PlanEvalWeb
PlanEvalWeb is a web application that can be installed on a Windows server that uses IIS (Internet Information Services). The PlanEvalWeb service allows users to log in to a web site and participate in a PlanEval project to which they have been invited by a project manager. This removes the need for participants to install their own PlanEval desktop client application. The only one that needs the PlanEval desktop application is the project manager, who uses it for setting and deploying projects to the web server, and for inviting participants.
Requirements
- Windows Server (shared, VPS or dedicated) with .Net Framework 4.5.2 and IIS installed
- Sql Server 2008 R2 or later
Preparation before installing
- Ensure that the SQL Server authentication mode is set to "Sql Server and Windows Authentication mode".
- Add an SQL Server user account with server role = dbcreator
Installation using the installation package
This alternative requires that you can log in to the server via Remote Desktop. The MSI-installer will install PlanEvalWeb as a new web site under Sites in IIS Manager, beside Default Web Site. The URL will be example.com:XXXX, where XXXX is a port number. Of course, you can modifiy this in IIS manager afterwards, for example by redefining the site to a subdomain, such as planeval.example.com.
If you prefer to use an url like example.com/planeval, you must fix this in IIS Manager afterwards, or simply make a manual install (see below). Most SSL-certificates will include such subfolders, while a subdomain will ususally require additional domains.
- Login in to server via Remote Desktop.
- Add an SQL Server user with server role dbcreator.
- Download the PlanEvalWeb setup file from here.
- Double-click on the downloaded msi-file to install it.
- If port 80 is occupied or you want SSL, change the port number. You can also change this in the IIS Manager afterwords by choosing Edit Bindings for PlanEvalWeb.
- The "Database Address" is the full address to the SQL server, including port and instance name if needed (example: localhost:8080\SQLEXPRESS).
- Select Authentication Type = SQL Authentication and enter the login credentials for the user created in step 3.
- Open IIS Manager and ensure that PlanEvalWeb is running (start it manually if not).
- In a browser, enter the url to PlanEvalWeb, for example https://localhost:8080. If it the first time you visit the page, the PlanEvalWeb database will now be created.
- If using SSL or a non-default port, enusre the fire wall settings are updated.
- To enable uploading of images, see below.
Note: If you are using SSL, which you should, then you must select another port than 443 if this is already bounded to your default web site (use Edit Bindings).
Manual installation
A manual installation may be necessary if you do not have access to the server via Remote Desktop and cannot run the MSI. Or simply prefer to do it yourself.
- The application files are available in a zip-file that you can download from here.
- Extract and copy the files to some folder.
- In the IIS Manager, you can select one of the following options:
- Right click Default Web Site and choose Add Application, and enter the physical path you chose in step 2.
- Right click the server name and select Add Website. The results is equivalent to when using the MSI-installer. This option allows you to restart PlanEvalWeb
- To create a subdomain for PlanEvalWeb, enter for example planeval.mydomain.com as hostname in Edit Bindings.
- Ensure the directory (or the virtual directory that points to the PLanEvalWeb folder) is marked as an application.
First time use - create admin-account
To be able to upload images a user must have elevated privileges.
- First make sure that a PlanEvalWeb account is registered for the project manager (an online-user created in PlanEval = the desktop application). This user is probably not a stakeholder.
- Open page "Web Server" (Tools > Settings) in PlanEval. Click the button "Elevate account" and enter the project managers account. If the SQL Server connection settings are correct the privileges will now be set in the PlanEvalWeb database on the server.
SSL
Since PlanEvalWeb contains input forms, a "Non-secure" warning will appear on the pages if you do not use SSL.