Server update 4.17.0.0 (June 2020) provides support for a new MS Teams integration which provides the user with a file picker to upload files to Teams channels from any storage avaiable via Foldr.
This feature leverages the Bot services functionality in Microsoft Azure. The setup process requires the admin to create a Bot Channel Registration and plug the client ID and secret/key from Azure into the Foldr server before users can make use of this feature. When the integration is complete, a Foldr app icon is available in the Posts/Conversation interface (at the bottom of the Office 365 Teams UI) to launch the picker:
1. The Office 365 integration steps must have been completed – either using manual or automatic account linking to associate on-premise Active Directory users to their Office 365 account. Paying attention to any additional Azure Graph permissions requried for Teams.
Note – Manual linking is recommended when accessing SharePoint or Teams via Foldr so users receive their ‘true’ permissions configured in Office 365. Automatic linking uses a service account for all access and at the time of writing this article, the Microsoft APIs do not allow for true user impersonation when using service accounts.
2. A share must be added for users in Foldr Settings > Shares & Storage using the storage address %teams%. Users should be able to access their Teams channels / documents in Foldr successfully before attempting to use the Foldr File Picker.
1. Log into Foldr Settings and enable the Foldr File Picker within Integrations > File Picker
2. Enable the file picker service and add the public FQDN of Foldr to the Trusted Domains list (‘address-of-foldr‘ is being used in the example below, replace with the correct URL) and click Save Changes
3. Configure the same public FQDN under Appliance > Network > External Hostname
4. Adjust the HTTP Headers configuration within Customise > HTTP Headers as shown and click Save Changes
To aid quick configuration via copy/paste, the dialog above contains:
Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self' 'unsafe-eval'; img-src https: data:; style-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline'; frame-ancestors 'self' https://*.microsoft.com;
5. Log into https://portal.azure.com using an administrative account and search for ‘Bot Services‘
6. Click Add
7. Select Bot Channels Registration
8. Click Create
9. Configure the Bot service, providing a suitable unique handle (name), selecting the appropriate subscription, resource group and location are required. Note that the ‘pricing tier’ can be the free tier ‘F0’. Application insights may be disabled.
The ‘Messaging Endpoint’ should be configured as:
https://address-of-foldr/services/msteams/messages
Replacing address-of-foldr with the correct public FQDN of the Foldr installation.
10. Once configured, click the Create button at the bottom of the panel
11. The Bot service will be created and a deployment message will be shown in the Azure portal. Either click the link in the success dialog (top right) to jump directly to the bot service configuration panel (below) or wait a few minutes and you will search for your newly created bot service .
Click Channels
12. Select the Teams icon from the ‘Add a featured channel’ section
13. The ‘Configure MS Teams’ channel screen will be displayed. Leave the default option selected as shown below and click Create
14. Click Save
15. Check the box in the Terms of Service and click Agree
Note – the Web Chat channel shown on this screen may be disabled, as it is not required for the file picker functionality.
16. Click Settings in the bot management panel
17. Within the Settings panel, make a note of the ‘Microsoft App ID’
This will be required in the Foldr Settings admin UI in the next step when enabling the integration.
18. Click the blue Manage link shown directly above the App ID and then create a Secret/Key by clicking + New client secret
19. Give the key a suitable and expiry date (never is recommended). Click Add
20. Copy the key using the in-line button. Note that by default another key will be present and this can be deleted.
21. Navigate to the Foldr Settings > Integrations tab > Microsoft Teams
Paste the Microsoft App ID into ‘Client ID‘ and the secret/key created at step 16 into the ‘Application Key‘
22. Click SAVE CHANGES
23. Click the DOWNLOAD APP button shown at the bottom of the screen. This will generate a .zip file which is will be needed at the next step – save this to the local desktop.
24. Log into Office 365 and load the Teams app
Click Apps (bottom left)
25. Click Upload a custom app text (bottom left) and select the option as required (me/my teams or the whole tenant/organisation)
26. Select the ‘foldr-for-teams.zip’ file that was saved at step 19
27. The app will appear in the Teams interface after a few seconds. Click the on the newly uploaded app (app icon will auto-correct itself in the next screen – known Teams issue)
Click the chevron and select Add to a team
28. Search for a channel and add it by clicking Set up bot
The app should be added in turn to other channels that require it using the steps above.
The setup and integration is now complete, the inline Foldr app button shown at the bottom of the screen to initiate the file picker.
Note – Other users that have access to the channel may have to add the app to their interface (so it is visible) using the elipsis button.
The web app sign-in screen will appear, if the user isn’t currently authenticated and once signed in the usual storage locations will be available in the picker.
Expand the storage location and sub-folders to select the file to be uploaded to the Teams channel. Click Select
The file will be uploaded and available to users in the Teams interface.
If you select the Foldr icon in a Teams channel and see the following message, the app hasn’t been enabled (added) to that channel:
To resolve, click Apps (left hand panel) and add Foldr to the Team/channel. If users try to use the Foldr file picker on channel that is hasn’t been enabled for, it is expected that the admin will see warnings that ‘the bot isn’t part of the conversation roster’ in Azure portal > Bot Channel Registration > Channels. Once Foldr is added to the channel using the Apps panel in Teams these warnings will not be shown.
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