Entitlement Management Enhancements
This section describes the enhancements introduced in 2021 R1 for managing entitlements:
| • | Improved User Experience When Attempting to View Download Packages for Entitlements Without Associated Downloads |
| • | Entitlement Search by Contact Email Address |
| • | Multiple Package Downloads from Entitlement List in End-User Portal |
| • | New Parameter to Control Inactivating or Obsoleting Entitlements and Line Items Currently Used by Devices |
Improved User Experience When Attempting to View Download Packages for Entitlements Without Associated Downloads
Users on the List Entitlements page in the End-User Portal can select View > View Download Packages to view and download the download packages associated with multiple entitlement line items currently selected on the List Entitlements page.
Previously, if any of the selected line items were not associated with a download package, users received a error message, forcing them to deselect those line items that had no associated download packages before they could proceed to view the download packages for those items that had. (Entitlement line items that have an associated download show a Download Now link in the Downloads column on the List Entitlements page.)
Now, when users select to view the download packages for multiple line items, some of which do not have an associated download, the Download Packages window proceeds to open, listing the downloads for only those line items that have associated downloads. The previous error message that prevented users from proceeding to view the Download Packages window is no longer presented.
If none of the selected line items have associated download packages, a pop-up message on the List Entitlements page lets you know.
Entitlement Search by Contact Email Address
Users can now filter entitlements by the email address of the contact associated with the sold-to account for entitlements. The following new items are available to enable the use of this new filter:
| • | A new Contact Email option in the Search for field on the List Entitlements by Order page |
| • | A new optional contactEmail parameter for the getEntitlementsQuery method in the V4 EntitlementOrderService web service |
Note:For partner accounts, the search base on the contact email address works for those accounts that belong to the endCustomer tier type.
Multiple Package Downloads from Entitlement List in End-User Portal
Previously, users were required to perform software downloads for entitlement line items on the List Entitlements page one line item at a time. In this release, users can now perform software package downloads for multiple line items selected on the List Entitlements page or opt to download selected files within a given download package. (All selected entitlement line items must belong to the same account and have downloads available.)
To initiate the download process, users select the new View > View Download Packages option on the List Entitlements page. This option opens the Download Packages window, enabling users to view a list of the software download packages available for the selected line items and then download selected (or all) packages. Alternatively, users can click a package link from this window to obtain a list of all the files contained in the package, and, from this list, select specific (or all) files to download. Compliance checks are performed before any download starts.
Users must have the existing Get Downloads permission to perform these software downloads.
The new View Download Packages option is not visible by default, but is enabled by means of a new system configuration setting in the Producer Portal, System > Configure > End-User Portal Setup > Entitlements Page> Show View Download Packages.
Similarly, the button to download all files for selected packages directly from the Download Packages window is enabled by a separate system configuration setting, System > Configure > End-User Portal Setup > General Options > Show Download Button. This setting is applied only if the previously described Show View Download Packages option is enabled.
New Parameter to Control Inactivating or Obsoleting Entitlements and Line Items Currently Used by Devices
When an entitlement or line item is made Inactive or Obsolete, the licenses currently activated on a device (license server or standalone device) by that line item or entitlement remain on the device until they expire.
If this behavior is not desired, it is now possible to prevent the line item or entitlement from being made Inactive or Obsolete by setting the System Configuration option Allow used entitlement/line item state change to Inactive or Obsolete to false. An error message will then be displayed if an attempt is made to make such a line item or entitlement Inactive or Obsolete. (The option is located under System > Configuration > FlexNet Operations > General Options.)