IBM Forms integration with Connections 4.5
I downloaded the following files prior to installing:
IBM Forms Experience Builder v8.5 For Connection V4.5 for Intranet and Extranet
Interim Feature Release 1 Windows Multilingual eAssembly (CRP1HML)
- IBM Forms Experience Builder V8.5 Windows Multilingual (CIJM3ML)
These were the steps I followed to install and configure IBM Forms Experience Builder
8.5 (FEB) with Connections 4.5 on an existing server running Connections 4.5 cr2
This is the same machine I document the install steps for
Connections 4.5 install
https://w3-connections.ibm.com/files/app#/file/5bd3c806-c2a5-4c83-a15d7f6c594cdedc
Connections 4.5 cr1 upgrade
https://w3-connections.ibm.com/files/app#/file/6ab64953-99cf-414f-9384161660801b0f
Connections 4.5 cr2 upgrade
https://w3-connections.ibm.com/files/app#/file/f04427c5-4c80-4579-9d213fbe48cba07b
IBM Forms integration with Connections 4.5 .................................................................... 1
1. Create FEB database ................................................................................................... 2
2. Configure WebSphere for FEB ................................................................................... 3
3. Install Forums Experience Builder ............................................................................. 5
3.1. FEB Post Install Steps ........................................................................................ 18
4. Integrate IBM Connections with FEB ...................................................................... 29
1.
Create FEB database
This step involves creating the database used by Forms Experience Builder
1. Start the DB2 Command Window
2. Run C:\IBM\SQLLIB\BIN> db2 "CREATE DB FEBDB using codeset UTF-8
territory us PAGESIZE 32768"
NOTE: When I did this I got the following error:
SQL1041N The maximum number of concurrent databases have already been started.
SQLSTATE=57032
To resolve this run
db2 get dbm cfg
Look for
Max number of concurrently active databases
Increase this by running (I set mine to 20)
db2 update dbm cfg using numdb 20
and restart DB2
(NUMDB) = 14
3. connect to the DB by running C:\IBM\SQLLIB\BIN>db2 connect to FEBDB
4. create a User Temporary table space by running C:\IBM\SQLLIB\BIN> db2
"CREATE USER TEMPORARY TABLESPACE LARGE_USERTEMP PAGESIZE
32k MANAGED BY AUTOMATIC STORAGE EXTENTSIZE 16 PREFETCHSIZE
16 BUFFERPOOL IBMDEFAULTBP"
2.
Configure WebSphere for FEB
This step involves setting up WAS for Forms Experience Builder. I could chose to install
FEB into the same server as I have connections installed, but I wanted to have it run in its
own application server, so I did the following:
If you were installing this on its own machine, you would install WebSphere using the
IBM Install Manager, then create a Application Server profile. Similar to sections 1.1 1.3 of my Connections 4.5 install document (only a Application Server profile in section
1.3 instead of a Cell profile)
In our case we are installing FEB on the same machine as Connections, so we will just
create a profile in the existing App server installed during the connections install. The
follow steps are how we did that:
1. Run C:\IBM\WebSphere\AppServer\bin\manageprofiles.bat -create -templatepath
C:\IBM\WebSphere\AppServer\profileTemplates\default -adminUserName
localadmin -adminPassword password
This will create a AppSrv03 profile in C:\IBM\WebSphere\AppServer\profiles
2. Federate this new server into the DMGR by running:
addNode.bat cpricesm.swg.usma.ibm.com 8879 -profileName AppSrv03 -username
localadmin -password password
3. Start server1 in AppServer03 by running
C:\IBM\WebSphere\AppServer\profiles\AppSrv03\bin>startServer.bat server1
3.
Install Forums Experience Builder
Software needed for this step
IBM Forms Experience Builder v8.5 For Connection V4.5 for Intranet and Extranet
Interim Feature Release 1 Windows Multilingual eAssembly (CRP1HML)
- IBM Forms Experience Builder V8.5 Windows Multilingual (CIJM3ML)
Extract the download file to a temp directory. I used C:\downloads\forms\feb85\
1. Run C:\downloads\forms\feb85\launchpad.exe
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
3.1. FEB Post Install Steps
3.1.1. Setup the Builder_config.properties
http://www10.lotus.com/ldd/lfwiki.nsf/xpDocViewer.xsp?lookupName=Forms%20Experience%20B
uilder%208.5%20documentation#action=openDocument&res_title=Configuring_the_pro
perties_file_FEB_850&content=pdcontent
1. Check C:\IBM\Forms\extensions (/opt/ibm/Forms/extensions (non-Windows)) for
Builder_config.properties. If it does not exist copy it from <FEB_Install/deploy
folder (C:\IBM\FormsExperienceBuilder\deploy in my environment) to the
extensions directory
2. Ensure ibm.was.MemberManager.adminAlias is set to febAdmin
This is a j2calias role in WebSphere that is set to the WAS admin user / password
for the environment. It allows forms to talk to WebSphere VMM to validate users
3. At the end of the file uncomment and set ibm.nitro.NitroConfig.serverURI to the
url you will use to access the forms server
ibm.nitro.NitroConfig.serverURI = http://cpricesm.swg.usma.ibm.com/forms
3.1.2. Setup FEB post install
I am following the steps here: http://www10.lotus.com/ldd/lfwiki.nsf/xpDocViewer.xsp?lookupName=Forms%20Experience%20B
uilder%208.5%20documentation#action=openDocument&res_title=Completing_the_post
_installation_tasks_FEB_850&content=pdcontent
1. Open a browser to http://cpricesm.swg.usma.ibm.com:9084/forms
NOTE: If you are unsure of the port, check
C:\IBM\WebSphere\AppServer\profiles\AppSrv03\logs\ AboutThisProfile.txt and
look at the HTTP transport port: 9084
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. You should be taken to the following screen
At this point we need to extra table spaces in the database to minimize the database size
as applications are created.
8. Open the DB2 command
9. On the db2 > prompt connect to the forms database (FEBDB)
db2 > connect to FEBDB
10. Run the following commands
a. CREATE BUFFERPOOL FEB4KBP IMMEDIATE SIZE 250 AUTOMATIC
PAGESIZE 4 K
b. CREATE LARGE TABLESPACE USERSPACE4K PAGESIZE 4 K
MANAGED BY AUTOMATIC STORAGE BUFFERPOOL FEB4KBP
c. CREATE BUFFERPOOL FEB8KBP IMMEDIATE SIZE 250 AUTOMATIC
PAGESIZE 8 K
d. CREATE LARGE TABLESPACE USERSPACE8K PAGESIZE 8 K
MANAGED BY AUTOMATIC STORAGE BUFFERPOOL FEB8KBP
e. CREATE BUFFERPOOL FEB16KBP IMMEDIATE SIZE 250 AUTOMATIC
PAGESIZE 16 K
f. CREATE LARGE TABLESPACE USERSPACE16K PAGESIZE 16 K
MANAGED BY AUTOMATIC STORAGE BUFFERPOOL FEB16KBP
3.2. Configure Forms with IBM HTTP Server
This is not a manditory step, but I find it easier to work with when everything is using the
stardard ports, so here is what I did.
1. Open a browser to the dmgr /ibm/console and login
2. Go to Applications - Application Types - WebSphere enterprise applications and
click on Forms Experience Builder
3. Select Manage Modules
4. Select the node it's currently running as well as webserver1 and click Apply
5. Click OK (Notice how the Server list is updated for each Module
6. Click Save
7. Go to Servers - Server Types - Web servers
select webserver1 and click Generate Plug-in
8. At this point make sure the plugin generated is the one being used by http (check the
httpd.conf for the plugin-cfg.xml being used) and either manualy copy it to the
correct location or use Propagate Plug-in and again make sure it's being copied to the
correct location.
9. Restart the IBM HTTP Server
10. You should now be able to open a browser to
http://cpricesm.swg.usma.ibm.com/forms and
https://cpricesm.swg.usma.ibm.com/forms
4.
Integrate IBM Connections with FEB
For this I'm following the steps outlined in the following FEB infocenter topics
http://www10.lotus.com/ldd/lfwiki.nsf/xpDocViewer.xsp?lookupName=Forms+Experience+Builder
+8.5+documentation#action=openDocument&res_title=Integrating_with_IBM_Connecti
ons_FEB_850&content=pdcontent
These topics include instructions on deploying the Surveys and Featured Survey widgets
for Connections Communities.
When you integrate Forms Experience Builder and Connections, you can add a survey
widget to your Connections installation that can capture data and share it easily with your
community in an activity stream.
4.1. Deploy Connections_config.properties and integration jar
files
1. Verify the following file exists in C:\IBM\Forms\extensions
(/opt/ibm/Forms/extensions (non-Windows)) ... Connections_config.properties
If the file does not exist, copy it from
C:\IBM\FormsExperienceBuilder\deploy\widget\extensions
2. Edit C:\IBM\Forms\extensions\Connections_config.properties and ensure the
following 2 parameters are uncommented and set
ibm.nitro.integrations.connections.Config.communityRoot=http://cpricesm.swg.u
sma.ibm.com/communities
ibm.nitro.integrations.connections.Config.authAlias=connectionsAdmin
3. Verify the following jar files exist in C:\IBM\Forms\extensions
(/opt/ibm/Forms/extensions (non-Windows))
ibm.fsp.ext.org.apache.commons.configuration-1.5_r2.jar
ibm.fsp.ext.org.apache.commons.digester-1.8.0.0_r5.jar
ibm.fsp.ext.sonata-4.5.0.20130311-1253_r1.jar
ibm.fsp.ext.waltz-4.5.0.20130311-1253_r1.jar
ibm.nitro.integrations.connections.core-8.5.0.244.jar
ibm.nitro.integrations.connections.lifecycle-8.5.0.244.jar
If they do not exist copy them from
C:\IBM\FormsExperienceBuilder\deploy\widget\extensions
4.2. Register resource bundle for FEB iWidget titles and
descriptions
1. Extract
C:\IBM\FormsExperienceBuilder\deploy\widget\ ibm.nitro.integrations.connections.c
lient-8.5.0.244.zip
to
C:\IBM\Connections\data\shared\customization\strings
2. Register the resource bundle file with connections by running the following
commands from a command prompt:
a. cd C:\IBM\WebSphere\AppServer\profiles\Dmgr01\bin\
b. wsadmin -lang jython -user localadmin -password password -port 8879
c. wsadmin>execfile("connectionsConfig.py")
d. wsadmin>LCConfigService.checkOutConfig("c:/tempids","CPRICESMCell01")
e. wsadmin>Connections configuration file successfully checked out
f. go to C:\tempids and edit the LotusConnnections-config.xml file
Near the bottom of the file look for the <resources> section, add the following in
that section:
<widgetBundle prefix="formiwidget"
name="ibm.nitro.integrations.connections.client.resources"/>
Save and Close the file
g. Back in the wsadmin console run:
wsadmin>LCConfigService.checkInConfig("c:/tempids","CPRICESMCell01")
For this to take effect we will need to restart Connections, but we will wait until all
config files are updated before restarting.
4.3. Enable the custom FEB widgets
1. Copy
C:\IBM\FormsExperienceBuilder\deploy\widget\ ibm.nitro.integrations.connections.p
ackaging.client-8.5.0.244.jar
to
C:\IBM\Connections\data\shared\provision\webresources\ ibm.nitro.integrations.conn
ections.packaging.client-8.5.0.244.jar
2. Register the widget in widgets-config.xml by running the following commands:
a. cd C:\IBM\WebSphere\AppServer\profiles\Dmgr01\bin\
b. wsadmin -lang jython -user localadmin -password password -port 8879
c. wsadmin>execfile("communitiesAdmin.py")
d. wsadmin>CommunitiesConfigService.checkOutWidgetsConfig("c:/tempids","CP
RICESMCell01")
e. go to C:\tempids and edit widgets-config.xml
Find the resource section that has a type="community" and add the following
lines:
NOTE: also, make sure to update the section in bold below to be your form
server : port
<widgetDef defId="Surveys" description="Surveys.desc"
bundleRefId="formiwidget" primaryWidget="true" showInPalette="true"
modes="view edit fullpage" uniqueInstance="true" loginRequired="false"
url="{webresourcesSvcRef}/web/com.ibm.form.integrations.formiwidget/Survey
s.xml" helpLink="http://www10.lotus.com/ldd/lcwiki.nsf/dx/Using_surveys_in_Connections_communities"
iconUrl="{webresourcesSvcRef}/web/com.ibm.form.integrations.formiwidget/im
ages/survey_widget_icon.png">
<itemSet>
<item name="formSeverBaseUrl" value="/forms"/>
<item name="surveyNumberInOverview" value="5"/>
<item name="communitiesSvcRef" value="{communitiesSvcRef}"/>
<item name="webresourcesSvcRef" value="{webresourcesSvcRef}"/>
<item name="opensocialSvcRef" value="{opensocialSvcRef}"/>
<item name="version" value="{version}"/>
</itemSet>
<lifecycle
remoteHandlerURL="http://cpricesm.swg.usma.ibm.com/forms/secure/org/lifec
ycle" remoteHandlerAuthenticationAlias="connectionsAdmin">
<event>community.members.added</event>
<event>community.members.removed</event>
<event>widget.added</event>
<event>widget.removed</event>
<event>community.updated</event>
<event>community.visibility.changed</event>
<event>community.prepare.delete</event>
<event>community.members.modified</event>
<event>community.org.changed</event>
</lifecycle>
</widgetDef>
<widgetDef defId="FeaturedSurvey" description="FeaturedSurvey.desc"
bundleRefId="formiwidget" primaryWidget="false" showInPalette="true"
modes="view edit" loginRequired="false" uniqueInstance="false"
url="{webresourcesSvcRef}/web/com.ibm.form.integrations.formiwidget/SingleS
urvey.xml"
iconUrl="{webresourcesSvcRef}/web/com.ibm.form.integrations.formiwidget/im
ages/survey_widget_icon.png">
<itemSet>
<item name="formSeverBaseUrl" value="/forms"/>
<item name="communitiesSvcRef" value="{communitiesSvcRef}"/>
<item name="webresourcesSvcRef" value="{webresourcesSvcRef}"/>
<item name="opensocialSvcRef" value="{opensocialSvcRef}"/>
<item name="version" value="{version}"/>
</itemSet>
</widgetDef>
NOTE: This part can be a bit tricky finding where to add these lines in the
existing file. I put them just below the close tag for
<widgetDef defId="Library"....
.....
</widgetDef>
and above
<widgetDef bundleRefId="quickrCommunityLibrary_res"
defId="LinkedQuickrCommunityLib"
Save and close the file.
f. back in the wsadmin> prompt run
wsadmin>CommunitiesConfigService.checkInWidgetsConfig("c:/tempids","CPR
ICESMCell01")
g. exit out of the wsadmin prompt
3. Restart Connections
4. After restart, verify Connections can access the
ibm.nitro.integrations.connections.packaging.client-8.5.0.244.jar resource by going to
http://cpricesm.swg.usma.ibm.com/connections/resources/web/com.ibm.form.integrat
ions.formiwidget/Surveys.xml
At this point the survey widget should be available to community members
5. If you open a community and go to customize, you should see the survey and
FeaturedSurvey listed.
4.4. Configure widget in homepage and Activity Stream
1. Open a browser to /homepage and login as the homepage administrator (i.e. a user in
the admin role of the homepage application
2. Click Administration in the navigation.
3. Click the Add another widget button.
4. Select the following options:
Open Social Gadget.
In the Security section, choose Trusted.
In the UI integration points section, check the Show for Activity stream events check
box.
In the Server access via Proxy section, select All servers.
Add a Widget Title and the URL address and the secure URL address. The gadget
URL is
${COMMON_CONTEXT_ROOT}/web/com.ibm.form.integrations.formiwidget/Sur
veyInStream.xml. note: It should be written exactly like this
Do NOT select any of the other options. This widget only works in the Activity
Stream, and will not work on the My Page with other widgets
5. Click Save
6. Enable the gadget by clicking the Enable button in the Disabled widgets list.
7. To quickly check to set up, Create a survey in a community you are following
8. In homepage access the I'm Following page, you will see the survey and can hover
over it to see the questions and take the survey
9. Once you hit submit, you will see the results