NoteMan.Editor is one of the four tools in the NoteMan product suite. It's packed full of features any developer will want to have. One major benefit of this product is it's written in pure LotusScript. You can use NoteMan.Editor on any platform that supports IBM Lotus Notes 6/5, because it doesn't use any plug-ins, DLLs, or API calls to get the job done. Everything the product requires is stored inside its own database, making installation a snap as well.

After installation, you have two new icons on your toolbar: One for NoteMan.Editor, and one for a multi-document editor (more on that later). When you first use it, the GUI may be a bit intimidating. There are a lot of features packed into one page (figure 1). Keep in mind NoteMan.Editor only uses the GUI features available for any Notes client application, so the look and feel may be a bit limited. You may notice some flickering when opening the editor depending on your PC, video card, and/or memory. I used it on a Pentium III 500 MHz and didn't notice anything unusual.

The editor is divided into sections starting with Database, Note Collection, Note, Note Properties, and Modify Items. You can expand or collapse each section depending on your needs. One way to view a document's data is to highlight the document from a view and click on the NoteMan.Editor icon. All the document properties display. Another option is to expand the Note Collection section where you can use a view, a formula, or a search query to list documents in a list box, then just select one to display. This selection process lets you see all document types (including profile documents). There's no need to create special views to get to any of the documents. You can also change databases from within NoteMan.Editor—just enter the server, database name, or replica ID.

I use three areas the most in the editor. The Notes Properties section gives you a quick overview of the Readers and Authors fields for the document. This lists all the readers and authors for the document, even if they're contained in more than one field. If you want to see a breakdown by field, you have to look at the Modify Items section or at the bottom of the form where all the document fields and values are listed. Modify Items is a powerful tool. Select a field, and it lists all the field properties and values. It lets you change the value of the field, and the type (e.g., Text to Number). This feature is excellent for testing, because you can change values and field types quickly. It's also nice to be able to change a field value and not have to worry about creating a form or agent.

Modifying data is fairly simple. Select the field, change the properties or values, and click on the checkbox button. The changes aren't saved to the document until you click on the checkbox for Notes changes. This lets you change your mind. You can change several fields at once and then save them to the document, which means less network traffic and faster updates.

Another notable feature is the Multi Document Editor. This lets you update a field on multiple documents at once. It's handy when testing and resetting flags back to some status. Just select the documents from a view and click on the Multi icon. Select the field to modify and enter the new value. You can type in a literal value or use a formula to populate the field. The only problem I've found with this tool is you shouldn't have a copy of the database open in both Designer and the Notes client, or you may receive an error. This is a small price to pay for the power it delivers.

Must-have developer tool

MartinScott NoteMan.Editor is invaluable for working on Domino databases, and I use it on a daily basis. There are many more features I haven't discussed in this article. The Help files are excellent (and truly helpful).

After using NoteMan.Editor for a while and becoming familiar with interface and options, I consider this product a "must have" addition to my developer's toolbox.

-- Scot Haberman