Connect to Dimensions CM

You can connect Eclipse to one or more Dimensions CM servers. The parameters are saved in a local configuration file, which enables easy access to the same parameters when reconnecting to Dimensions CM.

In this topic:

Enable smart card authentication

Dimensions CM supports ActiveIdentity Smart Card service providers.

If the Smart Card software is installed, you can provide Smart Card authentication information when you open a Dimensions CM connection.

If the Smart Card software is installed to a folder different from the default location, you must set the correct path in Dimensions CM for Eclipse.

To enable smart card authentication:

1. In Eclipse, go to Window > Preferences.

2. Select (Version Control) Team > Dimensions CM.

3. In the Smart Card Library Path field, enter the correct path.

4. Click Apply and Close.

Back to top

Open a connection

You can run multiple open connections concurrently. If a connection times out and is disconnected from a server, it remains disconnected until it is required, and then reconnects automatically.

To run a connection:

1. To display the Dimensions CM Explorer, go to Window > Perspective > Open Perspective > Other.

2. In the Open Perspective dialog box, select Dimensions CM, and click Open.

3. In Dimensions CM Explorer, right-click the Dimensions node, and select Connect To > <connection>.

4. Enter the password for the operating system user, and click OK.

Back to top

Create a connection

When you create a new connection, the connection parameters are stored on your local system. This enables you to reopen the connection at a future time without re-entering the connection details.

To log in, you need the following information:

• The name of the Dimensions CM server.

• (Optional) The port number used to run Dimensions CM.

• The network protocol used by the server: SDP, HTTP, or HTTPS.

• The database name of the Dimensions CM product you are working with.

• The connection string for the database.

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

To create a connection to Dimensions CM:

1. In Dimensions CM Explorer, right-click the Dimensions node, and select New Connection. The Add a New Dimensions Connection dialog box opens.

   You may also need to enter new connection information when adding Eclipse projects to source control.

2. In the Connection field, enter the name for the connection. This name is displayed in Dimensions CM Explorer after the connection is created.

3. In the Server field, enter the server name and, optionally, the port number to connect to:

   SDP protocol	<server name[:port]>
   HTTP protocol	http://<server name[:port]>
   HTTPS protocol	https://<server name[:port]>

4. In the DB Name field, enter the name of the Dimensions CM database to connect to.

5. In the DB Connection field, enter the database connection (DSN) on the server.

6. Choose whether to log in with user credentials or with a smart card:

   • To log in with user credentials, enter the username and password.

   • To connect using a smart card, select the certificate.

7. Click Finish.

Back to top

Edit connections

To edit or delete a connection, first you need to close it.

To close a connection:

1. In Dimensions CM Explorer, right-click the Dimensions node, and select Properties.

2. Click Disconnect.

To edit or delete a connection:

1. In Dimensions CM Explorer, right-click the Dimensions node, and select Edit > <connection>.

2. Edit the login parameters as required, and click OK.

3. To delete a connection, right-click the Dimensions node, and select Delete > <connection>. Click OK.

Back to top

See also:

• Dimensions CM Explorer in Eclipse
• Work with projects and streams in Eclipse