6.3. System Setup
This section describes what the SICS System Administrator has to do in order to activate the Access Code features.
Note! It is important that these steps are carefully reviewed and executed before allowing users to enter data into the system.
Main System Parameter (Enable/Disable Access Code Option) #
On the System Parameters, Global Defaults window, you decide whether or not to use data segregation, by selecting or de-selecting the Segregate Data by Access Code check box.
By default, the option is switched off (no data segregation).
To get to the Global Defaults window, click the Edit button on the System Parameters window, Database tab.
Note! If the Access Code option is enabled, users will not be allowed to log into the SICS Workstation until they have been assigned to an Access Code. You will still be able to log onto the SICS System Administration Utility.
If a user tries to log into the system without being assigned to an Access Code a warning message appears, and login is terminated.
Defining the Access Codes (Reference Data) #
New Access Codes must be defined by opening the Reference Data Maintenance window.
If the Segregate Data by Access Code system parameter option is switched off, you will not see the Access Code data type in the Reference Data Maintenance window.
Select the Access Code reference data type, and create a new Access Code in the same way as you create other Reference Data values. See Reference Data Maintenance Handling in the Handle Reference Items chapter.
Note! Default Value check box is not relevant for Access Codes.
The rest of this section is only relevant if your company is running both P&C and SICS Life on the same database. If not, go to Physical Implementation (DBA info), to continue.
Each Access Code can be either:
- Life Specific
- P&C Specific
- Valid for both P&C and Life
You probably want to define different Access Codes for P&C and Life (that is, each Access Code will be either Life- or P&C-specific).
You make an Access Code P&C or Life specific by creating a child-parent dependency from the Access Code to the desired SICS System value. You must do this on the Dependencies tab, on the Reference Data Maintenance window:
For more details on how to create dependencies between Reference Data values, please refer to Reference Data Maintenance Handlingin the Handle Reference Items chapter.
If you do not create a dependency between an Access Code and a SICS System value, the Access Code will be a valid for both P&C and Life.
Assign Access Codes and Access Code Privileges to Users #
The SICS System Administrator can assign Access Code privileges to the SICS users in the Security module.
Double-click the Security icon, in the System Administration folder, to open the list of SICS users. Access a single user’s properties by double-clicking a user in the list.
Note! The Access Code tab on the System User window is only visible if the Segregate Data by Access Code system parameter is switched on.
Each user must be assigned to one Access Code for P&C and one for Life.
Note! If your company is only using the P&C system, it is not necessary to assign the user to a Life Access Code.
By assigning an Access Code to a user, you restrict the user’s access to data in the system. The user will only be able to view data that belongs to the selected Access Code.
Each user can only be assigned to one Active Access Code for SICS P&C and one for SICS Life.
However, a user may have the privilege to switch to any of the assigned Access Code, while using the system. This privilege is defined by selecting the Allow User to Switch to Any Access Code check box (it is assumed that only the System Administrator will have the access right to change this option for each user).
Some Users may have the privilege to view data across all Assigned Access Codes (at the same time). You grant this access by selecting Allow User to view Data across all Access Codes.
There is a distinction between allowing a user to view data across all Access Codes, and actually setting a user into Global View mode. The Allow User to view Data across all Access Codes option only grants the privilege to the user. It does not actually set the user in Global View mode.
Whether the user will actually view data across all Access Codes or not, is decided by the View Data across all Access Codes check box, located in the User Preferences window.
It is up to the users whether they want to actually view data for all Access Codes, or only for a specific Access Code.
Users can access their User Preferences by selecting the User Preferences menu option under the File menu on the SICS Desktop.
If you de-select the Allow User to View Data across all Access Codes check box, the user will not be allowed to select View Data for all Access Codes (the check box will be disabled).
Assigning Access Codes to Multiple Users #
When the Access Code feature is enabled, the System Administrator must assign an Access Code to each user. A user will not be allowed to log into the system, until an Access Code has been assigned.
You can either assign Access Codes by opening the properties of each and every user, or you can do it more quickly (for multiple users at the same time), using the following feature:
- Double-click the Security icon, in the System Administration folder to access the System Users tab of the Security Manager window
- Select Assign Access Code from the pop-up menu.
Note: This function has not been performance optimised. You may experience a performance delay the first time you open this window.
- You can now assign the same Access Code (for P&C and Life respectively) to multiple users at the same time.
- Select the user(s) you want to assign an Access Code to.
Select the Access Code from the drop-down list.
- Click the Assign to Selected Users button.