Jitbit .NET CRM Software README

PLEASE READ this readme-file, which will guide through the basics of installation and operation of Jitbit web-based CRM software. Thank you.

Contents:
1. OVERVIEW
2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
3. INSTALLING CRM
4. UPGRADING CRM
5. QUICK-START
6. Windows-integrated authentication and Auto-login-feature
7. UNINSTALLING CRM
8. Jitbit Helpdesk integration

 

1. OVERVIEW

Thank you for choosing Jitbit web-based CRM - a contact management and tracking software from Jitbit Software. Jitbit CRM is a web based CRM solution ("ticket system") for small teams, that tracks your contacts history and tasks. Jitbit CRM is an ASP.NET 4.0 web-application with access from client computers via a web browser.

1.1. Companies and Contacts

Companies and Contacts are the main entities in the system. A "Company" - is just a company you're doing business with. A "Contact" is just a person you're doing business with. A "Contact" may (or may not) belong to a company.

Both Companies and Contacts can be "tagged" for convenience to be browsed by tags later.

Both Companies and Contacts have "History" and "Task list". A History - is a list of recent notes/comments/file-attachments added to a Company or a Contact. A Task-list is what its name says - a list of tasks related to a Contact or a Company. All tasks have a due-date and the list is sorted by this date. "Closed" tasks are not displayed by default.

 

2. JITBIT CRM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

2.1. PLATFORMS

Jitbit CRM requires a server running one of the following operating systems:

Since Jitbit CRM is browser based, there is no particular requirement for the client operating system. A variety of popular browsers can be used for client access to Jitbit CRM including:

2.2. PREREQUISITES

The following components are required to be installed on the server hosting Jitbit CRM:

Microsoft .NET Framework, Internet Information Services (IIS) and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (or MSDE) are all available at no charge from Microsoft if you do not already have the required components installed.

How to setup MSDE 2000:
MS SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000) is a free edition of MS SQL Server 2000. It is available for download from the Microsoft web site. Jitbit CRM uses SQL-authentication, so MSDE has to be installed with the "Mixed Mode" authentication mode, and SA-password specified ("SA" is a built-in "system administrator" user, who's password must be specified explicitly during installation). So, here is the format of the setup command you have to use to install MSDE:

setup.exe SAPWD="Strong-Password" SECURITYMODE=SQL

 

3. INSTALLING CRM read carefully

Jitbit CRM can be installed in TWO WAYS:

3.1. INSTALLING via "setup.exe"

3.2. MANUAL INSTALLATION

3.2.1. Web-application install
3.2.2. Database install

Choose one of the following options

 

4. UPGRADING FROM OLDER VERSIONS

To upgrade your CRM to the latest version:

UPGRADING FROM 4.0.0 AND LOWER

Please note, that starting from version 4.0.1 the CRM requires .NET Framework 4.0 (previous versions were using 3.5). Upgrading requires two more extra steps:

Also please note that NET Framework 4.0 uses a different method of sending emails via SMTP protocol. If you use an SMTP server via SSL, you may have to change your SMTP port from 465 to 587.

 

5. QUICKSTART

5.1. Quickstart

After Jitbit CRM software has been successfully installed, open your web-browser and navigate to the location where Jitbit CRM is installed (e.g. "http://myserver/CRM").

Unless you changed the installation scripts, Jitbit CRM installs with two predefined users: admin (password "admin") and client (password "client"). CHANGE THESE DEFAULT PASSWORDS BEFORE USING CRM. Use these default users only to login for the first time and start using it.

5.2. Getting help

Most pages in Jitbit CRM web application have a link "get help for this page" at the bottom of the page. Clicking this link provides the most relevant in-depth information about the current page.

 

6. Autologin-feature

AutoLogin (configuring single sign-on with your existing Web-apps and websites)

Jitbit CRM supports "autologin" feature which allows users to be pre-authenticated automatically (by your parent website for example) without entering their username and password. The "autologin" feature is targeted at developers and administrators, who integrate the CRM software into their existing SQL-powered websites and applications. If the user is already authenticated on your parent website (for instance) there are two options:

  1. If a user is already present in the CRM's database and you know his password - redirect the user to the link of this kind: "AutoLogin.aspx?username=XXXXXX&pswHash=XXXXX". Where "username" is the user's login name, and "pswHash" is a MD5-hash of the user's CRM-password.
  2. If a user is not already present in the CRM database or you don't want to pass his password, use this link format: http://MyCRMUrl/AutoLogin.aspx?username=xxx&email=yyy&userHash=HASH where "username" is the user's username, "email" is is email and HASH is calculated as follows: MD5(name + email + shared-secret). The "shared secret" is specified in the admin panel. Remember to specify a "strong" secret, at least 10 characters (the longer the better).
When using the "autologin" feature you can optionally redirect users to the "new ticket" page. Just add "&new_ticket=1" to the link above.

 

6.1 Windows-integrated authentication

7.1. Windows-integrated authentication

Starting from version 1.9 Jitbit CRM supports Windows-integrated authentication and integrating with your existing Active Directory (AD) user's catalog. To enable Windows-integrated authentication edit the web.config file and un-comment this two lines: 

<authentication mode="Windows"></authentication>
<identity impersonate="true"/>
and comment the above tag which enables "Forms" authentication. Also remember to check if Windows-integrated authentication is enabled in IIS directory where CRM is installed, and anonymous access is disabled.

PLEASE NOTE: that when Windows-authentication is enabled, Jitbit CRM automatically adds a domain-user into CRM database when logged in for the first time, if he is properly authenticated with his Windows-account. Also CRM will try to connect to your domain-controller and populate the user's email from Active Directory.

 

7. UNINSTALLING CRM

Automatic uninstallation is available only if you have installed Jitbit CRM using the automated "setup.exe" installer. If you have installed the application manually - you have to manually uninstall it.

To uninstall Jitbit CRM select "Start - All Programs - Jitbit CRM - Uninstall Jitbit CRM". The application will be removed from your system.

PLEASE NOTE: the database is NOT uninstalled during the automated uninstallation procedure.

 

8. Jitbit Helpdesk integration

If you have both Jitbit CRM and Jitbit Help Desk installed, it is possible to integrate the two systems and enable:

Setting up the integration is easy:

  1. In both CRM and HelpDesk go to the admin panel and specify "Shared secret for remote authentication" (to whatever values you want, don't have to be the same)
  2. In the Helpdesk application go to the admin panel and set the url of the CRM application and the "Jitbit CRM shared key" - to the value you specified in #1. This will enable viewing CRM companies in Helpdesk
  3. In the CRM application go to the admin panel and set the url of the Helpdesk application and the "Jitbit Helpdesk shared key" - to the value you specified in #1. This will enable the "tickets from company" links in CRM