Migrating from Lotus database to MySql and MSSqlServer

Question

I'm migrating an application and data from old lotus database / notes to 1) MySql and 2) MS Sql Server and .NET C#. I found an interop with the dominos.dll library, which has been flaky at best. Seeing this and being concerned about the port, they have asked me to support the old Lotus DB, and the new db's in tandem for 3 months (something I wasn't ready to do).

1. Is there a wizard or 3rd party tool to extract the schema and migrate into MySql or MSSql Server
2. Besides the domino.dll is there another option, to integrate programmatically
3. How can I safely support both in tandem for a short period of time - is there a sync or replay mechanisim

Answer 1

I've had to migrate Lotus Notes databases to SQL server based db's in the past. I've used two different methods:

1st: Notes agent to create CSV files - then import into SQL database

2nd: Use Lotus Enterprise Integrator (LEI) to translate data and populate SQL database.

1st method can be a pain but very flexible, 2nd method is easier if you have LEI but not as flexible. As you say, you could use the Notes driver and push data directly into SQL but you're effectively using the 1st method.

You may wish to extract the UNID and $REF fields from the source documents so that you can preserve the hierarchy of documents (parent/child).

If the underlying Notes Database contains objects (not text) in RTF fields then you will not capture this data using the above methods.

Have a look on youtube - there are some videos about migrating from Notes to Sharepoint - may give you some pointers. Best of luck, Phil

Answer 2

In short: There is no Schema for Lotus Notes Databases... Lotus Domino is a rapid development environment. Its databases contain documents, that can contain whatever data the designer of the app has designed them to contain. One database can contain various types of data and it is not even guaranteed, that every document of the same type (equals same Form in Domino) contains the same items, as definitions are not strict.

Documents can contain richtext and one ore more attachments, both not easy to handle when mogration to anpther database.

Functions can be written in Lotus Formula, LotusScript, Java, JavaScript and more.

Without a deep knowledge of the application or at least knowledge how to analyze one, it is nearly impossible to migrate it to another plattform. Keeping two plattforms at the same time and keep them in sync is a LOT of programming work.

Because of all the complexity there is no tool to buy, that can do this job for you...

There are a lot of possibilities to get domino data: Interop.dll, CORBA / DIIOP, Webservices, and even a SQL driver for domino databaes. But without knowing the database and without knowledge how to do this, all these are worth nothing.

Sorry to say, but you will need professional help, or it will be a never ending story of unsatisfied users and lost data and functionality...

Answer 3

Also, if you want to migrate data whilst the Notes database is still in use then the following has worked for me: You need a complete/final state for the Notes document - once complete prevent edits (with msg 'this data has been migrated etc') - migrate data and flag document as migrated - migration agent then only searches for documents with a status of 'complete' but not 'migrated'. used this method to migrate Northumbria eOASys db to standard NPD eOAsys whilst still in use. Long winded approach but works. Should really put some effort into developing an application to migrate Notes databases - quite an interesting project!