Managing Connections

Before you can start working with the Longview Add-In for Office, you must use the Manage Connections dialog to add a connection to the Longview data server.

For more information, see the following:

• Understanding authentication methods
• Adding a connection

In addition, you can use the Manage Connections dialog to complete several tasks involving data server connections, including the following:

• Modifying connections
• Deleting connections

After you have added a connection, you can complete the following tasks from the Connections group:

• Connecting to the data server
• Changing an expired password
• Upgrading the Longview Add-In for Office
• Disconnecting from the data server

Understanding authentication methods

Before you can start working with the Longview Add-In for Office, you must know the authentication method required by your company.

Currently, the Longview Add-In for Office supports the following authentication methods:

Adding a connection

You can use the Manage Connections dialog to add a connection to the Longview data server. The first time you access the Longview Add-In for Office, you may have to add a connection, depending on how the Add-In was installed:

• If you installed the Longview Add-In for Office from a Longview Dashboard link, a connection is automatically created for you with the connection settings you used to log in to Longview Dashboard.
• If you installed Longview Add-In for Office as a stand-alone installation, you must add a connection before you can sign on.

You can add up to 12 connections.

To add a connection:

1. Click the Longview tab.

2. In the Connections group, click Connections. The Manage Connections dialog opens.

   Note: Connections is available only if you are disconnected from the data server. For more information, see Disconnecting from the data server.

3. Click Add. The Add Connection page appears.

4. Complete the following fields:

   Field	Description
   Name	Enter a name for the connection. Each connection name must be unique.
   Category	Select a color to represent the connection from the drop-down list. Longview recommends that you select a different color for each connection so that they can be easily identified.
   Identifier	Enter the Longview Identifier (LID) for the system you want to connect to. Note: If the Longview Identifier policy is enforced (as set by the LV_IDENTIFIER_POLICY parameter), the Longview Identifier set for Identifier must match the data server Longview Identifier. For more information, see the Longview Installation Guide.
   Host	Enter the host name of the data server you want to connect to.
   Port	This field is unavailable if you specified a URL (starting with http) for an HTTP Proxy Server for the Host field. For more information on HTTP Proxy servers, see the Longview Installation Guide. Enter the port number of the data server you want to connect to.
   Web Bridge	Enter the web bridge URL, such as http://ca127docsql01:80/cgi-bin/LongviewCPM/lvwebsso.cgi or http://ca127docsql01:80/cgi-bin/LongviewCPM/ks_iwebsso.dll. This field cannot be longer than 256 characters.

5. Click Add. The Manage Connections dialog comes into view, and the connection appears in the Connections list.

Modifying connections

You can use the Manage Connections dialog to modify existing data server connections.

To modify connections:

1. Click the Longview tab.

2. In the Connections group, click Connections. The Manage Connections dialog opens.

   Note: Manage Connections is available only if you are disconnected from the data server. For more information, see Disconnecting from the data server.

3. Select the connection that you want to modify from the Connections list.

4. Click Edit. The Edit Connection page appears.

5. Modify the connection settings as necessary.

6. When you are finished, click Save. The Manage Connections dialog comes into view.

Deleting connections

You can use the Manage Connections dialog to delete existing data server connections.

To delete connections:

1. Click the Longview tab.

2. In the Connections group, click Connections. The Manage Connections dialog opens.

   Note: Manage Connections is available only if you are disconnected from the data server. For more information, see Disconnecting from the data server.

3. Select the connection that you want to delete from the Connections list.

4. Click Delete.

Connecting to the data server

To use the Longview Add-In for Office to work with system data, you must first connect to a Longview data server.

Note: If you opened Excel by clicking a link to a Longview Add-In for Office file on the Longview Dashboard or in the Tax Provision navigation pane, you will automatically be connected to the data server using the same credentials as the ones used to sign on to the Longview Dashboard.

To connect to the data server:

1. Click the Longview tab.

2. In the Connections group, click Connect. The Longview Add-In for Office dialog opens.

   Note: If this is your first time connecting to a data server from the Longview Add-In for Office, and you installed the Add-In as a stand-alone installation, you must add a connection before you can sign on. For more information, see Adding a connection.

3. Your current Connection displays in the Connection section. If you want to use a different connection, select it from the Connection drop-down list.

4. In the Authentication section, select the authentication method used by your organization. For more information, see Understanding authentication methods.

5. Do one of the following:

   • If you selected Windows authentication in step 4, the Username and Password fields are unavailable. Click Sign On to connect to the data server.

   • If you selected Single Sign-On (Web) in step 4, the Username and Password fields are unavailable. Click Sign On to connect to the data server.

   • If you selected Longview authentication in step 4, complete the following fields:

     Field	Description
     Username	Enter your username.
     Password	Enter your password.

6. Select the Remember Me checkbox if you wish to save your username with the connection once you have successfully connected.

7. Click Sign On. The Group page appears.

   Note: If you are a member of only one user group, the Group page does not appear. You are now connected to the data server.

8. Select the appropriate user group and click OK. You are now connected to the data server.

   Note: When you are connected to a data server, the Longview Identifier of the data server displays to the right of the workbook name in the Microsoft Excel title bar.

   If a later version of the Longview Add-In for Office is detected, an upgrade dialog opens.

   For more information, see Upgrading the Longview Add-In for Office.

Changing an expired password

If you are a Longview authenticated user and your password has expired, the system prompts you to change it the first time you attempt to connect to the Add-In for Office after your password has expired.

To change your password:

1. Click the Longview tab.

2. In the Connections group, click Connect. The Longview Add-In for Office dialog opens.

3. Your current Connection displays in the Connection section. If you want to use a different connection, select it from the Connection drop-down list.

4. Complete the following fields:

   Field	Description
   Username	Enter your username.
   Password	Enter your password.

5. Click Sign On. The Change Password dialog appears.

6. Complete the following fields:

   Field	Description
   Old Password	Type your expired password.
   Password	Type your new password.
   Confirm Password	Retype your new password.

7. Click OK. Your password is updated, and you are connected to the data server.

Upgrading the Longview Add-In for Office

If a later version of the Longview Add-In for Office is detected when you connect to a Longview data server, you can upgrade the Longview Add-In for Office.

To upgrade the Longview Add-In for Office:

1. Connect to a data server (as described in Connecting to the data server). If a later version of the Longview Add-In for Office is detected, an upgrade dialog opens.

2. Click Upgrade.

3. Depending on your security settings, the Application Run - Security Warning dialog may appear. Click Run.

4. A Downloading LongviewAddIn.Office dialog opens, informing you of the status of the download. Once the download is complete, an installation dialog opens.

5. Close Microsoft Excel, and then click Continue Installation. Once the installation is complete, Excel launches.

Disconnecting from the data server

When you are finished working with the Longview Add-In for Office, you can disconnect from the Longview data server.

To disconnect from the data server:

1. Click the Longview tab.

2. In the Connections group, click Disconnect.