Starting IFS Applications

[Using IFS Enterprise Explorer Clients] [About IFS Enterprise Explorer User Interface] [To Basic Workflow in IFS Enterprise Explorer]

Explanation

IFS Enterprise Explorer is the user interface for IFS Application. To start working in IFS Applications, you need to log on to to the system. You start IFS Applications/IFS Enterprise Explorer using either Local Application Start or Web Deployed Client Start and fill in the Login dialog box.

When you log on to IFS Applications, you must enter the following: the name identifying you to the application server, a password for authentication, and the name of the domain in which you are belonging to. These three parameters are entered in the Login - IFS Applications dialog box.

Note: If you have previously logged on to IFS Applications, the last used name and domain are shown in the Login dialog box.

Figure 1: IFS Applications - Login dialog box.

Prerequisites

• You must know where the link to start IFS Applications/IFS Enterprise Explorer is located.
• You have to have your User ID and matching Password available.
• You must know the domain value to use. The domain field is to be left blank unless your organization has made a domain configuration.
• If you are missing information about the values to use, please contact your application coordinator or system administrator.

System Effects

A session will be created to keep you connected to the application server.

Window

N/A

Related Window Descriptions

N/A

Procedure

When you click OK in the Login dialog box, IFS Enterprise Explorer creates a connection to the application server, the application server validates your access privileges. When successfully accepted as a user the application server transfers authorization information back to IFS Enterprise Explorer. During this process, which usually takes less than a minute, the progress bar is displayed.

If an error occurs, other than that you have specified an invalid username or password, contact your system administrator for assistance.

 The Options button will expand the Login dialog box and show the advanced options:

• Remember Password
  If selected, your password will be stored on your computer and appear the next time you attempt to log on. You can change the saved password by typing a new password in the password field.
  
  Note: If the Remember Password check box is not available in your Login dialog box it is either because your client operating system is not supporting this functionality or that the Administrator has blocked it.

Language

In the Language list box you can select the language that the application should use. The value is initially found in your computer locale settings. If you select a language, this will be stored in your computer and set as the selected language next time you log on to IFS Enterprise Explorer.

Note: If you do not select a language actively from the login dialog the application will start using the language stored in your profile rather than using the language stored in the computer. 

Extended Options

• Default
  This stays disabled when you force showing login by keeping the Shift pressed. Normally it is enabled and means you will get the login dialog unless via Windows Integrated Authentication is enabled on the server (Single Sign on) and then you will be automatically signed in.
   
• Always show this dialog when connecting
  If this check box is cleared, the you will be automatically logged on provided that all the required information is available.
   
• Connect with your current windows credentials
  If selected, the User name and Password fields will be hidden and the application will try to login using the operating system-authentication security. An administrator must first authorize you in order to make use of this option.
  
  One example is If the system is configured to use OS-authenticated single-sign-on, the log on dialog will not be displayed.
  You can force the logon dialog to be shown by pressing the Shift while starting IFS Enterprise Explorer. Then you have the possibility to change the Login attributes. Otherwise, the default or last used attributes are applied.
  
  Note: You can also change this behavior once you are logged on to IFS Applications. Click the General tab under Options dialog box and check/clear Always show logon dialog when connecting. Holding the Shift key during the startup of IFS Enterprise Explorer Application, will always force the Login dialog box to be shown.
   

Web Deployed Client Start

1. Locate the link to the start page if this is the first time you run the application.
2. Navigate to the start page of the application server
3. Click the link to the client to load and start.

Start-Up Options

The following options are supported, both as command line parameters when running as a local application, and as URL parameters when running as a web application.

Note: All these options override the respective option set in the Options dialog box.

• showlogon
  If true, shows the Login dialog box at startup
   
• CurrentWindow
  If true, opens the given URL in the current window if an instance of an IFS Enterprise Explorer with the same base URL is already open.
   
• NewWindow
  If true, opens the given URL in a new window if an instance of an IFS Enterprise Explorer with the same base URL is already open.
   
• NewInstance
  If true, opens the given URL in a new instance of the IFS Enterprise Explorer.
   
• explorerpanes
  This can contain several values separated with commas ",".
   
  • top - top pane is visible
  • left - navigator pane is visible
  • bottom - context pane is visible
  • none - no panes are visible regardless of any other values.