Collanos Workplace 1.3.0.3 – Release Notes

[Franco Dal Molin]

>>> Get the illustrated PDF version - with many screen shots - here:
>>> http://www.collanos.com/files/documents/Collanos_Workplace_1_3_0_3_Release_Notes.pdf



1. Summary

Collanos Workplace 1.3.0.3 contains some new features, many improvements to existing functionality, as well as various minor enhancements and bug fixes. The focus of this release was to further improve the day-to-day work of users by filling in small but essential capabilities, as well as to lay the groundwork for supporting additional language translations.

New language translations can now be deployed independently from product releases in form of download-able language packs. Workplace now supports external Hyperlinks and Emoticons (Smilies) in Chats and  Discussions. Hyperlinks are also supported in the text areas of Note, Task and Link objects. Existing contacts in popular social networks can be invited directly to join Collanos. Many enhancements have been implemented and existing functions polished. See below for details.

As always, Collanos Workplace 1.3.0.3 is available in versions for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. The software ships with built-in English, German and Chinese languages. Additional languages will be rolled out in the coming months, using the new language pack delivery mechanism.

The current version 1.3.0.3 is compatible with all previous 1.3 versions, and to a lesser extent to version 1.2, giving teams with mixed installations a smoother transition. The new release is available both as installer from Collanos' web site and as automatic update process for existing users (Vista users see below).

Collanos continues to improve the free version of Workplace. Our gratification is a steadily growing, active and vibrant user community. As always, we look forward to your feedbacks! Please help us by spreading the good news, for instance, by inviting your friends and business contacts to join Collanos as well. Thank you!



2. Release Highlights

This Workplace release contains a number of important improvements and new features:

• New delivery mechanism and simplified support for new languages
• Hyperlinks supported in Chats, Discussions and text areas of Notes, Tasks and Links
• Emoticons (Smilies) added to Chats and Discussions
• Invite contacts from social networks (Orkut, Friendster, MySpace, Hi5, Facebook, Xing, BlackPlanet)
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• Functions "Open With..." and "Save as..." added to Conflict Bin (for File objects)
• Central users directory now supports full name search; plus empty searches more meaningful
• Web page names fetched and filled-in automatically in Link objects
• Plus many more enhancements and over 80 issues resolved...

3 Compatibility

The current version 1.3.0.3 is protocol-compatible with all previous 1.3 versions, and to a lesser extent to version 1.2, giving teams with mixed installations a smoother transition. Users with older versions will obviously not benefit from new features. For example, a 1.3.0.2 user won't see Hyperlinks or Emoticos in Chats or Discussions, but only plain text representations. :-)



4 Automatic Update

We strongly recommend upgrading to the latest version. Existing Workplace 1.3 users will benefit from an automated upgrade process. All you need to do is restart your application to trigger the auto-update process.
Note for Vista users: On a Windows Vista with the UAC (User Access Control) activated, if Workplace is installed in Program Files, the software update does not work unless you start Workplace with the 'Run as administrator' option.



5 Detailed Descriptions

5.1 Support for New Languages
We are now looking for translators interested in translating Collanos Workplace into new languages. Please get in touch with us, if you are interested in contributing to new language packs.


5.2 External Links (Hyperlinks)

We have added support of external links (Hyperlinks) in the following locations: Discussions, Chats, and text areas of Note, Task, and Link objects. Here are a few related screen shots:

     [Picture: Links in Discussions]

     [Picture: Links in Chat]

     [Picture: Links in text area (of Task object) ]

The following patterns are recognized by the system and automatically converted into links:

     https://     http://     ftp://     mailto:     callto:     www.

There is a small difference between links used in Chats and Discussions, and links used in editable text areas of Note, Task and Link objects.

In Chats and Discussions, once you have sent your message, it can not be edited anymore. The automatic transformation into a link happens only after sending the message! The actual links will appear in the Chat or Discussion history, but not in the text entry area.

The behavior in the text areas of Note, Task and Link objects is different. Here the links are created immediately, as soon as you enter a SPACE (= BLANK) character or when you hit the ENTER key. This brings up a minor issue, related to editing or deleting of a link. As soon as a link has been created, it is treated as one link element. If you hit DELETE or BACKSPACE, the whole link is deleted.

     Picture;: Editing the external link]


5.3 Emoticons
    &nbssee; PDF document]

The Discussion objects don't (yet) have a graphical palette to pick the icons from with the mouse, but all text-based shortcuts work as well for Discussions.


5.4 Invite Others to Collanos5.5 Conflict Bin

The Conflict Bin now offers two additional functions. You can access the "Open With..." and "Save as..." functions through the context menu (for File objects only).

     [Picture: Conflict Bin with new functionality]

These functions were already available in the regular workspace content pane, but missing in the Conflict Bin.


5.6 User Search 
Empty searches (i.e. searches with no search criteria) have also been tweaked. In the past the system returned a random selection of 150 names, but now the list shows the 150 last registered users. If you are interested, you could peek into the system to see who has signed up to Collanos in the past 2-3 days.

     [Picture: Note for empty searches]


5.7 Link Names Fetched

In the past all fields of the Link object had to be filled in manually. From now on, when you create or edit a Link object, the Name of the Web page is fetched automatically from the corresponding URL.

     [Picture: Name is fetched automatically]

If you create a new Link object, start by entering the URL. As soon as you jump to the next field (using the tabulator key or the mouse pointer), the Name will be fetched automatically from the corresponding web page.

    &nbs;5.8 Additional Enhancements and Resolved Issues

Several GUI bug fixes and visual improvements

Workspaces are now removed properly from uninvited members

A major bug related to conflict situations when changing binary files was fixed

Various minor Drag-and-Drop fixes

Replicating of Global Space description attribute works

Problems with cutting of very long directory/file paths by OS was fixed by introducing short names

Unneeded temporary files are not created anymore

Workplace runs without problems on Ubuntu 8.04

Deleting many files doesn't freeze application anymore

Traffic Out indicator fixed

Date control now opens with previously stored value

6 User Forum, Feedback, Share the News!

We really want to hear from you!

Just go to http://forum.collanos.com/