Framework for SharePoint and iMIS Integration

The ISGweb Framework module provides tight integration between iMIS and SharePoint. With this integration, associations can use information already existing in iMIS to manage authentication, security, and other SharePoint capabilities and functions.

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007 offers many out-of-the-box Web 2.0 features that are valuable for creating sophisticated sites that encourage member participation, such as shared document libraries, group calendars, blogs, wikis, content management, task lists, alerts, meeting workspaces, versioning and automated approvals.

Through integration with iMIS, associations can use the full power of SharePoint to provide easily accessible, private online workspaces to support collaboration and information sharing, while using their centralized iMIS database to drive the security and profile management of the users accessing those sites.

ISGweb Framework consists of the following components:

• Integrated iMIS-based user authentication
• Groups management
• One-click creation of SharePoint workspaces
• Automatic update of SharePoint security groups
• Web parts for iMIS-driven functionality in SharePoint sites

Integrated iMIS-based user authentication
ISGweb Framework includes seamless login integration between SharePoint and iMIS. iMIS profile data is used to populate SharePoint's security groups and keep them updated dynamically, creating privacy for site data. This login integration includes the following:

• Forms-based authentication: ISG has configured Microsoft SharePoint to use the ISGweb login as its forms-based authentication provider. Usernames and passwords are maintained in iMIS, and the ISGweb login authenticates the user directly from iMIS data.
• Populate SharePoint "people": When a SharePoint user selects from a list of users to reference, (e.g. for tasks, approvals and invitation to participate in a team site), the SharePoint-generated list of names is populated directly from the iMIS database, and is linked to the contact's iMIS ID.
• Unified login: The ISGweb login is also unified with the association's public website authentication system. In this way, association members can automatically get access to their applicable SharePoint sites by using their current login and profile, without having to login again.

Groups Management
Groups Management is a set of utilities that allow an authorized association staff member to define constituent groups based on queries of iMIS data. These groups can be used to create dedicated group websites, discussion groups, and security groups. Groups Management consists of the following components:

• Administrative staff site: The Groups Management utilities are accessible from a dedicated Administrative Staff site that is part of ISGweb Framework. This secure site allows the association's system administrator to monitor the whole system, customize it and generate reports.
• Pre-defined group types: ISGweb's concept of "groups" can refer to any subset of the association's constituents that can be defined by a query of its iMIS data - groups such as councils, chapters, sections, conference registrants, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, advocacy groups, committees and member types.
• Create multiple groups at once: The queries defined for each Group Type are used by Groups Management to automate the creation of multiple groups of the same type, all at once. So groups can be automatically defined for all chapter codes, all conference registrants, all SIGs, at the click of a button.
• Individual group setup options: Once the groups have been created, the administrator can override setup options for individual groups to accommodate exceptions. For example, the administrator can invite specific individuals into the group or designate members as moderators.

One-click creation of SharePoint workspaces

• Create Workspaces: The system administrator can automatically create a new SharePoint workspace for one or more groups defined in Groups Management, by clicking a single button on the Groups Management form.
• SharePoint Site Templates: Any SharePoint site template – standard or custom – can serve as the site creation template for each new group site.

Automatic update of SharePoint security groups
SharePoint security groups are based on ISGweb Groups. The iMIS queries defined for each Group Type, combined with any exceptions made for that group, are used by ISGweb Framework to define the Microsoft SharePoint security groups.

• Automatic roster update: As iMIS events cause changes in group membership, the Group Type queries keep the membership of the security groups automatically updated.
• Real-time access control: Access to any particular SharePoint website is determined by a real-time query to determine whether the user belongs to the iMIS group that owns that workspace.

Web parts for iMIS-driven functionality in SharePoint sites
ISGweb Framework includes several iMIS integration web parts that can be added to group sites to provide group-specific iMIS information.

• Group Directory: This web part provides a searchable directory similar to the ISGweb Membership Directory, but automatically restricted to a specific group. This is especially valuable for associations that want to provide directories for local chapters or federated societies, without requiring the user to specify which group they want to search.
• iMIS-Integrated Calendar: This web part allows the association to enhance its standard SharePoint calendar functions by including iMIS-defined events that are appropriate for this group.
• iMIS-Integrated Personal Calendar: This web part offers a consolidated view of the user's commitments, including events the user has been invited to or has registered for via iMIS.
• My Group Sites: This web part provides a personalized list of hyperlinks to Group sites that the user is allowed to access.
• My Colleagues: This web part displays a personalized list of all the association members who belong to the same company as the user. This provides an easy way for the individual to identify colleagues within the association groups.
• PageViewer: This web part lets the association incorporate any ISGweb form into any SharePoint site. It passes the user's ID to the ISGweb module, so the functionality is the same within SharePoint Group sites as in the public website.

Links to more information about ISGweb for iMIS:
Fact sheet (PDF, 1.05 MB)
ISGweb for iMIS FAQ
ISGweb architecture
The On Demand option

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