples: Opening a database
      - Creating and deleting a database
        Use one of the following methods to create a database. The New method does not create a database.
      - Accessing an outline
      - Examining and adjusting an access control list
        You examine and adjust the access control list (ACL) of a database through objects of the following classes:
      - Examining and adjusting database replication settings
      - Accessing a document in LotusScript®
      - Accessing a form
        You can access existing forms in a database as follows:
    - Accessing views and folders
    - Accessing documents in LotusScript® classes
    - Accessing items in LotusScript® classes
    - Accessing rich text items in LotusScript® classes
    - Accessing sessions
    - Accessing supporting Domino® objects
    - Handling run-time errors
    - Accessing the Domino® Objects through COM
    - Using OLE
      The Notes® client is an OLE automation controller and server.
    - Using OLE custom controls
      You can embed OLE custom controls in Domino® Designer forms and write scripts for them just as you can for a native object. When a control is active (has focus), the menu is a combination of Domino Designer (File, Applet, and Window) and control items. The control menu items may include one for itself (for example, "Spreadsheet" for a spreadsheet control) and Help--the control help is substituted for Domino Designer help.
  - LotusScript® Classes A-Z
    This documentation lists each class, property, and method in the Domino® class library. Each class is followed by an alphabetical listing of the properties for that class and an alphabetical listing of the methods for that class. To find the property or method you want, turn to the class to which the property or method belongs.
  - LotusScript® Classes Tutorial
    Welcome to LotusScript® and Domino®. "LotusScript Classes Tutorial" consists of three lessons designed to introduce you to using the LotusScript language in Domino. Each lesson includes:
- Java/CORBA Classes
  This section documents the Java/CORBA classes.
- Connectors
  Connectors provide native access to a wide variety of DBMS products, ODBC, the platform File system, Enterprise Resource Planning systems, and Transaction Processing systems.
- Javadoc™ for Domino® Designer related APIs
  As part of providing additional Java™ reference documentation, Domino® Designer ships with a help plugin that contains Javadoc™ for additional Domino Designer related APIs.

Opening a database

The New method for the NotesDatabase class opens an existing database if you specify the file name as the second argument. The New method does not create a database. The first argument specifies the server and defaults (empty string) to the local Domino® directory.

The second argument specifies the file name of the database. If you specify an empty string here, you must later use one of the Open methods to open the database. If you are running on a server and opening a database on that server, specify the first argument as an empty string.

Use the CurrentDatabase property of NotesSession to access the current database. The current database does not have to be opened.

To open a database for which you have set an object, for example, using the OpenDatabaseIfModified or GetNextDatabase method of NotesDbDirectory, use the Open method with two empty strings for the arguments.

Use the OpenByReplicaID method to open a database where the server and replica ID are known. You can obtain the replica ID from a database that is already open with the ReplicaID property.

The OpenIfModified method opens a database only if it was modified after a specified date.

The OpenMail method opens the user's mail database.

The OpenWithFailover method opens a database on a server. If the database is not on the server but the server is part of a cluster, this method attempts to open the database on the other servers in the cluster.

The following actions can be performed on a database:

Compact compacts a local database.
CompactWithOptions compacts a local database allowing the submission of options.
SetOption sets the value of a database option.
Sign signs elements in a database with the signature of the current user.