When the database is first created, any ABL user can define users in the _User table accounts; access is not restricted. However, once specific security administrators are assigned, only those designated individuals can add or modify user accounts in the _User table or change passwords for any user. Progress recommends that you set up a security administrator for an OpenEdge database. For information on defining security administrators, see Designate a security administrator.

To add a user to the _User table accounts:

  1. Access the graphical Data Administration tool or the character Data Dictionary and choose Admin > Security > Edit User List. The Edit User List dialog box appears.
  2. Click Add. The Add User dialog box appears.
    Note:

    Remember that user IDs and user names are not case sensitive, but passwords are case sensitive. Anytime you want to cancel your entries, click Cancel or press END-ERROR.

  3. Enter the user ID (the effective user name) in the User ID field.
  4. Click Select Domain to select the domain name for the specified user ID. The Select Domain dialog appears.
  5. Select a domain from the list of domains, and click OK. Note that the selected domain must be configured for authenticating users in the _User table accounts.
  6. Enter a personal name (typically the first and last given name) in the User Name field. This allows you to keep track of the person assigned to that user ID. Since the value in this field is not used for security purposes, you can enter any text in this field.
  7. Enter the password in the Password field.
  8. Enter no or yes in the SQL Only field. A yes value for the SQL only field makes the user visible to the OpenEdge SQL, and transparent to OpenEdge ABL (meaning that the user is unable to log in from ABL using the user ID).
  9. Click OK. You are prompted to verify the password.
  10. Enter the password again. If you successfully enter the same password, you will see the user record added. If you enter a different password, no user record is created.
  11. To add another user record, click Add again. A new set of fields appears on the screen.
    Note:
    • You cannot change a User ID field from the Edit User List dialog box once you have added the user. You can only change a user ID by deleting and then re- creating the user record.
    • A user can then change their assigned passwords by navigating to Admin > Security > Change Password. However, if a user forgets their password, a security administrator can reset it by selecting the user in the Edit User List dialog box, clicking Modify, and then choosing the Change Password option. For more information, see Change a password for database users.
    • Modify allows you to make changes to only the Domain Name and User Name fields.

After a user record is added to the _User table accounts, the user can connect to that database using the password assigned to them.