>I want to read the emails from lotus notes into a database. First I tried using MAPI. At the beginning I encountered some problems in configuring the MAPI Client for Lotus Notes and finally got it working. But now my problem is, I can't get the subject or attachments. (Those fields are not populated at all!)
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>So I tried the OLE Automation method and it is working where I can get all the fields and data. (Still I have couple of problems in finding the mail box the mail item comes from and detaching the attachments.) Another problem in using OLE is we need to maintain two separate programs (MAPI - for Outlook & OLE for Lotus Notes) as well.
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>I want to know some comments on which is the better way to proceed in a long run.

I would create a Mail Manager class that provided a common interface between for the front end. The manager class could instantiate worker classes that did the actual extraction from the mail client.

As for the worker classes, I recommend using OLE for both. IMO, it gives you access to far greater functionality than the MAPI control. You have access to the entire automation object model. Having said that, if you implemented a manager class, it wouldn't matter how the worker class did its work. It would be completely transparent to your application.

And FWIW, I think you would have to have separate code to handle Notes and Outlook anyway (even with a purely MAPI implementation). Notes's MAPI implementation is far enough removed from the mainstream to require extra workarounds that other MAPI clients wouldn't.

Just my $0.02.