Fequently Asked Questions
- Why do I need WebADE?
- Who developed WebADE?
- What is ADAM?
- Who uses WebADE?
- I notice several versions of WebADE may be supported concurrently. Which version should I use?
- How do I get help?
- What are GUIDs?
- What is the WebADE Developer Module?
| Q | Why do I need WebADE? | TOP |
| A | If you are building Java based web applications in a large or complex environment WebADE provides some powerful tools. The framework provides common services to developers such as authentication and authorization, reporting, logging, error handling, role-based proxy database connections, scheduled and on-demand report execution and delivery, scheduled e-mail delivery, and various other common services needed when building web applications. | |
| Q | Who developed WebADE? | TOP |
| A | Vivid Solutions Inc. originally designed and developed for the Ministry of Forests. Vivid has modified and enhanced WebADE for other Ministry clients and continues to maintain and improve it on their behalf. With version 4 the concept of a 'Common WebADE' has emerged, which provides a standardized framework for all clients. Vivid Solutions has provided rigorous version control in order to balance new features while providing stability to existing applications. Additionally, Vivid Solutions has used the framework to develop several WebADE Applications for the Ministries. | |
| Q | What is ADAM? | TOP |
| A | ADAM stands for Authority Delegation And Management. It consists of several tables within the core WebADE database as well as a rich application for assigning and managing permissions to corporate applications. The primary business driver for ADAM is the dissemination of the ability to manage application access – i.e. putting application management into the hands of the people who know the business. ADAM is integrated tightly with the core WebADE framework and, although it is not strictly necessary that it be used, it is strongly recommended since it provides a rich and extensive interface for authorization management. For more information see What is ADAM?. |
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| Q | Who uses WebADE? | TOP |
| A | WebADE has been adopted as a foundation for web-based software development by several provincial Ministries, including the Ministry of Forests, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (formerly Sustainable Resource Management), Ministry of Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations and the Ministry of Finance. With version 4 the concept of a 'Common WebADE' has emerged, which provides a standardized framework for all clients. WebADE applications have been developed by Vivid Solutions, as well as several other software development companies. | |
| Q | I notice several versions of WebADE may be supported concurrently. Which version should I use? | TOP |
| A | For a new installation, the most current version is the best choice. As far as upgrades go, extensive efforts have been made to keep the most current incarnations backwards compatible with older ones. As with any software, it is strongly recommended that you read the release notes carefully before performing an upgrade. Check with the Ministry you are developing for to ensure you implement the version they currently support. | |
| Q | How do I get help? | TOP |
| A | This website was created to assist with information that may be useful to you and we encourage you to use the information here as well as join the WebADE User List. If you need help with your specific project you should speak to the system support personnel for the environment you are designing for. | |
| Q | What are GUIDs? | TOP |
| A | A GUID is a Globally Unique IDentifier. It is a generated 128 bit number that is produced by Windows to identify a user and is normally represented in a hexadecimal format (e.g. 48ec0d6ee04bc847a398010245675aae). In the past, applications may have stored "domain\userid" in a application table to implement user security in a web application. It is now considered a "Best Practice" to store the GUID as this is ensured to be unique. Consider the following: "John Doe is given the following credential foodomain\jdoe for the FOO organization. John Doe leaves the FOO and his ID is deleted. Jane Doe joins the FOO organization and is given foodomain\jdoe. The application (WebADE can tell) is not able to recognize the difference between the users." Unfortunately two formats (MS and Native) of the same GUID exist and WebADE was found to use a different format than other e-Services in the provincial government. With release WebADE 4.0.8, WebADE has changed to use the MS format. |
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| Q | What is the WebADE Developer Module? | TOP |
| A | The WebADE Developer Module was created in order to simplify the architecture required to run WebADE in an offsite development environment. Currently WebADE-based J2EE applications developed for the Province of BC will be deployed in an environment in which authentication is supplied by the Siteminder product and user repositories services are provided by web services provided by CAP. The WebADE Developer Module provides authentication and user repository services in a simple fashion, based on a simple XML file. Once installed in a J2EE application, the Developer Module will provide a login screen that will authenticate users against an XML file. Secondly, a User Provider based on the same XML file is installed in WebADE to provide the User Provider services. | |