NoSuchMethodError when upgrading to EKP 5.0

We've had a few reports of the following problem: when connecting to an EKP site that has been upgraded to EKP 5.0, a "Cannot connect to database" page is seen, and a message like the one below appears in the log file (WEB-INF/logs/ekp.log).

java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: javax.xml.parsers.DocumentBuilderFactory.getSchema()Ljavax/xml/validation/Schema;
 at com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.jaxp.DocumentBuilderImpl.<init>(DocumentBuilderImpl.java:110)
 at com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.jaxp.DocumentBuilderFactoryImpl.newDocumentBuilder(DocumentBuilderFactoryImpl.java:101)
 at com.sun.msv.verifier.jaxp.DocumentBuilderFactoryImpl.newDocumentBuilder(DocumentBuilderFactoryImpl.java:145)

This appears to happen if EKP is running on an older version of Tomcat 4.1. Older versions of Tomcat 4.1 will override the XML parser libraries that are included in the Java runtime, and these libraries conflict with the versions included in J2SE 5.0, which EKP 5.0 requires.

The simplest solution is to delete the parser libraries that are included with Tomcat 4.1. These can be found in the common/endorsed/ directory under the Tomcat home directory. These libraries are not required when running under J2SE 5.0.

Search EKP's catalogs from your browser's search box

EKP 5.0 makes it possible to search EKP's course catalogs directly from the search box of Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox 2.

When a user visits EKP using Internet Explorer 7, the drop-down arrow of the search box "lights up" to indicate that EKP has been added to the drop-down menu.

To add the EKP search provider, select Add Search Providers from the drop-down menu, then select Enterprise Knowledge Platform by NetDimensions.

Internet Explorer will prompt you to confirm that you want to add the search provider.

After clicking Add Provider, select Enterprise Knowledge Platform by NetDimensions from the drop-down menu.

With the EKP search provider selected, initiating a search from Internet Explorer's search box opens EKP's catalog search results page directly.

Similarly, when a user visits EKP using Firefox 2, the drop-down arrow of the search box "lights up" to indicate that EKP has been added to the drop-down menu.

To add the EKP search provider, select Add "Enterprise Knowledge Platform by NetDimensions" from the drop-down menu.

With the EKP search provider selected, initiating a search from Firefox's search box opens EKP's catalog search results page directly.

Multiple GlobalEnglish accounts on a single EKP site

About three years ago, we added to EKP the ability to integrate with GlobalEnglish, which provides online English language instruction to global companies. An administrator can create a module in EKP that acts as a gateway to the GlobalEnglish portal, and can then control access to GlobalEnglish in using EKP's standard enrollment mechanisms.

Prior to EKP 5, the GlobalEnglish account details were specified as part of the system configuration. Consequently, only a single GlobalEnglish account could be used with each EKP instance.

However, in large global companies, separate departments sometimes have distinct GlobalEnglish accounts. In EKP 5, we've made it possible to specify GlobalEnglish account details as part of the module configuration, making it possible to use multiple accounts with a single EKP installation.

Here's how to create a module for GlobalEnglish access in EKP 5.

• Go to Manage > Catalog Manager > Module Editor.
• Click the Create Learning Object button in the top frame.
• Enter a Learning ID for the module, and ensure Online is selected as the Learning Type, then click Create.
• On the Define Module Properties page, enter a Title and Description for the module.
• Go the the Define Launch Properties page.
• In the Launch Interface drop-down list, choose GlobalEnglish.
• In the Keycode field, enter the account keycode as provided by your GlobalEnglish representative.
• Click the Save button in the top frame.