Difference between revisions of "Upgrades"

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(Previous Upgrades)
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==Global System Upgrades==
 
==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 your server:
+
The new features listed below are enhancements to the SmartSimple system and will be immediately available to SmartSimple users upon the application of the September 2013 upgrade to your server:
  
===Multiple User-Selected Recipients for Workflow Messages===
+
===Consolidation of Submit Logic Failure Messages===
System administrators can configure [[workflow]] tasks to prompt the user that triggers the workflow to choose the recipient of a workflow-generated email message. With this enhancement, the user can choose multiple recipients of the workflow-generated email message. See [[Selecting Recipients in an Acknowledgment Workflow]] for further information.
+
*In order to assist end users complete forms with multiple [[mandatory]] fields, SmartSimple will now display all alert messages configured with [[Submit Logic]] into a consolidated alert window.
<!-- 15849 - Workflow routing: let user select many recipients-->
+
<!--23325 - Group all failed submit logic into one message-->
===Enhancements to Notes Functionality===
+
 
* [[Notes]] can now be added to the configuration pages for [[Templates]], [[Types]], [[Status]]es and [[Custom Fields]]. This will allow system administrators to keep track of changes to their system configuration.
+
===Revisions to User Interface===
<!--22531 - Add NOTES linkage to Templates, Types and Custom Fields-->
+
* Users of SmartSimple's next generation interface - [[Arcadia]] - may notice minor revisions to the user interface, such as new tab bars and changes to the title bars on records.
* [[Notes]] are also now available for viewing and editing when a record is in [[Edit mode]].
+
<!--23277 - Minor UI changes - Sept. 2013--><br>
<!--22587 - Notes on Edit Mode-->
 
  
 
==On-Demand System Upgrades==
 
==On-Demand System Upgrades==
The following features are also available immediately with the application of the upgrade, but must first be enabled by a System Administrator:
+
The following features are also available immediately with the application of the upgrade, but must first be enabled or configured by a System Administrator:
  
===Bypass Validation Option on Submit Buttons===
+
===New Feature: Recently-Viewed Objects===
System Administrators can create submit buttons for records which move the records to a different [[status]] and trigger the field [[validation]] and [[Submit Logic|submit logic]] on that record. A new setting has been added, labelled "Bypass Validation," that will allow the user to move a record to a different status without triggering the field validation. System Administrators will now be able to allow users to change a record back to "Draft" status, for example, without having to fill out all the mandatory fields on a record.
+
*When enabled through [[Manager Permissions]], a new right-hand panel titled "[[Recently Viewed]]" can be shown containing a list of the most recently-viewed records. Users can then click on their most recently-viewed records to [[navigation|navigate]] easily through the system.
<!--19637 - Submit button option to bypass validation-->
 
  
===Subreports can be Linked using Column Values in Main Report===
+
*The Recently Viewed panel can be locked to always be shown on the right-hand side of the SmartSimple window, or, by default, will close when a recently-viewed record is selected.
When creating a subreport, system administrators can now specify that the reports should be linked using values from a column of the parent report. This allows for a greater flexibility in creating sub-reports, as administrators are no longer limited to using standard fields to link main reports and subreports, and can now specify a custom field.
+
<!--23152 - Record and display most recently viewed objects-->
<!--18937 - Reporting: Pass column value into sub-report criteria-->
 
  
===Transaction List Views===
+
===New Feature: Scheduling Reports===
[[List Views]] can now be defined for [[transactions]] to match the list view functionality for other system objects.
+
* [[System Administrator]]s can now schedule reports to be run periodically (daily, weekly, monthly).
<!--20205 - Transactions - List Views-->
+
* Scheduled reports can be configured to store custom field values to SmartSimple records, allowing for the periodic aggregation of data.
 +
* The following types of SmartSimple records can be updated:
 +
:*[[Organization]] records
 +
:*[[Contact]] records
 +
:*[[UTA]] records, i.e. {{l1}}, {{l2}} and {{l3}} records
 +
* Typical use cases might include:
 +
:* On a monthly basis, automatically storing the total number of reviews that have been performed by a given user on their contact [[profile]].
 +
:* On a weekly basis, automatically updating a user's profile to indicate whether or not timesheets have been filled out in SmartSimple.
 +
:* On a daily basis, automatically updating on a company's [[profile]] a summation of the total number of grants for which contacts of that organization has applied.
 +
<!--22927 - new scheduled reports-->
  
===Email Template Categories===
+
===Arcadia - Basing Summary Cross-tab on Standard Fields===
When creating an email template, a new feature, "Categories" has been added. You can select one of the following options:
+
* One of the key features of SmartSimple's next-generation [[Arcadia]] interface is its [[Summary Matrix]], which displays a cross-tabbed view of the records in a SmartSimple application.
* General – ''Email Template will be available in all contexts''
+
* The default display of the cross-tabbed view is to break out an application's [[status]]es as column headings and its [[templates]] as the row headings:
* UTA Level 1 – ''Email Template will only be available when sending an email from a [[UTA]] {{l1}}''
+
[[Image:ArcadiaL1SummaryView.png|link=|700px]]
* UTA Level 2 & 3 – ''Email Template will only be available when sending an email from a [[UTA]] {{l2}} or {{l3}}''
+
* The September 2013 upgrade allows system administrators to configure the Arcadia interface to use the Customer, Branch and Owner standard fields as row headings as alternate methods of displaying data summaries.
* Contact – ''Email Template will only be available when sending an email from a contact record''
+
<!--19468 - Arcadia. Summary cross tab based on standard fields-->
<!--20088 - Email Templates-->
 
  
===Portal Design Enhancements===
+
===Setting Alignment of Columns in Report Builder===
When designing a [[Creating a Portal Interface|portal interface]], system administrators can choose SmartSimple's "Classic" style with a left navigation bar and shortcut icons, or choose the new "Contemporary" portal design style. Web designers can create custom HTML to customize the "Contemporary" portal design to match the look and feel of your organization's website. A new section has been added to the Portal Design page, titled "Body Introduction," which allows portal designers to add instructions, report statistics and [[System Variables|system variables]] above the user's portal.
+
*Columns in reports can now be set in the Report Builder to be left-, right- or center-aligned without resorting to custom HTML.
<!--21857 - New Portal Design-->
+
<!--13969 - Reporting Enhancements-->
  
===Hide Notification of Locked Record===
+
===IRS/CRA/OFAC Automated Checking===
A new setting has been added to the [[Global Settings]] page labeled "Hide record lock from user who has the record locked." When enabled, this setting will prevent the system from displaying the message notifying a user that they have checked out a record for editing purposes. See [[Record Lock]] for further information.
+
*The system can now be configured to perform automated verification of [[contact]] records, as well as [[organization]] records, against the OFAC database.
 +
*The settings page to configure the automatic verification of records against the IRS/CRA/OFAC online databases has been simplified.
 +
<!--21591 - IRS/CRA/OFAC Automated Checking-->
  
  

Revision as of 13:34, 6 September 2013

General Information

Monthly Upgrades

Upgrades are released on a monthly basis.

The benefits of this approach are as follows:

  • 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. You can also subscribe to the Technical Journal that is sent out prior to each upgrade on the Newsletter Signup Page. (Unsubscribe here).

System Upgrade Process

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.

Backup Server Update

  • Each backup server 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 test the changes against your most current data and configuration.
  • Internal staff will also be using these servers to perform instance specific testing.

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.




Current Upgrade Package: August 2013

The following server will be upgraded on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 10pm EST.

  • smartsimple3.biz

The following servers will be upgraded on Thursday, August 8, 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 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 August 8. The following features will be implemented as part of the upgrade cycle commencing in August 2013:

Watch this video to get a general overview of the new features in our August 2013 upgrade.

To watch these videos full screen, click on the YouTube link

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 September 2013 upgrade to your server:

Consolidation of Submit Logic Failure Messages

  • In order to assist end users complete forms with multiple mandatory fields, SmartSimple will now display all alert messages configured with Submit Logic into a consolidated alert window.

Revisions to User Interface

  • Users of SmartSimple's next generation interface - Arcadia - may notice minor revisions to the user interface, such as new tab bars and changes to the title bars on records.


On-Demand System Upgrades

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

New Feature: Recently-Viewed Objects

  • When enabled through Manager Permissions, a new right-hand panel titled "Recently Viewed" can be shown containing a list of the most recently-viewed records. Users can then click on their most recently-viewed records to navigate easily through the system.
  • The Recently Viewed panel can be locked to always be shown on the right-hand side of the SmartSimple window, or, by default, will close when a recently-viewed record is selected.

New Feature: Scheduling Reports

  • System Administrators can now schedule reports to be run periodically (daily, weekly, monthly).
  • Scheduled reports can be configured to store custom field values to SmartSimple records, allowing for the periodic aggregation of data.
  • The following types of SmartSimple records can be updated:
  • Typical use cases might include:
  • On a monthly basis, automatically storing the total number of reviews that have been performed by a given user on their contact profile.
  • On a weekly basis, automatically updating a user's profile to indicate whether or not timesheets have been filled out in SmartSimple.
  • On a daily basis, automatically updating on a company's profile a summation of the total number of grants for which contacts of that organization has applied.

Arcadia - Basing Summary Cross-tab on Standard Fields

  • One of the key features of SmartSimple's next-generation Arcadia interface is its Summary Matrix, which displays a cross-tabbed view of the records in a SmartSimple application.
  • The default display of the cross-tabbed view is to break out an application's statuses as column headings and its templates as the row headings:

ArcadiaL1SummaryView.png

  • The September 2013 upgrade allows system administrators to configure the Arcadia interface to use the Customer, Branch and Owner standard fields as row headings as alternate methods of displaying data summaries.

Setting Alignment of Columns in Report Builder

  • Columns in reports can now be set in the Report Builder to be left-, right- or center-aligned without resorting to custom HTML.

IRS/CRA/OFAC Automated Checking

  • The system can now be configured to perform automated verification of contact records, as well as organization records, against the OFAC database.
  • The settings page to configure the automatic verification of records against the IRS/CRA/OFAC online databases has been simplified.


If you would like to receive the Technical Journal you may subscribe here



Previous Upgrades

Click on the links below to find detailed information on previous upgrades.

  • The date listed indicates when the upgrade cycle commenced. Not all servers were upgraded on that date.


Previous Upgrade: August 2013

Previous Upgrade: July 2013

Previous Upgrade: June 2013

Previous Upgrade: May 2013

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