For organizations that have deployed Microsoft Exchange Server, but use an email client application other than Outlook, Active Roles offers the ability to approve or reject change requests by simply replying to notification messages that inform approvers of approval tasks. In this case, the notification message contains selectable options that, when clicked or tapped, cause the email application to create a new message in reply to the notification message. The reply message contains indication of the approval decision (approve or reject) and prompts the approver to supply a comment on the approval decision (approval or rejection reason). Then, the approver sends the reply message, thereby completing the approval task.
The ability to manage approvals from non-Outlook email clients calls for the same software and configuration prerequisites as Outlook integration (see Integration with Microsoft Outlook), with the following exceptions and additions:
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The email client applications that can be used to manage approvals are not restricted to Microsoft Office Outlook 2010 or later. It is possible to use, for instance, earlier Outlook versions or email applications on mobile devices.
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Active Roles Add-in for Outlook does not need to be installed on the computer running the email client application.
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The approval rule notification settings are configured so that the notification messages originated by Active Roles have integration with the Web Interface turned off. Ensure that the Send approval response by e-mail option is selected in the properties of the email configuration that is used by the approval rule (this is the default setting).
Active Roles can use Exchange Web Services (rather than an SMTP server) to communicate with Exchange Server when sending notification messages and getting response to notification messages. This enables notification recipients to perform approval tasks by replying to notification messages from their regular email clients, instead of using the Web Interface pages to approve or reject the requests. With the use of Exchange Web Services, Active Roles makes it possible for an approval workflow to behave as follows:
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A change request that requires approval causes Active Roles to send a notification message to the designated approver, with the message body containing the option to approve or reject the request.
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The approver replies to the notification message by choosing the desired option (either approve or reject) and typing in a text to explain the reason for that choice.
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Active Roles receives the reply message from the approver, checks to see if the approver elected to approve or reject the request, and then allows or denies the requested changes accordingly.
The use of Exchange Web Services has the following prerequisites:
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A supported Exchange Server installation, with Exchange Web Services deployed on it with the Client Access server role. For more information on the Microsoft Exchange Server versions supported by Active Roles, see System requirements in the Active Roles Release Notes.
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A dedicated mailbox hosted on Exchange Server. The mailbox must be reserved for the exclusive use of Active Roles.
This section describes the available configuration settings with the Exchange Web Services option for email transport.
Exchange Web Services address
This setting identifies the URL of the Exchange Web Services endpoint, which locates the exchange.asmx file on the Exchange server running the Client Access server role. For example, https://CAServer.domain.com/EWS/exchange.asmx
Authentication type
This setting specifies the authentication method of the Exchange Web Service.
NOTE: Basic authentication is only available for on-premises Exchange Server services, Exchange Online mail resources should be configured with Modern authentication, as Microsoft does not support Basic authentication in Exchange Online mail resources.
Active Roles' mailbox credentials
This setting specifies the user name and password of the mailbox through which Active Roles will send and receive email. The mailbox must be located on a supported Exchange Server installation, and must be reserved for the exclusive use of Active Roles. For more information on the Microsoft Exchange Server versions supported by Active Roles, see System requirements in the Active Roles Release Notes.
IMPORTANT: This mailbox must only be accessible by Active Roles. Providing access to any other application (for example, Microsoft Outlook) to process email messages in this mailbox can negatively impact the operation of Active Roles.
Options for the Approve and Reject links
This setting controls the behavior of the Approve and Reject links in the notification messages delivered using this email configuration. Two options are available:
If Send approval response by e-mail is selected, notification recipients can perform approval tasks from within their email application. When an approver chooses one of the links provided in a notification message to approve or reject a request, the email application replies with an email message containing information about the approval decision. Active Roles receives the reply message, checks it to see if the approver elected to approve or reject the request, and then allows or denies the requested changes accordingly.
If Approve or reject via Web Interface is selected, choosing the Approve or Reject link in a notification message directs the email application to open a Web Interface page for performing the approval task. The page may not open as expected if the email application does not support HTML format or an appropriate web browser does not exist on the device running the email application.