Moodle app additional features

From MoodleDocs

The Moodle Mobile additional features plugin provides new features and web services for the Moodle Mobile app which are currently only available in the latest Moodle version.

How it works

Once installed the plugin creates a new service "Moodle Mobile additional features". The Mobile app checks if this service is enabled. If not, the Mobile app falls backs to the standard core Mobile app service.

Features

  • Support for sites using SSO authentication methods (Shibboleth and CAS)
  • Support for sites using MNet authentication (Moodle Network authentication)
  • Retrieval of course grades
  • Support for push notifications in Moodle sites prior to version 2.6

Enable authentication for sites using SSO methods (like Shibboleth and CAS)

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: You need to disable the "Auto login guest" option "autologinguests". This setting is not compatible with the SSO via app.

SSO and MNet authentication is not supported in the Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 apps

Once the plugin is installed, you need to go to Site administration > Plugins > Local plugins > Moodle Mobile additional features

There you can choose the "Type of login":

Via the app
Is the default login, the user must introduce his credentials in the app
Via a browser window
A new browser instance is open in the mobile device pointing to the login form in the Moodle site (which may again redirect to external identity providers if required). The user must introduce his credentials there. This is the option that must be selected for sites using SSO methods (or for sites that wants to force the user to authenticate in the site, not in the app)


<mediaplayer>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl8rsyyyg9g</mediaplayer>

Installation

  1. Unpack the zip file into the local/ directory. A new directory will be created called local/mobile.
  2. Go to Site administration > Notifications to complete the plugin installation.
  3. Go to Site administration > Plugins > Web services > Mobile and enable web services for mobile devices (Remember to save the changes)
  4. Go to Site administration > Plugins > Web services > External services, edit "Moodle Mobile additional features" and check the "Enabled" field, then save changes.
  5. Go to Site administration > Users > Permissions > Define roles, edit the Authenticated user role and allow the capability moodle/webservice:createtoken.

Note: You need to have upgraded the Moodle Mobile app to version 1.4.4.

If you are currently using the Moodle Mobile app, you will need to log out of all your sites in order for the app to detect the new service.

Admin users, please read

This plugin installs a new service in your Moodle installation, the automatic token creation for this type of services is forbidden for admin users. This means that admin users will not be able to use the Mobile app.

This can be solved easily, administrators must create a token manually in Moodle (Plugins > Web Services > Manage tokens) for the local_mobile service. Note: Be sure to toggle the default "Moodle mobile web services" setting to "Moodle mobile additional features service" before creating the token.