Lotus Notes DocLinks in e-mail messages are replaced with bitmap icons in Exchange 2003

Consider the following scenario. You have a server that is running Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2). You upgrade to or install a post-Exchange 2003 SP2 version of the Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Notes Connector. Then, e-mail messages that contain Lotus Notes DocLinks are forwarded to a Lotus Notes/Domino e-mail system from Exchange 2003. In this scenario, all Lotus Notes DocLinks in the messages are lost. Additionally, the Lotus Notes DocLinks are replaced with bitmap icons.

If a Lotus Notes user forwards a message that contains Lotus Notes DocLinks to an Exchange Server user, the Lotus Notes DocLinks are converted to OLE objects. Then, the Exchange Server user can double-click the OLE objects to start the Lotus Notes client to view the document.

This problem occurs because the post-Exchange 2003 SP2 versions of the Exchange Server 2003 Connector for Lotus Notes transmit messages that contain MIME content to the Lotus Notes e-mail system. Additionally, RTF messages are converted to HTML messages. Therefore, OLE objects for Lotus Notes DocLinks in RTF messages display only bitmap icons after the conversion.

To resolve this problem, install the latest version of the Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Connector for Lotus Notes. To obtain the latest version of the Exchange Server 2003 Connector for Lotus Notes, visit the following Microsoft Web site:After you install the latest version of the Exchange Server 2003 Connector for Lotus Notes, Exchange 2003 will forward the e-mail message and the .ndl attachment to Lotus Notes users. Then, the Lotus Notes user can see the attachment and can open links by using the .ndl attachment.

Note To enable this feature, you must add "DOCLINK2NDL=true" or "DOCLINK2NDL=1" under the [LME-NOTES] section in the Exchconn.ini file. If you want to disable this feature, add "DOCLINK2NDL=false" or "DOCLINK2NDL=0" or delete the option under the [LME-NOTES] section in the Exchconn.ini file.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

You must have Exchange 2003 SP2 installed on the server before you apply this hotfix.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix. However, Microsoft Exchange Connectivity Controller service, the Microsoft Exchange Connector for Lotus Notes service, and all dependent services will be restarted when you install the latest version of the Exchange Server 2003 Connector for Lotus Notes.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.

For more information about the terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about the naming schema for Exchange Server software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: