Injecting an admin user account into the database

Hello Xerte Community,

I have been asked by our IT department to find out if there is anyway to insert admin user credentials into the MySQL database (server side) to enable us to login to /management.php as all users appear to have lost access to their projects (can't see existing ones or create new ones) and it would appear (or so I have been told) that the step of creating admin credentials was skipped/missed during the installation of Xerte on our servers.

I've been asked to obtain an idea of the structure of the tables so that IT know what queries to run.

If the above is at all unclear, please feel free to fire questions at me as I am playing the middle man. I spoke to Faye at University of Nottingham and she directed me to Tom and Ron on these Xerte forums.

Many thanks in advance.

Matthew Drury (Learning Technologist - University for the Creative Arts)

Hi
I'm afraid this doesn't sound like something anyone is going to be able to help you with just via forum exchanges.
Firstly it should be easy enough for anyone with server side access (MySQL access) to work out what is required for the single admin account but more importantly you've said "all users appear to have lost access to their projects (can't see existing ones or create new ones)" that's nothing to do with the admin account or the management area unless someone has been changing things and suggests a bigger problem than just lack of access to the management area.

I responded to a previous question from UCA on one of our mailing lists about changing ownership of an existing project and that message mentioned that your installation is authenticated via AD. If no users can access their previous projects now it suggests something has been changed that has now broken or changed the authentication.

I support lots of organisations with their Xerte installations and could probably advise more clearly here via online screensharing etc with someone who has server access but I'm afraid I'm self-employed and can't offer that level of support for free. You'll find links to my contact form in my sig if you require direct support.

HTH
Ron

Hi Ron,

Thank you for such a swift response. I feel like I'm going around in circles a little.

Yes, I am picking up on the previous UCA post as Maria is on leave.

Are you able at least to tell me what table in the MySLQ database holds the user credentials for accessing via management.php? With that information, hopefully IT can figure out what needs to be done from there.

I will also ask the question about money for direct support.

Kind regards,

Matthew

I just sent details via a direct message.
HTH
Ron

Hi Ron,

Thank you for the details you sent via email, this was immensely helpful and we now have access to management.php once more, although the users are still unable to see their projects.
I will look into the authentication issue you mentioned and if I find a solution I will detail it on the forums so that it might be of help to other users in the future.

Many thanks once again.

Matthew

I would tread very carefully here and make sure that you have a backup of the entire installation including database before making any changes. If the installation was working fine and now isn't then something has been changed to cause that and it would be very easy to inadvertently get to a point where you can't restore correct working of existing accounts and projects.
HTH
Ron