Letting Users Manage their own Attributes

Novell Cool Solutions: Feature

Digg This - Slashdot This Posted: 29 Dec 2003

Would you like to empower your users to manage their own attributes? Here's how to configure eGuide and iManager so users can keep their information updated without calling you.

User Self Administration in eGuide is the ability for users to manage attributes associated to their user ID from within eGuide. Giving the user Write rights to their attributes is not required when using self administration. To enable and manage self administration in eGuide, iManager is required. The following must be done in order to configure self administration.

1. Configure eGuide for user self administration and select attributes users will manage.
2. Modify iManager configuration settings to enable self administration.
3. In iManager create an eGuide task that is used to configure self administration.
4. In iManager assign the created eGuide task to the eGuide Self Management role. This is done to enable user self administration.

Note: To use and configure user self administration a minimum of iManager 2.0.1 and eGuide 2.1.1 are required.

The following instructions detail how to configure self administration and are based on iManager 2.0.1 and eGuide 2.1.1.

Configure eGuide to support user self administration.

1. Access eGuide by using following URL: https://server_ip_or_DNS/eGuide/servlet/eguide
2. Login using Admin.
3. If this is the first time eGuide has been accessed on this server run the eGuide Wizard Quick Setup.
4. After the eGuide wizard has been run login to eGuide as Admin launch the eGuide Administration Utility.
5. Under Security and Restrictions make sure Allow self administration is selected. By default this should be selected.
6. Under Configuration select LDAP Data Sources and then select to Edit Properties.
7. Select the Attributes tab.
8. Enable all attributes that it is desired for eGuide users to see when searching for users or to self manage. Any attribute that it is desired for user self editing must be selected here.
9. Select Save at the bottom when done.

Modify iManager configuration settings to enable self administration.

In iManager, RBS must have been configured. When logging in use Admin and verify that you are accessing iManager with Collection Owner status.

1. Select the iManager Configure view. This is the icon with a person sitting at a desk.
2. Expand iManager configuration and select Portal.
3. Select the Configuration link in the main window.
4. At the bottom of the page select All Settings.
5. This will display all the Portal Configuration settings. At the bottom of this page find the setting for iManager:Enable [this].
6. Set iManager:Enable [this] to True.
7. Find the setting iManager:eGuide URL and verify that it has a value of EMFRAME_SERVER if eGuide and iManager are running on the same server. If they are not see the eGuide documentation on what to enter here.
8. Select Save and then OK.

Refresh the Portal to enact changes.

1. Within the iManager Configure view expand iManager configuration and select Portal.
2. Select Refresh Portal.
3. Verify that the Portal server URL is selected. This is selected by default.
4. Under Select the parts of the portal to refresh, hit Select All.
5. Select the Refresh button at the bottom of the page.
6. This may take a few minutes to complete.

Create an eGuide task to configure attribute self administration.

1. In the iManager Configure view expand Task Configuration and select Create eGuide Task.
2. Enter a name for the task such as User Self Administration. The name can be what ever you want.
3. Select the RBS collection object from the tree. Put in a description and then select Next.
4. For the eGuide URL use https://server_ip/eGuide/servlet/eGuide
5. For eGuide category select User.
6. Select the attributes that you want users to be able to self administer in eGuide. For each attribute select the Enabled and Editable field. Make sure to know all the attributes you want to manage and select them here. Once a task in iManager is created it cannot be modified. If at a future time more attributes are desired for self management, a new eGuide will need to be created. Select Next.
7. Assign the new eGuide task to an eGuide role. In the list of available roles there should be an eGuide Self Management role listed. Select that and then the blue right arrow. Select Next.
8. Verify the information in the Summary screen and select Finish.
9. When this is finished, in order to continue Tomcat or the server must be restarted. The reason for this is because the eGuide Self Management Role will not show up in the list of eGuide roles under Modify eGuide Roles until this is done.

Modify eGuide Role to enable self administration.

1. Login to iManger as Admin and select the Configure view.
2. Expand Role Configuration and select Modify eGuide Roles.
3. Select the Modify Members icon for the eGuide Self Management Role. Verify that the Self Management check box is selected on the right.
4. Select members to add to this role. These are the users that will be able to self manage their attributes in eGuide. It is possible to add individual users to this role however it is recommended that the containers where users are located in be added as members. Be sure to add the immediate container where users are located.
5. Select the Browse icon and search for the desired container. Highlight it and select OK.
6. Click the Add button. In the list of members the scope should be Self Management.
7. Select OK and then OK again.

Users should now be able to update or manage their own attributes in eGuide.

Troubleshooting

In order for users to change attribute values on their object, the attributes must have been properly selected within the eGuide LDAP Data Source configuration and must have been selected when creating the eGuide task in iManager.

The role eGuide Self Management is enabled by default when performing the above procedure. If there is an issue related to this role, complete the following steps to create an eGuide role that can be used for user self administration.

1. Expand Role configuration and select Create eGuide Role.
2. For Role name use "eGuide User Self Management". Select the RBS collection to save this role in.
3. Check "Allow self management" then select Next.
4. Choose tasks. The next step is to add an eGuide task or tasks to this role. Select the eGuide task created in the earlier steps by highlighting it and selecting the right arrow so that it shows under assigned tasks. Select Next.
5. Assign members to Role. Select the object selector icon and search for the container in the tree that holds the users you want to enable eGuide self administration on. Select Add. The Scope should show as Self Management. Select Next.
6. Review the summary screen and select Finish and then OK.

For more information see TID 10088010

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