What's new in version 14.0 - June 2013

This topic lists the additions and improvements incorporated in InfoAsset Mobile version 14.0 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.

Application

"Special instructions" field for assets, incidents and tasks

A Special instructions field has been added to all asset, incident and scheduled task objects in InfoAsset Manager. The field is used to store any additional instructions that the person carrying out work on the asset or task should be aware of.

This field is available to pick from the Collection toolbox and the Distribution toolbox, like any other toolbox item.

This field can be shown or hidden in InfoAsset Mobile for the current application by enabling / disabling the ShowSpecialInstructions property. When this property is enabled :

• The Special instructions field is automatically added to the Hidden Objects panel of forms (if not already present in the form) whenever forms are created, edited or saved. To make this field editable and visible in reports, users need to move it from the Hidden Objects panel onto the main form layout at design time.
• A Special Instructions column is automatically displayed in the Saved and Completed tabs.
• The Special instructions field is automatically added as a filter to the Search tab and the Download Reports dialog to allow users to carry out search on this field.

Forms

Video Capture support

A VideoCapture control () has been added to the generic toolbox. This control allows users to capture both video and images from attached devices. This is particularly useful for CCTV surveys but can be used for any other report, it being an InfoAsset Manager report or not.

The control supports two forms of video capture, a software variant and one using the Vitec cards that are used in some existing systems.

The software version is capable of capturing images from any attached USB video and audio device i.e. web cams or cameras running as web cams. Moreover, it also allows the use and customisation of text overlays to use over videos and images.

The VideoCapture control alone does not save any information but is used to capture videos and images that are then placed in an Attachments object. Control configuration is implemented in the Property Box and includes the following:

• Setting of default description and purpose for captured video and images.
• Setting of default video capture output format, by use of the SoftwareVideoCaptureSettings property. Please note that this can also be set as a default for the whole application from the Application dialog.
• Generation of text overlays to be permanently displayed on videos / images (applies to software version only).
• Setting of editing rights for description and purpose at run time (i.e. in the field).

Video capture configuration is set per device from the Video Capture page of the Options dialog. Device and configuration may be different for each machine. There are a number of formats available and the selected choice will depend on end users requirements.

As part as these enhancements, we are introducing the concept of large attachments. Since video files can potentially be very large they are considered as large attachments by definition, regardless of file size. For all other attachments (i.e attachments captured in reports, not default form attachments or maps), the value of the LargeFileMinimumSize application properties determines whether they are considered as large attachments or not. LargeFileMinimumSize is set to 20 MB by default but can be turned off if required (by setting it to 0).

The main difference between a "normal" attachment and a large attachment is that large attachments are unversioned. This is to allow users to either upload them at a later stage when a more suitable connection or time is available or manually copy the directory to the server.

Finally, changes have been made to the upload and download processes. The Ask about downloading or uploading large files option has been added to the Communications page of the Options dialog. If this option is enabled users will be asked every time they upload and download a report containing large attachments if they want to upload or download these attachments at the same time as the report. If the option is disabled users will still be asked but only for manual upload and download process (not for synchronization processes). If large files are detected users are told how many files there are and how large they are and given the option to upload/download or ignore them.

New FromToClock control

The FromToClock control () is a new control destined to be used to define pipe defects for CCTV and manhole surveys. The control has been added to the generic toolbox in this version of InfoAsset Mobile and may be moved for a subsequent release as its current implementation is transitory.

Like any other control, FromToClock controls can be dragged and dropped onto the designer and configured using their Property Box. The control is represented by a circle (or clock) with two points, start (From) and end (To), and is entirely customisable. When filling in reports, users can directly click on the clock (first click sets the From point and second click, the To value) to create the From and To points, and drag them around if necessary. Alternatively, the adjacent dropdown boxes can be used to set the points.