Blueprints - Stacks

Modified on Tue, 28 Mar 2023 at 02:27 PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Blueprint Stacks Overview

Blueprint Stacks are very useful when setting up core applications. For information on managing core applicationss see this solution article: https://support.managementstudio.com/support/solutions/articles/14000140990-how-to-setup-core-applications.


Blueprint Stacks enable the auto-creation of links between two items if both items are in the same blueprint. For example, there can be a link created between a group of Users and an application (or groups of applications).

 

One of the benefits of Blueprint Stacks is that they can be dynamic; as Users are added or removed from the Blueprint, the links are automatically added or removed based on the Blueprint membership. A User who moves into a Blueprint (representing a Location or Department) will have their linked applications added automatically. 


There are four types of link via blueprint memberships.

  • User-App Stack
  • App-Device Stack
  • Device-User Stack
  • Mailbox-User Stack

 

User-App Stacks

Links are auto-created between Users and Applications in the same Blueprint. There are three link options available. Note that it is possible to enable both Dynamic Apps AND Dynamic Users at the same time.

  • Add Only – Links are auto-created when a User or Application is added to the Blueprint. Links are not removed when a User or Application is removed from the Blueprint. The Links are sticky to both items.
  • Dynamic Apps – Links are auto-created between User and Applications in the same Blueprint. Applications will be removed from the User when the Application is removed from the Blueprint.
  • Dynamic Users – Links are auto-created between User and Applications in the same Blueprint. Users will be removed from the Application when the User is removed from the Blueprint.




App-Device Stacks

Links are auto-created between Applications and Devices in the same Blueprint. There are three link options available. Note that it is possible to enable both Dynamic Apps AND Dynamic Devices at the same time.

  • Add Only – Links are auto-created when an Application or Device is added to the Blueprint. Links are not removed when an Application or Device is removed from the Blueprint. The Links are sticky to both items.
  • Dynamic Devices – Links are auto-created between Applications and Devices in the same Blueprint. Devices will be removed from the Application when the Device is removed from the Blueprint.
  • Dynamic Apps – Links are auto-created between Applications and Devices in the same Blueprint. Apps will be removed from the Device when the App is removed from the Blueprint.


Device-User Stacks

Links are auto-created between Devices and Users in the same Blueprint. There are three link options available. Note that it is possible to enable both Dynamic Users AND Dynamic Devices at the same time.

  • Add Only – Links are auto-created when a Device or User is added to the Blueprint. Links are not removed when an Device or User is removed from the Blueprint. The Links are sticky to both items.
  • Dynamic Users – Links are auto-created between Devices and Users in the same Blueprint. Users will be removed from the Device when the User is removed from the Blueprint.
  • Dynamic Devices – Links are auto-created between Devices and Users in the same Blueprint. Devices will be removed from the User when the Device is removed from the Blueprint.


Mailbox-User Stacks


Links are auto-created between Mailboxes and Users in the same Blueprint. There are three link options available. Note that it is possible to enable both Dynamic Users AND Dynamic Mailboxes at the same time.

  • Add Only – Links are auto-created when a Mailbox or User is added to the Blueprint. Links are not removed when an Mailbox or User is removed from the Blueprint. The Links are sticky to both items.
  • Dynamic Users – Links are auto-created between Mailboxes and Users in the same Blueprint. Users will be removed from the Mailbox when the User is removed from the Blueprint.
  • Dynamic Mailboxes – Links are auto-created between Mailboxes and Users in the same Blueprint. Mailboxes will be removed from the User when the Mailbox is removed from the Blueprint.


Configuration

Use case: All users in the Store Development department require the same set of applications.


Step 1: Create the Blueprint

StepsExample
Switch to Administration (1) view and select Blueprints (2) menu from within the settings section.
Left click on the Edit (1) symbol within the root folder.
Select ‘New Folder\Blueprints’ from List from the context menu.

Enter the New Blueprint Folder\Blueprint name called ‘Departments\Store Development’ (1).

Click OK (2).

Click on Reload Blueprints.
Expand the Department folder and left click on the Edit (1) symbol next to the Store Development blueprint.

Scroll down to Blueprint Stacks (2) and select User-App Stack (3) -> Dynamic Users (4).


Dynamic Users is chosen because we want the ability to remove a User from an Application when they are removed from the Blueprint. i.e. When a User moves departments in an organisation, they loose access to the Apps from their previous role/department.


Step 2: Add the Applications to the "Stack"

StepsExample
Switch to the Applications (1) module.

Select the Applications (2) you wish to add to the Blueprint Stack.

Right click on the selected Applications and select Blueprints (3) -> Add to.... (4).

Select the appropriate Blueprint - Departments (5)-> Store Development (6).

Click Add to confirm.

 


Step 3: Add the Users 

StepsExample
Switch to the User Migrations (1) module.

Select the Users (2) you wish to add to the Blueprint Stack.

Right click on the selected users and select Blueprints (3) -> Add to.... (4).

Select the appropriate Blueprint - Departments (5)-> Store Development (6).

Click Add to confirm.


  

On the Next Blueprint synchronization (Housekeeping task) there will be a link created between the Users and Applications in the Store Development Blueprint Stack. If a User moves to a new department and are removed from the Blueprint, they will also have the Application(s) removed from their profile.



Further Support

If you require further support, please visit ManagementStudio's Service Desk to search the knowledge base or create a new support ticket.