Importing Authentication Data Introduction MGI stores usernames, passwords, and other authentication data in a proprietary database format for the database that is built into the MGI code. However, you can use the export and import features of the mgiAuthenticateDB tag in admin mode to transfer authentication records. Passwords are stored in encrypted format in the internal "__MGIDB__Authentication__" database. Do not import records using the mgiEditDatabase tag or the passwords will import in plain text (and will erroneously decrypt in the admin). The mgiAuthenticateDB tag in admin mode will encrypt passwords as they are imported . MGI Tags mgiAuthenticateDB Steps Create an authentication administration page. Insert the mgiAuthenticateDB tag in Admin mode. Save the authentication administration page. Create a tab-delimited import file. Save the import file. FTP the authentication administration page and import file to the web server running MGI. View the authentication administration page. Import Users. Step 1: Create an authentication administration page. Create a page named "authadmin.mgi" to display the web-based authentication interface. Open the page in a text editing program that allows you to view and modify the HTML and code of the page. Step 2: Insert the mgiAuthenticateDB tag in Admin mode. Enter the mgiAuthenticateDB tag and mode parameter. In the mode parameter enter "Admin". The admin interface will display at the location of the mgiAuthenticateDB tag. <mgiAuthenticateDB mode="Admin"> Step 3: Save the authentication administration page. Save the changes you have made to the authentication administration page. Step 4: Create a tab-delimited import file. Depending on the current format of your data, you may need to "export" or "save as..." from an existing program in order to create a tab-delimited file. If you choose, you may also prepare your data directly in a text file. In any case, create a text file of the tab-delimited authentication data to import.   Your data should be in the following field order and format: Username Password Email Address Group Start Date (in Julian Day format) End Date (in julian Day format) Start Time (in military format) End Time (in military format)   At least a username and password is required for each user.   For the Username, enter the user's unique, case-sensitive login identification. For the Password, enter the user's case-sensitive security code. For the Email Address, enter the user's email address. The email address will be used to send the user's password in SendPassword mode. For the Groups, enter the group name that the user belongs to. For multiple groups, enter a comma-delimited list in the Groups field. For the start date, enter the julian date when the user's username and password become valid. For the end date, enter the julian date when the user's username and password are no longer valid. For the start time, enter the time (in military format) that the user's username and password become valid on the start date. For the end time, enter the time (in military format) that the user's username and password are no longer valid on the end date.   The first line of your import file should be the authentication database field definitions and names. Note that there are tabs between each field name and a carriage return (Mac) or carriage return and line feed (PC) at the end of the first line which may not copy directly from the example below..   (T,50,X,Q)Username (T,90,X)Password (T,130,X)Email Address (T,250,X)Groups (I)Start Date (I)End Date (I)Start Time (I)End Time   The following is an example import file. The text in this example is wrapped for viewing purposes, however each record is actually only one row of tab-delimited text. The triangles in this example represent tabs and the horizontal lines as the end of each row represent a carriage return. Step 5: Save the import file. Save the import file. In this example the import file is named "authimport.txt", but you may choose any name. Step 6: FTP the authentication administration page and import file to the web server running MGI. Upload the authentication administration page and import file from your local computer to the web server using an FTP program. Step 7: View the authentication administration page. The first screen of the authentication administration interface is the search screen if there is existing data or a "New" and "Import" button if there is no existing data. Click the "Import" button to view the import screen. Step 8: Import Users. Beside "Filename", enter the name of the file to import and click the "Import Now" button. Imported users are added to the existing users in the database. If a username in the import file exactly matches an existing username in the authentication database, the user's information is not imported. When the import is complete, the main interface displays.