Instant messaging

This chapter describes the settings you can make for instant messaging for a location.

Using this feature

Here you can set if users of the corresponding location/configuration group are permitted to use the chat function. If the chat function is required, activate Use this feature.

Attachments to chat messages

Activate this option to permit attachments such as screenshots in chat messages.

Attention

The prerequisite for sending attachments is the activation of the FILE TABLE function of the SQL Server. This is done automatically for the internal database both during the new installation of XPhone Connect and during the update. For reasons of data integrity, customer’s own (external) databases are not changed with regard to this setting; sending attachments in chat messages is not initially available in these cases.

Checking the internal database

If after installation or updates, problems arise when activating or using the Attachments in chat messages function, you can check activation of the FILE TABLE function of the internal database:

  1. Run the DBFileTableActivator application in the XPhone Connect Server directory as an administrator.

  2. Then check the associated log to see if activation was successful:

    • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\DBFileTableActivator.log -> FileStream configuration is OK.

As an alternative:

  1. Run the SQL Server Configuration Manager on the XPhone Connect Server (sqlservermanagerXZ.msc , XY = version of the SQL Server Manager used, in the current version of XPhone Connect , e.g. sqlservermanager12.msc).

  2. Under SQL Server Services open the features of the XPCONNECT database by right-clicking.

  3. Check the FILESTREAM tab for the Enable FILESTREAM for Transact-SQL access option.

  4. If the option is activated, the internal database is configured correctly.

Manual activation of the FILE TABLE function of the customer’s SQL Server

The XPhone Connect setup does NOT change this option on customer databases!

To enable activation of attachments to chat messages, the database administrator must activate the FILESTREAM option at instance and database level for his own XPhone Connect database.

Important

See Hints on Microsoft Docs

Activation FILESTREAM for customer’s own SQL Server

Initial situation of the configuration example:

The XPhone Connect Server ( as of version 7) is connected to a customer’s own database instance CONNECT(external SQL Server), the database within the instance is XPCONNECT. (See also Use existing_SQL Server)

The options FileTable or FILESTREAM, which are necessary for sending files (pictures, screenshots) in the chat, are not active, because neither the XPhone Connect Setup nor the tool DBFileTableActivator.exe change the customer instance.

This guide describes the steps to manually enable file sending in chat.

  1. Grundsätzliches

    Microsoft describes all necessary steps in Enable filetable on Microsoft Docs

    • however, extended options are configured there that are not required for the desired function. Therefore, the minimum configuration is described below.

      Important

      If further own databases FILESTREAM should be used within the database instance, please note the configuration options listed by Microsoft!

  2. Enabling FILESTREAM at instance level

    • Launch SQL Server Configuration Manager.

    • Open the properties of the XPhone Connect database instance (right-click on the Instance CONNECT > Properties).

    • Change to the FILESTREAM tab.

    • Enable the Enable FILESTREAM for Transact-SQL access option.

      image1

      Hint

      If this option (and sub-options, if any) is already enabled, leave these settings unchanged!

    • Save the setting with Apply and close the dialog with OK.

    • Lauch the SQL Server Management Studio.

    • Connect the XPhone Connect database instance.

    • Open the properties of the database instance (right-click on the Instance CONNECT > Properties).

    • Select the Advanced page.

    • In the FILESTREAM section, change the value of the FILESTREAM access level from Disabled to Transact-SQL access enabled.

      image2

      Hint

      This corresponds to the value 1 in the Microsoft documentation instead of the value 2 (Full Access) required there. If Transact-SQL Access or Full Access is already enabled, leave this setting unchanged!

    • Save the settings with OK.

    • Restart the CONNECT database instance.

    • If necessary, adjust your firewall rules for FILESTREAM, follow the documentation from Microsoft or your firewall.

  3. Providing a FILESTREAM file group at the database level

    • Lauch the SQL Server Management Studio.

    • Connect the XPhone Connect database instance.

    • Open the properties of the XPhone Connect database (right click on XPDATA > Properties).

    • Select the Filegroups page.

    • In the FILESTREAM section, add a new file group IMDATA and enable the Default option.

      image3

      Hint

      Under FILESTREAM files is initially 0, this is later automatically changed to 1.

    • Save the settings with OK.

  4. Definition of a directory for FileTables on database level

    • Open the properties of the XPhone Connect database XPDATA again.

    • Select the Files page.

    • Add another entry to the Database files list:

      Logical Name:IMDATA

      File Type: FILESTREAM Data

      Filegroup: IMDATA

      The other default values remain unchanged.

      image4

    • Save the settings with OK.

  5. Customize other options of the database

    • Open the properties of the XPhone Connect database XPDATA again.

    • Select the Options page.

    • Enter the value IMData in the FILESTREAM section under FILESTREAM Directory Name, Non-Transacted FILESTREAM Access (FILESTREAM Non-Transacted Access) remains switched off (Off).

      image5

    • Save the settings with OK.

  6. Restart the XPhone Connect Server, a file table IMFile will be created.

  7. FileTable activation check

    • Lauch the SQL Server Management Studio.

    • Connect the XPhone Connect database instance.

    • In the XPDATA database, expand the Tables > File Tables node.

    • The IMFile table is listed:

      image6

      This completes the setup of the database for sending files in chat.

  8. Function test in client

    • Start an XPhone Connect Client from version 7.

    • Open a new individual or group chat.

    • In the text input, insert an image file or a screenshot via the + icon and send the message.

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