MemberFuse
Important! Social Networking Account integration with NetForum is deprecated. Build: 2014.01
The Abila social networking space now includes MemberFuse, the leading provider of web technology connecting member and industry communities. This MemberFuse integration with NetForum is designed to give your members and customers even more high impact methods of collaboration and networking.
MemberFuse Features
MemberFuse is a modular platform and not necessarily a rigid piece of software. As such, Integration with NetForum is custom tailored to the specific needs of an association. Through their experience with the xWeb interface, MemberFuse boasts rapid integration times coupled with rules specific to each organization and membership. In addition, MemberFuse makes a note of their rigorous dedication to implementation support, not simply delivering tools and leaving the client to wire it up themselves, but rather, working directly with each client to provide them with a fully functional integration package.
Client Tasks
- Client should have valid user license for both Abila and MemberFuse
- Client will need to purchase xWeb license from Abila
- Client will need be on active support agreement with Abila (for clients after implementation)
Abila Implementation Tasks
There are several items to consider when implementing your MemberFuse social community.
Items to consider before implementation include:
- Membership rules - (Member vs. Non-Member)
- Groups - What will be available as a group in MemberFuse
- Custom Groups - What is not a baseline group
- Authentication in NetForum
Other items include:
- Single Sign On (SSO)- MemberFuse or NetForum when logging-in
- Editing profiles and where
Business Rules for all of the above need to be decided before implementation. Once decided, MemberFuse Implementation may begin.
Usage and Instructions
Authentication
Logins and authentications can be done through NetForum or through MemberFuse directly, depending on the requirements of the client. Note that anyone may log-in to MemberFuse if they have a log-in and password regardless if they are a Member or not.
Single Sign-On (SSO)
Single Sign-On (SSO) is supported by MemberFuse. To implement SSO, MemberFuse utilizes a secure domain cookie, and uses this domain cookie implementation in both consumer and producer role. As the producer of the cookie, MemberFuse stores a single, one-pass token value, and a consuming site must pass that token back to MemberFuse through a secured web-service.
The token is validated by MemberFuse and, if valid, MemberFuse will return the associated user for the token at which point the consuming site may setup its own session. To prevent session hijacking, future attempts to validate using this token will fail.
MemberFuse additionally supports an xWeb authentication module to implement SSO. Once signed-on, iWeb and eWeb SSO is supported as well.
For more details on the MemberFuse SSO API, download the MemberFuse SSO documentation found here...
Note: You must have Adobe PDF Reader to download and open this guide.
If you require support, email MemberFuse API Support.
iWeb and eWeb SSO
A Single Sign-On (SSO) solution for groups activated as Social Community groups is now in place for both iWeb and eWeb. This solution will enable both iWeb and eWeb users to go directly to MemberFuse by clicking certain icons and hyperlinks without the need to sign into the MemberFuse community again.
iWeb SSO for Activated Groups—NetForum
Groups in NetForum that have been activated in MemberFuse may be accessed directly through iWeb by clicking the Go To MemberFuse icon found on top of the profile and seen below on a NetForum Committee profile.
Note: Ensure that the selected group event is set to allow group registration and that the Activate in Social Community flag is enabled when using an event.
When the Go To MemberFuse icon is clicked, a pop-up window will appear. You will be taken directly to the MemberFuse page for the selected group within the social community without needing to log-in again.
iWeb SSO is available for activated groups that this functionality exists for, including:
- Event groups
- Committee groups
- Membership groups
Tip: If you experience difficulty in opening the pop-up window, ensure that your pop-up blocker is not preventing the window from opening.
eWeb SSO for Integrated Groups
NetForum groups that have been activated in the MemberFuse site that customers are a member of may also be accessed directly from specific eWeb pages.
They include:
- My Information
- My Events
- My Committees
A Join the Discussion hyperlink will appear that will fashion in the same manner as the Go to MemberFuse icon on iWeb for customers. Further, when an item or event containing an active group is purchased via the Online Store, the purchased event will appear under the My Events or My Information sections.
Note: Activate, deactivate, and GoTo Links are only available based on group item link security.
New User Registration
New users can be created in both MemberFuse and in NetForum. Users created within MemberFuse can be held pending admistrator approval before being entered into NetForum.
Synchronization
- Synchronizing to NetForum
Changes made in MemberFuse are immediately pushed to NetForum via SOAP calls and are then also updated in the MemberFuse database. At all times, MemberFuse preserves the integrity of the NetForum database and ensures accurate information.
- Synchronizing from NetForum
Data synchronization from NetForum to MemberFuse will occur on a real-time basis as of the 2011 Build.
- Column Listings
Rather than provided a stock list of columns, a synchronization is custom tailored for each association to incorporate their specific business rules and logic.
However, NFI does note that in addition to pulling in all of the individuals and organizations, typically, primary contacts for organizations are also synchronized. Additional rules can be developed to auto populate users into groups or roles depending on criteria in NetForum such as security groups.
For complete details, view the MemberFuse Data Synchronization page.
Changing MemberFuse Group Link Security Settings
Change permission settings for MemberFuse Add, Remove, and Goto links by updating the MemberFuse Group Link Security settings. Hide or enable the MemberFuse Add, Remove, or Goto icons for Event, Committees, Membership Type screens, and more. Permission settings affect all customers in a role and are not on an individual basis.
For additional information on accessing and updating these settings, see: MemberFuse Group Links Security.
Navigating to MemberFuse Using the Join Discussion Link
Note: Under eWeb profile pages for individuals, organizations, committees, events, and shopping cart items, a Join the Discussion link appears. Click this link to navigate to the corresponding MemberFuse profile page. For example, clicking the link highlighted in the example below opens the individual's profile page in MemberFuse.
Additional Service
The domain cookie implementation of single sign is provided as a baseline service, however, a customization to utilize other third-party SSO methods requires Client Services to implement the functionality at an additional cost. Contact your Abila Sales Representative for more information.