How to Merge NSF Files into a Single File in a Safe Manner?

Lotus Notes management is regarded as the foremost task not only for the administrator but also for users. Many IBM Lotus Notes users find it challenging to manage a large number of NSF databases. In this article, we’re going to learn how to merge NSF files into a single file so that file management becomes easy and effortless.

IBM Lotus Notes

Lotus Notes is not just a communication platform, it’s more than that. Being a collaborative platform, IBM Lotus Notes has smart features for communication and data sharing between two or multiple clients through Server connectivity. It’s a software suite containing multiple applications that have a different set of functionalities which include emailing, database creation/management, contacts, calendars, documentation, etc. In order to make the Lotus Notes management task easy and effortless, users create multiple NSF database files for separate purposes. However, this may lead to another Lotus Notes management issue. So let’s understand the procedure for how to merge nsf files.

Multiple NSF Database Files

It’s always difficult to manage or handle a large number of files. On the other hand, a single file is easily manageable. If you have multiple NSF database files, you may find it difficult to manage them. In such a situation, you should merge NSF files into a single file. There are two ways to do that:

• Either you can try an easy DIY trick
• Or you can use a 3rd NSF Merge tool

To determine how successful the result will be, you must choose a feasible solution. And a professional NSF Merge tool is considered the best solution. However, you should always try the DIY trick that requires no cost, unlike a 3rd party tool.

How to Merge NSF Files Manually?

Remember, doing something manually is always a lengthy procedure. But it’s free of cost, i.e. no cost is required. First, you need to create an archive file. And then you can archive all other NSF database files into this new archive file one by one.

Note: Before you can try this manual trick, make sure you take the backup of your original NSF database files. So if anything goes wrong, you can restore your files from the backup.

Below is the comparative overview of the manual procedure to merge NSF files:

Step 1: First, create an archive replica so that you can move the database contents.

On the taskbar, click the File menu > Replication > New Replica…

Now click the Browse button to define the file path and name.

Click OK.

Please wait until the process gets successfully completed.

Step 2: Now you need to choose the NSF database file from which you want to move the data. You can choose the file in the workspace.

Step 3: On the taskbar, click the File menu > Application > Properties.

Click the Archive Settings… button to create a new setting.

Step 4: On the Archive Settings dialog box, click the Criteria tab.

And then, click the Create… button.

Step 5: On the Create Archive Criteria dialog box, give a name to this new criteria.

Click the Selection Criteria… button.

Step 6: On the Archive Selection Criteria dialog box, define the options.

Click OK.

Step 7: Now check the Enable this criteria box.

Under What Should Happen to the Selected Documents? section, click the Browse button to choose the archive database into which you want to move the data. Click OK.

Important note

• Make sure the archive file and the NSF database files from which you’re moving the data, have a similar folder structure.
• If there are different folders in the NSF database files, you need to create a new folder in the archive database of the same name.
• Also, don’t forget to double-check the archive before you close the window.

Merge NSF Files using NSF Merge Utility

If the manual trick fails or doesn’t work, you should look forward to a professional solution. The NSF Merge software offers you a guaranteed solution as well as keeps the original NSF database files intact. It enables you to select any number of NSF database files at a time, and merge them into a single file within a few mouse clicks. In this software, you get three different options to merge NSF files: Join NSF, Merge NSF, and Merge Contact. Also, you can remove duplicates, and exclude “ALL” folder & Trash folder in the output NSF file.

Usually, it requires technical expertise while working with a 3rd party software. But this NSF Merge software contains an easy and highly interactive user-interface. Any technical or novice user can use this software with ease. Additionally,  you can also split the NSF file if you want to.

Free Evaluation

If you’re trying any 3rd party paid software, you must download the demo version for a free evaluation. The NSF Merge software is available with the free demo version. Generally, the demo version has the same features and functionalities that you get in the licensed version. You can select any number of NSF database files and merge them into a single file. But there’s only one limitation in the demo version. You can only save the first 25 email items of each selected NSF file into the new NSF database file. If you’re satisfied with the results, you can place your order for the licensed version.

Conclusion

If you have a large number of NSF files, file management becomes difficult. In this article, we’ve learned how to deal with multiple NSF files by merging them into a single file. The article explained two ways for how to merge NSF files, i.e. manually or by using a professional NSF Merge tool.

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