.OND File Extension

Lotus Notes Encapsulated Memo File

Developer	IBM
Popularity	Average rating 2.2 / 5. Vote count: 6
Category	Data Files
Format	.OND
Cross Platform	Update Soon

What is an OND file?

The .OND file extension is primarily associated with Lotus Notes, a sophisticated and versatile business collaboration software developed by IBM.

Lotus Notes, known for its robust e-mailing system, also facilitates various business functions including calendaring, web services, and database management.

The .OND file format is specifically used for storing design elements of a database in Lotus Notes, such as forms, views, and other structural components.

More Information.

The history of the .OND file is inherently tied to the evolution of Lotus Notes. Lotus Notes was groundbreaking upon its release for its emphasis on a collaborative workspace.

The software was designed to facilitate communication within organizations, providing features like email, forums, and document sharing in a secure environment.

The .OND file was an integral part of this system, used to define the structure and layout of the databases that held this collaborative content.

The initial purpose of the .OND file was to encapsulate the design elements of a Lotus Notes database, such as forms, views, pages, folders, and navigational elements.

These files were essential for defining how the database would function and how information would be presented to the user.

Origin Of This File.

The .OND file was introduced as part of the Lotus Notes software package. Lotus Notes, initially released in 1989, was developed by Lotus Development Corporation, which was later acquired by IBM.

The introduction of the .OND file was motivated by the need for a file format that could efficiently store the design elements of Lotus Notes databases, separate from the actual data.

File Structure Technical Specification.

The .OND file is a binary file format, meaning it’s encoded in a format that is not human-readable. It’s designed to be interpreted by the Lotus Notes software. The structure of an .OND file typically includes:

Header information that identifies the file as an .OND file.
Metadata about the file, including authorship, creation date, and last modification date.
The design elements themselves, including the layout, fields, scripts, and other components necessary to define a Lotus Notes database’s appearance and behavior.

How to Convert the File?

Converting .OND files to a different format is a complex task due to their proprietary and binary nature, and the process isn’t straightforward. There are indirect methods to extract or utilize the data and design elements from .OND files. Here’s a guide to some strategies you might consider:

1. Using IBM Lotus Notes or Domino Designer:

IBM Lotus Notes and Domino Designer are the primary tools for interacting with .OND files. While these programs don’t offer direct ‘conversion’ in the traditional sense, they do allow you to access and potentially export the design elements contained within .OND files.

Open the .OND File: Use Lotus Notes or Domino Designer to open the .OND file. You will have access to the design elements of the database.
Export Design Elements: Look for features within Lotus Notes or Domino Designer that allow you to export design elements. This might be in the form of exporting forms, views, or other components to a readable format like XML or JSON.

2. Scripting and Third-party Tools:

Advanced users may opt to use LotusScript, a VBA-like scripting language in Lotus Notes, to interact with and extract data from .OND files.

Additionally, some third-party tools may claim to convert or extract data from .OND files, but their effectiveness can vary, and they often require a deep understanding of both the source and target file formats.

Research Tools: Look for reputable third-party tools or scripts that are designed to work with Lotus Notes files.
Backup Data: Before using any third-party tool or script, ensure that you have a complete backup of your .OND file and related data, as these processes can potentially corrupt your files or lead to data loss.
Follow Tool Instructions: If you find a tool or script, follow the provided instructions carefully. The specific steps will depend on the tool or script you’re using.

3. Manual Conversion (Not Recommended):

A manual conversion involves opening the .OND file in a text editor and trying to make sense of the binary data. This method is not recommended due to the complex and binary nature of .OND files, and it’s highly unlikely to yield useful results.

Caveats and Considerations:

Data Integrity: Conversion processes can potentially lead to loss of functionality or data integrity, especially when dealing with complex database structures and design elements.
Compatibility: Ensure that the target format or platform you’re converting to can adequately represent the data and design stored in the .OND file.
Proprietary Format: Given that .OND is a proprietary format, the most reliable method of interacting with these files will generally be within the software ecosystem for which they were designed (Lotus Notes/Domino).

Advantages And Disadvantages.

Advantage:

Separation of Design and Data: By separating the design of the database (.OND files) from the actual data (.NSF files in Lotus Notes), it’s easier to modify the layout and structure of the database without risking data loss or corruption.
Consistency: .OND files ensure that the look and feel of the database remain consistent, even as different users interact with the database.
Efficiency: These files can be quickly loaded by Lotus Notes, allowing for faster rendering of the database design elements.

Disadvantage:

Proprietary Format: Being a proprietary file format of Lotus Notes, .OND files can be challenging to work with outside the Lotus Notes environment.
Complexity: The binary nature of .OND files makes them difficult to edit or understand without the proper software (Lotus Notes).
Dependence on Lotus Notes: The utility of .OND files is largely dependent on the use of Lotus Notes. As the popularity of other platforms grows, the relevance of .OND files may diminish.

               How to Open OND?
                  Open In Windows
                  Install Lotus Notes/Domino Designer: The primary method for opening .OND files in Windows is by installing IBM Lotus Notes or Domino Designer.
Open the File: After installation, you should be able to open .OND files directly with the installed software. Right-click the .OND file and choose to open it with Lotus Notes or Domino Designer.

                  Open In Linux
                  Install Lotus Notes: IBM Lotus Notes is available for certain Linux distributions. Installation might require specific steps depending on the distribution.
Open the File: Once installed, you can open .OND files with Lotus Notes. You might need to specify the application explicitly or set up file associations to open .OND files directly.

                  Open In MAC
                  Install Lotus Notes/Domino Designer: Similar to Windows, you’ll need to install Lotus Notes or Domino Designer on your Mac.
Open the File: After installation, .OND files can be opened by right-clicking the file and selecting Lotus Notes or Domino Designer as the application to open the file.

                  Open In Android
                  Remote Desktop Apps: Use remote desktop applications like Microsoft Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, or AnyDesk to access a computer that has Lotus Notes installed. You can then open and manage .OND files on your desktop from your Android device.
Third-party File Viewers or Managers: Look for file manager apps or document viewer apps that claim compatibility with Lotus Notes files. Be cautious, as the ability to correctly render or interact with .OND files can be limited and not guaranteed.
Email or Cloud Storage: If you only need to view the content or data from an .OND file, you might have it emailed to you or stored on cloud storage in a more accessible format, assuming it was exported and converted on a computer with the necessary software.

                  Open In IOS
                  Remote Desktop Apps: Similar to Android, use apps like Microsoft Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, or AnyDesk on your iOS device to access a remote computer with Lotus Notes installed.
Third-party File Viewers or Managers: Explore the App Store for any document viewer or file management apps that offer some level of compatibility with Lotus Notes files. The effectiveness of these apps can vary greatly.
Email or Cloud Storage: If the .OND file’s contents are available in a different format, you might access them via email or a cloud storage app on your iOS device, provided the file was previously converted on a compatible system.

                  Open in Others
                  Compatibility Layer or Emulator: Use a compatibility layer (like Wine on Linux) or an emulator that can run Windows or Linux applications, and then install Lotus Notes if supported.
Remote Access: Similar to Android and iOS, using a remote desktop solution to access a system with Lotus Notes installed could be a workaround.