Collanos Workplace 1.0.0.10 - Release Notes (for Users from Download Sites)

[Steven Tedjamulia]

The following 22 features and enhancements have been added to Collanos Workplace since our first beta release that was posted on third party download sites:

1.Replication Improvements – Replication of large files now works very well.  We tested Collanos by sending 50 megabytes of documents and 200 megabytes of audio files and the system performed very well.  You can now feel confident in sharing larger files with your team members.  Large files take long especially if they are going through firewalls, but you will find this same problem with other mediums of file transmission.  We are constantly working on replication engine improvements and performance. 

2.We Added a Replication Monitor – When transferring files you can now see how many kilobytes you are sending and receiving across all of your workspaces.  This should give you confidence that the system is transmitting files. 

3.User Search Improvements – We implemented a more efficient user data manager and separated the peer-to-peer JXTA rendezvous and relay services from each other, to significantly improve our user search function.  Users are now able to more rapidly and accurately see everyone who is online.

4.Automatic Invitation Re-Submission – Prior to this release, if an invitation did not arrive, then the user would have to resend the invitation manually. We automated the process so that if an invitation is not received, then Workplace will re-send an invitation every 10 minutes until the receiver accepts or rejects the invitation.

5.Pending Invitation Status – When a user is invited, the sender of the invitation will now see the invited user in the member pane, the invited user’s pending status will be shown as light grey.  Once the invited user accepts the invitation the users status will turn grey and then yellow, showing that content is being transmitted.

6.Windows and Linux System Tray Functionality – When closing Collanos Workplace users will notice that it will continue running in the system tray. This will enable users to continue synchronizing their workspaces with other peers without keeping the workplace open on their desktop. If users decide to close Workplace they can right click on the system tray and close Collanos. Integration with the Mac system tray will come next.

7.Drag and Drop to and from Collanos - Users can now drag and drop files and folders from their file system to Collanos and from Collanos to their file system.  Drag and Drop to and from Collanos will always leave a copy of the file or folder in the original location.

8.Drag and Drop Links to Collanos - Users can now drag and drop web browser links (the url in the address box) to Collanos and store them in a workspace. This feature currently only works with Collanos on Windows and using browsers Internet Explorer or Firefox.  We will provide this functionality also on Linux and Mac in a future release.

9.Drag and Drop within Collanos - Users can now drag and drop folders and files from one Collanos folder to another within the same workspace.  When a folder or file is drag and dropped the folder or file is moved from one location to another WITHOUT leaving a copy (In the past objects could be drag and dropped to different folders, but a reference copy would remain in the original folder).  Users can still leave a reference copy, a copy that when changed would be changed across all copies, but they need to use the Copy and Paste functionality.

10.Cut, Copy, and Paste Folders - Complimentary to drag and drop within Collanos, users can now cut and paste folders.  When a user cuts and pastes a folder, a copy of the folder will NOT be left behind.  When a user copies a folder, the folder and its objects will be copied to the user’s specified location.  The copied folder’s objects will be referenced to the original folder’s objects so that any changes made to the copied folder’s objects will be replicated to the original folder’s objects and vice versa.

11.Objects Can Now Be Added to Root Folders - Objects can now be added directly to the root folder.

12.Renaming Objects and Folders - Users can now double-click and rename a folder or right click and rename objects.  Previously users could not rename objects and were only able to rename folders from the All My Workspaces view.

13.Object Size Now Displayed - Object sizes are now displayed in every workspace.  This functionality will only work with objects added or modified after users have installed or upgraded to 1.0.0.9.  or to any subsequent versions.  Objects existing prior to the upgrade will have a blank in the Object Size field until the objects are modified.

14.Workspace Size Displayed During Invitation - Each workspace calculates the size of the workspace and publishes its size in the Invitation message. This way users can see the size of the workspace they are being invited to and then decide if they still want to accept it.  Workspace sizes will only reflect objects that have been added or modified after users have installed or upgraded to 1.0.0.9.

15.Sound Alerts – Users can now hear sounds when objects and folders are added, modified, and deleted.  Also, when invitations and messages are received.  From the Tools>Preferences menu users can set to hear sounds for all their workspaces, only the active workspaces, or only for messages and invitations.  By default users will hear sounds for all workspaces, messages, and invitations.

16.Report Problem/Bug – If users have any problems or bugs they can go to the help menu and select Report Problem>Bug and the user will be able to enter a description and attach additional files that may help support resolve the problem.  Also, when reporting a problem/bug Workplace will automatically collect system log files that will allow Collanos’ support to better understand the user’s problem/bug and resolve it.  When users click OK, a zip file will be created and placed on the user’s desktop.  The user then needs to email this zip file to support@collanos.com.  In the next release the submission will be automated so that when clicking OK an email will automatically be sent to Collanos.

17.Copy as Link – Users can again create a link to an object in the workspace.  In the past linking was done by copying and then pasting a link or by dragging and dropping an object from one folder to another.  Now users can right click on an object and select Copy as Link and then click on Paste to paste the link to the original object.  We added Copy as Link so that the Copy and Cut functions would be similar to the operating system functions.  Also, we only have one Paste function that will paste the object based on what action (copy, cut, copy as link) was performed prior to the pasting.

18.Backup Collanos Data – Users can now backup their Collanos Workplace data by going to the Tools>Preferences section and selecting Collanos Workplace → Workplace Data.  Users need to select Backup Workplace Data and a location and then a copy of the users’ Workplace data will be created.  Make sure you backup your data to a location different then your original data location.  If you create your backup in the same folder as your original data location you will encounter problems.  Currently, backups to a network drive will not work. Users should backup their data to a local or removable drive.

19.Retrieve Workplace Data – Users can now retrieve their Collanos Workplace data by going to the Tools>Preferences section and selecting Collanos Workplace → Workplace Data.  Users need to select Retrieve Workplace Data and the location of the data.  Retrieving Workplace data will allow users to restore backed-up data or install a new Workplace version and use previous Workplace data.  Retrieving backups should only be done to restore data and should only be used for production use if the backup was kept up-to-date with the exact same Workplace data a user had before restoring.  If a user decides to retrieve a backup that was not the last up-to-date copy, then the user will not be able to receive any data that had already been synchronized with the user previously to the restore, but that was not in the backup copy.  Collanos Workplace does not keep track of what data has been sent to a user previously but no longer exists.  In the case that users need to restore a non-up-to-date backup, the user should request other team members to re-invite the user to the space so that the user can get the most up-to-date copy of a workspace.  Currently, retrievals from a network drive will not work. Users should retrieve only data that is stored locally or in a removable drive.

20.Redirect Workplace Data – Users can now redirect their Collanos data by going to Tools>Preferences section and selecting Collanos Workplace → Workplace Data.  Users need to select Redirect Workplace Data and the location of where the data should be redirected. Make sure you redirect your data to a location different then your original data location.  If you redirect your data to the same folder as your original data location you will encounter problems.  Retrieving Workplace data will allow users to move their data from one location in their file system to another.  Currently, redirecting Workplace data to a network drive will not work.  Users should redirect data to local or removable drives.

21.Proxy – Users can now use a proxy server to enable users to traverse company firewalls that only allow proxy connections. To configure Workplace to use a proxy server, users need to go to the Tools>Preferences section and select Connections. To configure proxy settings users will need to talk to the user’s company system administrator who can provide the necessary proxy settings (Address, Port, User Name, and Password).

22.Performance Settings – Users can now adjust their bandwidth settings in order to increase Collanos Workplace’s performance.  Users should go to Tools > Preferences > Connections.  The default setting is set to Medium.  If you have a DSL, Cable, or faster connection you should set it to High in order to increase your system’s performance.  For faster performance users can manually set their performance settings by selecting Individual and then going to the Advance Bandwidth Settings.  There user scan increase the Uploader speed limit and Downloader speed limit.