If you have at least Designer access, you can replace the design of a database with the design from a template.

Components that are replaced when replacing database design

• Forms, fields, form actions, and event scripts
• Pages
• Views, folders, and view actions
• Agents
• Navigators
• Framesets
• Shared fields
• File - Database Properties selections, except the "advanced template" option
• All options on the Design tab of the File - Database Properties box, except "List as advanced template in 'New Database' dialog"
• The options "Document table bitmap optimization" and "Don't support specialized response hierarchy" on the Advanced tab of the File - Database Properties box

• The database icon (unless the designer disabled the "Prohibit design refresh or replace to modify" box in the Design Properties box)
• The database title and category
• The database ACL and encrypt database settings
  Note that the ACL roles are updated (File - Database - Access Control - Roles).
• Using This Database and About This Database documents (unless the designer disabled the "Prohibit design refresh or replace to modify" box in the Design Properties box)
• Individual elements whose design is protected from updates (that is, if "Prohibit design refresh or replace to modify" is selected by the designer on the Design tab of the Design Properties box for the element)
• Individual elements whose template is inherited (that is, if "Inherit from the design template" is selected by the designer on the Design tab of the Design Properties box for the element)

  Caution An element with inheritance set is not replaced even if its design is not protected from updates (that is, if "Prohibit design refresh or replace to modify" is not selected by the designer).

• The "List as advanced template in 'New Database' dialog" option on the Design tab of the File - Database Properties box
• All options on the Advanced tab of the File - Database Properties box, except "Document table bitmap optimization" and "Don't support specialized response hierarchy"

1. Select the database on the server and choose File - Database - Replace Design.

2. If the template is not local, choose a server in the "Template Server" field in the "Replace Database Design" dialog box. If you do not know the name of the server, choose "Other" at the bottom of the server list, and then choose a server from the list of available servers.

3. Select a template from the template list. To see a longer list of templates, select "Show advanced templates."

Note You can scroll down the list of folders on the server. Double-click any folder to examine its contents for more templates. Database templates always have an NTF file extension.

5. (Optional) Select "Hide formulas and LotusScript" to prevent users from making any design change to a database. Hiding the design permanently disables all design operations and hides all formulas and scripts. Even users who have Designer or Manager access to the database can't make design changes.

Note This feature is useful for hiding the design of ready-to-use databases that are based on a template you own. When design changes are required, you redesign the template, whose design is not hidden, and then refresh the design of the linked databases. To maintain maximum design security, do not give the template to anyone except authorized designers, and do not distribute documentation for the formulas and LotusScript programs. When you hide a database design, users cannot:
-View the settings for design elements (View - Design disappears from the View menu)
-Modify, add, or delete fields, forms, navigators, pages, or subforms
-Modify or delete existing views
-View, delete, or modify existing agents or add shared agents
-View or change formulas, LotusScript programs, or formulas associated with simple actions.
-Change the Database Open properties
-Display a synopsis of the design
-Reveal the design of the database by making a copy or replica of it

Tip If a database replicates to other servers, replace the design of only one database and let the changes replicate to other replica databases.

See Also

Refreshing the design of a database
The Access Control List