Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Development:
Progress Dynamics Basic Development

Searching with the Security Enquiry tool

The security definition for a complex application can be extensive. The Security Enquiry tool allows you to find existing security settings based on a wide array of characteristics. When you select the Security Enquiry node, several nodes appear. Each represents a type of security allocation and allows you to list details of that type as they apply to groups or users that you specify.

The following table describes the nodes:

Option	Purpose
Security groups	Displays the relationship of groups to selected companies, groups, or individuals.
Actions	Displays details of action security allocations as they relate to the specified groups or individuals, including object, filename, and whether an allocation applies at the object or instance level.
Containers	Displays the security status of container application objects as they relate to the specified groups or individuals.
Data	Displays the security status of data entities (records) as they relate to specific groups or individuals.
Data ranges	Displays the details of defined data ranges as they relate to specific groups or individuals, including minimum and maximum values.
Fields	Displays the security status of application field objects as they relate to specific groups or individuals.
Login companies	Displays the security status of login companies as they relate to specific groups or individuals.
Menu items	Displays the security status of application menu items as they relate to specific groups or individuals.
Menu structures	Displays the security status of application menu structures as they relate to specific groups or individuals.

Note: It is an excellent idea to always use the Security enquiry tool to see all relevant information before you make changes to your security definitions.

Each of the nodes uses the same technique to filter security data for you, although the details provided are different for each node. Details include whether the object is secured, how it is secured, and why the object is secured or not secured.

To use the tool:

From the Security Control window, expand the Security Enquiry node on the tree.
Select the type of security allocation you want to review. A panel appears. The following example is for the Containers node:



Specify the context of your search at the top of the panel. For example, specify a company, group, or user to query on. In some cases you must specify an object name as well.
Click Refresh. The Security Control populates the Details tab. As you change the context parameters of your search, you must click the Refresh button each time to repopulate the Details tab.
At the top of the Details tab, there might be options to filter the number of rows. Simply click these as you see fit, and the list refreshes automatically. The user selects the applicable node depending on what type of security he wants to query. He enters the user and organization he wants to enquire on, and presses the Refresh button.
You can further filter the records using the standard Filter tab. To apply settings from the Filter tab, click the Apply button on the Filter tab. Pressing Refresh here has no effect except to reset the Filter tab.
Notes: The column labels are different, depending on whether you use the grant or revoke model. Note that you can export data to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet by clicking the Excel icon at the bottom of the panel.

The Security Enquiry tool derives much of its utility from the comments the system provides. The comment in the editor is built by the framework. The comment is meant to give you an idea of how the system determined which security to apply. For instance, if conflicting security had been picked up against different security groups, the comment would mention against which security groups security had been found and how it had been applied to give you the eventual security panel.