[Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider

Pat Lockley patrick.lockley at googlemail.com
Tue Oct 9 15:41:23 BST 2012


Random Q - what does the LTI adapter offer? Single sign on?

On Tue, Oct 9, 2012 at 3:39 PM, Ron Mitchell <ronm at mitchellmedia.co.uk>wrote:

> Hi Simon****
>
> yep that seems to have cracked it! Working now with both my localhost and
> Centos tests. ****
>
> ** **
>
> The one issue I do still have is with an upgraded installation of XOT 1.7
> to 1.8. This where I mentioned that on management.php if I click LTI
> settings View then LTI Keys View I don't get the option to add a key or
> view any existing keys. This is on the same server as I have a new XOT 1.8
> installation and I see those options with that and it all works. The 4 LTI
> tables exist in the database and I've tried adding a key and secret
> manually but the integration still doesn't work. Any idea what might be
> preventing the view keys link from working?****
>
> ** **
>
> ****
>
> The link goes no further than shown.****
>
> Cheers****
>
> Ron****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [mailto:
> xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] *On Behalf Of *Simon Atack
> *Sent:* 09 October 2012 15:08
> *To:* For Xerte technical developers
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Ron,****
>
> ** **
>
> Try an update now.  I have got this apparently working on mine now with
> static authentication and closing the browser completely between create and
> going back it isn’t giving me any errors.****
>
> ** **
>
> Simon****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Ron Mitchell
> *Sent:* 09 October 2012 15:00
> *To:* 'For Xerte technical developers'
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi Simon****
>
> ok great - glad you can reproduce the problem now and happy to test any
> changes.****
>
> Cheers****
>
> Ron****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Simon Atack
> *Sent:* 09 October 2012 14:53
> *To:* For Xerte technical developers
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Ron,****
>
> ** **
>
> Looks like I managed to create myself a bug! The session_status() function
> I was going to use to detect if sessions were started but then found its
> only in php >5.4.0 so have now done it a different way.****
>
> ** **
>
> I have now realised why Im getting things different from you as I have
> completely closed my browser and tried and get the issue,  Ill look into
> this now and get back to you as soon as possible.****
>
> ** **
>
> Simon****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Ron Mitchell
> *Sent:* 09 October 2012 14:45
> *To:* 'For Xerte technical developers'
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi Simon****
>
> thanks - progress of sorts...****
>
> ** **
>
> 1. I thought this has fixed things but if I only log into Moodle and then
> access the links to Lo's I added previously they are broken and with the
> debug code in place give the following errors:  ****
>
> Notice: Undefined index: toolkits_logon_username in
> C:\xampp\htdocs\newxottrunktest\website_code\php\user_library.php on line 37
> ****
>
> Notice: Undefined index: toolkits_logon_username in
> C:\xampp\htdocs\newxottrunktest\website_code\php\user_library.php on line 42
> ****
>
> Fatal error: Call to a member function getFirstname() on a non-object in
> C:\xampp\htdocs\newxottrunktest\website_code\php\login_library.php on line
> 352****
>
> ** **
>
> However if I then open and login to xot via a new tab those previous links
> work.****
>
> ** **
>
> If I then try to add a new resources I see the list of LO's but upon
> choosing one I get the following error:****
>
> Fatal error: Call to undefined function session_status() in
> C:\xampp\htdocs\newxottrunktest\LTI\ims-lti\UoN_LTI.php on line 54****
>
> I get the same error on the Cenos installation too.****
>
> ** **
>
> If I close all browser windows and login to only moodle again the links
> don't work again.****
>
> ** **
>
> HTH****
>
> Ron****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Simon Atack
> *Sent:* 09 October 2012 13:44
> *To:* For Xerte technical developers
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Ron,****
>
> ** **
>
> Please update your copy from SVN as Ive added a patch that hopefully will
> fix things (under some circumstances it looks like sessions didn’t start so
> I start it)  this should hopefully fix the issue as the errors in line 37 &
> 42 are related to no data in the SESSIONS variable and as this was blank
> the user data returned nothing and therefore in the login_processing2
> function it tried to query a non existent object as this was the action if
> it wasn’t set.****
>
> ** **
>
> Let me know if this fixes thing.****
>
> ** **
>
> Simon****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Ron Mitchell
> *Sent:* 08 October 2012 17:21
> *To:* 'For Xerte technical developers'
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi Simon****
>
> I've been going round and round the houses with this nearly all day :-(
> and discovered there's a problem with my initial localhost test too. Here's
> what happens locally and with your latest code in place...****
>
> ** **
>
> 1. I removed the external tool configuration from my localhost moodle 2
> install and also removed all lti_resource and lti_user entries in the
> newxottrunktest I've been using for testing as well as the moodle course
> activities - so effectively starting again from scratch. The
> newxottrunktest is using static for authentication.****
>
> ** **
>
> 2. Configured the external tool via moodle admin****
>
> 3. Add an external tool activity in a moodle course and prompted to login
> to newxottrunktest and select an LO - all fine at this point.****
>
> 4. Close all browser windows and re-visit the Moodle course then click the
> previous external activity link  - with the error reporting lines in place
> I get the following:****
>
> ** **
>
> Notice: Undefined index: toolkits_logon_username in
> C:\xampp\htdocs\newxottrunktest\website_code\php\user_library.php on line 37
> ****
>
> Notice: Undefined index: toolkits_logon_username in
> C:\xampp\htdocs\newxottrunktest\website_code\php\user_library.php on line 42
> ****
>
> Fatal error: Call to a member function getFirstname() on a non-object in
> C:\xampp\htdocs\newxottrunktest\website_code\php\login_library.php on line
> 352****
>
> ** **
>
> So for me it's working when initially set up and logged in but upon
> closing all browsers and logging in again it's broken. I was able to
> replicate the same issue with the Centos installations too.****
>
> ** **
>
> The other issue about not being able to see the option to add an LTI Key
> may be related to the fact that the XOT installation I was using was using
> Moodle for authentication. On the same server I've added a new test
> installation using static for authentication and can see the option to add
> a new key with that. I'll revisit that and confirm at some point but
> interested to hear your thoughts on the main issue first.****
>
> ** **
>
> Cheers****
>
> Ron****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Simon Atack
> *Sent:* 08 October 2012 16:35
> *To:* For Xerte technical developers
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Ron,****
>
> ** **
>
> Im not exactly clear about  what you are trying in the first part from the
> description you have a php error.  Just to be safe please grab the latest
> off svn as Ive made a few updates to it today (but I don’t think they
> should affect this area).  Does your database LTI tables exist?  ****
>
> ** **
>
> To get the php errors to display to screen add the following lines after
> the config.php include in LTI/index.php (about line 12).****
>
> ** **
>
> error_reporting(E_ALL);****
>
> ini_set(‘display_errors’,"ON");****
>
> ** **
>
> This should then help to narrow down the issue****
>
> ** **
>
> 2nd point, Im can not see why same server as moodle would cause an
> issue.  I think it might be a misunderstanding in how to add a new key from
> the management page. To add a new key:  Goto management.php under “Site”,
> Click “View” next to “LTI settings” then “View” next to “LTI Keys” you will
> then see an item called “New” and the text next to it will be “Add New LTI
> Key” this will then display the form to add a new lti key.****
>
> ** **
>
> Simon****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Ron Mitchell
> *Sent:* 08 October 2012 13:42
> *To:* 'For Xerte technical developers'
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi Simon****
>
> have you managed to get the LTI functionality to work on a live server
> rather than localhost? I've tried to get this working on a Centos server
> linking from that server to an XOT 1.8 installation on the same server and
> also another server. When clicking save and display or following the link
> added to a course I don't get prompted to login to XOT and just get what
> appears to be a blank Iframe. Do any of the LTI files need special
> permissions? ****
>
> ** **
>
> Also on the XOT installations on the same server as the Moodle I only see
> the option to View LTI keys not Add a new key so I had to add the key and
> secret direct to the db. Any idea why that might be?****
>
> ** **
>
> Cheers****
>
> Ron****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Ron Mitchell
> *Sent:* 03 October 2012 15:28
> *To:* 'For Xerte technical developers'
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi Simon****
>
> good point - I guess that's a real advantage in that if a teacher with
> moodle course and XOT access has the relevant details they can still add an
> XOT resource even if the Moodle admin hasn't set-up the specific external
> tool.****
>
> Cheers****
>
> Ron****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Simon Atack
> *Sent:* 03 October 2012 15:17
> *To:* For Xerte technical developers
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Ron,****
>
> ** **
>
> I have updated the documentation as suggested.  As this is a landing page
> to lti then the documentation on the moodle page makes sense.****
>
> ** **
>
> If you put the full url into the url box on the specific instance then you
> would get to the correct place.  This means that if Xerte hasn’t been setup
> in moodle it can still be used you would just enter the information that
> you entered under site administration on that specific instance.****
>
> ** **
>
> Simon****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Ron Mitchell
> *Sent:* 03 October 2012 14:56
> *To:* 'For Xerte technical developers'
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi Simon****
>
> thanks the key difference was that tick box to 'show tool type when
> creating tool instances'****
>
> With that ticked there's no need to add a url when adding an external tool
> activity as long as the correct external tool is selected from the drop
> down. Without it ticked it just goes to the login page. I hadn't ticked
> that originally because the moodle help says:****
>
> ** **
>
> In most cases, this option does not need to be selected. Teachers can use
> this tool configuration based on the Launch URL matching the Tool base URL,
> which is the preferred method. The only case in which this option should be
> selected is if the tool configuration is just intended for single sign on.
> For example, if all launches to the tool provider just take the user to a
> landing page instead of to a specific resource.****
>
> ** **
>
> If this is correct perhaps needs adding to the quick documentation?****
>
> ** **
>
> Cheers****
>
> Ron****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Simon Atack
> *Sent:* 03 October 2012 13:56
> *To:* For Xerte technical developers
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Ron,****
>
> ** **
>
> I think you haven’t set up your moodle correctly.  You can have it so
> moodle is set only once with the Xerte Object  under the LTI
> Administration[under site administration] (I have included a screenshot
> from mine) once this is set and the tick box below the custom parameters
> box is ticked then this will show up in the usual adding a new external
> tool, type in an activity Name then in the drop down box for external tool
> type choose the name you gave the  object under the site administration
> don’t enter anything into the launch url and just click save and display.
> This then means you just select the external tool from the drop down XOT in
> your case, it suggest the XOT hasn’t been setup as I have said above, there
> is no reason to additionally enter the url below this.****
>
> ** **
>
> There is currently no support to create accounts in the lti additions,
> All I do is call the authentication mechanism.  For LDAP it will add users
> into the logindetails table, for others  I believe you would have to add
> code to the authentication mechanism so that it could add to itself etc **
> **
>
> ** **
>
> Simon****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Julian Tenney
> *Sent:* 03 October 2012 12:17
> *To:* For Xerte technical developers
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> > In my new features slot on the 10th ok if I mention this and suggest
> delegates speak to you if they have any questions?****
>
> ** **
>
> Please do! I’ll make a fresh zip, 1.81, the LTI release.****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Ron Mitchell
> *Sent:* 03 October 2012 12:08
> *To:* 'For Xerte technical developers'
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi Simon****
>
> thanks for the screenshots - very useful. All working well now! :-)****
>
> ** **
>
> I had added the /lti/ when configuring via admin > plugins > activity
> modules > external tool but I hadn't added a url or a url with /lti/ in the
> end when adding an external tool activity to a course. Now that I've done
> that it works great. It seems a shame that the Moodle settings can't
> automatically pick up the correct url by selecting the name of the external
> tool. e.g. If I select XOT as shown in the screenshot (the name I gave to
> the external tool via admin) I still have to add the url with /lti/
> appended for the selection of an LO to work otherwise it just takes me to
> the standard login screen. Not a problem for me but I can see it being a
> problem where users just put what they know to be the installation url, or
> no url at all, rather than knowing or remembering to add /lti/. I know this
> is more a moodle limitation rather than any kind of limitation of what
> you've developed which is great! ****
>
> ** **
>
> I guess once users know what to do via a guide or something then they
> should remember and I guess in an institution it would be worth customising
> the help for the external resource activity to show what url to add.****
>
> ** **
>
> I can see awareness of LTI growing quickly over the next couple of years
> especially where Moodle is used as the VLE. Does the functionality exist in
> what you have developed to automatically create accounts from the consumer
> e.g. if the XOT db was used to store accounts? I'm guessing not at the
> moment but I could see that being very useful for OER collaborative
> projects etc.****
>
> ** **
>
> Great stuff!****
>
> ** **
>
> In my new features slot on the 10th ok if I mention this and suggest
> delegates speak to you if they have any questions?****
>
> ** **
>
> Cheers****
>
> Ron****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Simon Atack
> *Sent:* 03 October 2012 11:08
> *To:* For Xerte technical developers
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Ron,****
>
> ** **
>
> Sorry about not mentioning to run upgrade.php I assumed (wrongly!) that
> standard practice would be to run each time when upgrading code.****
>
> ** **
>
> It should work with all the authentication methods, I had only used it
> against LDAP. I have just switched to static as authentication and gone
> through it and it appears to work as Id expect.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> The steps will be (I have attached screen grabs to compare to)****
>
> ** **
>
> 1st you should get a login asking for username/password ( this will only
> appear once) [Xerte-lti-1.png]****
>
> 2nd you should get a screen with instructions on the left and list of
> projects in the right with a select button at the bottom [Xerte-lti-2.png]
> an empty workspace & [Xerte-lti-3.png] for workspace with some content.***
> *
>
> ** **
>
> The obvious thing I can think of is you didn’t put the correct url into
> the Tool Base URL,  it should be the usual Xerte url with the addition of
> /LTI/ on the end as only this URL is configured to accept the LTI link ***
> *
>
> ** **
>
> Simon****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Ron Mitchell
> *Sent:* 03 October 2012 10:10
> *To:* 'For Xerte technical developers'
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi Simon****
>
> thought I'd have a go at testing this for you but may be misunderstanding
> how it works. Firstly will it only work with XOT configured for LDAP or
> should it also work if XOT is set to static authentication?****
>
> ** **
>
> Results of tests so far:****
>
> ** **
>
> 1. Realised I had to run upgrade.php to create the lti table - this worked
> fine.****
>
> 2. Adding a key and secret via management.php also worked fine.****
>
> 3. Configuring the Moodle external tool via admin > manage plugins etc
> also worked fine ****
>
> 4. Adding an external tool activity to a course and selecting save and
> display simply launches the XOT login page and upon login shows the
> workspace e.g. there isn't an option to select a specific LO for the link.
> Is this because it won't work with static authentication or am I missing
> something?****
>
> ** **
>
> HTH****
>
> Ron****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Simon Atack
> *Sent:* 02 October 2012 17:14
> *To:* xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] LTI Provider****
>
> ** **
>
> First thank you all for the welcome.****
>
> ** **
>
> Yesterday I submitted to svn the LTI Provider integration function I have
> been working on.  This allow you to have launch Xerte from within a VLE
> giving single sign on etc (In moodle this is the External Tool activity
> plugin).  ****
>
> ** **
>
> It handles the association between the LTI userid & the Xerte username
> (and allows regular re-authentication) and then if staff lets you select
> the  project you want to associate the link with, and then displays the
> project for subsequent launches of the link.  It also includes LTI
> Key/Secret Management in the main Xerte management interface.****
>
> ** **
>
> I have tested it myself on my local box with a fresh install of Xerte
> (configured for LDAP authentication) and Moodle 2.2.2+.  I have tried to
> keep the changes as few as possible to integrate it in (I have extended a
> couple of functions to support extra parameters as well as factoring some
> repeated lines into functions so there is only 1 copy doing anything).  It
> would be really useful if others could download it,  test it out and give
> feedback.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> There is a very brief documentation file LTI Documentation.txt included
> with a brief note of what you need to do, anyone having problems/or trouble
> understanding how to get it working please get it touch.****
>
> ** **
>
> The LTI library is based off the IMS sample code for LTI in php and
> extended by UoN and has been used in the Rogo OSS project.****
>
> ** **
>
> Thanks****
>
> ** **
>
> Simon****
>
> ** **
>
> This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and
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