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=General Information=
 
=General Information=
 +
==Current Upgrade Dates==
 +
Key Release Date: '''July 25 2024'''<br />
 +
Key Backup Release Date: '''July 9 2024'''
  
===Monthly Upgrades===
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Global Release Date: '''Aug 8 2024'''<br />
 +
Global Backup Release Date: '''July 25 2024'''
  
'''Upgrades are released on a monthly basis.'''
+
==Upcoming Upgrades Schedule==
 +
{{Upgrade Schedule}}
  
The benefits of this approach are as follows:
+
We regularly update the list of upgrade features and schedule for both the backup and production environments on this page.
:* The upgrades will be performed in smaller batches.
 
:* New features will come on-stream faster, as we can fast track key enhancements into early updates.
 
  
We will provide a list of updates and schedule for both the backup and production servers on this Wiki page.  
+
This page will provide a general overview of each upgrade, with links to the Wiki articles describing the new or updated features and how to use them.
  
This page will provide a general overview of each upgrade, with links to the Wiki articles describing the new or updated features and how to use them. You can also [http://smart.smartsimple.com/s_signup.jsp?token=XVtQC1oGYF9bRxdFQhdQ subscribe] to the [[:Category:Newsletter Archives|Technical Journal]] that is sent out prior to each upgrade on the [http://smart.smartsimple.com/s_signup.jsp?token=XVtQC1oGYF9bRxdFQhdQ Newsletter Signup Page]. (Unsubscribe [http://smart.smartsimple.com/s_signup.jsp?token=XVtQC1oGYF9bQxNFQhdQ here]).
+
More information around the [[#About_the_System_Upgrade_Process|system upgrade process]] can be found below.
  
==System Upgrade Process==
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=Current Upgrade Package=
 +
{{July2024Upgrade}}
  
The objective of the '''System Upgrade Process''' is to ensure that customers have a chance to review, without compromising the integrity of their production system, how their applications and information will work following the upgrade. In order to take advantage of this you will need to know how to access your backup instance of SmartSimple. If you need assistance with this either refer to the [[Backup Server and Testing Instances]] Wiki article, or contact the [[SmartSimple]] support desk.
+
=About the System Upgrade Process=
 +
The objective of the system upgrade process is to ensure that customers have a chance to review how their applications and information will work following the upgrade without compromising the integrity of their production system. In order to take advantage of this, you will need to know how to access your backup instance of SmartSimple Cloud. If you need assistance with this, either refer to the [[Backup Server and Testing Instances]] Wiki article or contact the [[SmartSimple]] support desk.
  
===Backup Server Update===
+
For clients on a Private Cloud environment, please review the [[SmartSimple Upgrade Process – Dedicated Server]] page.
  
* Each [[Backup Server and Testing Instances|backup server]] will be updated to the "release candidate" prior to the upgrade date.
+
===Upgrade Schedule Details===
* This update will provide for instance specific testing of release candidate, as you can log into your respective [[Backup Server and Testing Instances|backup server]] and test the changes against your most current data and configuration.
+
{{Upgrade Schedule Details}}
* Internal staff will also be using these servers to perform instance specific testing.
+
 
 +
===Backup Environment Update===
 +
* Each [[Backup Server and Testing Instances|backup environment]] will be updated to the "release candidate" prior to the upgrade date.
 +
* This update will provide for instance specific testing of release candidate, as you can log into your respective [[Backup Server and Testing Instances|backup environment]] and test the changes against your most current data and configuration.
 +
* Internal staff will also be using these environments to perform instance specific testing.
  
 
===Update Go/No-Go===
 
===Update Go/No-Go===
* Subject to satisfactory testing on both the pre-production server and the production backup servers, the go/no go decision will be made on Wednesday at 12:00pm.
+
Subject to satisfactory testing on both the pre-production environments and the backup environments, the Go/No-Go decision will be made on the Wednesday prior to an upgrade release.
 
 
 
 
 
 
----
 
----
 
 
 
=Current Upgrade Package: May 2013=
 
 
 
The following server will be upgraded on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 10pm EST.
 
:* smartsimple3.biz
 
 
 
The following servers will be upgraded on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 10pm EST.
 
:* smartsimple.com
 
:* smartsimple2.biz
 
:* smartsimple4.biz
 
:* smartsimple.ca
 
:* smartsimple.us
 
:* smartsimple.biz
 
:* smartsimple.ie (after 10pm Local Time)
 
:* smartsimple.co.za (after 10pm Local Time)
 
:* factorial.ca
 
:* frontdeskinc.net
 
 
 
'''Important:''' The upgrade will be applied to your [[Backup Server and Testing Instances|backup server]] one week prior to the scheduled upgrade date for your production server.
 
You are encouraged to log into your backup server during this period to test the changes against your most recent data and configuration.
 
If your organization has a dedicated [[SmartSimple]] server or you host in-house, SmartSimple will be in contact with your system administrator to schedule the upgrade of your server '''after''' May 9.
 
The following features will be implemented as part of the upgrade cycle commencing in May 2013:
 
===[[Administration Interface|Interface]]===
 
* '''Report Interface''' - The format of the Report list view in the [[Report Management window]] has been upgraded to show icons in place of buttons as follows:
 
{{ReportIcons}}
 
<!--20226 - report list reformatting-->
 
* '''SmartFolders Interface''' - The format of the [[SmartFolders]] list interface has been updated. The {{InternetEnabledIcon}} icon will display to indicate that the SmartFolder is Internet Enabled.
 
<!--20224 - SmartFolder folder list cleanup-->
 
* '''New Sample Login Page Template''' - A new sample template for the login page is available in Global Settings > Login Screen Content.
 
<!--10598 - New Login Page Template-->
 
* '''New File Upload Format''' – A new HTML 5 format for the file upload feature on [[Custom Field Type: Link – Multiple Files|multiple file]] fields has been implemented. The new uploader obviates the need for a Java applet plug-in; end users are no longer required to install anything in order to upload multiple files. Note that HTML 5 is available on the following [[browsers]]:
 
** Internet Explorer [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IE/internet-explorer/download-ie download]: version 10.0 and higher<br />
 
** Firefox [http://www.mozilla.org/ download] <br />
 
** Chrome [http://www.google.com/chrome/ download] <br />
 
<!--18861 - HTML5 File upload-->
 
 
 
===Contacts===
 
* '''No Duplicate Email''' - New Global Setting added captioned “No Duplicate Email - Do not allow multiple contact records with the same email address.” When selected, this setting will prevent a contact from updating an email address to an email address matching one already saved in the system.
 
<!--19461 - Need an email duplicate check on contact profile-->
 
 
 
===Company/Contact Sign-Up Pages===
 
* '''Duplicate-Prevention Enhancement for Contact/Company sign-up pages''': When the "Do not update profile for matching contact (or company)" option is selected, an additional setting on the Contact/Company Sign Up Page configuration screen will appear. This setting is captioned "Update Restriction Message" and the text entered in this setting will be presented in a Javascript alert box if details matching an existing contact/company are entered into the Contact/Company Sign Up page.
 
<!--20017 - Block sign-up of duplicate contact/company-->
 
===Standard/Custom Fields===
 
* '''New Field Type Added''' - Lookup – Ajax Options. The new [[Custom Field Type: Lookup – Ajax Options|Lookup – Ajax Options]] field type allows a system administrator to create their own [[Ajax lookup]] fields. The values in the field settings can be set with “store values” and “display values” using the same syntax as the [[Custom Field Type: Select One – Combo Box|Select One – Combo Box]] field type.
 
<!--11099 - New Field Type:Ajax Lookup-->
 
* '''Global User and Company Custom Fields''' - New links added on Global Settings for Branch/Organization Custom Fields and Staff/Contact Custom Fields to show global custom fields for companies and contacts, whether or not they are internal or external.
 
<!--20211 - Global user and company custom fields-->
 
* '''Address Types''' – A new setting has been added to Global Settings under the Business & System Configuration heading to add multiple Address Types (such as “Home,” “Business,” etc.) to contact and company records.
 
<!--19501 - multiple address enhancements2-->
 
  
===Universal Tracking Application===
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===Upgrade Feedback and Questions===
* '''Level 1 Templates''' – [[Level 1 Templates]] have been enhanced to include the ability to set “Access Roles” and “Creation Roles.”
+
If you have questions or need assistance or want to share your thoughts on the upgrade contact our support team toll-free at 866.239.0991 or email support@smartsimple.com
<!--10816 - Access Roles feature for L1 Statuses and Types. -->
 
* '''Filter Owner Based on Organization''' – A new setting has been added at level 1 of the UTA Settings page to filter the selection of the Level 1 Owner and restrict the available owners to those contacts that reside under the Level 1 organization.
 
<!--20113 - Filter Owner Based on Organization-->
 
 
 
===Variable Processor===
 
* '''New setting: Fields Retrieval''' – This new feature within the custom field configuration page has been added to facilitate the building of [[Custom Field Type: Display Only – Web Page View|Web Page Views]] and for user-defined printable data summaries.
 
:A new [[variable]], @objectfields@, will return [[custom fields]] formatted as they are in view mode. This variable can simplify the configuration of printable Web Page View pages and applies existing security rules to all the custom fields—showing only those fields that are permissible—thus simulating the current view mode of the object contexted to the current user.
 
:Selecting “Default” or “Only Include in Retrieval Syntax” will include the custom field in the @objectfields@ variable, which can be included in Web Page View fields to reference the selected custom fields. “Only Include in Retrieval Syntax” will also hide the field from normal viewing. “Exclude from Retrieval Syntax” will prevent the field from being included in the @objectfields@ variable.
 
<!--11510 - Enhance WPV to use as Print Preview functionality-->
 
 
 
===Miscellaneous===
 
* '''Alert message for unsaved forms''' – In order to mitigate against users navigating away from certain forms without having saved their changes, a setting has been added under Global Settings > Business & System Configuration, which is captioned “Enable warning upon navigation from unsaved forms.” When selected, the user will be presented with a dialog box upon navigating away from an edited, unsaved form asking for confirmation for leaving the page.
 
:This setting applies to the following types of records:
 
:* Company profiles;
 
:* Contact profiles;
 
:* Transactions;
 
:* Level One, Two and Three Objects;
 
:* XML pages; and
 
:* any "Tabs" on those objects.
 
<!--20294 - Warning when navigate away without saving  [s_editobjcustomfields.jsp ]-->
 
* [[Notes]] can now be enabled for invoice records.
 
<!--19908 - Notes on Invoices-->
 
<!--Not included in Upgrade details; however, specific Wiki articles will be updated where appropriate:
 
19931 - Submit Buttons on transactions
 
19759 - No tool tip available for Store Value System Variable
 
20224 - SmartFolder folder list cleanup
 
19973 - display order setting for status submit buttons
 
18426 - autoloader FTP settings
 
19136 - Setting default status with the URL
 
20280 - system error log [Note: I don’t see this setting on the http://grants.smartsimplebk.us instance. Did it make the upgrade?
 
-->
 
 
 
<!-- We e-mail our Technical Journal in advance of all upgrades. -->If you would like to receive the Technical Journal you may [http://smart.smartsimple.com/s_signup.jsp?token=XVtQC1oGYF9bRxdFQhdQ subscribe here]
 
 
 
 
 
----
 
  
 
=Previous Upgrades=
 
=Previous Upgrades=
Click on the links below to find detailed information on previous upgrades.
+
See the [[Previous Upgrades]] page for a list of previously-implemented upgrade features.
* The date listed indicates when the upgrade cycle commenced. Not all servers were upgraded on that date.
 
 
 
 
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: April 2013]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: March 2013]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: February 2013]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: January 2013]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: November 2012]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: October 2012]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: May 2012]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: November 2011]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: May 19th 2011]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: October 1st 2010]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: May 13th 2010]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: October 1st 2009]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: July 30th 2009]]===
 
===[[Previous Upgrade: May 28th 2009]]===
 
 
 
  
[[Category:Upgrades]]
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[[Category:Upgrades]]

Revision as of 10:14, 27 June 2024

Contents

General Information

Current Upgrade Dates

Key Release Date: July 25 2024
Key Backup Release Date: July 9 2024

Global Release Date: Aug 8 2024
Global Backup Release Date: July 25 2024

Upcoming Upgrades Schedule

Upgrade Key Release Date Global Release Date
November 2024 Thu, Nov 14 2024 Thu, Nov 28 2024
February 2025 Thu, Feb 13 2025 Thu, Feb 27 2025
June 2025 Thu, Jun 12 2025 Thu, Jun 26 2025
October 2025 Thu, Oct 9 2025 Thu, Oct 23 2025
February 2026 Thu, Feb 12 2026 Thu, Feb 26 2026
June 2026 Thu, Jun 11 2026 Thu, Jun 25 2026
October 2026 Thu, Oct 8 2026 Thu, Oct 22 2026

We regularly update the list of upgrade features and schedule for both the backup and production environments on this page.

This page will provide a general overview of each upgrade, with links to the Wiki articles describing the new or updated features and how to use them.

More information around the system upgrade process can be found below.

Current Upgrade Package

Overview

Watch this video to get a general overview of the new features in this release.


To watch this video in full screen, please click on the full screen button on the bottom right.

Upgrade Highlights

  • The new Privacy and Security Policies feature improves configuration efficiency, enhances user experience, facilitates tailored policy creation, and strengthens compliance management to foster greater user trust.
  • The Annotations feature has been refined with a new interface, improved process flow, and the ability to mark annotations as resolved, creating a better and more intuitive collaboration experience.
  • The new option for AI-powered Natural Language Processing Search lets users enter plain text to generate filter criteria for list views, making it easier to find what you need naturally.
  • The new Activity Scheduler feature streamlines bulk creation and scheduling of Level 2 activities with customizable recurrence rules, offering simplified and timely activity management.
  • The new Follow Organization feature for following organizations automates notifications to alert users about new opportunities, enhancing user engagement.
  • The +AI Insights feature enables users to upload and manage training files for effortless AI model creation.
  • To prevent email spoofing, the "From" address in the group email feature is now only selectable from a dropdown menu.
  • We've incorporated the capability to display notes within the "Special – Linked Record List" custom field, enhancing user interaction and workflow efficiency.
  • The new PDF Text Export feature allows extraction of text from PDF files into a multiline text custom field, facilitating integration with +AI functionalities for tasks like translation and summarization.

Global System Upgrades

The new features listed below are enhancements to the SmartSimple system and will be immediately available to SmartSimple users upon the application of the upgrade to their server:

Major Updates

Upcoming Change to Object Email/Email Anything Feature

On October 24th at 10:00 PM (local server time), we will be transitioning the email services for the Object Email (Email Anything) feature from the @smartsimple.com domain to the @smartsimplecloud.com domain.

This change will impact all users of this feature, regardless of your upgrade schedule including clients on dedicated servers and managed dedicated servers.

The domain for object emails will change on October 24, 2024. Object emails sent to the old domain will not be delivered unless they are updated to the new domain, smartsimplecloud.com.

The Object Email/Email Anything feature allows users to forward emails to a unique address associated with a specific record. This email address is typically found at the Level 1 record, and the forwarded emails are stored as Level 2 records, accessible from the Level 1 record.

After the domain transition, any emails sent to the old @smartsimple.com domain will no longer be delivered (you may receive a bounce back email saying 550 Invalid recipient). For instance, if someone replies to an email thread containing the old domain, the reply will not be received. Moving forward, please ensure all emails are sent to the new @smartsimplecloud.com domain, and existing object email threads are updated accordingly.

The variable @objemail@ within the system will automatically be updated to the new domain for people beginning new email threads.

We recommend informing your colleagues and any external users to avoid disruptions in service.


Improved Annotation Mode Experience

Annotations serve as a collaborative tool allowing users to add notes and responses directly to specific fields within a record. With field-level annotations, users can modify individual fields and respond to comments without affecting the rest of the record. In this upgrade, we refined the interface by hiding the left navigation panel and implementing color-coded messages:

  • Blue indicates comments made by you.
  • Yellow indicates comments made by others.
  • Green denotes resolved annotation sets.


Note: In the July upgrade, users needed to be assigned to the View and Create role permission to reply to or edit the field value of an annotation. This requirement will be reverted in the August 8th service pack so no changes to the configuration of permissions will be required.

Additionally, when the Open in Annotation Mode setting is enabled, users will now directly enter annotation mode when changing to the defined status. The comment field is now mandatory when a user edits a field value.

Users can easily view the list of annotations in the right column, facilitating navigation to specific annotation fields and drilling into the collaboration conversation. Reply and edit functionalities for unlocked fields are conveniently accessible through a modal window.

Users also have the ability to mark an annotation set as resolved. To set this permission, go to UTA Configuration Settings > Level 1 tab > Statuses > Select the relevant status > Permissions & Availability tab > Enter roles in the Mark as Resolved field.

A record in Annotation Mode displaying the list of annotations as seen by the applicant. To view annotations related to a specific field, click on the desired field or the corresponding item in the list.
A record in Annotation Mode displaying all annotations associated with a specific field as seen by the applicant. Annotations made by you have a blue indicator bar on the left, while annotations made by others have a yellow indicator bar.
A record in Annotation Mode displaying the list of annotations with one set marked as resolved, as seen by the reviewer. Note the green indicator bar and the checkmark indicating this annotation set is now resolved.

To learn more, read the revised wiki article on Annotation Mode.

New AI Assisted Search Tool for List Views

We’ve introduced a new search option where users can enter plain text and have the AI generate filter criteria for list views. The AI Assisted Search allows for fuzzy searches, meaning it can return results even if you've misspelled a user's name or another term. To use this feature, click on the "Enable AI Assisted Search" button (robot icon) and type the desired criteria using natural language to filter the results. For example, you could type "Search for all records with the status 'Draft'." Note: Only data in the list view will be searched. You may opt to control the visibility of the Enable AI Assisted Search toggle by going to Global Settings > +AI Tab.

Activate the new Natural Language Processing (NLP) NLP search filter option by clicking the Enable AI Assisted Search icon, represented by a robot head, located in the search input of the list view. This action enables NLP mode.
After enabling the Natural Language Processing (NLP) search mode, enter your desired criteria and initiate the search. To disable NLP mode, click the Disable AI Assisted Search icon (represented by a robot head) in the search input of the list view.

Stronger Security Configuration of Web Servers

Updated the Content Security Policy of web servers with a stronger configuration for improved security. One change included in this is that the platform will now begin blocking attempts to include executables such as script libraries sourced directly from external systems. The perceived behavior of this may be an inability of a user's web browser to load or run script content that is being imported directly from an external source. An example error message thrown by a web browser may make reference to the server's Content-Security-Policy which has blocked the loading of a resource. If you encounter any issues due to this change, SmartSimple may be able to make custom but temporary adjustments to your local SmartSimple environment to again allow the inclusion of the affected external resources. A permanent solution to this issue would be to avoid the inclusion of external resources into your SmartSimple system, but instead to store a copy locally within your system and reference the local copy of the resource.

An example of a blocked script displayed in Google Chrome's Developer Tools (accessible via the F12 key).

Minor Updates

From Address in Group Email Now a Dropdown

To prevent email spoofing, the From Address field in the group email feature is now a dropdown menu and is no longer accepting free-form text input. Users can select the default From Address if configured, or choose their own email address. If no default email address is set, "donotreply@smartsimplemailer.com" will be available as an option. Users can add additional email addresses to the From Address dropdown by navigating to User Menu > Personal Settings > Enter additional email addresses into the Email From Address field. If you are using an SMTP relay, any additional email addresses must use a domain accepted by your mail server or use a domain such as @smartsimplemailer.com. Otherwise, the email may be blocked or sent to spam.

The From Address field in the group email feature is now a dropdown menu and is no longer accepting free-form text input to prevent email spoofing.

Asynchronous Loading of List Views

We've updated the loading of list views to be asynchronous, allowing you to interact with certain elements before all list data is fully loaded. Additionally, we've changed how we load shortcut list view aggregate numbers to reduce performance impacts.

List views will load asynchronously, enabling interaction with certain page elements before the entire list is fully loaded.

Enhanced Virus Scanning

Files uploaded to your SmartSimple system are now subjected to automatic virus scanning. Files larger than 100MB are queued for scanning; you may see a message indicating the scan is in process. During this period, users cannot download or rename files being scanned, and files being scanned are not visible in list views. If a virus is detected, the file is deleted, and a notification triggered. The option to enable real-time virus scanning on custom fields has also been removed. System Administrators can navigate to Menu Icon > Global Settings > Security tab > Click the Virus Infected Files link to see a list of files that were deleted from where, when and who uploaded them.

Uploaded files will now undergo automatic virus scanning. If a suspected virus is detected, the file will be deleted and the user will be notified. Administrators may access a list of information about deleted files.

On-Demand System Upgrades

The following features are available immediately with the application of the upgrade, but must first be enabled or configured by a Global Administrator:

Major Updates

New Privacy and Security Policies Feature

Privacy and security policies are crucial for aligning your system with regulations, mitigating risks, and fostering user trust by detailing how user privacy and data will be protected. Our latest update to this feature simplifies the configuration and enhances the user experience of this compliance checkpoint within your system. Some key features include:

  • Tailored Policy Creation: Develop custom policies with distinct sections and translations to meet regulatory requirements, mitigate risks, and build user trust by clearly explaining how privacy and data will be safeguarded.
  • Scope, Timing, and Audience Specification: Define the collection points, such as login pages, registration forms, or specific application processes, and outline enforcement mechanisms for each policy.
  • Policy Builder: Use this new tool to create customized sections of a policy, addressing specific compliance needs. For example, a privacy policy might include sections like 'Information Collection', 'Data Processing', 'Data Sharing', etc.
  • Version Management and Compliance Tracking: Manage different versions of your policies, monitor compliance, and view detailed records of user acceptance for accountability.

To activate the new Privacy and Security Policies feature, system administrators need to navigate to: Menu Icon > Global Settings > Classic Options tab > Disable the classic privacy and security policies.

Note: Existing policies will not be migrated to the new feature and must be rebuilt. Existing policy acceptance information will still be retained.

A conflict-of-interest attestation screen has been designed utilizing the privacy and security feature. User attestations and acceptances are stored and can be viewed by both users and administrators.
The new Policy Builder allows administrators to easily create policy sections.
The policy settings page enables administrators to set effective dates, enforcement intervals, acceptance options, and view acceptance details.


For more information, visit our wiki article on privacy and security policies.

New Feature to Follow Organizations

Have you ever wished to receive notifications when an organization you're interested in posts new opportunities? We've introduced a feature that allows users to follow organizations, enabling automated alerts for new opportunities as they become available. From the user's perspective, you can follow organizations in bulk by visiting the organization list view and selecting your desired organizations. Alternatively, you can go to a specific organization's record and click the follow button. For system administrators interested in enabling this feature, navigate to Menu Icon > Global Settings > Organization tab > Toggle on Allow users to follow organizations. Additionally, system administrators need to set up a UTA Level 1 workflow with an acknowledgment task to notify followers of organizations. Please ensure that the organization is assigned in the Level 1 Customer field.

The new optional follow button on organization list views allows users to subscribe to notifications.
The new optional follow button on organization record allows users to subscribe to notifications.

New Feature for Creating and Scheduling Activities in Bulk

Ever needed to efficiently schedule multiple activities, such as events or shifts, in bulk? We've introduced a customizable wizard that simplifies the creation of Level 2 activities using recurrence rules. From the user's perspective, navigate to the desired Level 1 record, access the tools dropdown, and select the appropriate Level 2 creation wizard. Alternatively, the wizard can be accessed inline as a button on the record. Specify your criteria and set recurrence rules, then click Preview to review the bulk activities to be created. Adjust the activities inline as needed, and then click Create to finalize the creation of scheduled activities in bulk. For System Administrators looking to activate this feature, navigate to the desired Universal Tracking Application > Configuration Settings > Level 2 tab > Click the Activity Scheduler link to configure one or more wizards. To display a button that launches the activity scheduler on a Level 1 record, create a custom field of the type display text and variables. In the content input, enter @ssGet(ACTSCHEDULER,activity_scheduler_name)@, replacing "activity_scheduler_name" with the name you specified for your activity scheduler.

Launch the new Activity Scheduler using an option under the Tools menu and optionally using a button on the record with a caption you define.
The Activity Scheduler launches a modal window where you define criteria. Then click Preview to see and edit the activities prior to creating the desired activities in bulk.

+AI insights Training Files

With the +AI Insights feature, you can create a custom AI model tailored to your needs. Use the Training Files tab to upload and manage files that can contain data from outside your system. Upload organization or community-related documents such as call guidelines and compliance documentation, enabling users to query the model for better understanding. Additionally, upload your research and project outcomes to facilitate easy sharing and allow the AI to respond to questions about your impact. Users can access Instance and Global level models in the header of your system. System Administrators can configure a +AI Insight model by navigating to Menu Icon > Global Settings > +AI tab

The +AI Insights feature allows creation of an AI model using uploaded training files and is accessible from the header.

Note: You will need an OpenAI license to use AI features on SmartSimple. Contact your account manager or sales@smartsimple.com for further information on billing and implementation. To learn more about all our AI features, visit the wiki at https://wiki.smartsimple.com/wiki/AI

Minor Updates

New Language Translations for System Variables

The System Variables feature allows administrators to define a value in one place and display it throughout different areas of the system. This simplifies maintenance, as an administrator can update a value in one location and the change will take effect across the entire system. With this upgrade, you can now specify language translations for system variables. Instead of creating separate variables, you can create a single variable and display different values based on the user's language. If no translation is defined, the system will display the English language value.

Provide translations for system variables to show varying content based on the user's language.

New Support for Notes in Linked Record List Custom Field

The "Special – Linked Record List" custom field enables you to view and add related items to a record directly within the interface, eliminating the need to navigate to other areas of the system. This feature simplifies the process of managing organizations, users, activities, and invitations. With this upgrade, you can now view and add notes using this custom field, for an improved user experience.

Display notes directly within the record interface using the "Special – Linked Record List" custom field.

Added Ability to Display Additional ORCID Information on User Profiles

Systems utilizing the ORCID integration to showcase researcher information on user profiles can now display additional information in a new tab. System Administrators can select which new information to display by navigating to the user standard field named "ORCID" and toggling on the additional data they wish to show on user profiles.

See more ORCID information on researchers' profiles by clicking the "Additional Data" toggle. This toggle can be enabled under the user standard field settings.

If you have implemented the new feature for research clients to acknowledge reviewer contributions to peer review activities by sending participation data from review panels to ORCID profiles (available since May 2024), direct researchers to click the "Re-Import ORCID Data" button on their user profile to display these peer reviews acknowledgments.

Direct researchers to click the "Re-Import ORCID Data" button on their user profile to show newly added data including peer review acknowledgments.

New Feature PDF Text Export

We've introduced the capability to extract text from PDF files and store it in a multiline text custom field. Once the data is extracted into this field as plain text, it can be utilized with our +AI features for tasks such as translation, summarization, and manipulation. System Administrators can enable this feature by navigating to the desired "Upload - Multiple Files Storage" custom field, toggling on Enable PDF Text Export, and specifying the multiline text custom field under the "Value Storage" section where the extracted content should be stored.

Added Ability to Change Submit Button Label

We've made it easy to change the submit button label on organization or user sign-up pages to something more specific like “Submit Registration”. Simply navigate to the desired sign-up page under Global Settings > Organization or User tab, and enter your desired value in the Submit Button Label input field. Remember to define translations for all supported user languages.

Notes for Admins

Enhanced SMTP Relay Integration with OAuth 2.0 Authentication

Added support for OAUTH 2.0 authentication within the SMTP Relay integration functionality. This will allow you to now configure this alternative authentication method instead of the basic authentication that was previously the only option available. To do this, go to Global Settings > Integrations tab > Integration Key Management > Click the plus icon to create a new Integration Key. In the Type dropdown, you will see two new options under the keystore category: "Basic Authentication" that represents the previously existing method for SMTP relay and the new "OAuth 2.0".

SMTP Relay Settings Moved to Integration Key Configuration

The settings for existing configurations of SMTP Relay have been updated and moved. Where previously the authorization credentials were stored in the block of SMTP Relay settings in the Global Settings > Communications tab, these have now been moved into the Integration Keys configuration area to better separate the management of credential secrets versus the integration behavior. After this update, you can find your authentication credentials located in the Integration Keys area as a keystore, and in the Global Settings > Communications tab. You simply need to select the appropriate keystore and authentication mechanism to easily manage this integration.

Advanced Search and Filters Using Status and Type Criteria

The advanced search and filters for “Type” and “Status” standard fields now consider both the type/status caption in the user's language and the type/status name (language independent) when these values are used as search criteria. This ensures more accurate search results across different languages.

Enhanced Filter List View

We have enhanced the filter list view to clearly indicate which filters are designated as configuration-only and thus not visible to end users. You can now easily identify these filters without needing to open each filter. To view the new configuration only indicator column, navigate to the desired Universal Tracking Application > Configuration Settings > Level 1 tab> Click on the Search Filters link to access the updated list of filters, featuring the "Configuration Only" column.

SmartCheck Validation List View Enhancements

We've enhanced the SmartCheck Validation list view by adding columns for “Last Updated”, “Modified By”, “Attached Submit Buttons”, and “ID”. These additions allow you to search based on this information, making it easier to find and troubleshoot SmartCheck Validation.

Improved System Design Summary

We have introduced the ability to include custom fields for organizations and users within the System Design Summary. This summary can be accessed via Menu Icon > Global Settings > System tab and generates a comprehensive document outlining the current system design.

Adobe Acrobat Sign migration

The Adobe Acrobat Sign service for e-signatures will be upgraded from Adobe Acrobat Sign API version 5 to version 6. Clients currently using the service have the option to enable webhooks. To do so, you will need to grant the necessary permissions within your Adobe account and contact the support team for help with the transition.

Signority Updates

We’ve introduced the ability to use the Signority Smart Tags feature by using anchor text within the webpage view, providing more control over the position of signature elements. The e-signature configuration for Signority has also been updated. New clients using this integration must set up an integration key under Global Settings > Integrations tab > Integration Key Management. For existing clients, the integration key will be automatically transitioned. Additionally, a new option has been added to allow the use of a sandbox Signority key for testing and troubleshooting during the implementation process.

Updated Stripe Integration

The Stripe integration for payments has been updated to use the latest version of the Stripe API. You can also now enable the Stripe Connect feature, which streamlines online payment processing across all system-wide Stripe payment methods, including credit card and ACH debit. Enabling this feature removes the need to manually enter Stripe keys for each payment form. Administrators can enable the Stripe Connect feature by navigating to: Menu Icon > Global Settings > Integrations tab > Toggle on Enable Stripe Connect under the “Service Settings” section.

Added Ability to Report on Subject Line Data for Notes

Added the ability to report on the Subject Line of the Notes feature. To enable this feature, navigate to Global Settings > System tab > Toggle on Enable Subject Line for Notes.

New Reauthorization Option for Adobe Sign and DocuSign

If you use Adobe Sign or DocuSign as your e-signature provider, you now have the option to reauthorize (sign out and sign back in). This is useful if you need to change the user account used for authorization, for instance, if your current account lacks the necessary permissions. To access this new feature, navigate to the Menu icon > Global Settings > Integrations tab > Click the "Check Adobe Acrobat Sign/DocuSign Access" button.

Updated Work with +AI Feature

Updated the Work with +AI interactive interface to support markdown formatting. Responses will now properly render lists, bold text, and other formatting elements.

The Work with +AI interactive interface now includes formatted responses.

Updated SmartConnect API

Clients may now manage the inclusion of archived records in SmartConnect API calls. Use the parameter {"includearchive":0} to exclude archived records and improve performance. By default, archived records are included in API calls. When using the update function via the SmartConnect API, the values sent will now be validated based on the field type. For example:

  • Numeric value for a Text Box - Number field
  • YYYY-MM-DD format value for a Text Box - Date field
  • YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss format value for a Text Box - Date and Time
  • XML format data for a Special - Advanced Data Table
  • JSON format data for a Special - JSON field

If content is sent with invalid data format, it will be ignored. A new field error node will list the fields that failed validation for record creation and updates.

Service Packs

October 31st 2024 (202410.03)

  • Fixed an issue affecting report properties triggered by a P3 script that failed to return data.

October 24th 2024 (202410.02)

Upcoming Change to Object Email/Email Anything Feature

On October 24th at 10:00 PM (local server time), we will be transitioning the email services for the Object Email (Email Anything) feature to the @smartsimplecloud.com domain. After the domain transition, any emails sent to the old @smartsimple.com domain will no longer be delivered. We recommend informing your colleagues and any external users to avoid disruptions in service.

This change will impact all users of this feature, regardless of your upgrade schedule including clients on dedicated servers and managed dedicated servers.

See the following link for more information: Upcoming Change to Object Emails.

Other Changes

  • Fixed an issue with submission on the payment scheduler tool.

October 10th 2024 (202410.01)

  • Fixed an issue where shortcuts to portal list views with a record limit were not displaying all records as expected.
  • Fixed an issue with Impact Maps affecting auto zoom, aggregate panel, and location markers. After the upgrade, click the button labelled Generate HTML and JSON files to apply the fix. Impact Maps can be found by navigating to the desired UTA > Configuration Settings > Level 1 or 2 tab > Impact Maps.
  • Fixed an issue where expired files appeared as File Export dropdown options when exporting reports.
  • Fixed an issue with the SmartConnect API that affected listing and updating associations for Level 3 contacts or companies.
  • Fixed an issue with Advanced Data Table custom fields where column totals appeared editable instead of read-only.
  • Fixed an issue where line breaks were being retained in the header of report exports and affecting the styling of column headers in some scenarios.
  • Fixed an issue where you could not update a Text Box - Number custom field to the value of zero if there were also zeroes after a decimal point using an API call.
  • Fixed an issue where captions were missing a colon when the corresponding input was read-only.
  • Fixed an issue where table rows and columns were not rendering properly from MS Word Merge custom fields.
  • Fixed an issue where some captions were not receiving the font weight of bold.
  • Fixed an issue with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) affecting the session timeout process.
  • Updated Azure AI integration settings to indicate that a subscription account is required and that trial accounts are not supported.
  • Updated Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) to 2024 version in relation to PubMed.
  • Added support for a new "onlyFullname" search parameter for the LexisNexis integration when trying to run a watch list check using ssGet variable syntax. Additonally fixed an issue with the LexisNexis integration where running a watch list check did not return all results.
  • Updated the field history log to include updates from the payment allocation process.
  • Updated the display of checkboxes and radio buttons in PDFs for improved contrast.
  • Updated API to return a notification if a file uploaded through the API was removed due to a potential virus detection.

September 19th 2024 (202409.02)

  • Fixed an issue where transactions were not rendering on open.
  • Enhanced the autoloaders to handle larger files by optimizing the process to efficiently manage CSV files without overloading memory.

September 12th 2024 (202409.01)

  • Fixed an issue with Impact Maps using KML files where search was not working as expected. Maps must be regenerated for the fix to be applied.
  • Fixed an issue where tooltips were not appearing as expected on iPhones and iPads.
  • Fixed an issue with generated PDFs using the web page view custom fields to preserve line breaks for enhanced readability.
  • Fixed an issue where fields updated by the field formula from an Advanced Data Table became editable.
  • Fixed an issue where some field captions for "Display - Text" and "Display - Text and Variables" custom fields were wrapped in a label tag when there was no corresponding input.
  • Fixed an issue where clicking on the logo (as a logged in user) closed all open tabs in the Tab Bar.
  • Fixed an issue where CSS files stored in a web-enabled configuration folder were not accessible.
  • Fixed a validation issue for "Upload – Multiple Files Storage" custom fields when the Media Library is enabled and minimum number of files is set to 1.
  • Fixed an issue where archived records were appearing in provider/consumer list views.
  • Fixed an issue with the display of the Annotation Mode panel when the Zoom Web Conference integration was enabled.
  • Updated the behavior of resolved items in Annotation Mode so that if a user replies to a resolved annotation thread, the status of the annotation changes from "Resolved" to "Active".
  • Updated the default GPT model from GPT4 to GPT-4o.
  • Updated the system to allow support staff and administrators to login via the Authenticated Servers link even after the maximum number of concurrent user logins has been reached.
  • Updated the name of the "UK Charity Commission" option verification service found on organization signup pages. The option was renamed "Charity Commission for England and Wales" for accuracy. The ability to sort results on signup pages using verification services was also added.
  • Updated the name of the "Disable Recent / Action Bar" setting to be "Hide Recently Visited and Back Buttons" for clarity. This setting is located at Menu Icon > Global Settings > Security tab > System Feature Permissions > Features tab.
  • Updated tables with the role of "presentation" to improve the experience on screen readers.
  • Updated email notifications to send an email a day if there are emails in the on-hold queue.
  • Updated the "Text Box - Text Multiple Lines" custom fields to preserve line breaks when values are being copied from one field to another for enhanced readability.
  • Updated the behavior of the database query optimizer to improve performance within certain areas of the system such as retrieving list view results.
  • Updated the notification check interval from 2 minutes to 5 minutes to enhance system performance.
  • Updated the Albanian language code to be "sq" in accordance with W3C and ISO standards.
  • Updated various areas of the system in accordance with most recent vulnerability report.

August 23rd 2024 (202407.04)

  • Fixed an issue where web page views containing linked record lists were not displaying correctly when the web page view was set to generate a PDF directly from the workflow.
  • Fixed an issue where filters incorrectly displayed excluded statuses by fixing the NOT condition in the search functionality for Status or Type in Level 1 and Level 2 list views.
  • Fixed an issue where dropdown fields using dynamic content incorrectly triggered a "cannot be empty" validation error despite being populated.

August 8th 2024 (202407.03)

  • Updated the behavior of the Annotation Mode permissions. Users with roles that have Edit Field permission will be able to edit the value of fields with existing annotations without needing View and Create permissions as long as the user has a role with View permission. This means existing permissions for annotations will no longer need to be modified as part of the July upgrade. Tooltips clarifying annotation permissions were also added. To see these changes, go to UTA Configuration Settings > Level 1, 2, 3 tab > Statuses > Select the desired status > Permissions and Availability tab > See the settings under the “Annotation System Role Permissions” section.
  • Fixed an issue with the advanced search where leading or trailing semicolons in the options were preventing proper display.

August 1st 2024 (202407.02)

  • Due to Google Maps deprecating support for older versions, we have updated the Impact Maps to use new versions of the marker clusters. To ensure your Impact Maps function correctly, you must manually generate the HTML and JSON files after the upgrade is applied. To do this navigate to the desired UTA > Configuration Settings > Level 1, 2, or 3 tab > Impact Maps > Edit the desired map > Click "Generate HTML and JSON files" to recompile the map.
  • Fixed an issue with the "Layout - Title Bar" custom field where records did not display correctly in 2 columns under some scenarios. Title bar custom fields set to 2 columns will now correctly render in 2 columns as intended regardless of the caption location. If you wish to display a record in single column, make sure the number of columns is set to 1.

About the System Upgrade Process

The objective of the system upgrade process is to ensure that customers have a chance to review how their applications and information will work following the upgrade without compromising the integrity of their production system. In order to take advantage of this, you will need to know how to access your backup instance of SmartSimple Cloud. If you need assistance with this, either refer to the Backup Server and Testing Instances Wiki article or contact the SmartSimple support desk.

For clients on a Private Cloud environment, please review the SmartSimple Upgrade Process – Dedicated Server page.

Upgrade Schedule Details

The following tables outline the detailed upgrade release cycle.


If you are part of our Key Release your SmartSimple Cloud system will be automatically upgraded according to the following schedule. Generally North American Clients are on the Key release.

Hosting Environment Date Maintenance Window Typical Downtime
Key Release Production Second Thursday of an upgrade month 22:00 - 23:59 EST 5 minutes
Key Release Backup Two weeks prior to the production upgrade 22:00 - 23:59 EST 5 minutes

If you are part of our Global Release your SmartSimple Cloud system will be automatically upgraded according to the following schedule. Generally clients in Europe, Middle East and Asia as well as Managed Dedicated clients are on the Global release.

Hosting Environment Date Maintenance Window Typical Downtime
Global Release Production Fourth Thursday of an upgrade month 22:00 - 23:59 local time 5 minutes
Global Release Development/Test Fourth Thursday of an upgrade month 22:00 - 23:59 local time 5 minutes
Global Release Backup Second Thursday of an upgrade month 22:00 - 23:59 local time 5 minutes

If you are on dedicated environment that is client-managed your SmartSimple Cloud system is only upgraded manually by your system administrator or by submitting a request to SmartSimple. The upgrade package is made available for you according to the following schedule.

Hosting Environment Date Maintenance Window Typical Downtime
Global Release All Fourth Thursday of an upgrade month client-managed 5 minutes

Backup Environment Update

  • Each backup environment will be updated to the "release candidate" prior to the upgrade date.
  • This update will provide for instance specific testing of release candidate, as you can log into your respective backup environment and test the changes against your most current data and configuration.
  • Internal staff will also be using these environments to perform instance specific testing.

Update Go/No-Go

Subject to satisfactory testing on both the pre-production environments and the backup environments, the Go/No-Go decision will be made on the Wednesday prior to an upgrade release.

Upgrade Feedback and Questions

If you have questions or need assistance or want to share your thoughts on the upgrade contact our support team toll-free at 866.239.0991 or email support@smartsimple.com

Previous Upgrades

See the Previous Upgrades page for a list of previously-implemented upgrade features.