]po[ Version 5.0

V5.0 is a major release with many new packages and an updated technical infrastructure that is incompatible with previous versions. Please see "Platform Changes" below and V4.0 -> V5.0 upgrade instructions for details.

Major New Functionality - HTML5 / AJAX

]po[ V5.0 now includes the HTML5 libraries Sencha ExtJS 4.2.1 and Sencha Touch 2.4.2 as part of the core architecture. HTML5 packages can leverage a generic REST API, so developers don't have to write any back-end code:

  • Gantt Editor:
    A HTML5 "Gantt Editor" with drag-and-drop editing and task dependencies similar to MS-ProjectProjectLibre or GanttProject.
  • Portfolio Planner:
    The HTML5 "Portfolio Planner" with drag-and-drop editing of project portfolios, allowing for what-if scenario planning in order to optimize financial performance while taking into account resource constraints and cross-project dependencies. It also allows to answer questions like: "Can we add another project next month?" or "Which department is the bottleneck in our organization?"
  • Task Management:
    A HTML5 chart with the tasks assigned to a user, or a project. The displays is a lot more user-friendly then previous versions.
  • Earned Value Management
    A pretty HTML5 display of planned vs. completed vs. actual work of a project. Implements the EVA  process (Wikipedia).
  • Milestone Trend Analysis / Milestone Slip Tracker:
    A HTML5 widget that shows the delays (typically...) of project milestones over time.
  • Mobile Time Sheet:
    A HTML5 Mobile Time Sheet logging app for Android & iOS allows users to log hours on mobile devices.
    This application has "experimental" status, even though it is shipped together with V5.0.
  • HTML5 Charts, Diagrams, Widgets and Indicators:
    V5.0 includes several new HTML5 charts visualizing performance indicators.

 

Platform Changes

V5.0 uses new and incompatible changes of it's three main infrastructure components:

  • PostgreSQL Database
    V5.0 supports and requires PG 9.2, while V3.x and V4.x supported and required PG 8.4.
  • Application Server
    V5.0 uses NaviServer 4.99.8, while V3.x and V4.x only supported AOLServer 4.5.1.
  • OpenACS Community System
    V5.0 is based on OpenACS 5.9, while V4.x were based on OpenACS 5.7.
  • VMware Linux Version
    V5.0 is based on CentOS 7, while V4.x where based on CentOS 6.3. 

These changes are the reason for the release of a major version, meaning that upgrades from previous versions are not automatic. Please see the V4.0 -> V5.0 upgrade instructions for details.

 

Other New Packages

]po[ V5.0 contains several new packages in "classic" technology:

  • CSV Import - Master Data Import:
    This package allows to import projects, users, tickets and other business objects from CSV (Excel) tables.
  • Rule-Engine for Notifications and Events:
    The rule engine allows you to define actions that are executed once a value of a project, a task or any other business object (future) changes or reaches a certain value. For example, a task reaching 100% could trigger a notification email to the project manager. Both conditions and actions are defined using TCL expressions, allowing for full access to the system and integration with external systems. 
  • [CRM Opportunity Tracking]:
    This package maintains a list of opportunities during the qualification and sales cycle (sales pipeline).
  • [Service Contract Invoicing] (experimental):
    This new package introduces the notion of a "service contract" with certain parameters including a monthly fee, a number of free service hours and the price per additional service hour. A (semi-) automatic invoicing functionality allows to process many service contracts in "batch mode".

 

Non-Functional Features

  • New Menus with sub-Menus Performance:
    The main menus tabs on the top of the page now include sub-menu items for frequently used functions. This structure saves an important number of server round-trips and improves overall system agility.
  • Optimizations for 4.500 "Active Users":
    An Indian ]po[ customer with that number of users has moved to ]po[ as the central and only management system. We optimized a large number of SQL queries.
  • Optimizations for 40.000 Users and Customers:
    We have optimized a number of pages in order to deal with large numbers of customers and customer contacts

 

Change.log

The following is the CHANGE.ProjectOpen log file with technical details of the version. 

 

==============================================================
	]project-open[ Change Log
==============================================================



==============================================================
V5.0 Changes
==============================================================

]project-open[ V5.0 include several major new packages:

- Gantt Editor:
  A HTML5 editor for Gantt charts, similar to MS-Project,
  ProjectLibre and GanttProject, but currently without
  critcial path scheduling.

- Task Management:
  A HTML5 display that shows the tasks assigned to a user
  in green, yellow or red, depending on execution status of
  the tasks.

- Charts and Diagrams:
  V5.0 includes several new HTML5 charts and diagrams for
  visualizing statistics and performance indicators.

- Portfolio Planner:
  A HTML5 editor and scenario planner for project portfolios
  similar to the Gantt Editor, allowing to simulate the
  resource load of the assigned users and their departments.

- Project Earned Value Diagram:
  Shows graphically planned work (from the Gantt diagram) vs.
  actual progress (% done) vs. logged hours. Currently only
  shows numbers based on hours.

- Project Milestone "Slip" Tracker:
  This diagram shows graphically the slip of project
  milestones.


Platform Changes

- PostgreSQL Database:
  V5.0 supports PG 9.2 or higher.

- Application Server:
  V5.0 supports NaviServer 4.99.8.

- OpenACS Community System:
  V5.0 is now based on OpenACS 5.9

- VMware Linux Version:
  V5.0 is based on CentOS 7.

- HTML5 Libraries:
  The HTML5 libraries Sencha ExtJS 4.2.1 and Sencha Touch 2.4.2
  are now part of the core architecture.

These changes are the reason for the release of a major version,
meaning that upgrades from previous versions are not automatic.
Please see the V4.0 -> V5.0 upgrade instructions for details.



Performance

- Update to PostgreSQL 9.x and NaviServer 4.99:
  The update increases performance by up to 50% in
  typcial application scenarios.

- Optimizations for 40.000 Users:
  We have optimized a number of pages in order to deal
  with large numbers of customers and customer contacts

- Filter options for large organizations:
  Most pages now contain filter options suitable for
  organizations with 5.000 active users.


Security

- Polito Inc., a Virginia based cyber security company
  has tested ]po[ V5.0 before using it internally and
  found "no significant vulnerabilities".

- OpenACS 5.9 incorporates several important security
  improvements.

- Improved the built-in IDS (Intrusion Detection System)
  of ]po[

- Fixed header injection issue in redirect code

- Fixed a security issue in the 2nd tier defense in
  util_memoize



Other

- We never officially released ]po[ V4.1 (please see below),
  so please continue to read for additional changes.


==============================================================
V4.1 Changes
==============================================================

]project-open[ V4.1 is mainly a bug fix release with gradual
improvements thanks to several large customer implantation
projects.


New Packages

- Mobile Timesheet Logging (experimental):
  A Sencha client for mobile devices (issues on Android?).

- Rule Engine:
  Allows you to define actions that are executed once a value
  of a project, a task or any other business object (future)
  changes or reaches a certain value.
  For example, a task reaching 100% could trigger a notification
  email to the project manager.

- CRM Opportunity Tracking:
  This package maintains a list of opportunities during the
  qualification and sales cycle (sales pipeline).

- Periodic Invoicing (experimental):
  This new package introduces the notion of a "service contract"
  with certain parameters including a monthly fee, a number of
  free service hours and the price per additional service hour.
  A (semi-) automatic invoicing functionality allows to process
  many service contracts in "batch mode".

- Events & Training Management:
  This new package is now running in production with one
  customer. It consists of a new business object "event"
  that handles resource allocation using a calendar view.



Important Features

- GUI:
  Added sub-menus to main tabs - still accepting comments

- Absences:
  Automatically maintaining groups per office in order to allow
  for bank holidays per office. These bank holidays enter into
  the resource management calculation algorithm.



New Experimental Functionality

- Cloud Backup:
  A new experimental feature allows you to perform backups
  from your on-premise Windows or Linux installation to a
  ]project-open[ backup server. In case of an accident we
  will offer you the option to "resurrect" your machine as
  a SaaS hosted machine within 24 hours.
  This is an experimental service. Please let us know if
  you are interested, in exchange of two years free service.
  We plan to price this "Cloud Backup" service at EUR 10
  per month with standard SaaS charges in case of a restore.

- Project Membership based on Groups:
  A new feature allows you to add groups as "members" to
  a project, company or other business object. This allows
  some customers to streamline permission assignment.

- Fast-Track Customer Contact Adding:
  We have included a new option to enter CRM customer
  contacts + companies including a duplicate check based
  of fuzzy full-text search.


Bugs Fixed

- Timesheet Approval Workflow
- Localization:
  Fixed various non-translatable strings
- Auto-Login:
  Fixed behaviour for automatic login from emails sent
  out by the forum and mailing functionalities.


Performance

- A large customer with 40.000 users served as a base
  for a number of performance enhancements that have
  become part of the product.


Small Stuff

- CRM Mass-Mailing functionality:
  You can now send thousands of personalized emails
  messages to customers of other groups.

- Helpdesk:
  Priority changes now send out better notifications mails.

- New reports:
  Which??

- Fixed Resource Management:
  - New report(?)

- Task Management:
  ]po[ now allows a user to delete a task in a project, if
  there are no financial items related to the task.

- Workflow Vacation Handling:
  Users can now specific their replacement when creating a
  new absence. The absence replacement has the right to
  process workflow approvals for the absent person during the
  vacation period.


Security

- A scurity testing company performed a one week testing on ]po[
  and found no major issue. However, there were several minor
  issues that were fixed in ]po[ V4.1:
  - Header Injection
  - Redirect
  - SQL injection in the category administration section.
    This bug would have been serious. However, the affected pages
    are only accessible to the system adminstrator who has the
    right to perform arbitrary SQL statements anyway.
  - "util_memoize" Issues:
    ]po[ contains a two-layered protection against SQL injection
    attacks. Issues in the use of util_memoize broke the database
    layer in several pages. However, the second "ad_page_contract"
    layer prevented actual exploits.

- Improved IDS (Intrusion Detection System):
  ]po[ now includes a series of "sensors" and an integrated
  reporting functionality to detect unusual activities in the
  system.


 

  Contact Us
  Project Open Business Solutions S.L.

Calle Aprestadora 19, 12o-2a

08902 Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona)

Spain

 Tel Europe: +34 609 953 751
 Tel US: +1 415 200 2465
 Mail: info@project-open.com