Compacting a database removes unused space so the database can operate most efficiently. You should compact your database, in order to reclaim space freed by the deletion of documents and attachments.

Note: In order to compact a mail database, you must be the owner of that database. If the Compact button is grayed out, you do not have the necessary access to compact that database. If you do not have this access and need your database compacted contact the TAC at x-4TAC (4822) to have a work order created to have your database compacted.

To compact a database in Lotus Notes, perform the following steps:

1. Launch your Lotus Notes Client and login.
   
   
2. On the file menu, go to File>Databases> then click on Properties.
   
   
   
   
3. Click on the tab that has the ' i ' on it.
   
   
   
   
4. On the right side of the dialogue box there is a 'Compact' button, Click it.
   
   
   
   
   Note:

   Compacting is only effective when the percentage of space the database uses (% used) is less than 100%. The "% used" button can be used to display this value. Compacting a database recovers unused space so the database can operate most efficiently. If the percentage of a database in use drops below 90% then it contains more than 10% unused space. Running a compact will reclaim the unused space making the database more efficient. The % used figure is not a representation of database size. It is a representation of how efficiently you are using the amount of space provided.

   
   
5. The database will be compacted, if the server is busy it can take up to 60 min. for tha action to be compleated.
   
   
6. Once you click the compact button, exit out of Lotus Notes and restart it.