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Contact Us | Modules - GroupwareOverview
ClarkConnect's Groupware module provides an open-standards based shared environment with support for calendars, notes, tasks and contact lists. These common task (goal) elements can be accessed through a number of client interfaces.
Together with e-mail and the Flexshare module, a simple and secure environment can be created within an organization or between trusted parties to collaborate together on common projects. InstallationIf you did not select this module to be included during the installation process, you must first install the module. ConfigurationCreating User AccountsUse the ClarkConnect User Interface (webconfig) to add accounts that include mailbox functionality to support the groupware features.
If this is your first time setting up the ClarkConnect user accounts, you will be redirected to the server set-up page if you have not entered basic server defaults. Complete the global system parameter set-up and return to the users page. You will see a summary similar to the screen capture below.
Follow the instructions here to add accounts for those users will have access to the groupware functionality of ClarkConnect. Configuring Your FirewallGroupware is a solution that allows groups of people within an organization to be productive both on the trusted Local Area Network and outside. For example, an employee's home, a WIFI access point at an airport, a hotel broadband connection or an Internet cafe. Depending on what remote access you want to allow, making precise changes in your firewall are required. Below, you will find a table of typical services that groupware uses, and the ports you would need to open in order allow remote access.
1 - ClarkConnect Flexshare using FTP. Default FTP is port 21.
Configuring ClientsOnce accounts are set-up on the server, it is time to configure a user's individual mail client that will be used to interface to the collaborative environment.
Microsoft OutlookInstalling the Toltec ConnectorThe first step in configuring Outlook is to download and install the Toltec Connector.
Once you have downloaded the file, use Explorer to navigate to the directory it was downloaded to and double click on the executable. A familiar install splash screen will be displayed.
Click Next to continue. After reading the License Agreement, select I accept the agreement and click on Next. By default, the Toltec Connector will be installed in C:\Program Files\Toltec. Generally speaking this default and the remaining defaults can be used to quickly complete the install wizard. Licensing the Toltec ConnectorStart Microsoft Outlook, select Help
Click on Load a License Key and select the directory where you have your key. If you haven't yet purchased a key, you can purchase one through ClarkConnect's Online Store or directly from the Toltec site.
Close the About dialog box and click on Outlook's Tools
Outlook Modes (Required for Outlook 2000 ONLY)The first step in configuring Outlook 2000 is to switch to Corporate Workgroup Mode. Open Outlook and select Tools
Select Reconfigure Mail Support.
Select Corporate or Workgroup mode and click on the Next button. Confirm your intention to change the mode by selecting Yes. Restart Outlook. Mapping Toltec to a Message StoreUnder the Toltec Connector tab, click on the New button to create a new message store to map to. Click Next on the first dialog box that appears informing you that you are about to start the next wizard.
Most users will want to select the default message store (outlook.pst) from the list of available message stores. If so, select Personal Folders (you may have renamed it to something more "personal") and click Next.
Select Open Format (Kolab-XML 2.x) and click Next.
Enter your server's hostname in the appropriate field, followed by your user account's username and password (matching those used when you created a user on the server). Ensure the checkbox for encrypting communications with TLS/SSL is enabled, then click Next to continue.
At the next stage a connect/protocol test will be performed. If everything is functioning properly, you should see an output from this test which resembles the following screen capture. Click Next followed by Finish to complete the set-up.
At this point, the Toltec connector has succesfully been mapped to your Personal Folder.
Outlook Accounts - POP3(S) vs. IMAP(S)The Toltec connector uses the secure IMAP protocol to syncronize data between your Outlook client and the ClarkConnect IMAP service. As a result (and although it is counter-intuitive), you should create a POP3 account to fetch mail from the server and setup an outgoing SMTP service to send mail. If you were using POP3(S) with Outlook, you don't need to do anything. If you were using IMAP or are using Outlook for the first time, you'll need to create a POP3 account with your user settings matching the ClartConnect server. The following sections explain how to do this and how to detach (dis-associate) the Toltec mapping and re-assign it to another personal mailbox (pst file). Start Outlook and click on Tools
You will be shown a list of all accounts you have created. If you recognize one as connecting via POP(S) to your ClarkConnect server, you don't need to do anything other than to check that the Toltec connector is mapped to it (see next section). If you need to create a new account for sending/receiving e-mail from the ClarkConnect server, click on the Add button. A number of options for account types will be listed.
Select POP3 and click continue.
Complete the mail account settings for the specific user. Use the Test Account Settings button to see if you have configured your account and server correctly.
If you are using SSL encryption to receive or send mail (highly recommended), click on the More Settings
Clicking Next will send you back to the account list where you should now see your entry.
Detaching/Re-attaching the Toltec ConnectorIf you need to re-assign the Toltec connector to another Message Store, click on Tools
To attach the connector to another Message Store, follow the instructions above.
Syncronizing Outlook with the ServerBy default, Toltec will syncronize data between Outlook and the ClarkConnect server when the object is selected in the Folder List.
You can customize this behavior by selecting an object (for example, your calendar), and using right-click
Select the Toltec folder. You will see a number of options to allowing you to syncronize data on events or periodically.
KDE KontactTODO Mozilla ThunderbirdSupport for Thunderbird with Kolab groupware syncronization is currently in development (beta). Please check back later. Testing Object SyncronizationAs a simple test, we will assume at least two users on the server have been created to on the server - in this example, Mary and David who work for Point Clark Networks. David is Mary's assistant and regularly schedules her appointments and meetings for her. As such, he requires shared access to Mary's calendar.
Note, the administrator has been sure to give both Mary and David access to both the mail and web user options. Sharing a CalendarThe first configuration to be made is David's shared access to Mary's calendar. To do this, Mary would open her mail client (Outlook in this case) and Right-Click on the Calendar object in the folder list and select Properties.
Clicking on the Toltec tab displays a button labelled Folder Sharing Options. Mary clicks on this button and adds David with the desired sharing privileges.
Once done and a syncronization has been performed, David will see Mary's calendar in his Folder List.
At this point, creating meetings and appointments for Mary is straight forward. David simply select Mary's calendar, and creates appointments or meetings on behalf of Mary. Mary's Outlook client will syncronize with additions/changes made by her assistant in addition to keeping track of her own entries.
WebmailSharing/Accessing FilesPlease refer to the Flexshare section of this manual. TroubleshootingOutlook 2000 and Calendar FormatIf meeting requests are not working in Outlook 2000, you may need to set the default format to use iCalendar (iCal). To do this, start Outlook 2000 and click on Tools
Tips and TricksManual SyncronizationYou can sycronize data between your Outlook client and the server at any time by clicking on the Syncronization ProgressYou can view the progress being made on syncronization between your Outlook client and the server by Right-Clicking on the Toltec Icon in your Windows system tray and selecting View.
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