OK, I admit it, I'm still addicted to the Notes workspace. It's just that I've gotten so used to it over the years it's easier for me to find things because I can picture exactly where each database replica icon is, both on which tab and at what position. While organizing your Notes workspace is somewhat of an issue of personal preference, I see two main schools of practice: the Stackers and the Non-Stackers.

As you are probably aware, the Notes workspace gives you the ability to have many different database replica icons for the same database, each one linking to a replica on a given server. The ability to stack your icons is a setting you can toggle by going to View->Stack Replica Icons. If you do stack your replica icons, you'll only see one icon for each database even though you might link to replicas on many different servers. You then select the replica you want to use by clicking the little drop-down arrow in the upper-right of the icon. The next time you access the database without using the drop-down, by default, you'll be taken to the last replica of the database you used.

One problem that can occur with stacking your database replica icons is that you can forget to choose which replica you want to use and end up making changes in the wrong replica. If you've ever done this without realizing it, you know very well the frustration it can cause.

Let me just come out and say today that I'm a Non-Stacker. Again, it's a personal preference, but allow me to explain. What I do is organize my replica icons in rows, with local replica icons on the first row, development replica icons on the second row, and production replica icons on the third row. This way, I can quickly go to exactly the replica I need and be sure I'm in the right place. I can also make sure I have replica icons for all of my key databases for each server on which I need to access them. This kind of organization comes in handy if you often need to access different replicas of the same database. If you usually just need to access one replica and only occasionally need to access a different one, being a Stacker might work best for you.

So, are you a Stacker or a Non-Stacker? Whatever you are, be proud. And the next time you're near someone's computer and they have their Notes workspace open, see if they're a Stacker or a Non-Stacker. Or have they taken the next evolutionary step and become a full-fledged Folder user?

Dan Velasco is a Senior Technical Editor for DominoPower Magazine and occasional contributor to PalmPower Magazine. He is also a Principal CLP Application Developer (R4, R5 and ND6) as well as a CLP System Administrator (R4 and R5). You can reach him via email at dvelasco@dominopower.com or on the Web at http://DanVelasco.com.