Security - Getting Started

Warning: If you set-up the Security Manager and change the password and can’t remember it, you will have to re-install the QwikQuote program. The sign-in and passwords are encrypted and we will have no way to read it.

PLEASE READ OVER CARFULY:

The basic idea of security in QwikQuote is a user’s right over a function control point. That is to say; a function under security control only allows those users who have the rights to execute that function. The rights of a user or entity in the QwikQuote Security system over control points can be granted or revoked by those users who have the Security system user privilege and the predefined system user QQAdmin.

Another important concept in the QwikQuote Security system is the Security mode, designed to meet the different security requirements, yet trying to keep it straightforward for users and management. If you want to use the security feature, the fist step is to select the right security mode than meets your security requirement, through the Security Manager. You can start the Security Manager either from Windows Start Menu, QwikQuote 6 program group, or the QwikQuote Security Manager:

Click on Picture to Enlarge:

Or directly run the program QQSecurityMGR.exe from the Windows explorer:

When the program starts up, it is in None Security mode as shown in the window title. Since this is the first time login and there is no security mode selected yet, there is no login needed:

The general look and feel of the security manager is a Windows Explorer style window. At the left side of the window, there are major objects in the QwikQuote Security system, similar to the directory tree structure of the Windows Explorer. The right side has more detailed information then the properties of the selected objects in the left side. Dialogs will appear to help you complete the management tasks, such as user management and rights management. This explorer style is familiar to most of Windows users and should make the security management task easier.
Here are 3 things you should do the first time if you want to use the security feature. They are: a: Set the Security Mode,

b: Add user(s)

c: Set rights over control points.

Select the Security mode by click the security mode icon. This will bring up the dialog window that will allow you to change the security mode:

There are 3 modes defined in this release. As you move the mouse over that security mode, the help information shows you the most important characters of that mode. Please read the help information carefully, and make up a good plan what security you are going to use. In this example, we chose simple security mode as:

Please notice that the “OK” button will be enabled as your selection is valid.For this example, lets choose Simple Security Mode and click OK. When QwikQuote is installed, there is a predefined system Administrator or System user called QQAdmin.

The password QQAdmin is case sensitive.

The name of QQAdmin cannot be changed, but the password can be changed at your will. And we suggest you to change this password and to record it in a safe place.User QQAdmin cannot be removed from the QwikQuote security system. All other users can be removed. To add a new user, click at the root user the you double click any empty space at the user panel:

Set the rights over control points for default user, individual user, group, and role depending on the mode you selected.

There is no login and any one logged in will be act as system manager. But the next time login will need system user’s privilege to login to the Security Manager. In the simple mode, there is only one pre-defined system user with login name/Password as:QQAdmin/QwikQuote It is following the popular Explorer style, and the basic operation is to select an object from left panel and do something at the right panel if it is available. Right click any where at the right panel to bring up the pop up menu:

Select New User command to add new user. You should see the new user dialog, and add a new user i.e. SFan with the Password Fan. The Expire Date is important, and you should consider this now. Please fill in the rest of the Fields:

In our example: Click OK to add SFan to the system as a normal user. Add one more User to the system, say SFan 2/SFan 2, and then you should see:


At any time you want to change the property of any user, you can do it by double click on that user on left or right panel. It will bring you the same dialog, but you are not able to change login name and password anymore:

The security setting of individual control points is organized into 8 modules. Every module has different number of places to control. When expand them, they look like the following:

The checked means Enable, and the Unchecked means Disabled.

To facilitate the enable and disable, the parent check box can control its children control points as a group. For the test, let’s disable all of Price List control points:

and apply the changes by click the Apply button.

If you exit Security Manager and go back to use QwikQuote, nothing should have happen, for we did not set the Security Mode yet. To set up security mode, use the menu command:

or the command button:

In the Security mode window, select Simple Security Mode:

When the OK button is enabled, clicking it will bring up a confirm message:

After you click the Yes button, the QwikQuote will run in the Simple Security mode. Beware that, from then one, you need system user privilege to login to the QwikQuote Security manager. For the Simple Security Mode, it is QQAdmin/QwikQuoteExit Security Manager, and try to start QwikQuote, you will meet the login dialog:

If I login as SFan, then the Price List view should look like this:
Notice that quite a few command buttons and menu items has been disabled. In anther words, they are under security control now.

It is clear that, not every thing is controlled, but rather the important ones. Right now, there are 220 control points or items. (Most of the control points corresponding to one control item, but some control point may actually control 3 items – Menu, button, check box …)

If I log in as QQAdmin/QwikQuote:

Then I will get:

Notice that, QQAdmin always has all rights. So be careful with the Password and keep it in a safe place.

You can change you password as follows:

When selected the following dialog allows you input your new password:

Note: If you go set back the security mode back to none, there will be no security go QwikQuote applications, but the Security Manager still need system user’s privilege to login.

See: Security Mode for a more in-depth discussion.