Server Connect is the utility that manages connections to IMPACT databases. It's required to have the application installed and running in the background. Otherwise, it's not possible to work with IMPACT. We have settings that allow the application to start with Windows and also attempt an automatic login on start. It's recommended from our side that these are turned on as they are convenient for the user. Check the figure below to see where these settings are found in the user interface.

Figure 1: Server Connect settings 

Configure a connection

A connection must be configured in order for the user to connect to IMPACT´s web services that handle database communication. If no previous connections have been configured it's recommended to edit the default configuration (1) that comes with the application.

You can have a look at the actual connection setting by clicking the eye icon.

Figure 1: See the settings for an existing configuration

If additional connections should be configured you need to Disconnect first.

Figure 2: Edit or add a configuration

Connect

To connect one must select a configuration from the drop-down list marked in the figure below.  The user will be disconnected from the existing connection when switching configuration. If the automatic login fails you will be prompted for username and password. 

To Connect to one of your Connection you select it and click Connect.

Server connect doesn´t pop up

This may be caused by the xml file. In order to fix this, one must remove the xml file from the following search path:
...\AppData\Roaming\StruSoft\IMPACT 17\Common.

You can type in windows explorer "%appdata%" and find it 

Once this is complete, run server connect and fill in the fields again. 

Changing Language

In Server Connect you can select the language that you would like to use for all of IMPACT's applications. Do keep in mind that if something is not translated it will still be displayed in English.

The settings are saved based on Server Connect. Changing the connection or logging in as another user will not change the language. This means that if you log onto another computer you will have to change the language on that computer as well.

Any change to a language will only take effect when an application starts. If you have an application running you will have to restart it.

Edit User Profile

Your user profile information can be edited from Server Connect in IMPACT version 16. The top menu has an option named User account. If you hover over it with your cursor, a dropdown will appear where you can select to Edit User Profile... 
The information you can edit in this dialog is used throughout all IMPACT applications. The signature will, as an example, be displayed in the drawing panel if that drawing was created or checked by you.

Generate a QR-code for IMPACT Go login

In order to make it easier for the user to login to the IMPACT Go mobile application, a QR-code can be generated using Server Connect.

Using this functionality, the QR-code can be scanned in IMPACT Go and the user does not need to fill in the info about Services (OpenId and WebAPI). Please note, the user still needs the company id (displayed in the Resource Manager) and the mobile secret in order to log in.

Run Diagnostics

Using this functionality gives information of the performance of your system.

Sequential:

Makes about 60 calls to the database from the service on a temporary table (the first 10 calls are removed as that is to warm up the service). So this functionality test the "speed" between the service and the database (same server or different servers). The time that is shown is the average time.

Request RTT:

The time for an empty call to travel from client->service->client. This test the "response time" between client and server. The time is average for several calls.

Synchronous:

This is sort of a combination between Sequential and Request RTT. The client makes 50 calls to a temp table in the database. This test the whole circuit. The time is average time. 

File system:

This test writes and reads temporary files off different size to disk. The time that is shown is average for several attempts. The value to the left is speed when reading from the disk and the value to the right is the speed when writing to disk.

Using SharePoint/OneDrive to share Company Standard files

This point is about how to share the company standard files with SharePoint/OneDrive when working together on different locations and using file synchronization.

When using file synchronization on a project will the files be synchronized into your local disk and is done throughout the process of the project.

Standard files are a bit different because these files are not modified that often and therefore is it easier to forget that they also needs to be synchronized whenever there is a change to the standard files – This is a manual process in the Standard admin.

To get around that is it possible to configure SharePoint/OneDrive to always keep the files up to date.

Start by creating a folder on SharePoint/OneDrive that contains “Standard”, “Company” and “Division” and make sure that its shared with the people that needs access to the folders.

When the folders have been created is it now “only” in the SharePoint/OneDrive. To get it down to the local computer where it can be mapped in the server connect – Click on the “Add shortcut to OneDrive”.

The shortcut will be placed in the local OneDrive folder.

Before mapping the folder in the server connect is it very important that the Standard files always are downloaded into the OneDrive folder – To always have the files updated in the OneDrive folder, right-click on the folder and enable the “Always keep on this device” (1). When the folder is synchronized will it be shown with a dark green “OK” checkmark to show that the files have been downloaded and that new files will be downloaded automatically.

The folder now is placed in the local OneDrive folder is it now possible to map it in the server connect.

Understanding Token-Based Authentication

When you work with IMPACT Applications such as IMPACT Project Manager, IMPACT Resource Manager or IMPACT for Revit on your PC, you as a user are verified with a token. This token grants you access to the system and protects your IMPACT system from external threats.

The first time you log in to the system (Auth0), you receive two tokens one valid for the session and one that gives you access when you connect to the system again after you have turned off your computer. The token valid for that session grants you access to the system and is valid for a certain number of hours. If your computer is inactive for a certain period, that token will expire.

Remember, if your PC running IMPACT Server Connect gets Locked or is put to Sleep or hibernation mode (causing you to be logged out by Windows), that time is counted as inactivity.

If you power down your computer (Shut down) at the end of the workday as recommended. The next time you start your computer, the other token (valid for weeks) will grant you access to the system and provide you with a new token for your new session and a new token for future use after a system restart.
The circle repeats again and again.