Creating, updating, and deleting directory and database links

Directory links and database links are text files that appear as directory or database icons in the Domino® data directory. In the Domino® Administrator and in the Open Application dialog box in the Notes® client, directory links appear to the user as a directory folder icon, and database links appear as a database icon.

About this task

Create the directory link to point to a subdirectory, not to a root directory. For example, create the directory link PROJECTS.DIR to point to the directory D:\PROJECTS\SALES. On a Domino® Server for UNIX™, a DIR file can point to /sales but not to /.

Create the database link using the complete path and file name of the database you want to link to. For example, create the database link SALES.NSF to point to the database D:\PROJECTS\SALES\SALES.NSF. Domino® automatically appends the NSF extension to the database name. If you want to move a linked database to another location, delete the old link, create a new database link, and move the database to the new location. When you delete the database link, you remove the link, but not the database link references.

To create or update a link

Use links to organize databases on servers. Create a directory folder link to point users to directories outside of the Domino® data directory. Create a database link to point users to a single database stored in the Domino® data directory, in subdirectories of the Domino® data directory, or in a directory outside the Domino® data directory.

Procedure

  1. From the Domino® Administrator Server list, select the name of the server on which to create the link. This server can be local or remote.
  2. Click the Files tab, and then choose Tools > Folder > New Link or Tools > Folder > Update Link.

    Alternatively, from the Files menu, click New > Link or Update Link.

  3. In the Link name box, enter a name for the link as the link name should appear to the user.

    Domino® automatically appends a DIR extension to the file name for a directory link and an NSF extension for a database link.

  4. Next to Link to a, choose Folder for a directory link or Database for a database link.
  5. In the Path and filename to that folder or database box, enter the complete path to the directory or database to which the link points. Be sure to move the database named in this step to the directory you specify here.

    For example, for a directory link, enter the directory path, D:\PROJECT\SALES. For a database link, enter the complete directory and file name path, D:\PROJECT\SALES\SALES.NSF.

  6. Optional: To restrict access to a linked directory, enter the names of specific users to whom you want to grant access in the Who should be able to access this link? box. Click the person icon to select the names or groups from the Domino® Directory that you want to have access to the link.
    Note: The database ACL, not the database link, controls access to individual databases that have database links.
  7. Click OK.

What to do next

To verify that the link was created, click the refresh icon.

To prevent Web browser users from using directory links, edit the NOTES.INI file to include the settingDominoNoDirLinks=1.

To delete a link

Procedure

  1. From the Domino® Administrator Server list, select the name of the server.
  2. Click the Files tab, and then select the directory or database link to delete.
  3. Choose Tools > Folder > Delete, and then click Yes.

What to do next

To verify that the link was deleted, click the refresh icon. View the result in the Results pane.