What is NSF File and How to Open and Access It? – Detailed Overview
Summary: Lotus Notes was one of the earliest office email, chat, and calendaring systems. In 1990, Lotus Development unveiled Lotus Notes, the program well known for its ground-breaking Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet. IBM eventually acquired the company. HCL Notes is the new name for Lotus Notes.
IBM Notes Software, formerly known as Lotus Notes, uses an extension file format called NSF file, which is also known as Notes Storage Facility. In essence, it establishes the schema for storing information such as papers, appointments, emails, and other types of data
In essence, NSF files are binary files made up of the following: a File Header, a Database Header, a Superblock, a Bitmap, a Record Relocation Vector bucket, a Summary bucket, and a non-summary bucket.
The ability to encrypt an NSF file in a variety of methods, including file encryption, port encryption, document encryption, database encryption, and mail encryption, is one of its finest features.
Let’s now locate the NSF file on your computer after learning everything there is to know about NSFs.
Where the NSF Files Are Stored Based on Windows
Keep in mind that the location of the NSF files will depend on the operating system if you need to check where they are. Furthermore, the server stores files in the NSF file format.
- Windows: C\Programs Files\IBM\Lotus\Data
- Windows XP: C\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Application Data\Lotus\Notes/Data
- Windows Vista: C\Users\AppData\Local\Lotus\Notes\Data
- Windows 7: C\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Lotus\Notes\Data
- Windows 8: C\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Lotus\Notes\Data
- Mac OS: ~Library/Application Support/Lotus Notes Data
- Linux: /{$HOME}/Lotus/Notes/Data
Now that we are aware of where NSF files are kept, let’s explore the various types of NSF files.
Types of Lotus Notes NSF Files
NSF File for Mailbox – Mailbox.nsf is where you store data like tasks, calendars, and emails. Additionally, this file is located locally or on a server. This file has a lot of data, thus eventually it may grow enormous and surpass Lotus Notes’ Quota size limit. The program may then provide error messages like these when that occurs:
Names.nsf: This NSF file includes contacts, locations, and other information taken from a personal address book. The Notes folder contains an automatically generated file.
Other NSF Files: These are extra NSF files containing data about web browsers, bookmarks that have been saved, and other things. There are numerous file kinds, including
- Bookmark.nsf: This file contains data on bookmarks that have been stored.
- Perweb.nsf: It stores every piece of browser-related information.
- Web.nsf: It includes a subscription to the Lotus Notes newsgroup.
- Headline.nsf: This file stores information about database subscriptions.
- busytime.nsf: The file busytime.nsf contains all the information on local free time subscriptions.
How to Use Lotus Notes to Access NSF Files
The steps to access NSF files in Lotus Notes will be covered in this section. Thus, follow the instructions.
- Launch IBM Notes and select File from the menu.
- Select Database and click Open now.
- Next, choose the server where the NSF file is stored, or local if the file is saved locally.
- Select the location of the NSF and press the Open button.
We’ll also talk about how to open a Lotus Notes.nsf file using an application other than Notes after this. Additionally, converting NSF files to PST is a simple process if you wish to view the data in Microsoft Outlook.
Methods for Opening NSF Files with Professional Application
As for the manual way of opening NSF files without Lotus Notes, well, there isn’t a way that can assist you with that. You cannot open this file because Lotus Notes is extremely safe and encrypted. This is the explanation for this.
Converting the NSF files to a different file type is your sole remaining option for solving the issue. The ability to save Lotus Notes emails as EML files is now available.
Therefore, you can select the Lotus Notes export option if you desire an EML file. However, there is a catch to this process: it takes a lot of time because you can only store individual emails at a time.
Try the CubexSoft NSF Converter Utility now to simplify the process; it provides various options for exporting NSF data into various file formats. You can use this tool to create files in PDF, MSG, EML, vCard HTML, ICS, CSV, and many other formats.
The utility also offers the ability to preserve the date filter and data integrity in addition to this. Additionally, the program has sophisticated conversion features including Internet Header, Header Doclink, HTML, Formatting, and Folder Hierarchy.
How to Use CubexSoft NSF File Converter Tool?
To export Lotus Notes NSF files to different file formats with CubexSoft Lotus Notes Converter, follow these steps:
- Download, install, and launch the program on your computer.
- Upload the NSF Files, that you want to convert into desired format. To load files, you can easily opt “Add File” option that is properly shown below in the picture.
- Click on any loaded emails to use the software’s preview feature after importing the NSF file files.
- Click on the “Export” button to select the desired format as an output option.
- Click the “Browse” button to choose the output file location, and then click the “Convert” button right away.
- Just clicking the Convert button will initiate the conversion process and display the real-time progress.
- Finally, the conversion procedure was finished in a short amount of time. The software shows a notification such as “Process Completed Successfully” when the procedure is finished.
Features of CubexSoft NSF File Conversion
The following are some of the most important characteristics and advantages that help clarify professional utility. These attributes are:
- Batch Option: For converting an unlimited number of NSF data files to a selected output format in a single conversion round, the application offers a batch option.
- Safe & Reliable: Any user can rely on the software to convert NSF files into multiple formats because it offers a safe and secure process.
- Preview Option: When exporting an NSF folder, the software offers a preview feature that allows users to view their whole inbox before deciding which files to convert.
- Advanced Filters Option: The application provides various advanced filters, which help to perform selective NSF file conversion or find out any particular mail. These features are specified by date, To, From, and Subject.
- Program Supported by Windows: This Windows-based application can be used with both the most recent and older versions of Windows, including Windows 11.
The Concluding Words!
We’ve reached the conclusion of this article, where we learned the basic concepts of NSF files and how to open Lotus Notes NSF files and access them. Furthermore, we have included a solution below that enables Outlook to open the NSF.
