Impersonation Preferences

WebCenter Portal Impersonation allows a WebCenter Portal administrator assign impersonation rights to a user ("impersonators"), so that the user can impersonate another WebCenter Portal user and perform operations as that user ("impersonatees").

Allowing an Impersonation Session

As a WebCenter Portal user, you can grant impersonation rights to designated impersonators.

You can allow someone to impersonate you during a specified time slot using the My Impersonators screen. Note that impersonators will not be able to access the My Impersonators screen during an impersonation session.

To allow an impersonation session:

  1. On the Users who can Impersonate me page, enter the User name or use the Search function to find the user to set up with an impersonation session. Note that only users with impersonator privileges are displayed.
  2. Select the time slot during which the impersonator can impersonate you, and then click Add to add the user to the list of impersonators that can impersonate you.

    Note:

    You are granting rights to the user to impersonate you across all applications to which you have access. Exercise caution when choosing the impersonator and keep the access duration to a minimum duration.

    You can select:

    • For Next 1 hour to allow an impersonator to initiate an impersonation session during the next hour.

    • Today to allow an impersonator to initiate an impersonation session during the current day. Note that "today" means the end of today as defined by your selected time zone and preferences.

    • For a specific time period to allow an impersonator to conduct an impersonation session during a specific time slot for your time zone and preferences.

    The impersonator can now conduct an impersonation session during the allotted time.

  3. After adding an impersonator, you can change the time slot or revoke impersonation rights.
    • To edit the impersonation session time slot, click Edit, change the start and end times, and click OK.

    • To revoke an impersonation grant, click Revoke and then click Revoke again when prompted.

    Note that impersonation grants that have already expired, or grants for users whose rights as a designated impersonator have been revoked by the administrator, will not appear in this list.

Initiating an Impersonation Session

You can view the impersonatees that have granted you impersonation rights and can initiate impersonation sessions using the Impersonation preferences page. Note that you must have been granted impersonation rights to access this screen by the administrator.

To view or start impersonation sessions:

  1. On the Impersonation page, scroll down past the list of users who can impersonate you to the list of the users that have granted you impersonation rights. Note that unless you have been configured as an impersonator, you will not be able to impersonate other users and the list will be empty.

    If Switch User appears as an action in the list, it means that you can begin an impersonation for that user; No Action Possible means that the grant has expired or is for a future point in time.

  2. To initiate an impersonation session from the Impersonation preferences page:
    1. Click Switch User to select the user to impersonate.

    2. When prompted, confirm your credentials to start the impersonation session.

      You will be taken to the impersonatee's home page and all ensuing actions during the session will be done on the impersonatee's system as if they were done by the impersonatee. The only exception to this is that during the session you will not be able to access the impersonatee's Impersonation page.

    3. Click Stop Impersonation on the impersonation overlay, or from your (the impersonator's) Impersonation preferences page to end the impersonation session.