Integrating Connections files with iNotes

You can make file sharing easier for IBM® iNotes® users by specifying mail policy settings that save network resources and improve efficiency by integrating iNotes with IBM Connections files. As an alternative to sending attachments, users can insert links to files that have been uploaded to Connections. Where possible, the files that are being linked to are shared with the recipients at send time. Users can upload received attachments to Connections Files and then remove the attachment from the email and replace it with a link to the newly uploaded file to save space it their mail file. Connections 3.6 and more recent versions are supported for integration with iNotes.

Before you begin

  1. Configure Connections for your environment.
  2. Set up SSO between the Connections server and the IBM Domino® server. SSO is not required but it allows users to log in to iNotes and Connections with one logon.
  3. Configure the Connections server to display email addresses.

About this task

If you specify notes.ini file settings that correspond to the settings on the mail policy settings document, Connection Files Integration section, the mail policy settings are overridden by the corresponding notes.ini file settings.

Procedure

  1. From the mail policy settings document, click IBM iNotes, and then click Configuration.
  2. In the Connection Files Integration section, in the Allow Files Integration field, accept the default setting of Enable.
  3. In the URL to Connections Files service field, enter the URL for the Connection Files service.
    Note: This URL must point to the URL of just the Files service, not the overall Connections installation.

    For example, enter http://mycompany.com/connections/files

    Note: Change the default settings in steps 4- 6 only if necessary.
  4. In the Enable sharing linked files in mail field, accept the default of True. Linked files are automatically shared with the email recipients. When this setting is False, the sender must manually share the linked files in Connections with the recipients; however, it will reduce the load on the Connections server when all recipients do not need access to the file.
  5. In Maximum group size for sharing linked files field, enter the maximum group size for sharing linked files.
    By default, linked files are only shared with groups of 100 or fewer members. Sharing linked files with large groups of recipients is inefficient. In the case of a large group, it is better to put the file in a Community or to put in a folder with shared access.
    Note: This limit only applies to private groups if the delivery option is set to Do not expand personal groups and that group has not been expanded earlier in the session.
  6. In the When replying to an email containing links to Files, only share linked files in the newly added part of the thread field, accept the default of False. Changing the setting to True, reduces the load on the Connections server for long email threads. However, if a user replies to a thread containing a link to a file in Connections Files and adds a new recipient to the thread, the new recipient is not given access to the file. This setting only applies to emails being replied to, not forwarded, since it is likely that the file has already been shared with recipients earlier in the thread. For forwarded emails, there are new recipients who are less likely to have access to the file.
  7. Complete these steps to designate the proxy settings in the security policy settings document:
    1. From the security policy settings document, click Proxies. In the Add white list rule for proxy servlets field, click Edit List. The White list rule to add or modify fields display.
    2. In the Context field, enter /xsp/proxy/LcFilesProxy/
    3. In the Actions field, enter HEAD, GET, POST, PUT.
      Note: By default, PUT is not enabled on the Domino server. If Internet configurations are being loaded from Server or Internet Sites documents, enable PUT from within the Allowed Methods section of the Configuration tab of the Internet site document. If you are not using Internet Sites documents, then enter this NOTES.INI file setting: HTTPEnableMethods=PUT
    4. In the Headers field, enter * (an asterisk).
    5. In the MIME Types field, enter * (an asterisk).
    6. In the Cookies field, if you are using SSO, be sure to include either LtpaToken or LtpaToken2. If you are not using SSO, do not enter anything.
    7. Click Add/Modify Value. The Context and URL values are added to the Add these white-list rules for proxy servlets field. Click OK.
    8. If you are not using SSO, repeat steps 7.b - 7.h using the same Connections URL but with https instead of http for use with the Connections login dialog. The easiest way to repeat these steps is to click Add/Modify Value and modify the URL you just added. Modifying the URL creates a new rule but does not change the existing rule.
    9. Click Save and Close.
  8. If any of the URLs specified in step 7 use SSL with a self-signed certificate, import them into the Domino Directory and cross-certify them so that they are trusted.