Template:August2019Upgrade

General Details

Upgrade Dates

Public Cloud Production release date: August 8th 2019
Public Cloud Backup release date: July 23rd 2019

Private Cloud Production (Managed Upgrades) release date: August 22nd 2019
Private Cloud Backup (Managed Upgrades) release date: August 8th 2019

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.

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

Global Interface Changes

Enhanced several interface areas with minor changes for improved user experience, and a more modern look and feel. The title of a record will now be persistent and sticky when viewing a record so that you will always know which record you're working with without having to scroll to the top of the page. Updated the style of instruction and warning messages for a more modern look and feel.

The look of instructions before and after the upgrade.

The look of warnings and validation messages before and after the upgrade.

Updated File Naming of E-Signature Documents

Updated the e-signature integrations to use the configured file name of the web page view used to generate the e-signature document. Previously, the documents generated by the e-signature integrations would use the custom field name as the file name, however the documents will now be generated using the file name specified by the web page view configuration.

New Application Connectivity Summary Diagram

New Application Connectivity Summary feature introduced to help admins visualize the layout of their SmartSimple system by rendering the consumer provider relationship between all applications. This can be found in the Tracking Applications menu that lists all applications.

The Application Connectivity Summary diagram shows the relationship between consumer and provider tracking applications.

Added Options to Quick Assignment Feature

Enhanced the Quick Assignment tab feature with the ability to limit the user roles available to assign, as well as a new round-robin assignment mode. There is a new option when configuring the Quick Assignment tab that will allow you to limit the user roles made available for the end user to use to assign contacts with this feature. Also, when assigning contacts, there is a new option for single user assignment mode where you can assign a single contact to each UTA record in round robin fashion, as opposed to the default behaviour of assigning every selected contact to each UTA record.

Updated Interface for Lookup - Autocomplete Options Field Type

Updated the interface of the Lookup - Autocomplete Options custom field type for improved usability and look and feel. The field will behave similarly as before, but the autocomplete and selection of options will be slightly easier than before.

The revised look of the "Lookup - Autocomplete Options" custom field with the "Enable Multiple Select" option enabled.

Minor Updates

Added Admin Options to User Menu for Simplified Auditing and Management

New user options to allow Global Administrators to easily review the login history, as well as review the user settings for other users. Now, when viewing other users, administrators will have menu options to review the last login sessions of the user, as well as their personal user settings to help you better audit and investigate issues.

The detailed log of a user’s activity as seen in the Login History window.

Enhanced Notifications Area with Added Categories

Added several new notification types to display in the Notifications alert area. You will now also see workflow requests, and instant messages in your Notification alerts.

Added Record Counts to Menu Tabs

Added a record count to the menu tabs of record lists within a record so you can easily see how many contacts, organizations, or activities are associated to a record.

Record counts will now display for items in the left navigation such as contacts, organizations and activities.

Updated Behaviour of Shortcut Links to List Views

Updated the behaviour of shortcut links to list views in user portals to open up the list view in a full window instead of the current behaviour of expanding to fill the shortcut section.

Added Features to List View Configuration for Administrators

Updated the List View configuration screen with some enhancements for administrators. Added a description field for list views to allow you to document the purpose of a list view and where it's used. Added a display of any fields that are included in a column so you can now easily identify which fields are configured on a column.

In the list view builder you can now easily identify which fields are configured in a column.

Enhanced Alerting Options for SmartCards

Enhanced SmartCards with the ability to configure notifications to be sent when records are added or removed to a SmartCard. The owner of a SmartCard may now specify that all users subscribed to it be notified of any changes to the SmartCard. Each user, may also choose to silence alerts on SmartCards shared with them.

Updated Organization of Custom Field Configuration Settings

Updated the layout of custom field configuration settings. Previously, there were two sections for Display and Formatting settings, however these have been combined into a single Display section to allow for greater consistency of the settings across different field types.

Added Audit Logging for Changes to UTA Formulas

Added audit logging to UTA Formulas on level 1, 2 and 3 (excluding type specific formulas). Now you can track changes made to UTA formula configurations.

Enhanced Configuration of UTA Status Trigger to Allow Selection of Multiple Statuses

Enhanced the UTA status trigger feature to allow the configuration of multiple statuses per status trigger. Previously, you were limited to a single status, but multiple types per status trigger. This will make it easier to configure both granular and broad status trigger rules.

Updated Import Wizard to Enable/Disable the Running of Formulas and Workflows

Updated the Import Wizard to allow you to explicitly enable or disable the processing of formulas, and or workflows when importing records.

Added the Option of BCC Address for Group Emails

Added new ability to add email addresses to a BCC option when sending Group Emails.

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 System Administrator:

Major Updates

Extended the Linked Record List Custom Field for use with UTA Level 2 and Consumer Provider

Extended the Linked Record List custom field type to be available for UTA Level 2 records now. This will allow you to easily create an interface that allows someone to create and modify Level 3 activity records, or contact and company associations on a Level 2. We've also extended this field type with the ability to control consumer provider associations now too. This will allow you to simplify and further personalize the system interface to make it easier for your users to manage complex associations between records.

Extended the Group Email Functionality for use with Organization List Views

Extended the Group Email functionality to be available for Organization list views now. You can enable this in the Global Settings > Security > System Visibility Permissions > Miscellaneous Logic and under Enable Contact Group Email and Enable Organization Group Email enter into Logic, 1=1.

Enhanced the Excel Parser with Ability to Map Activity Records per Row

Enhanced the Excel Parser feature with the ability to map and update activity records per row defined in the Excel sheet. Previously, this feature was limited to mapping each activity record to an entire Excel sheet or tab, but you can now do so for each row in the sheet. When configuring the custom field, a new attribute [rowasrecord] has been introduced in order to specify that each row be mapped to an activity record. By default, the value of this attribute will be false, but when set to true, each row within the defined section of Excel sheet will be mapped to an activity. For example, you can use this custom field on a UTA Level 1 record to parse uploaded Excel sheets, and create or update the corresponding and associated Level 2 activities.

An Excel sheet setup to create activities for each row, can be seen on the left. The Syntax used to accomplish the creation of activities per row with the Upload – Multiple Files Storage field, can be seen on the right.

New Integration with Charity Navigator for Organization Verification

New integration with Charity Navigator organization verification service. We're introducing Charity Navigator as a new vendor option for you to use for organization verification. This option has been introduced for both organization sign-up pages, as well as automated workflow tasks. An example use case for this service is if you need to verify the active charity status of an organization as they sign up, and as you continue to make payments to them.

Added Additional Field Types for use with Question Set Builder Custom Field

Extended the Question Set builder field to also allow the use of Upload - Multiple Files, and Text Box - Date and Time field types. Previously, these field types were not selectable within the Question Set builder, but have now been made available.

New Version of Attribute Matching Feature

New version of Attribute Matching functionality introduced with an updated interface and behaviour. In Global Settings, Users tab, we've introduced a new option under the Attribute Matching setting to select the previous Classic style, or the new Contemporary style. This update simplifies the interface for users to enter the attributes on both their user profile, as well as for staff entering attributes on the UTA records. You will no longer need to create custom fields on the UTA record and set them as attributes for matching. Instead, when entering the matching criteria on the UTA record, you will simply be able to choose the user-based custom fields that are flagged as attributes. You will also now be limited to setting only a single measurable per attribute category, for example, for a category of "Professional Experience", all attributes under this category can only have one measurable scale, e.g. under 1 year;under 3 years;5+ years. Previously, there was the ability to let the user select the measurable scale to use, but in order to simplify the user experience, as well as the matching process, the selection of the measurable scale will be set by the system administrator. This is the first phase of updating the attribute matching functionality, and the actual matching feature between users and UTA records will also be revamped in a future update.

The new version of attribute matching functionality showing how a user can enter or modify attributes.

Enhanced Amortization Calculator with New Options

Enhanced the Amortization calculator module with a new interest calculation option, as well as the ability to let the end user specify which interest model to use. You now have the ability to use a Monthly Interest - Straight Line model. You may also allow your end users the ability to choose which interest model they would like to use ad-hoc per record.

Extended Batch Update for user with Consumer Provider List Views

Enhanced consumer provider list views with the ability to configure a batch update button. You can now configure a batch update button for consumer provider list views to allow users to easily update them in bulk.

Enhanced Autoloader with Ability to Activate/Deactivate Users

Enhanced the autoloader with the ability to activate or deactivate users. An autoloader that updates user records may now be configured to either activate, or deactivate all users matched in the input file, or evaluate custom criteria to determine whether to activate or deactivate each user.

Added Function to SmartCheck Validation to Calculate Word Count of Fields

Enhanced the SmartCheck validation engine with the ability to check the word count of input fields on the form. This gives you the ability to configure overall word count restrictions across multiple fields, whereas currently you can only apply word count restrictions per field. For example, you could specify a max word count that limits the sum of words across the whole of five different fields. Within SmartCheck validation, you can now use syntax like the below to evaluate the number of words in a field input:

form.getWordCount("cf_[custom field name]")

New Custom Field Type for Lookup of Medical Subject Heading Codes

New custom field type Lookup - MeSH Codes introduced to allow your users to easily search for and select the standard medical subject codes. This field will allow you to easily search for, and then select one or multiple codes.

Minor Updates

Extended the Use of Parent Dependent Option Filtering for use with Lookup - Autocomplete Options Custom Fields

Extended the functionality for parent dependent option filtering for select-type custom fields, to include Lookup - Autocomplete Options type custom fields. You will now be able to use these field types as either the parent or child field of parent dependent option filtering.

Updated Default Behaviour for Storage of State/Province for Consistency

Updated the settings for configuring the storage of state/province standard fields on contacts and organizations. Previously, this was a setting located within the state/province standard field of contacts and organizations, but has now been made a global setting. The default behaviour will be to use the pre-defined state/province lists in the system, and to store the abbreviation of the state/province. Note that your current system behaviour will not change after this upgrade, as we will automatically populate two new settings created in the Global Settings -> Classic Options -> "Disable Global Use of Pre-Defined Select Options for State/Province Fields" and "Disable Enforcement of Storing Abbreviated Values for State/Province Fields" accordingly to retain your current system behaviour.

Added Option for Logout Redirect for use with Login Pages

Updated the logout redirect functionality to be available and configurable from the configuration screen of login pages. You may use this to configure a redirect for users after they log out of the system.

Added Option for Autoloader Email Alert on Failed Record Processing

Updated the autoloader with the ability to send email notifications in the case that any records failed to process. Instead of sending completion logs after every file, you can now set the completion logs to only send when a record failure is detected.

DAMVAD Similarity Identification

Our partner, DAMVAD Analytics has designed a Similarity Identification integration. This integration can be used to identify plagiarism as well as find and evaluate similar applications. To use this integration you will need a token from DAMVAD Analytics. Learn more about the DAMVAD Analytics Integration.

See the multiple line custom fields for the current application and a similar application side by side. Notice the lines that are similar are hyperlinked and the similarity value is given.

Beta Previews

New Interface for Association List Views Within Record

New interface available for use with user and organization association List Views within a record. A future update will automatically update your system to use this revamped interface, but for now you can have a sneak peek by deselecting the "Use Classic Association Entry View" setting within Global Settings, Classic Options. This new interface removes a bit of the clutter surrounding the association List Views, as well as makes it easier to add multiple users or organizations using different search criteria to a record. For example, from a UTA Level 1 record, when viewing the list of associated users, in order to add other users there will be a single plus button which will open up a screen that will allow you to perform multiple searches, select multiple people, and associate them all at the same time to the record. Previously, you were limited to performing a single search at a time and adding the users to the record in multiple actions.

Adding a user to a record using the improved version of association entry.

New Tab Bar Feature

New Tab Bar feature to help improve productivity and user experience for your users. This new option will allow users to open multiple workspace screens, and work with them concurrently. You will also have the option to enable multi-tasking, which builds upon the previous split screen features, and now provides greater freedom and independence with the navigation in each tab. This new multi-tasking mode will allow you to easily compare any two tabs that you have open for a stronger and more intuitive way to work with different records concurrently.

The new optional Tab Bar feature showing a record and user. You can navigate, compare and edit different records concurrently using the tab bar at the bottom.

Notes for Admins

Updated Organization of Configuration Mode Menu

Updated menu and tools of the Configuration Mode of a record. This menu has been organized for improved ease of use, and the feature formerly known as Syntax Checker has been updated and split into two explicit options for Variable Syntax Helper and Formula Syntax Helper. The Formula Syntax Helper has been updated with the ability to directly import the Formulas that you currently have configured in order to easily test them.

Updated Workflow Task with Ability to Remove or Update Consumer/Provider Associations

Updated the Workflow task type for adding Consumer / Provider associations with the ability to add, remove, or update these associations. Previously, the task was only limited to the ability to add these associations.

New JavaScript Function for Retrieving Currency Exchange Rate

New JavaScript function made available to retrieve a foreign currency exchange rate. While there already exists a standard field that allows you to easily do this, you are currently limited to setting a single currency type for a record. However, there may be cases where you may need to mix the reporting of multiple currencies for a single record, for which you can use this new JavaScript function to retrieve the current exchange rate between any two currencies and store this in a custom field. The function call is located in the ssfunctions.js library and is called:

getCurrencyRate(basecurrency,foreigncurrency)

Updated SmartConnect API with Greater Support for Associations and Intersections

Updated the SmartConnect API with greater support for associations and intersections. Firstly, it now supports association custom fields. For example, if you have custom fields attached to the contact association to a UTA Level 1, you will now have the ability to list or update these custom field values. The targeted functions were the Level 1 contacts, Level 1 companies, Level 2 contacts, Level 2 companies, and company contacts associations. The List functions have been updated to allow you to list custom fields in the return field list, and Update functions have been created in order for you to update these field values. Secondly, we've updated the SmartConnect API with support for the start and end date fields for associations. You can now retrieve as well as update these field values.