What's New in Workgroups 2010 R2

Package Index

Package download available for current customers now.

Module Key

Virtual Ticket

Approval Manager

Digital Storage Manager

Job Manager

Package 164 6/11/2010

Notice to customers upgrading from package 163.x or earlier:

  • Workgroups 2010 R2 server installation now requires Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP2/2008. Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2/2008 is recommended.
  • Virtual Ticket and Digital Storage Manager users will be required to install their new desktop apps by using the application deployment page.

System Setup

New System Setup Window

A new System Setup window unifies and consolidates setup and administration functionality previously distributed through the File Cabinet and Reports and Custom Queries windows.

General Administration Improvements

  • Forms can now be renamed.
  • Forms can now be duplicated.
  • Folder Type, Document Type, Form, and Group name length limits have been increased to 64 characters.
  • Forms, Finds, Groups, and Notifications are namespaced by their parent types.
  • Custom Queries and Reports have their own namespaces.

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Built-in SMTP Server

Administrators now have a choice of using their own SMTP server or a new built-in SMTP server to send email. Using the built-in SMTP Server provides administrators with the benefit of simplifying setup, the ability to offload email operations from their main mail server, and the ability to quickly set up test systems with no corporate IT support.

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User-Friendly Configuration

Configuration of Approval Manager is made as easy as it can be. Not only can it automatically detect most of the required settings, a number of in-place tests ensure that the settings you choose will work correctly.

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Server-Side Script Execution

Make your system run lightning fast, even across the Internet. The new server-side scripting capabilities make it easy to optimize performance by running transaction-intensive scripts on the Application Server. Results of scripts executed on the server are transparently available to the form.

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Enhanced MetaScript Capabilities

New MetaScript Functions

  • UserInfo: Used to return information for the specified user as an object.
  • ShowPopupMenu: Used to display and populate popup menus.
  • ShowPopupList: Used to display and populate popup lists.
  • GetHostInformation: Returns information about the host as an array.
  • OpenWebPage: Used to open the specified web page in the default browser defined on the host OS.
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New Form Events

  • "mousedown" and "mouseup": New mouse events that are sent when users press and release their mouse buttons.
  • "objectSet": A new event sent immediately after "objectLoaded", "newObject", "attach", "modify", "newTemplate" and "templateLoaded".
  • "objectUnloaded": A new event sent immediately after the object is unloaded.
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Appearance Control via MetaScript

  • Background images can be changed programmatically.
  • The color of borders, background, and text can be changed programmatically.
  • Button and popup control borders may be removed.

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MetaScript Actions

Write global MetaScript actions to automate various functions within Workgroups. For example, launch custom Dashboards when users log in, open dynamically prefilled Finds and other Virtual Ticket windows from Application menus, run automation scripts against third-party applications, and more.

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Improved Library Import/Export

Library import and export capabilities have been enhanced to include:

  • Single-click installation of ticket and solution libraries downloaded from the Developer Center.
  • User Groups and Permissions can be exported and imported with corresponding entities.
  • All entities can be skipped, replaced, or renamed on import.
  • New and open XML-based library format.
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Find and Replace in MetaScript Editor

MetaScript, Custom Query, and Stored Files editing gets more convenient and efficient with Find and Replace functionality.

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New OpenURI Syntax for Finds

OpenURI uses a new syntax that is compatible with the new namespace model for Finds.

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Form Editor Usability Improvements

  • Guides can now be shown, hidden, and locked
  • Guides can now be copied and pasted
  • Zoom in/out with Option + Scroll-wheel (Mac OS X) or CTRL + Scroll-wheel (Windows)
  • The content of selected controls can be highlighted
  • Select amongst overlapping controls

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New Developer Center Menu

Instant access to MetaCommunications developer resources have been added to the apps for developers and administrators. The embedded menus provide access to samples, importable tickets & solutions, blog articles, knowledgebase articles, and developer forums.

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HTTP Support

Desktop applications now use the HTTP network protocol to communicate with the server. This allows them to efficiently communicate over the Internet and through firewalls, just like a standard web browser.

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Custom Application Menus

Administrators and users can now create custom Application Menus that can be used to execute scripts, run reports, open finds, create new jobs, open browser windows, open dashboards, and much more. This provides administrators with the ability to organize and optimize how they and their users work. Application Menus may be set up by administrators and shared to users based on their permissions.

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Embedded Web Browser

Integrate web site, portal, web services and other HTML pages directly in Workgroups 2010 R2 and leverage the ability to include your third party web apps within your Workgroups powered workflows.

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Dashboards

Provide users with easy to use visual Dashboards that present virtually any information upon logging in, or on demand. For example, Dashboards can be used to present users with navigational choices, user To-Do lists, button driven automation, and reports. These are a great way to provide users with information and automation pertinent to their work in an organized way that simplifies their work.

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Mac OS X Service Replaces Finder Plug-in on Mac OS X 10.6

On computers running Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6), a new OS X Service provides functionality previously available through Production Pack's Finder Plug-in. The new service's functionality is available through the contextual Services submenu, and is customizable through Services Preferences.

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New Standard Forms

The standard forms installed with every database have been updated to include improved organization and a great new appearance. If upgrading, new standard forms will be added with a "[Workgroups 2010 R2]" suffix, providing you with the opportunity to review and choose the new features, designs, and form elements you would like to adopt.

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Desktop Application Installation

The desktop application installer has been lightened and optimized to quickly install the desktop apps without Administrative operating system permissions. This makes deployment and auto-upgrading a snap and requires no IT intervention or resources.

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Self-Service Password Reset

Users now have the ability to reset their own passwords without going through the system administrator.

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Integrated Feedback

A built-in feedback system provides a simple way for users to send feedback (and optionally logs) to MetaCommunications. This new features enables you to communicate your comments, suggestions or bugs directly to our engineering department. This makes for quicker technical support responses and ultimately, a better product.

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Production Pack Support for Adobe CS5

Production Pack has been updated to integrate with the recently-released Adobe Illustrator and InDesign CS5 design apps.

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Proofs Find Improvements

Proof search allows you to find any open or closed proofs. Search results show files, thumbnails, and proofs with found search strings emphasized.

This release also contains full proof search support for collaborative users. With reasonable permissions restrictions, collaborative users can search proofs of their customers or proofs they were added to as managers, production, or reviewers.

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Customizable Branding

Approval Manager now supports full custom branding: customized colors, logos and styles on each page as well as in e-mail notifications. Customization requires no programming or scripting abilities, and is simple enough to allow users to customize their system in minutes.

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Collaborative User Invitations

Inviting new users to Approval Manager is easy. Just enter the email address for the new user and they will receive an invitation. All they need to do next is set their password and start participating in their reviews.

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Approval Manager Dashboard

Dashboards have been designed to support users in all their proof-related activities. Worklists provide an easy-to-understand, drill-down view of the current status and schedule of all proofs in progress. Empty tab auto-hiding helps you focus on current tasks and filter alerts ensure that nothing is left unnoticed.

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Proofing Workflows

Easily control your proofing and review workflows. Upload files, arrange stages, set due dates and add reviewers from an intuitive visual interface.

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Auto-routing

Many routine tasks can be fully automated in Approval Manager. The auto-routing feature reduces review turnaround time by moving proofs through the review process based on the outcome of previous rounds.

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Expandable Manage Tab

Items on the Manage Tab are now expandable. The expanded view allows you to see all of your proof files as thumbnails with statuses displayed below them in the scrolling ribbon.

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Email Notifications

All participants of a proofing workflow can receive notifications and reminders via email. Useful links in each email allow participants to jump directly to their work from within their mail clients. Since Approval Manager has a built-in mail server that works out of the box, it's easy to get up and running with email notifications. Alternatively, you can use any third-party SMTP mail server.

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Other Improvements

  • On Review and Production tabs, files that need attention are auto-expanded on tab open.
  • File thumbnails currently in progress will be loaded and shown asynchronously.
  • The default auto-routing rule for Production is "Move Next on Completion" and for Approval is "Next on Success".
  • User is automatically added to production list of new files s/he uploads (unless user is a manager).

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Automated Installation

AWS 5.0 can be easily applied to any folder or document type through a new built-in installation interface. As a part of the installation, corresponding AWS forms, finds, and reports are automatically generated and an installation log is produced containing a summary of the changes. Now you can enable workflow for your application with just a few clicks and begin using the system in minutes.

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Simplified Configuration

A new integrated Configuration window centralizes all AWS configuration steps and guides users through the entire process.

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New Server-Side Workflow Engine

AWS 5.0 is based on a new server-side workflow engine that handles all workflow and scheduling computations and serves as a centerpiece for integration of Workgroups modules (Virtual Ticket, Approval Manager, with Job Manager and Digital Storage Manager coming in near future). The engine's pluggable architecture allows developers to build extensions and integrate the AWS 5.0 workflows with third-party applications via current technologies available on .NET platform (e.g. Web services). The engine itself provides a Web service interface for manipulating the Workgroups workflows.

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Integrated Approval Manager Reviews

Approval Manager reviews can now be used directly from AWS 5.0:

  • Traffic or project managers can schedule multi-step reviews, add reviewers, set due dates, and specify conditional routing directly from the AWS schedule.
  • Users can upload review files from their AWS Assignment form.
  • Reviewers can navigate to their reviews through AWS To Do lists, through Approval Manager's interface, or via emails they receive.

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Full Approval Manager review functionality is available, including comments, other proofing tools, automatic reminders for reviewers, history trails, and much more.

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Application Menu Driven Interface

AWS 5.0 now uses the new Application Menus to provide users with an efficient way work with the system based upon role. Now, each user role has a specific set of menus to help users navigate and use AWS efficiently. This great new feature saves time and simplifies training new users.

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Precision Scheduling

Schedules can now be planned in durations of minutes, hours, or days. This provides you with the ability to accommodate any workflow timeline from quick-turn projects to longer multi-month projects.

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Enhancements

AWS 5.0 usability enhancements include new clearly organized and interactive forms, use of Application Menus (see above) for efficient navigation, and an improved interface for reports.

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Upgradability

Existing AWS 4.0 implementations will continue to be supported in this version of Workgroups 2010 R2, and AWS 4.0 users can choose when to upgrade. Because AWS 5.0 delivers new user experiences, and because some customizations to your system cannot be automatically incorporated, a new upgrade preview tool will preflight your upgrade and inform you of changes that would be made to your system or would need to be made by you prior to or after the actual automated upgrade. All existing schedules and configuration data created with AWS 4.0 is automatically converted and is available for use with AWS 5.0 immediately after the upgrade.

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Introducing Spark!

The new Spark! proofing tool allows you to quickly comment, annotate and approve documents of various formats. Spark! launches from Approval Manager, inside your browser, and does not require any additional applications to run. The easy and intuitive interface will allow you to integrate it into your proofing process right away.

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Annotations Filtering

The latest release allows you to filter annotations in a variety of ways: You can view annotations from the currently selected stage, view only annotations created by you, view all annotations, or even hide all annotations to get a clean view of the proof.

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Measurement Tool

Verify lengths and angles with the new Measurement tool. This new tool provides free-rotation, snap-to angles, and selectable units of measure.

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Balsamiq Mockups

Spark! now supports Balsamiq Mockups rendering and approval - an essential new feature for UI-designers.

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Document Rotation

Rotate your documents clockwise and counter-clockwise in ninety degree increments.

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Zoom Increased to 6000%

Review even the finest details in your documents with high-resolution zoom. Even at 6000%, details are clearly rendered and reviewers can see minor details and small text they may otherwise have trouble viewing clearly or could miss entirely.

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New Window From Spark!

Among the many Spark! features is the ability to open a new browser window or tab with the selected round, page, zoom setting, and position of the current review displayed. You can even bookmark the page or send a link to others with the assurance that the current view will be preserved.

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File Version Control (Check-in/Check-out)

Give your teams complete control over their files. Comprehensive new file version control features provide teams with the ability to check-in and check-out files, see a history of changes to files, and have a clear vision of who is working on what file. File version control may be used exclusively to control all file access through Workgroups or in a hybrid setup where some workflows may use File version control and others may use standard file server access. This provides you with the ability to choose the best workflow for your teams.

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New File Collector Capabilities

New File Collector Properties:

  • filesystemOnly: A property of the file collector that toggles the file-system only mode.
  • content: A property of the file collector that contains an array of currently-shown digital resources.
New File Collector Functions:
  • refreshContent: A function to refresh the current content of a file collector.
  • syncWithFileSysytem: A function to sync the filesystem with the file collector.

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New File Collector Events:

  • "select": A new event sent as a result of a user changing the selection in the file collector.
  • "dblclick": A new event sent as a result of a user double-clicking a thumbnail in a file collector.
File collector snap-to sizing is replaced by continuous resizing to provide for more control in designing the appearance of file collectors in forms.

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