Desktop client

The Dimensions CM desktop client is a Windows-based application that enables you to perform Dimensions CM tasks.

Login profiles

To work with Dimensions CM, you log in to a Dimensions CM database.

To log in to Dimensions CM, your user ID and password must be registered on the Dimensions CM base database for your product. To work on multiple products that are stored in different databases, you need the connection details for each of those products.

You can save your login details for a product as a login profile. Creating login profiles is particularly useful if you access multiple databases or different Dimensions CM server installations. A login profile saves all of your connection information, except your password.

User interface profiles

Your administrator may have set up one or more options that determine which functions in the desktop client are accessible when you have logged in to a session. For example there may be an option to only view functions related to change control or version control. These options do not necessarily relate to any privileges you may have to perform the functions.

If more than one UI profile has been set up for your user or group, then when you log in to the desktop client for the first time, you will be asked to choose one of these profiles as your default. You can change this profile at any point during a session.

If only one UI profile has been set up, you will not be able to change it. If no UI Profile has been set up, then you will be able to access all features of the clients.

Logging in to remote nodes

You can access files and directories that are located on a remote network node, such as a z/OS mainframe. For example, you might be working with items that are stored on a different node than your Dimensions CM database server, or your work area might be on a remote network node.

To access these files and directories, you must log in to the remote node:

Manually log in to the remote node at any time while you are using the desktop client.
Wait to log in to the remote node until you access a file on the node and see the Login to Remote File Node dialog box.
Automatically log in to the remote node when you start the desktop client. Before you can use this alternative, your Dimensions CM administrator must enable automatic login.

Automatic login

If your Dimensions CM administrator has enabled automatic login for your account, you can automatically log in to Dimensions CM when you start the desktop client. This way, you don't need to enter your credentials. You can still access the Login dialog box if you need to change your connection information, for example, to access a different database.

HTTP/S network protocol

For security reasons, you may be required to log in using the HTTP/S network protocol instead of the default Standard Dimensions Protocol (SDP). The Dimensions CM HTTP Connector enables a connection to a server using HTTP/S. For details, see Administration.

Smart card authentication

To use smart card authentication, ActivClient must be installed on your machine and a valid card inserted in your card reader. For details about configuring smart cards, see Administration.