]po[ Version 4.0.3.2.0
This the second "alpha" version of the V4.0 release includes a number of open issues and several planned features are not yet finished. Please see the project-open-roadmap for a detailed list of planned V4.0 features.
Known Issues
- Project -> Tasks overwrites start- and end-date of tasks:
The page that shows the list of project tasks has a critical bug. It overwrites the start_date and end_date fields of timesheet tasks.
- MS-Project Round-Trip Integration (incomplete functionality/bug):
V4.0 allows you to start your project in ]po[, import a project schedule from MS-Project, continue to edit information in ]po[, export the results to MS-Project for further editing, import the results and so on.
- The current export (]po[ -> MS-Project) does not yet include the project calendar and "timephased data" from MS-Project.
- A new "MS-Project Warnings" functionality checks imported project plans for consistency and allows to take actions in ]po[ in order to restore consistency. However, this functionality is still lacking appropriate permissions.
- Configuration Wizard (cosmetic issue):
The release note information in the last page of the configuration wizard is messy because the iframe shows the version information page including its template.
- Demo Data in the VMware Installer (cosmetic issue):
The demo data included in the VMware installer will show "MS-Project Warnings" for most projects.
These warnings are harmless, you just have to press "submit" to correct them.
- Error Updating Timesheet Tasks:
An error "can't read 'rel_id': no such variable" occurs in /intranet-timesheet2-tasks/new after updating a task.
V4.0 Planned Features Not Included Yet
- "Contacts" CRM:
This package allows for CRM email campaigns etc.
- This package used to work in the past, but has stopped working after a refactoring of the dynamic fields subsystem.
- The ]po[ team is unsure if this feature should really included in V4.0 at the moment
- Round-Trip Import/Export of Projects, Users and Companies:
]po[ V4.0.3.2.0 already includes an import wizard for projects that is DynField enabled and capable of automatically mapping CSV columns to project attributes. However, several importan pieces are not yet implemented:
- Export of project data in a CSV format that can be imported again by the project import wizard without loss
- Import and export of user data
- Import and export of company data
- Step-By-Step Configuration Wizard:
To guide the administrator through the setup of the system:
- Include all important setup steps and indicators for each setup step.
- Data Setup: Import users, import projects, import customers and providers, import departments, ...
- Process Setup: Enable and disable processes
- Windows Installer:
The Windows installer will be created once the Linux version is more or less stable.
Special tasks for the Windows version include:
- Testing of all integration links
V4.0 Features Partially Finished
- System Configurator:
A new configurator allows to export a ]po[ configuration into CSV (Excel) format and to apply the configuration to a new server. This configurator allows us to define several "verticals" for ]po[ with very specific configuration, effectively reducing the effort necessary to adapt ]po[ to a user's needs.
- The "System Configurator" is available now in Admin -> System Config ->Export Configuration and Import Configuration
- Deleting parameters and other configuration elements is not yet supported. It is unclear at the moment if this is a desired feature or not.
- Project Portfolio Management:
]po[ now allows to define define portfolios of projects and includes a number of reports and indicators in order to track portfolios. The package also contains "what-if" scenarios to analyze the impact of adding additional projects or changing project priorities.
- The definition of portfolios is now supported using the "Program" field of projects.
- A new project type "Program" has been designated for programs.
- The financial summary of a project of type "Program" now includes the sum of all included projects.
- This assumes that a program has no sub-projects, which is not enforced yet by ]po[, allowing for inconsistent financial data.
- A number of portfolio reports has been developed for one important customer. However, these reports are customer specific and need to be generalized before they can be included in the product.
- [Mail Tracking]:
A CRM package capable of associating incoming and outgoing mails with users and projects.
- Basic functionality is working.
- Currently there is no support for SPAM filters.
- The functionality is used by one customer in production and one customer in beta phase.
- Funambol integration:
The integration with Funambol allows to sync ]po[ tasks and contacts with Outlook, mobile devices and other PIM applications.
- The basic functionality is working and allows to sync ]po[ tickets with the Funambol database.
- Installation and configuration of the Funambol integration currently requires certain knowledge about Funambol, PostgeSQL and ]po[.
- We would have to write documentation on how to setup a Funambol integration.
- SLA Management and improved Helpdesk:
A ITSM package that provides "SLA Parameters" to capture contractual rules defined in SLAs and a component for SLA working hours. Indicators automatically track the value of SLA parameters, warning managers if defined SLA levels are close to be violated.
- Basic functionality is working.
- We need to document the setup of SLA parameters.
- CVS Integration:
This ITSM package allows to import CVS commits into ]po[, automatically associating commits with projects. The package also allows to generate CVS+ACL configuration files, effectively allowing to maintain CVS permission configuration in ]po[.
- The import of CVS commits is working.
- The setup of the integration still requires knowledge of ]po[ and needs the help of a ]po[ consultant
- We need to document how to setup an integration.
- Group/Skill based Project Planning:
Allows project managers to use placeholders "Skill Profiles" when planning a project. These Skill Profiles are replaced by natural persons using a staffing process once the project changes from planning to execution.
- Basic functionality is working
- One customer is using the feature in beta phase
- System Configurator:
We want to update the existing "SysConfig Wizard" to include several "templates" for specific application scenarios, in addition to the existing configuration options.
- Demo-Servers for each template:
Each template should be associated to a demo_server@project-open.net and a page in the project-open.com Web-site describing the template.
- SAP FI Import:
The SAP FI import is working already with the packages batch-importer and the BKB code for parsing the SAP FI report.
- Add a manual import option for the SAP FI report with a link from the "Projects" page
- Rename the batch-importer package(?)
- Localization:
The translations from V3.5 are still available and cover >90% of all translation strings. However, the following work still has to be done for each language:
- Revise the glossary for each language
- Complete the outstanding translations
- Revise all critical terms with each translation team.
V4.0 Features Finished
- LDAP and Active Directory Integration:
V4.0 includes a configuration wizard that guides usres through the process of setting up an integration with Active Directory.
- The integration seems to work and has been tested with various customers already.
- Project Baselines (Enteprise Edition):
This package package stores "versions" of a project and allows users to compare the current project plan to previous plans. The package depends on the Audit commercial package and may become part of the ]po[ "enterprise" version.
- The basic baseline functionality is working, including a page that compares several important values of a baseline with the current version.
- The baseline comparison page does not yet include a graphical display of how the current schedule deviates from the baseline. This functionality will be implemented in future versions of ]po[.
- Financial Planning (Enterprise Edition):
The package allows for financial/cashflow/budget planning per project phase, project member, cost type and date (month, quarter, year). Planned values are integrated into the project's financial summary.
- Supports planning of timesheet and travel costs per project member.
- Supports planning of project cost per project phase and month.
- The package basically works now and offers the option to configure the left and top dimensions of planning from the options: Project phase, time axis (years, months, weeks and quarters), cost type, project member.
- In the future we will possibly add more planning options.
- SLA Management and improved Helpdesk:
A ITSM package that provides "SLA Parameters" to capture contractual rules defined in SLAs and a component for SLA working hours.
Indicators automatically track the value of SLA parameters, warning managers if defined SLA levels are close to be violated.
- AJAX Date-Pickers for all important forms:
All important forms in ]po[ now include an AJAX date picket widget in order to avoid editing dates in a Web 1.0 type of widget.
- Reports and similar pages still don't have a date picker, because most users seem to be fine with a YYYY-MM-DD input.