This section describes how to make connections with databases and directories. These functions are only accessible for administrators.
With the Project Manager you can connect to LDAP- directories or databases with stakeholder information in your organization, for example customer relation databases or HRM databases. Once you have done this, all the people in the directories or databases can be approached for online feedback.
LDAP
LDAP is short for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. LDAP is a software protocol to enable anyone to locate organizations, individuals and other resources in a network, whether on the internet or on a corporate intranet. A server that supports the LDAP protocol can be addressed in a standard way by other applications to locate resources. In the case of Metatude it is used to retrieve information on employees and customers to be able to approach them. Many products and platforms support the LDAP protocol e.g.: Windows Active Directory, Novell NDS and Lotus Notes. This means that when users are stored in these applications other applications can use this information as well.
Overview of databases and directories
| · | Click the tab Dir servers. The system presents an overview of all connected databases and directories.
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| · | You can see the Name of the directory, the location or name of the server (Host) and how many People are located in each of the directories. If the information on a server is incorrect, the Project Manager displays the message: server unavailable instead of the number of people in the directory. The overview can be sorted by clicking Name, Host or People.
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Figure 4: Overview of available directories
To create a new directory connection, click the Add Server button in the operation bar. A two-step wizard appears where you can fill out the details of the new directory (step 1) and can indicate what attributes are present.
Choose database (JDBC) or directory server (LDAP)
The first step in adding a new directory is providing the details to connect to a database or directory. If you want to connect to a database, you choose the protocol 'JDBC'. If you want to connect to an LDAP-directory, you choose the protocol 'LDAP'. The other information that needs to be entered is different for both protocols. First we'll explain how to add an LDAP-directory after which we will explain how to add a database. The second step is the same for both protocols.