Lotus Notes 8.5.3 InstallShield issues

It looks like 8.5.3 AllClient ( Notes client, admin, designer ) and Notes Client was shipped without the .itw file used for InstallShield. By accident I used the default.itw that came with the Install Shield program. If you do this you get an error like this:

"Tuner is unable to open the 'D:\temp\LotusNotes853AllClient\Lotus Notes 8.5.3.msi' MSI file. The ITW file prohibits opening of the MSI file."

And

"No Msi database is currently opened"

Also I tried using the 8.5.2 All Client "LotusNotes.itw" file because I read in a post somewhere that it would work. However, I get the same error:

Last I finally found a post to download the 8.5.3 itw file. Grab the lotusnotes8.5.3.itw here

missing nlnotes.exe on Lotus Domino 8.5.2?

I was on a Lotus Domino server 8.5.2 FP2 (64bit) server this morning and found the nlnotes.exe missing in the domino program directory. At first I thought it was deleted by mistake however, I found nlnotes.exe missing on 8.5.2 FP1 (64bit) too. I know nlnotes.exe is horrible to use on a server with all the issues associated but sometimes it's necessary. A quick Google search found some other people noticing it gone but no reason as to why.

So I just did a fresh install of Lotus Domino 8.5.2 (32bit) with no fix pack and nlnotes.exe is in the program directory. Also I looked at another Lotus Domino 8.5.2 FP1 (32bit) server and nlnotes.exe was there. So it looks like IBM didn't include nlnotes.exe with the Windows Lotus Domino 64bit server.

Lotus Notes Folders disappearing after expanding

I had a very odd issue with my lotus notes client using Lotus Notes Basic 8. I had another mail file that I would open up and it had a lot of folders ( I want to say around 200+ ) When I click on the plus symbol on the folder of a mail file the folders and everything beneath it would disappear! After a lot of research and testing I found that to many elements in the frame and navigator would cause this issue.

Some IBM articles state there is a character limit for folders. Another IBM article states it is a limitation of the navigator view. Either way to get around it is to either move folders inside other folders or start deleting folders. In this instance, views and folders are treated equally so if you have a bunch of unused views, delete them too. After a number of deletions your folders / views will not disappear after expanding them.

A way to check the number of folders a mail file has is to press and hold ctrl + shift, click on the view menu > go to
Doing this displays all the $named views that are hidden from the client. Find the view named ($FolderInfo). Once this view is opened, do a ctrl+a to select all folders and get an accurate count.

Do delete these folders, you must use designer if you have too many root folders. In the mean time you can open those folders using the press and hold ctrl+shift > view > go to.




Some links to articles ( note the Lotus Notes Version ):
Maximum character length and nesting levels for views and folders
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21099040
Folder/View limitation for Notes databases
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=swg21097770