NotesLib

NotesLib is a library of Python classes for manipulating (Lotus/IBM/HCL) Notes/Domino objects via COM.

NotesLib was created by Robert Follek, and the current maintainer is Marcelo Huerta.

(Please don't ask Robert about NotesLib, though: he released the code in text form some time ago, he doesn't work with Notes any more and the whole idea of updating the code and uploading it to PyPI can only be blamed on Marcelo. Who is not working actively with Notes at this time, so... responses can be slow.)

NotesLib depends on a proper installation and configuration of a Notes client on a Windows computer, as it interacts with the COM server that is part of a Notes installation for Windows and it expects a complete local configuration in place.

The Python version to be installed should be 32- or 64-bits depending on the version of the underlying COM server providing the objects accessed by the library. This means that for a Notes client up to version 11.x, you should install a 32-bit Python. Version 12.x is the first of the Notes clients to be 64-bit, so the COM server is also, and you need a 64-bit Python to interact with it.

---

We've received information that the COM server in version 12.0 and 12.0.1 had bugs and HCL solved the specific problems found in version 12.0.2. Caveat emptor: any underlying problems with the COM server are beyond the scope of this library.

---

The NotesLib classes correspond to the standard LotusScript classes; they support all the standard properties and methods. The NotesLib classes have additional methods and ease-of-use features. See below the details for the individual classes.

Classes available so far:

• Session
• Database
• ACL
• ACLEntry

Session

The Session class creates an COM connection to Notes. It supports all the properties and methods of the LotusScript NotesSession class, using the same syntax.

To create a Session object:

s = noteslib.Session(password)

or

s = noteslib.Session()

The password is optional; if you don't provide it, Notes will prompt you for a password.

Example:

>>> import noteslib
>>> s = noteslib.Session("password")
>>> s.NotesBuildVersion
166
>>> s.GetEnvironmentString("Directory", -1)
'd:\\notes5.8\\Data'
>>>

Session is a singleton - multiple Session variables share one Session object. You can instantiate Sessions as needed without a performance penalty, and you only have to establish a password once. Example:

>>> a = noteslib.Session(password)
>>> id(a)
8429868
>>> b = noteslib.Session()
>>> id(b)
8429868

Database

The Database class creates an COM connection to a Notes database. It supports all the properties and methods of the LotusScript NotesDatabase class, using the same syntax.

You don't have to create a Session first. A Database object creates its own Session automatically.

To create a Database object:

db = noteslib.Database(server, database_file, password)

or

db = noteslib.Database(server, database_file)

Example:

>>> import noteslib
>>> db = noteslib.Database("NYNotes1", "ACLTest.nsf", "password")
>>> db.Created
pywintypes.datetime(2001, 6, 30, 11, 12, 40, tzinfo=TimeZoneInfo('GMT Standard Time', True))

Multiple Database objects created for the same database are unique objects, but they share the same handle to the underlying NotesDatabase object. You can instantiate Database objects as needed without a performance penalty. Example:

>>> a = noteslib.Database("NYNotes1", "ACLTest.nsf", "password")
>>> id(a)
15281724
>>> id(a._Database__handle)
15286172
>>> b = noteslib.Database("NYNotes1", "ACLTest.nsf")
>>> id(b)
15270044
>>> id(b._Database__handle)
15286172

a and b are different objects, but they share the same internal NotesDatabase object via the __handle variable.

ACL

The ACL class encapsulates a Notes database ACL. It supports all the properties and methods of the LotusScript NotesACL class, using the same syntax.

Additional features:

• You can print an ACL object. It knows how to format itself reasonably.
• getAllEntries() method - Returns the ACL contents as a list of ACLEntry objects, sorted by Name.

You don't have to create Session or Database objects first. An ACL object creates its own Session and Database objects automatically.

To create an ACL object:

acl = noteslib.ACL(server, database_file, password)

or

acl = noteslib.ACL(server, database_file)

Example:

>>> import noteslib
>>> acl = noteslib.ACL("NYNotes1", "ACLTest.nsf", "password")
>>> for entry in acl.getAllEntries():
...     print (entry.getName())
...
-Default-
Alice Author
Anonymous
bob
Dave Depositor
Donna Designer
LocalDomainServers
OtherDomainServers
Randy Reader

ACLEntry

The ACLEntry class encapsulates a Notes database ACL entry. It supports all the properties and methods of the LotusScript NotesACLEntry class, using the same syntax.

Additional features:

• You can print an ACLEntry object. It knows how to format itself reasonably.
• getName() method - Returns the entry name.
• getLevel() method - Returns the entry level.
• getRoles() method - Returns a list of entry roles, sorted alphabetically.
• getFlags() method - Returns a list of the ACLEntry flags, translated to strings.

These methods avoid the obvious names, e.g. getName() instead of name(), to avoid conflict with the existing NotesACLEntry properties.

Normally, you won't create an ACLEntry object directly. Instead, you can retrieve a list of ACLEntry objects from an ACL object, via its getAllEntries() method.

Example:

>>> import noteslib
>>> acl = noteslib.ACL("NYNotes1", "ACLTest.nsf", "password")
>>> print (acl.getAllEntries()[3])
Name : bob
Level: Manager
Role : [Role1]
Role : [Role2]
Role : [Role3]
Flag : Create Documents
Flag : Delete Documents
Flag : Create Personal Agents
Flag : Create Personal Folders/Views
Flag : Create Shared Folders/Views
Flag : Create LotusScript/Java Agent
Flag : Read Public Documents
Flag : Write Public Documents