Collanos User Forum

Today we released an update to Collanos Workplace 1.0 Beta 2.
If you are not prompted automatically during start-up to download the new updates, please make sure to check for them in the Help menu under Software Updates -> Find & Install or you can also download the latest version of Collanos from www.collanos.com.

We recommend that all team members update to the latest release to ensure optimal operation of Collanos Workplace and the ability to use the latest features across the entire team(s).

A. Things we fixed in this release

There are several enhancements and fixes in version 1.0.0.9. We are getting a lot closer to the solid release of the product and plan to provide the 1.0 release within a few releases.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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. In the future we will have a Copy, Cut, and Link functionality.  Link will allow users to leave reference copies.  The Copy command will then just make a duplicate without any reference.  Before using the Drag and Drop within Collanos functionality, please read “Folder Structure Replication Inconsistencies and Disappearing Files and Folders” in the “Things we are still working on” section below before using this feature.

4. 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.

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

6. 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.

7. 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.  Objects existing prior to the upgrade will have a blank in the Object Size field until the objects are modified. 

8. 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. 

9. Resolved Workspace Freezing
We have increased the number of connections to the Collanos local database and improved our synchronization mechanism. These improvements should resolve freezing issues some customers have been experiencing. Users experiencing a freeze should report the issue to Collanos and restart the application.

B. Things We are Still Working On

As we are getting ready for the solid release of Collanos, there are some open issues we are working on that will solve many of the challenges users are experiencing.

1. Replication Instabilities
In a few instances, where larger teams have been collaborating, there have been issues with some files not being replicated. The files were visible to the sender, but did not replicate with some of the other peers. The peers who did not receive the files were typically invited by another peer after the sending peer already had sent out its changes without knowing about the new peer(s). We are working on this issue and will have it fixed. Currently, in order to minimize inconsistencies, if possible, please try to invite all users to a workspace at the same time and make sure all users are online and acknowledge each others presence before replicating content.

2. Folder Structure Replication Inconsistencies and Disappearing Files and Folders
If two users move the same object or folder to different folders at the same time, then two things may happen:
(1) folder structures may replicate inconsistently between users, and
(2) files and folders may disappear.
For now we recommend users contact team members before re-arranging files and folders in their workspace to prevent any replication inconsistencies and disappearing files and folders.  We are currently working on this issue and will soon have it fixed. 

Thanks again for the time you spend providing us with feedback. Please feel free to reach out to us by email, by inviting us to your workspaces or through our support forum.

Sincerely,

Steven Tedjamulia
Head of Product Management
Steven DOT tedjamulia AT collanos DOT com