System configuration

Online survey software configuration

The system configuration contains all the settings for the NoviSurvey web application. Only users with system administrator privileges can access the system configuration page. User of NoviSurvey On Demand do not have access to this page.

Application language Sets the default language for the application. The default language controls the messages shown in the screens. The default language is not related to the languages for the surveys, which are managed independently for each survey (see Set up survey - Main and Messages).
Activation A valid license is required to use NoviSurvey and the system needs to be activated before it can be used. To activate the system, enter you NoviSystems.com login and password and press button . The status field will reflect the activation status of the system. If the system cannot be activated, the status field will display and error message. If you are unable to activate the systems after several attempts, you can request support through the support tool at the top of the screen .
Domain name The domain name to use to generate survey deployment URLs. The domain name can include a port in the case when NoviSurvey is deployed on a port other than the standard web port. By default, the domain name is populated from the URL used to access the system configuration page.
Secure mode Enable to run NoviSurvey is secure (https) mode. In secure mode, all communication between the browsers for the users and the server is encrypted. As a prerequisite to setting the system in secure mode, a SSL certificate must be procured and installed on the web server for NoviSurvey. Companies such as Verisign or Thawte and most hosting companies can provide a SSL certificate for a fee. For an up to date list of provider of SSL certificates enter search terms SSL certificate in a search engine. See also Hypertext Transfer Protocol over Secure Socket Layer
Send application errors to NoviSystems Enables sending of error to NoviSystems. All communication is encrypted when sending errors to NoviSystems. The information sent includes: the stack trace for the error the URL and parameters the date and time license information server name and port the language setting as specified by the user's browser The information gathered is used strictly for support purpose and to enhance the features and robustness of NoviSurvey. The information gathered is never sold to any 3rd party. If the option to send application errors to NoviSystems is not set, support and troubleshooting of errors may not be possible.
Window domain and directory NoviSurvey supports integrating to a windows domain for authentication purposes (i.e., to verify the user name and password information provided upon login). The following field must be specified: Domain: Name of the domain as it will be displayed to users on the login page. Login: The login for a users with sufficient privileges to query the domain (e.g., a domain administrator) Password: The password for the domain user with sufficient privileges to query the domain URL: The URL to access the domain. Depending on the configuration of the domain, the URL can be of the form: LDAP://domain.company.com or GC://domain.company.com Button allows to test the settings to integrate to the windows domain. The result of the test indicates if the integration to the windows domain is possible with the parameters as provided.
Allow users to register Enable users to self-register for an account from the landing page.
Use email for login Specifies if the login for user should be their email address.
Enable 'remember me' Specifies is the login information for users can be saved such that they do not have to enter their user name and password when they access the system. The information is saved in an encrypted form as a cookie on the user's computer.
Minimum password length Specifies the minimum password length enforced for users by the system.
SMTP server NoviSurvey relies on email to send survey invitations and to send notifications to users. The server used to send the email must be specified as part of the configuration for the system. The following parameters are available: Server name or IP: domain name or IP address for the SMTP server The port for the SMTP server. By default, SMTP servers use port 25. Use SSL encryption: specifies in the communication between NoviSurvey and the SMTP server is encrypted using SSL. When using Google mail to send email, the SSL encryption must be enabled. Credentials (user name and password): If the SMTP server required authentication, provide the user name and password of a user allowed to send email through the SMTP server. To test the settings of the STMP server, see field Email for built-in system administrator account below.
From email address The email address to use in the 'From' field of notification emails sent to NoviSurvey users.
Email for built-in system administrator account The email address for the 'admin' system administrator account built-in the system.
'From' for survey invitations The email address to use in the 'From' field of emails sent to invite respondents to answer a survey.
Mailbox for 'From' address (IMAP) NoviSurvey can process non-delivery request (NDRs) returned by mail servers for messages that cannot be delivered. When using list of email addresses to send invitations to take surveys, it is common that some of the addresses are no longer valid. By processing NDRs NoviSurvey can detect the bad email addresses and mark them as such. No further invitation emails will then be sent to the addresses. To process NDRs, there must be a mailbox available that corresponds to the 'From' email address for the invitations. NoviSurvey can connect the mailbox using the IMAP email protocol. The parameters required to setup the IMAP connection are: Mail server name or IP: The name of IP of the mail server with the mailbox Server port: The port to use to establish the connection. Standard IMAP ports are 143 and 585 or 993 when using SSL or TLS. Use SSL/TLS encryption: Indicates if the IMAP connection should be encrypted. If set, the IMAP server must support encryption. Otherwise, the connection to the mailbox will not be established. Mailbox user name: The user name for the mailbox. Mailbox password: The password for the mailbox. Button allows to test the connection to the mailbox. The success or failure of the test is shown in the interface when the test is completed.
'Bcc' for survey invitations The email address to use to send a 'blind carbon copy' for each invitation email.
Respondent opt out The opt out message to include at the bottom of email inviting respondents to respond to surveys. The opt out message must contain a link for initiating the opt out action. This links is defined in a special manner by using the special tag [OptoutLink]. When the email is sent by NoviSurvey, the place holder will be replaced by the value of field Opt out link: Example of an opt out message: This message was sent by Company XYZ (123 Lillac Ave, SomeTown ...). To opt out from future invitations to receive surveys from Company XYZ, click [OptoutLink]. When this email is sent, [OptoutLink] will be replaced by the value for field Opt out link (e.g., 'here'). Hence the opt out message in invitation emails will appear such: This message was sent by Company XYZ (123 Lillac Ave, SomeTown ...). To opt out from future invitations to receive surveys from Company XYZ, click here. --- See also How to user the rich text editor to apply formats to the opt out message.
Database The connection information for the database for NoviSurvey. NoviSurvey supports either SQL server or Oracle for its database. The database (SQL server) or schema (Oracle) must be precreated prior to configuring NoviSurvey. When using SQL server, the login used to connect to the database should have db_owner privileges to the database. When using Oracle, field Path to OCI client should be set to the path of a 32-bit OCI client for the correct version of Oracle. If an Oracle client is not available on the application server, the Oracle instant client should be downloaded from Oracle's OTN. Note that 64 bit OCI clients are not compatible with NoviSurvey. If using Oracle with IIS7, the application pool assigned to NoviSurvey must have option "Enable 32-Bit Applications" set to True. Parameter "Enable 32-Bit Applications" is available in the IIS7 management console under "Advanced Settings..." for application pools. The connection string to the schema for NoviSurvey should be entered in field Database connection string. Sample SQL Server connection string: Data Source=dbserver1\db1;Database=NoviSurvey;User Id=NoviSurvey;Password=NoviSurvey; Where dbserver1 is the IP address or name of the server (computer) and db1 is the name of the SQL server instance. If your SQL server instance is not named use connection string: Data Source=dbserver1;Database=NoviSurvey;User Id=NoviSurvey;Password=NoviSurvey; Sample Oracle connection string: Data Source=(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS_LIST=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=dbserver1)(PORT=1521)))(CONNECT_DATA=(SERVER=DEDICATED)(SID=ORA1)));User Id=novisurvey;Password=novisurvey; The create the database table in the database, press button . All prior data will be deleted permanently from the database. The database must be created before the configuration is saved. See also Oracle instant client
Contact information The name of the person to contact shown to users if they encounter an error in the system.
Contact email The email of the person to contact shown to users if they encounter an error in the system.
Administrative password The password for the built-in administrative account 'admin'. When the system is configured for the first time, the password must be changed.