1.1.1.�Log In Options

To log in using a Windows client, you should double-click on the xTuple ERP icon wherever it appears on your computer desktop. Likewise, Macintosh users may click on the xTuple ERP icon from their desktop. Linux users should run the appropriate xTuple ERP .sh file to launch the application. The following screen will appear:

Tip

You should always be sure to use a version of xTuple ERP which matches the version of your xTuple Database. Using mis-matched versions can lead to errors and loss of data integrity. The system will issue a warning message whenever you attempt to log in to a database whose version does not match the client version.

When logging into xTuple ERP, you are presented with the following options:

Log in to registered xTuple demo account: Select this option if you are logging in to a demo database hosted on an xTuple server. If selected, the OPTIONS button will be disabled.
Log in to server I specify: Select this option if you are logging in to any database other than an xTuple demo database. If selected, you can specify your connection details using the OPTIONS button.
Username: Enter your assigned username. Usernames are established by your system administrator. The username is case-sensitive.
Password: Enter your assigned password. Passwords are established by your system administrator. The password you type into this field will not display on your screen, but will be represented by asterisks (*) for security purposes.
Server: Displays the name of the server you will be connecting to.
Database: Displays the name of the database you will be connecting to.

To the far right of the screen, the following buttons are available:

CANCEL: Closes the screen, returning you to your computer desktop.
LOGIN: Click to log in to the application.
OPTIONS: Select to verify or change your connection settings. This button will be disabled if logging in to an xTuple demo database.

Note

Most users will not need to change their Login options. If you have questions about your option settings, contact your system administrator.

To verify or change your connection settings, select the OPTIONS button. The following screen will appear:

When viewing or changing your connection settings, you are presented with the following options:

Server: Enter the address of the server where your xTuple Database is running. The address will consist of either a TCP/IP Address or a Network Alias Name. If the network address for the xTuple Server changes, you may need to change the address in this field.
Database: Enter the name of the xTuple Database you want to connect to. The application can be used to connect to multiple xTuple databases. Be sure to enter the correct name of the database you want to access.
Port: Displays the default port. The default port for the xTuple Database is 5432.
Use Enhanced Authentication: Select if your site requires you to use enhanced authentication. Enhanced authentication adds a layer to the authentication process used to log in to xTuple ERP. When this feature is turned on, user passwords are stored in the xTuple Database in a modified form. The end result is that you may only log in to an xTuple Database using xTuple ERP.

Tip

Do not select the enhanced authentication option if your site does not use this method. You will find you cannot connect to the database.

Require SSL Connection: Select if your site requires you to use a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection. Selecting this option guarantees you will connect to your xTuple Database with an SSL connection. If your xTuple Database is not configured to support SSL, you will not be able to connect if this option is selected. Using SSL for client-server connections adds a layer of encryption to the authentication process.

To the far right of the screen, the following buttons are available:

CANCEL: Closes the screen, returning you to the previous screen.
SAVE: Saves your connection settings. Any settings you save will become your default connection settings. To change your default settings, update your Login options and then save them.

Once your username and password have been successfully authenticated, the main application desktop will appear, as shown below:

Main xTuple ERP Desktop

Note

The main application desktop may vary from user to user, depending on the user's granted privileges, preference settings, and the xTuple ERP version used.

In general, each of the main menu options corresponds to a different module. There are three exceptions to that rule:

Window

The following options appear under the "Window" menu:

Cascade: Select to arrange open screens in a cascading pattern.
Tile: Select to arrange open screens in a tiled pattern.
Close Active Window: Select to close the currently active screen.
Close All Windows: Select to close all open screens.

Community

If you have an open Internet connection, the following "Community" menu options will open in your default web browser:

xTuple.org Home: Select to launch the xTuple.org home page.
Register: PostBooks users are given the opportunity to register with xTuple using this menu option. Registration gives users access to additional resources not available to unregistered users—for example, extra documentation, videos, etc.
New Account: Select to create a new xTuple.org account.
Edit Account: Select to edit your xTuple.org account.
Discussion Forums: Select to browse the discussion forums on the xTuple.org site.
Blogs: Select to browse the blogs on the xTuple.org site.
Bugs and Feature Requests: Select to access the Issue Tracking system on the xTuple.org site.
Downloads: Select to access the downloads page on the xTuple.org site.

Help

The following options appear under the "Help" menu:

About: Select to view version information.
Table of Contents: Select to access xTuple ERP Help files. For this to work, the Help files must be installed on your system.