What's new in version 12.0 - August 2011

This topic lists the additions and improvements incorporated in InfoAsset Mobile version 12.0 which were not available in previous versions.

Please note that this new version also includes various enhancements and bug fixes that are not described in detail here.

Client User Interface Enhancements

Simplification of installation - SQL Express no longer required

The SQL Express client is now no longer required for client installations, providing a more streamlined installation process for field devices.

View previous report versions improvements

It is now possible to view the history of a report using the View report history... option from the context menu (Saved and Completed tabs only) or the Reports menu.

Older versions of a report can be compared to the current version and an version can be downloaded. See Report History dialog topic for further details. . As report history can now be viewed via this new context menu option, the Download Reports dialog has been re-designed so that it does not include version tabs anymore (The dialog has also been enhanced to allow users to filter reports more efficiently prior to download).

Selective schedule downloads - download user specific reports

A new option (Download current users report only) has been added to the Synchronization page of the Options dialog to allow users to set a default behaviour for selectively downloading only the scheduled reports allocated to them. This requires the Scheduled Resource value to match the username of the user. This default setting can be overridden via an option that has been added to the Reports menu and to the Download Schedule toolbar button ().

Ability to synchronize completed scheduled reports

Additional options in the Reports menu allow the user to download completed scheduled reports, saved scheduled reports or both. These options are also available via the Download Schedule toolbar button (). The default behaviour is set in the Options dialog and the toolbar button should be preferred to the Reports menu if the download is to be performed using the default options as it only involves one click.

Ability to synchronize non-scheduled reports as well as scheduled

An additional option (toggle) has been added to the Reports menu and theDownload Schedule toolbar button () to allow the user to download non-scheduled reports that have been saved within the defined scheduled synchronization period. This will download ALL types of non-scheduled reports.

Enhancements to the failed import management dialog

The Manage Failed Imports dialog has been re-worked so that reasons why reports have failed to import into InfoAsset Manager are clearer to the user.

Merge functionality dealing with conflicting reports

When users upload new reports these are checked to ensure that no existing reports exist in InfoAsset Manager with which they can conflict. If a report is edited, then the process will check for any newer changes to the report uploaded by other users. If either of these occur then the report is not uploaded and the user is given a chance to merge the reports/versions before uploading can take place. Refer to Merging Reports for more information.

Improve the scheduled report lifetime management

The Delete reports outside the scheduled range after downloading the schedule option has been added to the Synchronization page of the Options dialog to automatically remove any non-edited reports that fall outside the scheduled sync period when synchronizing with the server. Locally edited reports will not be affected.

Current available options are: no,. all reports, saved reports only and completed reports only.

Similarly, the Remove after upload option of the Upload Report dialog option has been extended to allow the users to select all, saved or completed reports to be removed after upload.

Allow multi-line text controls to have a vertical scroll bar

To make it more obvious that a multi-line text control may have more lines of text than currently visible the vertical scroll bar has been enabled.See the Text Box section of the Property Box topic.

Allow the user to enable communications logging for diagnostic purposes

The logging of the communications between a client and the server can be enabled via the new System logs | Start communications logging option of the Help menu. This generates an encrypted file that can be sent to the Innovyze Support team to help diagnose communication issues. Once enabled the logging will be active until InfoAsset Mobile is closed or until it is manually stopped by the user.

Form Management and Design Enhancements

Associate applications with specific networks

Applications can now be restricted to be used only on specific networks. Within this, forms can be further restricted to a subset of the application's networks. This has been implemented via the new application and form property: Networks. This property defines the networks the application or form is valid to be used with and is configured in the Application dialog and form property box (in Designer) respectively.

Verification that only one form can be a template for one InfoAsset Manager object in any application

A form can only be marked as InfoAsset Manager Outbound (InfoAsset ManagerOutbound property set to True) for an InfoAsset Manager object if no other form is marked as such for the selected network(s). This validation is made possible by the fact that both applications and forms can now be linked to specific networks (see section above). This means that multiple forms can be InfoAsset Manager outbound for the same InfoAsset Manager object but only if different network restrictions apply.

Allow configuration of the navigation and save buttons

The layout of the buttons along the bottom of a report can now be adjusted to several styles for the current application. The layout can be configured in the Button Layout Editor, which is accessible via the Application dialog. Once edited, the application must be published for other users to see the changes.

Configure an action to be performed once a report is marked as completed

The CompletedAction property has been added to the form. This property, when used in conjunction with one button control on the form, allows users to define a custom action to be carried out whenever reports based on thatform are completed or saved and completed. This is particularly useful for launching reports upon completion of certain reports.

Allow users to restore applications that had been deleted

Application management has been enhanced to let authorised users restore deleted applications. InfoAsset ManagerOutbound settings of its related forms will be cleared and must be re-set manually, if required. See Restore Application dialog topic for more information.

Allow copying of forms between applications

Forms can now be individually copied from other applications or from within the same application. See and Manage Forms dialog topic for more details.

Rollback capability for applications and/or forms

It is now possible to rollback the properties of an application or the design of a form to an earlier version. Please refer to the Rollback Application dialog topic and Rollback Form dialog topic for further information.

Make the minimum requirements for a form optional

The restriction to enforce a fully populated saved title is now optional thanks to the new ValidateTitle form property of the form designer. When set to False, this property allows reports to be saved without a complete title (SavedReportTitle property of the form).

Allow users to force an export from InfoAsset Manager for reports based on one or more forms

When changes are made to the design of a form, such as additional fields or controls or even just the format of the saved title (SavedReportTitle property), it is now possible to force the server to create new versions of the affected reports. This may involve them being re-exported from InfoAsset Manager if additional information is required or just being re-processed to generate the new report title. Please refer to the Updating Reports on the InfoAsset Mobile server topic for further details.

Improve the visual indication that changes have been made to the application

When changes have been made to an application, map or layer a '*' will be placed in front of the names of the changed items and corresponding menus, as it is currently the case for forms, to indicate there is a change that requires publishing.

Recycle bin functionality in the form designer

When an existing non InfoAsset Manager object is deleted from a form design, it is now kept in a new toolbox item : the recycle bin. These deleted objects are kept with the form from that point on and can be re-added to the form at a later date. This is to allow any previous information that the field might have held (e.g. link to another field or form) to be automatically retained in future versions without the user having to go through the matching process manually.

Mobile Server Enhancements

Simplified server installation process

There is now a single installation package for the Mobile databases and services. This helps to simplify deployment of the server components. Installation error reporting has also been improved.

Display mobile users initials in InfoAsset Manager data flags

When setting up or editing a user though the User Management functionality of the client it is possible to set 3 letter initials against the user. This will then be used to tag information in InfoAsset Manager for reports that this specific user has uploaded.

Inform the user that the WIA service may not be running after install has finished

User is notified if the server side installation requires WIA configuration to be checked prior to running.

Implement prioritisation of network updates from InfoNet to Mobile

Multiple queue model to ensure throughput of requests across networks into mobile. This prevents a single large update operation for a network from blocking updates on other networks.

Performance enhancements for attachment handling

Revised methodologies for transferring attachments now use reduced system resources.

Miscellaneous Enhancements

Field device licence protection

The field client device now requires a valid licence be available from the server when connected. Once a licence is obtained, it will remain assigned to the device when the application is used offline and re-affirmed when the client connects to the server. The management of these licences is performed through the Field Licence Management dialog of the Mobile Office client where an authorised user is allowed to revoke any existing licences for re-use.

Improved dynamic data

Dynamic data transfers have been streamlined to reduce network data requirements and speed up communications.