Troubleshoot “cannot open the Web Navigator Database” error in Lotus Notes

Lotus Notes is designed by IBM as a desktop e-mail client application used for business purpose. All Lotus Notes files are handled by a server named as “IBM Domino”. This email application stores all our information in form of NSF files such as BookMark.NSF, Busytime.NSF, Headline.NSF, and Perweb.NSF” & all these NSF files have their own functionality & significance but here, I am discussing in brief about the Perweb.nsf file.

Perweb.nsf:- This Notes Data Directory file is extended as “Personal Web Navigator database” responsible for storing web browser information as well as previously viewed pages by user’s. These databases are also used as resource cache as they improve the response time & also provides user's the facility of downloading the web pages in offline view e.g.:- c:\notes\data\perweb.nsf.

Perweb.nsf file issue

As a lotus notes user, when user accept any message in form of HTML & tries to open the message, sometime user is unable to do so and also images rooted in HTML message have a “red X” mark in place of every graphic. A pop up window appears & shows the message “Can not open the Web Navigator Database”. This situation gives you a clear warning about the corruption of local Perweb.nsf file.

Remedy: - The solution of this problem is so simple. User has to simply delete the Perweb.nsf file and recreate the file to enjoy the services. Steps to check whether database is corrupted or not:-

To check Location of document: - Check the Location of Document by Open your Internet browser i.e.

1. Internet Browser is with Notes.
2. Retrieve/Open pages from Workstation.
3. Now, Point to Advance Tab in basics section.
4. Check for Load Image settings whether it is “Always” or not.

As a user, if you are using proxy server or a port in Internet browser, first make sure that your Lotus Notes Locations settings are same as the settings of proxy server.

To Check Settings in Internet Browser:-

• Go to Internet Options
• Proceed to connections
• Check LAN Settings

To Check Settings in Lotus Notes Location settings:-

• Open Basic Tab
• Go to Proxy Configurations.

If these settings are ok then check Advanced/Web Retriever tab:

If it is also ok then perweb.nsf database gives the indication of corruption. There are two methods of recreating the Perweb.nsf file either user will use the template named as perweb50.NTF or recreate it manually.

Following are simple steps to recreate the Perweb.nsf file:-

Steps to rebuild the perweb.nsf

• Firstly, shut down your Lotus Notes client application.
• Make sure about per web template file named as PerWeb50.NTF is existing or not in the “Data folder” if file doesn’t exist then copy it over from another workstation
• Now ,after performing above step rename your perweb.nsf to perweb.old
• Start your Lotus Notes client application.
• Now, Edit current location document by changing the Internet Browser settings to "Notes" & try to open web page in the Lotus Notes Browser. This step will create new database "Perweb.nsf”.
• Now open your Lotus Notes web browser & go to Actions/Internet options point to “Presentation page”.
• Change the settings of MIME to Rich Text & HTML.
• Edit your current location document by again changing the Internet Browser settings to "Notes with Internet Explorer”.
• Try to open the received mail again.

By using these steps, user will troubleshoot the “Cannot open the Web Navigator Database” error.