Chapter 3   Using the Client Interface and Screens

This chapter describes how to start Partner Agent Windows Client. It also describes the interface and controls and how to access the various screens.

The following topics are discussed in this section:

• Starting Partner Agent Windows Client



• Exiting Partner Agent Windows Client



• User Interface



• Manager Screen



• Profiles—New Explore Screen



• Progress Screen



• Preferences Screen

Starting Partner Agent Windows Client

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To start the Client, use the Start Menu.

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Note	If you have the preference set to launch Partner Agent at startup, Partner Agent may be running.

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If you installed Partner Agent Client in the default directory:

• From the Start menu select Programs > PartnerAgent > PartnerAgent.








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Note	If you installed Partner Agent in any other folders, substitute the appropriate folders.

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A small icon will be displayed in the system tray of the Windows task bar, usually in the lower right corner of your screen (Figure 3-1).

Figure 3-1    Partner Agent icon in Windows system tray

Exiting Partner Agent Windows Client

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To exit the Client:

• Right-mouse click on the Partner Agent icon in the Windows system tray.



• From the right-mouse menu, select Exit.

User Interface

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The controls for Partner Agent Client are accessed through the buttons and menus in several different graphical user interface (GUI) screens. They are the Explore, Progress, Manager, and Preferences screens.

Manager Screen

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The main screen for accessing the Client controls is the Manager screen. To access the Manager screen:

• Double-click on the Partner Agent icon in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.




OR



• Right-mouse click on the Partner Agent icon.



• From the right-mouse menu, select Manager.

The Manager screen displays (Figure 3-2), and a Partner Agent button appears in the Windows task bar at the bottom of the screen.

Figure 3-2    Manager screen

Manager Toolbar

The Partner Agent Manager toolbar, at the top of the Manager screen, has nine buttons to simplify sending and receiving files. Refer to Figure 3-3 to identify each button with its name and function.

Figure 3-3    Manager screen toolbar

1. Transfer Now—Starts transfer of any selected entries.



2. Schedule—Opens a window so you can set a specific time for a transfer to occur.



3. Change Destination—Opens a Save As window so you can set the download directory for the selected entries and, if desired, change the name.



4. Information—Opens the transfer log screen for the selected items.



5. Remove—Deletes any selected files from the transfer list.



6. Explore—Opens the Profiles - New Explore screen to allow you to search for files or to create profiles.



7. Progress—Displays the Progress screen, which gives you the status of any files being transferred.



8. Preferences—Displays the Preferences screen to configure Partner Agent for your environment and other preferred settings.



9. Quick Help—Launches the online help system for Partner Agent Client.

View Options

The Manager displays one of eight different views, depending on what is selected in the first drop-down list. Use the drop-down list to select one of these options:

• Files to Receive—The Manager displays a list of files that are being received or scheduled to be received from a machine other than ECXpert.




To display a list of files that are being received or scheduled to be received from ECXpert, use the Files to Be Received from ECXpert option.



• Files to Send—The Manager displays a list of files that are being sent or scheduled to be sent to a machine other than ECXpert.




To display a list of files that are being sent or scheduled to be sent to ECXpert, use the Files to Submit to ECXpert option.



• Files Received—The Manager displays a list of files that have been received from a machine other than ECXpert.




To display a list of files that have been received from ECXpert, use the Files Received from ECXpert option.



• Files Sent—The Manager displays a list of files that have been sent to a machine other than ECXpert.




To display a list of files that have been sent to ECXpert, use the Files Submitted to ECXpert option.



• Files to Submit to ECXpert—The Manager displays a list of files that are being sent or scheduled to be sent to ECXpert.




To display a list of files that are being sent or scheduled to be sent to a machine other than ECXpert, use the Files to Send option.



• Files Submitted to ECXpert—The Manager displays a list of files that have been sent to ECXpert.




To display a list of files that have been sent to a machine other than ECXpert, use the Files Sent option.



• Files to Be Received from ECXpert—The Manager displays a list of files that are being received or scheduled to be received from ECXpert.




To display a list of files that are being received or scheduled to be received from a machine other than ECXpert, use the Files to Receive option.



• Files Received from ECXPert—The Manager displays a list of files that have been received from ECXpert.




To display a list of files that have been received from a machine other than ECXpert, use the Files Received option.

Menu Options

The following options are available from the menus in the Manager screen.

File Menu

The following options are available in the File menu of the Manager screen.

• Explore—Opens an Explore Profiles window which allows you to add, modify, and delete user profiles for file transfers.



• Open URL—Opens a window in which you can enter a fully qualified "http," "ftp," "gxp," "ftpu," or "gxpu" URL. For example, to send files, type:




ftpu://user:password@host/pathname



A Send Files window displays for you to select the files to send.



To explore a site, enter a pathname that ends in a forward slash (/). An Explore screen displays.



• Send Files—Opens a window in which you can enter the address of a server other than ECXpert (such as ftp.YourCompany.com or 205.115.164.123), the port number (for FTP the default is 21), the user name (leave blank for anonymous), the password (leave blank for anonymous), and the path name on the server to send the files. This window is similar to entering an "ftpu" link.



• Receive Files—Opens a window in which you can enter the address of a server other than ECXpert (such as ftp.YourCompany.com or 205.115.164.123), the port number (for FTP the default is 21), the user name (leave blank for anonymous), the password (leave blank for anonymous), and the path name on the server to send the files. This window is similar to entering an "ftpu" link.



• Submit Files to ECXpert—Opens a window in which you can enter the ECXpert host address (such as ftp.YourCompany.com or 205.115.164.123) and port number (for FTP the default is 21), the login name and password, the sender name and password (must be a valid ECXpert member), the receiver name (must be a valid ECXpert member name), and the ECXpert document type. You can also schedule file submissions to ECXpert.



• Receive Files from ECXpert—Opens a window in which you can enter the ECXpert host address (such as ftp.YourCompany.com or 205.115.164.123) and port number (for FTP the default is 21), the login name and password, the sender name (must be a valid ECXpert member name), the receiver name (must be a valid ECXpert member name), the ECXpert document type, the file prefix, and the download path. You can also set up the Windows machine to receive files from ECXpert according to a schedule.



• Transfer Now—Starts the transfer of any selected entries.



• Schedule—Opens a window so you can set a specific time for a transfer to occur.



• Change Destination—Opens a Save As window so you can set the download directory for the selected entries and, if desired, change the name.



• Information—Opens the transfer log screen for the selected items.



• Remove—Deletes any selected files from the transfer list.



• Close—Closes the Manager screen.



• Exit—Exits the Partner Agent client.

Edit Menu

The Edit menu of the Manager screen contains the standard Windows controls for Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Select All, and Invert Selection. You can also access the Preferences screen.

To access the preferences screen from the Edit menu, select Edit > Preferences. For more information about setting preferences, refer to "Preferences Screen".

View Menu

The following options are available in the View menu of the Manager screen.

• Toolbar—Toggles the display of the Manager toolbar.



• Status Bar—Toggles the display of the Status bar at the bottom of the screen.



• Progress Window—Displays the Progress screen



• Files to Receive—Displays a list of files that are being received or scheduled to be received from a machine other than ECXpert.



• Files to Send—Displays a list of files that are being sent or scheduled to be sent to a machine other than ECXpert.



• Files Received—Displays a list of files that have been received from a machine other than ECXpert.



• Files Sent—Displays a list of files that have been sent to a machine other than ECXpert.



• Files to Submit to ECXpert—Displays a list of files that are being sent or scheduled to be sent to ECXpert.



• Files Submitted to ECXpert—Displays a list of files that have been sent to ECXpert.



• Files to Receive from ECXpert—Displays a list of files that are being received or scheduled to be received from ECXpert.



• Files Received from ECXpert—Displays a list of files that have been received from ECXpert.








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Note	The name of the list of files currently displayed (e.g., Files Received from ECXpert) appears under the top menu bar. Each of the Files options in the View menu can also be selected by clicking the Expand button under the top menu bar and selecting the option from the drop-down list that appears.

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Help Menu

The following options are available in the Help menu of the Manager screen.

• Quick Help—Launches the online help for Partner Agent Client in a browser window.



• About iPlanet Partner Agent—Displays information about Partner Agent, including the version number.




To open a browser window displaying the iPlanet web site, click About iPlanet.

Profiles—New Explore Screen

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Use the Profiles - New Explore screen to create, modify, copy, or delete connection profiles or to explore a location to find files to transfer. You can explore any local drive or any remote site that has a profile. You can also use this screen to create a desktop shortcut to a profile.

Profiles

A profile is stored information about a connection. This makes it easy to connect to commonly used servers without having to retype information. Profiles can be selected when you send or receive files, but they must be created in the Profiles - New Explore screen.

Accessing the Profiles - New Explore Screen

To access the Profiles - New Explore screen:

• Right-mouse click on the Partner Agent icon in the Windows system tray.



• From the right-mouse menu, select Explore.




OR



• From the Manager screen, select File > Explore.




OR



• Click the Explore button in the toolbar.

The Profiles - New Explore screen displays (Figure 3-4).

Figure 3-4    Profiles - New Explore screen

Explore Profile

To Explore a connection profile or local drive:

1. Select a drive or profile to explore from the window of the Profiles - New Explore screen.



2. Click Explore.




An Explore screen displays (Figure 3-5).

Figure 3-5    Explore screen for a selected drive or profile

If you selected a connection profile, Partner Agent attempts to connect and display the contents of the directory specified in the profile.

If you selected a local drive or folder, the Explore screen displays the contents of the drive or folder.

3. Click on folders to explore further.

Explore Toolbar

The Explore toolbar, at the top of the Explore screen, has sixteen buttons. Refer to Figure 3-6 to identify each button with its name and function.

Figure 3-6    Explore screen toolbar

1. Up one level—Changes the current view up one folder or directory level.



2. New Explore      —Opens a new Explore screen.



3. Explore From Here—Opens a new Explore screen with the current folder as the starting point.



4. Refresh—Refreshes the current view.



5. Download To—Opens a Download To window, which downloads the selected file to a location that you specify in the window.



6. Download—Downloads the selected file to the default location.



7. Upload—Opens an Upload screen to select a file. The file is uploaded to the location that is selected in the Explore screen.



8. Copy—Copies the selection to the clipboard.



9. Paste—Pastes the clipboard contents.



10. Delete—Deletes the selected file or folder.



11. Properties—Displays properties of files and folders.



12. Large Icons—Shows large icons.



13. Small Icons—Shows small icons.



14. List—Shows a list of files and folders.



15. Details—Shows details of files and folders.



16. Manager—Switches to the Manger screen.

Transferring Files From the Explore Screen

You can transfer files several ways from the Explore screen. You can use buttons in the toolbar, you can use the right-mouse menu, or you can drag and drop.

Drag and Drop

You can drag and drop files to and from the Explore screen. You can do this to upload or download files or folders.

You can drag and drop to between the Explore screen:

• The desktop.



• The Manager screen.



• Another Explore screen.



• A Microsoft Explorer window.

Downloading

Other ways to download a file, from the Explore screen:

1. Explore to locate a file and if necessary click once on the file to select it.



2. Use the right-mouse menu to select download or download to.




OR



Click the download button, (the down-pointing arrow), in the Explore toolbar.



If you select download, Partner Agent attempts to download the selected file. If you select download to, the Download To screen displays.







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Note

You can download files from ECXpert using the Explore screen only when the ECXpert partnership for the specific Sender/Receiver/Document Type uses the FTP protocol and a service that deposits incoming documents into your ECXpert mailbox. If incoming documents are not stored in your ECXpert mailbox, you will not be able to retrieve them using the Explore screen.

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Figure 3-7    Download To screen

3. Use the Drives drop-down list to locate the drive to which to download the file.



4. Use the Folders drop-down list to locate the desired folder.



5. If desired, click Network to locate a drive on your network.



6. Click Cancel to abort the download.



7. Click OK to start the download.




Partner Agent downloads the selected file.

Uploading

Other ways to upload a file to a non-ECXpert machine from the Explore screen:

1. Explore to locate the directory or folder into which you want to upload a file.



2. Select upload from the right-mouse menu.




OR



Click the upload button—the up-pointing arrow—in the Explore toolbar.

Figure 3-8    An Upload screen displays.Upload screen

3. Use the Look in drop-down list to locate the file to be uploaded.



4. Click on the file to select it.




The file name displays in the File name field.



5. Click Open to start the upload.




The file is uploaded.







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Note	You cannot upload files to ECXpert using the Explore screen. To upload files to ECXpert, see "Submitting Files to ECXpert".

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Adding a Profile

To create a connection profile, in the Profiles - New Explore screen:

1. Click Add.




An Explore Profile screen displays.



The Explore Profile screen contains six pages: one for each connection type. The connection types are ECXFTP Submit, ECXFTP Receive, FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, and Local Computer. The FTP, HTTP and HTTPS pages are identical except that the FTP page contains an option to login as an anonymous user.



2. Select the appropriate Tab for the connection type.



3. Enter information in the following fields:




For ECXFTP Submit profiles:

Figure 3-9    Explore Profile screen, ECXFTP Submit tab

• Host Address—Enter the address of the ECXpert host.



• Port—Enter the ECXpert host port. The default port—1027—is already entered, but you can enter any desired value.



• Login—Enter the sender's login name.



• Password—Enter the sender's password for connect.



• Sender Name—Enter the sender's ECXpert membership ID.



• Sender Password—Enter the sender's ECXpert password.



• Receiver Name—Enter the receiver's ECXpert membership ID.



• Document Type—Enter the ECXpert document type.



• Profile Name—Enter a Profile name. This field automatically displays information you enter into the Host Address and Login fields, but you can enter any desired name.




For ECXFTP Receive profiles:

Figure 3-10    Explore Profile screen, ECXFTP Receive tab

• Host Address—Enter the address of the ECXpert host.



• Port—Enter the ECXpert host port. The default port—1027—is already entered, but you can enter any desired value.



• Login—Enter the receiver's login name.



• Password—Enter the receiver's password for connect.



• Sender Name—Enter the sender's ECXpert membership ID.



• Receiver Name—Enter the receiver's ECXpert membership ID.



• Document Type—Enter the ECXpert document type.



• File Prefix—Enter an optional prefix to be added to the names of incoming files.



• Download Path—This field displays any current default download path. Enter a path or use the Browse button to select where you want to download files.



• Profile Name—Enter a Profile name. This field automatically displays information you enter into the Host Address and Login fields, but you can enter any desired name.




For FTP, HTTP, and HTTPS profiles:

Figure 3-11    Explore Profile screen, FTP tab

• Host Address—Enter the address of the host to which you will connect.



• Port—Enter a port. The default ports are already entered, but you can enter any desired value.



• Login—Enter your login name (if not anonymous).



• Anonymous—For anonymous logins (FTP only), select this check box.








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Note	When this box is checked, the Login and Password fields fill in automatically.

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• Password—Enter your password for connect.



• Startup Path—Enter the startup path on the server you are exploring.



• Download Path—This field displays any current default download path. Enter a path or use the Browse button to select where you want to download files.



• Cache data between sessions—Select this option to have Partner Agent cache data between sessions.



• Profile Name—Enter a Profile name. This field automatically displays information you enter into the Host Address and Login fields, but you can enter any desired name.




For Local Computer profiles:

Figure 3-12    Explore Profile screen, Local Computer tab

• Path—Enter the desired local path, use the
  
  button to select a local path or select the all drives option below.



• All drives on local machine—Select this option to include all drives.



• Profile Name—Enter a Profile name. This field automatically displays any information entered in the Path field, but you can enter any desired name.

4. Click OK.








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Note	If you have not entered all the required information for a new profile, the OK button is disabled.

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The Profile name is displayed in the list of profiles in the Profiles - New Explore screen.

Modifying a Profile

To modify a connection profile:

1. Select a profile from the list of profiles in the Profiles - New Explore screen.



2. Click Modify.



3. Make the desired changes.



4. Click OK.




The profile is modified.

Duplicating a Profile

To copy a connection profile:

1. Select a profile from the list of profiles in the Profiles - New Explore screen.



2. Click Duplicate.




A copy of the profile is created in the list of profiles in the Profiles - New Explore screen. A suffix is added that includes the copy number, for example the first copy of the profile New Profile is called New Profile-1.

Deleting a Profile

To delete a connection profile:

1. Select a profile from the list of profiles in the Profiles - New Explore screen.



2. Click Delete.




The profile is removed in the list of profiles in the Profiles - New Explore screen.

Creating a Shortcut

To create a shortcut to a connection profile:

1. Select a profile from the list of profiles in the Profiles - New Explore screen.



2. Click Shortcut.




A shortcut to the selected profile is added to your desktop.

Exiting the Profiles - New Explore Screen

To exit the screen:

• Click Close.




OR



• Click the X in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

Progress Screen

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The Progress screen shows the status of any files that are waiting to be transferred and the progress of files that are transferring. If a file is being transferred, you can pause it from this screen.

To access the Progress screen:

• Right-mouse click on the Partner Agent icon in the Windows system tray.



• From the right-mouse menu, select Progress.




OR



• From the Manager screen, select View > Progress window.




The Progress screen displays (Figure 3-13), and a Partner Agent button appears in the Windows task bar at the bottom of the screen.

Figure 3-13    Progress screen

Progress Screen Options

The following options are available when a file is transferring.

• To pause a transfer, click Pause.



• To cancel a transfer, click Cancel.



• To access the Manager screen, click Manager.

If no file is transferring, the Pause and Cancel buttons are disabled.

Preferences Screen

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Preferences allow you to create your own business and security standards for using Partner Agent. The Preference screen is where you set your preferences.

To access the Preferences screen:

• Right-mouse click on the Partner Agent icon in the Windows system tray.



• From the right-mouse menu, select Preferences.




OR



• From the Manager screen, select Edit > Preferences.




The Preferences screen displays.

Figure 3-14    Preferences screen, initial tab

Preference settings are contained on six pages within the Preferences screen. Each page has a tab at the top with its name. The pages are:

• General



• Transferring



• Scheduling



• Security



• Proxy/Firewall



• Explore

To display a page:

• Click the appropriate tab at the top of the Preferences screen.

To set preferences:

1. Use the tabs to switch pages.



2. Select any desired options.



3. Click Apply.

To cancel any changes you have made:

• Click Cancel.

To display the Help file:

• Click Help.

General Preferences

The following options are available on the General (initial) page:

• Identification: Email address—Enter your email address. It is used as your password when you log in as an anonymous user.



• Prompt: Before deleting queued items—If this option is selected, you are prompted when you try to delete items that are waiting to be transferred.



• Navigator Integration: Intercept Navigator links—This option is disabled.



• Startup: Launch Partner Agent at system startup—Select one of the radio buttons to determine if you want the Partner Agent Client to start automatically at System Startup. Select Never, Only when items are pending, or Always.



• Use PASV mode—If this option is selected, the Server provides the address and port for the Client to connect to when transferring. If this option is not checked, the Client is in PORT mode and provides the address and port for the Server to connect to when transferring.



• Share connection between Explorer and Manager—If this option is selected, the Client is limited to one connection with the Server. If this option is not selected, you can transfer a file while exploring; a new connection is made to the Server so you can continue exploring while the transfer occurs.








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Note

This option is required if your Server is set up to only allow one connection per login. The advantage of using this option (if it is not required) is that transfers occur more quickly since the overhead of re-login is eliminated. The disadvantage is that you can not explore while performing a transfer.

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Transferring Preferences

Figure 3-15    Preferences screen, Transferring tab

The following options are available on the Transferring page:

• Default Download Location—Use the radio buttons to select whether you want the Client to ask for file location when saving files or to automatically save files in a specified directory. If you choose to have Partner Agent ask for a location, you are prompted each time you download a file. If you choose to automatically save, enter the path name or use the Browse button to locate the desired folder.



• Transfer Mode—Use the radio buttons to select the transfer mode. Select to transfer files using binary or text mode, or to perform text mode transfers for files ending with specific suffixes. If you select the last option, enter the file suffixes, (for example .html or .txt), separated by commas, in the field below. Files of types not specified are transferred in binary mode.



• Download files—Use the radio buttons to select whether to overwrite files on your system that have the same name as files that are downloading or to create new unique names for the downloading files.



• Expand compressed files after downloading—Select this option to have the Client decompress compressed files after download.



• Compress upload files using—Select this option to have the Client compress files that you are sending. If you select this option, use the drop-down menu to select a compression application.
  

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  Note	We recommend using WinZipTM with Partner Agent Client.

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• Launch installer programs automatically—Select this option to have the Client start installer programs that you download.

Scheduling Preferences

Figure 3-16    Preferences screen, Scheduling tab

The following options are available on the Scheduling page:

• Connection—Enter the number of times you want to retry a failed connection in the Retry transferring file field. Enter the number of minutes to wait between retries in the Delay between retry field.



• Enable Dial-up Networking—Select this option to use a dial-up account. If you select this option, use the drop-down menu to select from your phone list entries, which have been set up through your control panel. For Windows 95 and 98, your password must be specified in the dial-up login window.



• Schedule—Select this option to have the Schedule screen open before any transfer occurs.

Security Preferences

Figure 3-17    Preferences screen, Security tab

The following options are available on the Security page:

• Enable Security— Select this option to have the Client negotiate to use the Server's security system upon connection. Use the checkboxes below to set the desired level of security.
  

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  Note	If this option is selected, files will still transfer without security if the Server has no security, unless you select the Use only secure connections option.

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• Use only secure connections— Select this option to require encrypted (SSL) connections.



• Always use firewall-friendly secure connections (tunnel mode)—Select this option to require the Client to connect in tunnel mode.



• Prompt user when not recognizing the authority of a certificate— Select this option to have the Client warn you if a server certificate is from an unknown source.



• Do not accept certificates with unrecognized authorities— Select this option to require server certificates from known sources to be present in your certificate file.



• Certificate file— Enter the pathname for a user's certificate file or use the Browse button to locate a certificate file.



• Key file— Enter the pathname for a user's key file or use the Browse button to locate a key file.



• Import authority certificate to storage—Click this button to locate and manually import a server's certificate to the Windows Client machine.

Proxy/Firewall Preferences

Figure 3-18    Preferences screen, Proxy/Firewall tab

The following options are available on the Proxy/Firewall page:

• Connect through a proxy server or a firewall—Select this option to configure the Client to connect to other local network computers through a proxy server or through a firewall.



• Proxy Settings—Enter the Proxy address for the type of proxy you are using—FTP, HTTP, or SOCKS—in the appropriate fields or, to import the settings from your default browser, click the Import button.




For FTP, HTTP, or SOCKS servers that require a user name and password, click User and enter your user name and password.



• Proxy Exceptions—Enter any addresses for which you do not want to use a Proxy Server. Use commas to separate multiple entries. Wildcards can be used in this field.



• FTP Firewall Type—For FTP firewalls, select the firewall type from the drop-down menu.

Exploring Preferences

Figure 3-19    Preferences screen, Explorer tab

The following options are available on the Explorer page:

• Show Explore Profiles upon startup— Select this option to have the Client show the Explore profiles. For more on profiles, see Profiles on page36.



• Automatically refresh current view—Select this option to have the Client automatically refresh the current directory view, and enter the number of minutes after which it should refresh. The Client connects to the current Server and updates the view periodically based on the number of minutes entered in the minutes field.



• Cached Files—Enter a time period for the cache data to expire. To manually clear the cache, click the Clear All Cached Files button. This section also lists the current number of cached files, the amount of disk space used and the path of the cache.



• Show any available message for current folder—Select this option to have the Client display messages for a selected folder on the Explore screen.



• Show greeting when first connected to a site—Select this option to have the Client display a greeting acknowledging your first connection to a site.