This article is a good overview of having a healthy and productive perspective while in the moment of troubleshooting. While this is about computer code troubleshooting, it translates to anything in life.
For me, the key takeaway is to transfer frustration to curiosity. The “answer” is out there, because technology is fundamentally designed to work. The challenge is that all of us have a relative understanding of technology and the systems we encounter.
Over the years, I’ve been interested in Flight Simulators, but never really went that deep. The classic was Microsoft Flight Simulator (which I had on a Mac SE with 20MB HDD); IP Trainer; OnTop; X-Plane.
Looks like Microsoft is planning on a new release around 2020 that will also be on the XBox Platform – as of right now, I know little about.
I’ll make various discovery posts on hardware, operating system, accessories, software, etc within the knowledgebase for General Aviation.
HOTAS Joystick – https://venturebeat.com/2017/12/11/thrustmasters-xbox-one-hotas-joystick-is-excellent-if-you-love-elite-dangerous/
Thrustmaster – http://www.thrustmaster.com/en_US/products/categories/joysticks&tid=1017
Scenario
-Apple OS El Capitan 10.11.6 (but, I’ve seen this happening years ago)
-IBM Notes 10.0.1. (and prior versions)
-Within the Notes Data Folder, appears a bunch of files (.DTF, Documents – Word, Excel, PDF, etc)
-A belief that all these files are slowing down the startup of the Notes application
Note: I was also seeing all this on another computer with OS Mojave 10.14.5
Desired Outcome
-Clean up the temporary file and relocate any files (Documents – Word, etc) that should not be in there
-Document the actual procedure for editing an attached Document (eg Excel); save; and save it back to the Notes document. I think that’s a reason why there are Documents in the Notes Data Folder. As for the temporary files, maybe because when Notes has crashed in past, the files are not automatically cleaned up
-Note: My installation is still going to Library/Application Support/Lotus Notes Data. Newer installs would go to Library/Application Support/IBM Notes Data/
Troubleshooting Steps
NOTE: For proof-of-concept, I’m going to my use my Mac with OS EL Capitan and Notes 9.0.1
-Quit out of IBM Notes (in my case version 9.0.1.)
-Within Library/Application Support/Lotus Notes Data/ I’m seeing:
Files named: acxxxxxx.TMP (a bunch of them)
Note: None of them appear dated today or recent
-Select, and Move to Trash
-Kept Finder window open and ran Notes
Note: I’m not seeing any .TMP file created now that Notes is running
-Quit out of IBM Notes
-Now looking at Files name: IDBXXXXX.DTF — the X’s are all numbers
-Not seeing at files today or completely recent
-Select files ending in .DTF and move to trash
-Kept Finder window open and ran Notes
Note: Unless I’m imagining something, it does appear faster to load IBM Notes now
NOTE: Within Finder I’m seeing three .DTF files all time and date stamped right now
-Quit out of Notes; Noticed a delay before application completed shutting down
-Clicked again on IBM Notes, Quit IBM Notes, Quit
-Application now not responding — something didn’t like removing the .DTF files
-External Sametime app not quitting (not sure if related); force quit
NOTE: I remember the SameTime app also needed the Legacy Java 6 from Apple installed…
-IBM Notes not shutting down; force quit
NOTE: Still have those three .DTF files
-Started Notes again; now have an additional .DTF file
-Quit notes; noticed that the most recent .DTF went away, but still left with original 3
NOTE: What’s concerning is that the Replication and Sync menu is not displaying various Applications that I know I have local replicas of
-Quit out of Notes. Application is hanging again.
NOTE: Now I have an unstable installation of Notes 9.0.1. 64-Bit SHF993
-Force quit out of Notes
On this Mac I have Apple OS El Capitan 10.11.6
-Started Notes again
Was able to quit again, without running replication
-Started Notes again
Manually ran replication; OK, but still not seeing my local replicas in the pane
-Quit out of Notes, with replication – OK again – Notes appears stable
-Copied over the IF17 Interim Fix 17 for Notes to my computer
-Ran the IF17 installer on Mac; appeared to install OK
-Ran Notes; now Notes is not running at all
-Restarted computer
NOTE: Glad I did a proof-of-concept first on my Mac…
-IBM Notes now not opening at all
-Ran Notes in Island Mode — same thing. Didn’t open
-Deleted the most recent .DTF and started Notes; same issue
-Modified Notes Preferences; added: UseBasicNotes=1
THAT FREAKIN’ WORKED — notes loaded…; same issue with replication pane though
Note: Java on this machine is: JRE 8 Update 151
Notes 9.0.1 reinstallation
Decided to repeat what I did for another user, except I’m using Notes 9.0.1.
Note: Something occurred by deleting .DTF files; possibly related to Java versions
-Move IBM Notes.app to trash
-Ran the IBM Notes 9.0.1. 64-bit installer – the newest version (late 2018); OK
-Immediately ran the IBM Notes IF17 installer; OK
-Edit the Notes Preference files to remove the UseBasicNotes=1
-Ran Notes; interesting….
Note: Observation after first run of Notes:
-Originally, there were only two icons in Dock – Notes and Sametime
Note: Hover over the Notes Icon it displays “IBM Notes”
Note: Hover over the Sametime Icon it displays “Sametime”
-When I double-clicked on Notes in dock, the blip below the icon showed and then went away
-Then a third icon (Notes icon – identical icon to the first appeared)
-This third icon, when you hover over it says “Eclipse”; Logged in OK; Notes loaded
-Desktop painted OK
-Confirmed version 9.0.1. SHF1032
-What also interesting is that all my local replicas in replication pane are now showing
-Embedded Sametime loaded OK
Lessons Learned so far:
-Appears that deleting .TMP files maybe OK
-Appears that deleting .DTF files may not be advised
-Best conclusive fix for stable environment is: deleting Notes app; install again; IF17
-Still not 100% sure what’s occuring, but there definitely appears to be a conflict between Apple OS, Java/Eclipse, and IBM Notes. In general, ensuring the newest Interim Fix (Notes 9.0.1) or FixPack (Notes 10.0.1.) is strongly advised. I think there is a difference between JRE and Eclipse, but I’ve never found a clear answer.
