Displaying a Series of Shortcuts Using a Single Definition

When you create a variable based on a user’s session properties or the results of a query, the variable can resolve to one value per user attribute (for example, sAMAccountName and lastLogon), or multiple values (such as a list of groups to which a user belongs, or the workstations a user is permitted to log in to). When a variable can have multiple values, you have the option of creating one shortcut for it that is automatically displayed as a series of shortcuts in WorkPlace.

In this example, we’ll create a single shortcut that will result in a series of WorkPlace shortcuts, one for each workstation the user is allowed to access. Here’s an overview of the process:

Shortcut creation process

Step	Description
A	Create a variable named User_workstations that points to a multi-valued attribute in an AD or LDAP server named userWorkstations. In the directory store, this attribute lists the workstations a user is allowed to access. For example, a user might have a personal workstation at work, and another workstation that’s used for order inventory.
B	Create a host resource named Workstation_list that points to the User_workstations variable. For the user in this example, the resource has two possible values.
C	Create a WorkPlace graphical terminal shortcut that points to the Workstation_list resource. The link for this shortcut will refer to a special, built-in variable named {URL_REF_VALUE}, which will automatically result in separate links in WorkPlace for each of the workstations a user is permitted to use.
D	Test WorkPlace. If the shortcut does not appear, it may be because the directory store query is not returning any results. Testing it will also help you see whether you need to adjust the location of the shortcuts in your WorkPlace layout.

A: Create a variable that points to a user attribute in the AD server

1. In the AMC, navigate to Security Administration > Resources.

2. Click on the Variables tab.

3. Click the + (New) icon, and then enter a name for the variable: User_workstations.

4. Select User attribute in the Type list, and then specify the realm that uses the directory store you want to query.

5. In the drop-down menu of attributes returned from the AD store, select userWorkstations.

6. In the Output list, select Multiple results.

7. In the User field, enter the name of a representative user (someone who is likely to use this shortcut), and then query the AD/LDAP store for the values of userWorkstations by clicking Test.
8. The test results will indicate what character (for example, a comma or a semicolon) you should enter in the Delimiter field.

9. Click Save.

   The new variable ({User_workstations}) appears in the list and can now be used to define or describe other variables, resources, or WorkPlace shortcuts.

B: Create a host resource that points to the {User_workstations} variable

1. In the AMC, navigate to Security Administration > Resources.

2. Click the + (New) icon, and then select Host Name or IP Address.

3. Enter Workstation_list as the resource name.

4. In the Host name or IP address field, click {variable}, and then select {User_workstations}, the variable you created in Step A.

5. Click Insert, and then click {variable} again to close the list.

6. Edit the entry for Host name or IP address to add the portion of the address that the computers on your network share. The completed entry might look something like this:

   {User_Workstations}.dept.company.com

C: Create a WorkPlace shortcut that points to the Workstation_list resource

1. In the AMC, navigate to User Access > Workplace.

2. Click the Shortcuts tab.

3. Click the + (New) icon.

4. Select Graphical terminal shortcut from the drop-down list.

   The General tab of the Add Graphical Terminal Shortcut page displays.

   

5. In the Position field, specify the shortcut’s position in the list. The default is 1. (It’s possible to change its position later in your WorkPlace layout.)
6. In the Resource drop-down menu, select the resource to which this shortcut will be linked: Workstation_list.
7. In the Link text field, type the first part of the hyperlink users will see. For example, enter My workstation(s): followed by a space.

8. Using a variable you can have the link end in each succeeding value for Workstation_list; if there is more than one, then more than one shortcut will be displayed in WorkPlace. Click {variable}, and then select {URL_REF_VALUE} from the list. Click Insert to add the variable to the link text, and then close the list by clicking {variable} again. The entry for Link now looks like this:

   My workstation(s): {URL_REF_VALUE}

9. Click Finish to save the shortcut. (For a description of the settings on the Advanced page, see Adding Graphical Terminal Shortcuts to Individual Hosts.)

   This shortcut will automatically result in separate links in WorkPlace for each of the workstations a user is permitted to use. The two WorkPlace links in our example—one to a personal workstation and one to a workstation for entering orders—would look like this for the user ageorge.

D: Troubleshooting WorkPlace

1. If users log in to WorkPlace and do not see the shortcut you created, check the following:

   • Is the user in the right community? In the main navigation menu in AMC, click User Sessions, and then click the user’s name to get session details. The user may not be assigned to the right community, or there may be a rule preventing him or her from accessing the resource.
   • Does the variable return a result for this user? In the main navigation menu in AMC, click Resources, and then go to the Variables page. Click the variable named User_workstations, enter the name of the person who is not seeing the shortcut, and then click Test. If no result is returned, the shortcut will not be displayed.
2. Check your WorkPlace layout. When you create a shortcut, you have the opportunity to add it to a group of shortcuts or to the default group (Standalone shortcuts). To change the position of the shortcut, click Realms, and then click the name of the community to which this user belongs. The WorkPlace Appearance page indicates which layout is being used. To modify page content, click Manage layouts.