Effortless User Import via SOAP Integration in ILIAS

Introduction

Efficiently managing user data within a Learning Management System (LMS) is critical for seamless operations. ILIAS, a robust open-source LMS, offers various methods for user data management, and one powerful approach involves utilizing SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) to import users. This method allows for the automated import of user data, enabling administrators to streamline the onboarding process and maintain an updated user database effortlessly.

SOAP is a protocol used for exchanging structured information in the implementation of web services. ILIAS supports SOAP web services, providing a standardized way to communicate with the system remotely. Leveraging SOAP, administrators can perform a range of operations, including user imports, by sending SOAP requests to the ILIAS server.

User Import via SOAP

ILIAS offers a comprehensive SOAP interface, empowering administrators to import users efficiently. The process typically involves several steps:

1. Authentication

To access the SOAP services, authentication is necessary. Administrators need to authenticate their requests by providing their credentials (username and password) through SOAP headers.

$sessionId = $client->call('login', [
    'client' => <client_id>,
    'username' => <username>,
    'password' => <password>
]);

2. Creating User Data

Prepare the user data to be imported. This usually involves creating a structured dataset containing user information such as usernames, passwords, email addresses, roles, and any other relevant details required by ILIAS.

3. Constructing SOAP Request

Utilize the ILIAS SOAP API documentation to understand the required request structure. SOAP requests for user imports typically include the user data in a specified XML format. The request is sent to the designated ILIAS server endpoint.

$parameters = [
    'sid' => $sessionId,
    'folder_id' => -1,
    'usr_xml' => '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>'
        . '<Users>'
        . '<User Language="en" Action="Insert" Id="">'
        . '<Active><![CDATA[true]]></Active>'
        . '<Role Id="il_0_role_4" Type="Global" Action="Assign">User</Role>'
        . '<Login><![CDATA[' . $userData["username"] . ']]></Login>'
        . '<Gender><![CDATA[' . $userData["gender"] . ']]></Gender>'
        . '<Password Type="PLAIN"><![CDATA[' . $userData["password"] . ']]></Password>'
        . '<Firstname><![CDATA[' . $userData["firstname"] . ']]></Firstname>'
        . '<Lastname><![CDATA[' . $userData["lastname"] . ']]></Lastname>'
        . '<Email><![CDATA[' . $userData["email"] . ']]></Email>'
        . '<Birthday><![CDATA[' . $userData["birthday"] . ']]></Birthday>'
        . '<Look Style="delos" Skin="delos"/>'
        . '</User>'
        . '</Users>',
    'conflict_rule' => 3,
    'send_account_mail' => 0
];

4. Sending SOAP Request

Use a SOAP client or develop a script that can interact with ILIAS SOAP services. The SOAP request, including the user data, is sent to the ILIAS server. Proper error handling and response parsing are essential to ensure the import process runs smoothly.

$client->call('importUsers', $parameters);

5. Handling Responses:

Upon sending the request, the ILIAS server processes the data and sends a response. A successful import is indicated by a corresponding success message or status code. In case of errors or issues, the response includes error details that can be used for debugging and troubleshooting.

Best Practices and Considerations

• Data Validation: Ensure the accuracy and validity of the user data before initiating the import process.
• Error Handling: Implement robust error handling mechanisms to address any issues during the import process.
• Testing: Thoroughly test the import process in a controlled environment before applying it to the live system.
• Security Measures: Maintain secure transmission of sensitive user data by using secure connections (HTTPS) and adhering to ILIAS security guidelines.

The entire file for user import through SOAP is provided below.

<?php

// The nusoap.php that is included in ilias installation
require_once("/var/www/html/ilias-installations/ilias8/webservice/soap/lib/nusoap.php");

$username = 'soap'; // an admin user for SOAP
$password = '12345'; // password of soap user
$clientId = 'ilias8'; // ilias client id
$domain = 'http://localhost';

$client = new nusoap_client($domain . '/webservice/soap/server.php?wsdl&client_id=' . $clientId, true);
$client->soap_defencoding = 'UTF-8';
$error = null;

// Authenticate
$sessionId = $client->call('login', [
    'client' => $clientId,
    'username' => $username,
    'password' => $password
]);

// Check if login was successful
if (!empty($client->getError())) {
    echo $client->getError();
} else {

    $userData = [
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'password' => '12345',
        'firstname' => 'John',
        'lastname' => 'Doe',
        'gender' => 'm',
        'email' => 'john.doe@xy.de',
        'birthday' => '1987-01-01'
    ];

    // Check if username already exists
    $lookupUser = $client->call('lookupUser', [$sessionId, $userData['username']]);

    if(!empty($lookupUser)) {
        echo "user already exists";
    }

    // Build parameters for importUsers SOAP method
    $parameters = [
        'sid' => $sessionId,
        'folder_id' => -1,
        'usr_xml' => '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>'
            .  '<Users>'
            .  '<User Language="en" Action="Insert" Id="">'
            .  '<Active><![CDATA[true]]></Active>'
            .  '<Role Id="il_0_role_4" Type="Global" Action="Assign">User</Role>'
            .  '<Login><![CDATA[' . $userData["username"] . ']]></Login>'
            .  '<Gender><![CDATA[' . $userData["gender"] . ']]></Gender>'
            .  '<Password Type="PLAIN"><![CDATA[' . $userData["password"] . ']]></Password>'
            .  '<Firstname><![CDATA[' . $userData["firstname"] . ']]></Firstname>'
            .  '<Lastname><![CDATA[' . $userData["lastname"] . ']]></Lastname>'
            .  '<Email><![CDATA[' . $userData["email"] . ']]></Email>'
            .  '<Birthday><![CDATA[' . $userData["birthday"] . ']]></Birthday>'
            .  '<Look Style="delos" Skin="delos"/>'
            .  '</User>'
            .  '</Users>',
        'conflict_rule' => 3,
        'send_account_mail' => 0
    ];

    $importUser = $client->call('importUsers', $parameters);

    // Check if import was successful
    if(empty($importUser)) {
        echo "User was not imported.";
    }

    // Close the session
    $client->call('logout', [$sessionId]);
}

Conclusion

Using SOAP for user imports in ILIAS LMS provides a powerful mechanism to automate and streamline the management of user data. By leveraging SOAP web services, administrators can efficiently import user information, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of user onboarding processes within the ILIAS platform.