Lists Window

The ‘List’ window is the main window for managing Lists. It is found under the Policies menu. 

Use the 'Lists' window to create, manage and assign Lists for filtering. URL Lists support URLs and URL parts (such as scheme, path, or query), keywords (including multiple keywords, whole word and multiple words) as well as file extensions and regular expressions.

·       The Lists tab displays the available Lists.  It also contains sub tabs:

o   The Shared tab shows a list of available Shared Lists.

o   The Local tab displays a list of Groups and Policies with Local Lists and the number of Local List entries for each list.

·       The Create tab is used to create new Lists.

·       The Assignments tab lets you assign user-defined Lists to one of the available processing steps.

·       The Add Entry tab allows you to select a List and add an entry to that List. You can also view a history of events related to the selected List by clicking the History links.

·       The Suggestions tab compares new and edited List Entries against a list of 'URL Rules' and existing URL List entries.  They offer suggestions and options for managing incorrect and redundant entries before they are added to a URL List.  When a new URL is entered, or pasted into a URL List, a popup window displays with List suggestions on how the URL entry should be formatted or expanded to properly block content.  You can accept or reject these suggestions.

List Window General Functionality

The Header bar displays these items.

Tile/Table View for WebAdmin Tables

All WebAdmin tables can be toggled between a Tile and Table view. This allows you to customize the view of each page to better suit your requirements.

In 'Table View', click the Table/Tile View button.

The 'Tile View' displays.

Add or Remove Columns

The Settings button lets you add or remove columns.

Searching Lists

Use the 'Search' field to search Lists.

Lists Tab

The Lists tab shows available Lists. The 'Show' option allows you to filter for 'All' Lists, Lists that are used System Wide, used on a per Policy basis or for any unused Lists.

The Shared tab shows a list of available Shared Lists. System Wide, Shared and Local Lists.

The Local tab displays a list of Groups and Policies with Local Lists and the number of Local List entries for each list.  Clicking the ‘Policy Name’ displays the list of entries for the selected Policy.

Search Tab in the Lists Window

The List Search tab displays a list of existing URLs and Keywords under the Local Lists and Shared Lists tab. In some cases, identical entries can be added to multiple Local or Shared Lists. These entries can cause unexpected outcomes by blocking or allowing content. The List Search tool can find these similar entries and display their location. Once these list entries are found, they can be edited, deleted, copied, moved to an existing list, or moved to a new list.

It should be noted that Local Lists are displayed for Groups that a SysOp is assigned to and Shared Lists will only be available if those SysOps have List permissions and permission for that List.

List Create Tab

The 'Create' tab is used to create new Lists.

List Name: Enter the List Name.

Comments: Enter an optional comment.

Merge Entries on Review: Use this option to merge List Entries using the List Review feature. When this is enabled, another List can be selected. In List Review for the Merge List, a 'Merge' button displays allowing you to merge the entry with the other List.

List Assignments: This section allows you to assign the selected List to a Processing Steps.

Max History Size: Enter the number of entries kept in the List History. The default is zero which indicates no limit. Expired and overlimit entries are only removed when the log is updated.

Max History Age: This setting is the number of days the database keeps for a single List. The default is zero which indicates no limit. Expired and overlimit entries are only removed when the log is updated.

List Service Enabled: This enables the List Service to run the entries of this list to detect list entry issues, take screenshots, and detect when the list entry may change. The 'List Service' in the Services window must be started for these settings to work.

List Service Interval (seconds): If you want the list service to run this list on an interval select an appropriate time.

List Service Next Run Time: This sets next time the list service will process this list. If the time is in the past the list service will start to process the list.

Show Metadata Fields: Choose the Fields you would like to show. By default, all are used.

Restrict Actions: You can choose one or more Actions for the selected List. If all checkboxes are left blank, all Actions are assigned.

Restrict Types: You can choose one or more Actions for the selected List. If all checkboxes are left blank, all Actions are assigned.

Restrict Request Parts: You can choose one or more Actions for the selected List. If all checkboxes are left blank, all Actions are assigned.

Assigned Categories: This can limit Categories that are assignable in individual URL Lists. Choose the Categories you wish to assign to the selected List.

Permissions: Use this section to add or remove a SysOp. Select one or more SysOps from the dropdown list and click the Add SysOp button.

Assignments Tab

The Assignments tab lets you assign user-defined Lists to one of the available Processing Steps. Clicking the individual Processing Steps displays the Lists assigned to that Step. Shared Lists for Policies do not need to be assigned to a Processing Step. To change the List assignment, select a ‘Processing Step’ and choose the Add or Remove Lists button.

1.    In the Lists window, click the Assignments tab to display this window.

2.    Select the Processing Step you wish to add the list to.  In this example, the ‘System Wide List’ is selected.

3.    Click the Add or Remove Lists button. The 'Assign Lists' window displays with the List we want to add in the ‘Available Lists’ column.

4.    The ‘Show Available’ section contains a list of possible list viewing options.  By default, the ‘Available Lists’ column shows all created list in the WebAdmin.  If the list is too big, it can be filtered with the ‘Show Available’ radio buttons.  You can choose to show only lists that are not used anywhere (Policies or Processing Steps).  If some list has ‘Action Restrictions’ for their entries, you can filter for only lists with some specific restrictions.

5.    Click this List to add it to the ‘Used Lists’ column.

You can also click the View History button for more information on each ‘Processing Step’. 

How the Processing Step Lists are Checked

This is a simplified view on how the lists are checked.  Please see 'How Lists are Checked' documentation for a more in-depth overview.

·       The ‘System Wide List’, ‘Categorization List’, 'Suggest List' and ‘Filter Bypass List’ are common for all Policies.  They are referred to as ‘Processing Steps’.

·       Each Processing Step can have assignments that are merged into one list in the Policy Server.

·       The Suggest List and the Categorization List can only use the 'Assign Category' Action. 

·       A request will first go to the ‘Filter Bypass List’.  Anything in this list is automatically allowed.

·       The request will then check the ‘System-Wide List’.  It is recommended that this List should only be used to allow or deny. It should not be used to re-categorize.

·       It will then check the Policy’s ‘Local List’.  This can perform any entry action.

·       It will then use the Policy ‘Shared List’ (System-wide List). This can also perform any action.

·       It will finally use the ‘Categorization List’.  This is the last list but not necessarily the final step.

·       The final step will be to allow or deny requests based on an assigned Category and allowed / denied Categories in the Policy.  If the request was not denied or allowed in previous steps it will require a Category and be denied or allowed according to assigned Category and Policy denied/allowed Categories list.

Please note that all lists will override the ‘Enforced Categories’ list except for the Category List.

For more information, please see 'How Lists are Checked'.

About the Filter Bypass List

A URL entry in the ‘Filter Bypass List’ means the site or URL should never be blocked and will therefore always be allowed. An entry in the ‘Filter Bypass List’ is generally only recommended for ‘Deny Page URLs’. 

In the 'Trace Request' window, you will notice on denied requests that the Filter Bypass List Lookup is used to allow deny pages.

Add Entry Tab

The Add Entry tab allows you to select a List and add an entry to that List.

List Suggestions Tab

The 'Suggestions' window lets you add, edit, delete, or clone existing List Suggestion Rules. You can also Import and Export Rules. Use the Edit link to edit an existing Rule. Click the Create button to open the ‘List Suggestions Editor’ window. The plus/minus buttons in the Order column can be used to change the Rule's display order. Changes in this window are saved automatically.