topic Re: Copying Roles between instances in Qlik NPrinting

Copying Roles between instances

sri_c003 — Fri, 04 May 2018 16:23:36 GMT

Say, I created an NPrinting instance, and created a bunch of roles. And then I want to copy these roles to another instance of NPrinting (same version).

How do i achieve this, not going the backup and restore route since that would apply to all other areas too.

I want a copy of only the various security roles.

This would help me back them up and restore in case I am going for a wipe and clean installation too.

Re: Copying Roles between instances

Lech_Miszkiewicz — Sat, 05 May 2018 02:48:39 GMT

Hi,

Out of the box there is no functionality to COPY roles apart from using an API:

https://help.qlik.com/en-US/nprinting/September2017/APIs/NP+API/index.html#Roles

regards

Lech

Re: Copying Roles between instances

sri_c003 — Mon, 07 May 2018 14:11:36 GMT

This API is only for getting the list of roles on server, and for updating them for a specific user. I am looking for some way to copy the roles i.e., export and import. So not of much use for my scenario.

Box 1 --> get all the roles, with all their selections

Box 2 <-- put all the roles retrieved above, with all their selections

Re: Copying Roles between instances

blaise — Mon, 07 May 2018 14:39:23 GMT

If you have a lot of roles (20+) with a lot of different settings on each role i would try (in a TEST env.) to create 20+ roles (to get a UID for 20+ roles) and then try to update the DB directly (take down NP before).

NB! I havn't tried this and do not really recommend it but if you have a TEST env. you could always try.

With a smaller amount of roles i would just start creating them and maybee build some qlik app using the APi's /DB to verify that the roles in the new system is identical to the old one.

And for the future, lets hope that Qlik builds an import tool for other things than just report. Im more interested in moving an app (with all associated filters, conditions, tasks, etc) from one env. to another but roles could also be of interest.

One other way is of course to ask for a POST endoint for Roles so you could create roles via API.

Re: Copying Roles between instances

sri_c003 — Mon, 07 May 2018 14:55:35 GMT

I think the only option would be via an API call or some kind of new feature that allowed export and import of roles.

Copying db wouldn't be feasible, considering it would update every aspect of NPrinting server, and not just roles. I tried to find the specific backup file for roles (there is a bunch of files created) so i could restore only that, but was unable to find since the names are all randomly generated strings.

Re: Copying Roles between instances

blaise — Mon, 07 May 2018 17:27:53 GMT

I'm not suggesting that you should update the whole DB, just alter the role tables.

Re: Copying Roles between instances

sri_c003 — Mon, 07 May 2018 18:02:05 GMT

You mean we could alter the role tables directly? Let me check this out.

Re: Copying Roles between instances

blaise — Mon, 07 May 2018 21:26:55 GMT

Should be fairly easy, as long as you've created the dummy roles in web console (to get a role_id) you need to alter the role_action table to tie actions (permissions) to the role and also update role table to correct the name, desc etc.

Further, role_app ties a role to an app if the permissions should be for specific app(s).

Let me know how it goes, interesting project

Re: Copying Roles between instances

Lech_Miszkiewicz — Mon, 07 May 2018 21:39:04 GMT

To be frank i do not see any benefit of migrating roles if you don't create a dependency between roles and other entities like apps users etc..

Since dependencies cannot be re-created as GUID ids will be different what is a point of going into trougble and trying to migrate only part of repository. On the other hand if you want to migrate dependencies like user roles, apps roles etc.. you would need to migrate a lot more and it will be very hard to keep the integrity of repository right.

As you can see on screenshot roles themselfs will not give you much of a gain when imported alone....

Re: Copying Roles between instances

blaise — Tue, 08 May 2018 07:05:58 GMT

I find this thread quite interesting

I don't have access to a NP DB at the moment but i don't think there are any PK GUIDs in role_app or role_recipient, just a role_id and app_id vs role_id and recipient_id.

My recomendation was to create the needed dummy roles in WC to have the interface create the GUIDs instead of trying to create them directly in the db. After that no GUIDs need to be changed / created.

But I totaly agree with you that altering a lot of roles in the DB is only interesting if you connect those roles to apps and users. It will also require some development to link app_id and recipient_id from system 1 to system2.

The fastest way (after investigating this a bit more after my initial "recommendation" with a big NB!) is of course to create the roles and all connections directly in WC - but its a lot more fun to discuss how to do it with code

Re: Copying Roles between instances

sri_c003 — Tue, 08 May 2018 16:08:17 GMT

What did you use for password, for this wasn't working for me when I used the NPrinting password to connect using psql.

@Johan Hessler: I shalll comment on what you said once I figure out how to connect to the database.

Re: Copying Roles between instances

blaise — Tue, 08 May 2018 17:51:50 GMT

You should use the pwd for the user you created when you set up the repository (during installation).

My NB grows stronger and stronger for every minute I spend thinking of this case

Re: Copying Roles between instances

sri_c003 — Tue, 08 May 2018 17:58:15 GMT

It is failing at this, upon password entry. Very weird why it isn't letting me connect to it.

Am I missing any parameter?

Re: Copying Roles between instances

Lech_Miszkiewicz — Wed, 09 May 2018 00:42:53 GMT

sorry for my ignorance - what does "NB" stand for? you keep repeating this.... are you referring to Naïve Bayes

Re: Copying Roles between instances

Lech_Miszkiewicz — Wed, 09 May 2018 00:45:09 GMT

this is because you use wrong user. user needs to be postgress and pasword shoud be your repository passowrd used when installing it.

have a read here:

NPrinting Repository Database - Name

cheers

Lech

Re: Copying Roles between instances

Lech_Miszkiewicz — Wed, 09 May 2018 00:45:30 GMT

that is not true - see my answer below

Re: Copying Roles between instances

Daniel_Jenkins — Wed, 09 May 2018 00:52:57 GMT

Hi Lech,

Non technical answer for a change

nota bene

/ˈnəʊtə ˈbiːnɪ/

note well; take note Abbreviation NB, N.B., nb, n.b.

Nota bene | Define Nota bene at Dictionary.com

Johan's reference to his initial NB:

HTH - Daniel.

Re: Copying Roles between instances

Lech_Miszkiewicz — Wed, 09 May 2018 00:59:26 GMT

haha - of course

we keep using all abbreviations i thought it would be something more sophisticated.. so i came up with "Naive Bayers" statistical approach and i could not figure the releation to NPrinitng topic.

thanks Daniel!

Re: Copying Roles between instances

blaise — Wed, 09 May 2018 07:03:47 GMT

Maybee i wasn't clear enough, i meant the pwd you specify for the postgres user when installation NPrinting (and the repository part). Nevertheless (ie the same user you state)

Re: Copying Roles between instances

Lech_Miszkiewicz — Wed, 09 May 2018 07:07:22 GMT

all good - i see what you meant!