Features and Release Notes

General improvements

1. Unified data registry dialog in Quick Designers and Map Designers allows users to view query, query result, and test with different parameter values, so users can locate the desired query easily.
2. Diagrams on start page of Quick Designers and Map Designers helps end-users to understand how to use the tools quickly. 

Dashboard Builder

1. Being able to change chart type in dashboard preview gives end-users more control on dashboard contents.
2. Directly opening report/chart/map designer from dashboard builder makes it much more convenient to edit existing components or add new components.
3. Besides original static dashboard, responsive dashboard is added as a new dashboard type. Responsive Dashboard optimizes utilization of the display without exceeding the display width preset by user. Therefore, it’s useful for mobiles.
4. Refresh Template icon on each report/chart/map makes it easier to test dashboard with real data. 

QuickDesigner Reports

1. Simplified UI includes only two steps: Select Datasource and Construct Report.
2. Constructing and formatting report in only one interface makes it intuitive and easy to see what you get and flexible to make changes.
3. Drag and drop to add report columns and order report column ease the work of report design.
4. Right click on report column to do Aggregation/Format/Remove is straightforward.
5. ’Excel-like’ search icon on each column header allows data filtering by column.
6. Parameters pane on the right makes report testing easy.
7. Less items on Toolbar reduces confusion and saves time.
8. Collapse Sidebars allow more space for report design.

QuickDesigner Charts

1. Simplified UI includes only two steps: Select Datasource and Construct Chart.
2. Setting pane and chart preview pane are in the same window, so all design steps can be done in one window.
3. Improved toolbar shows Chart-Specific Options based on current chart type and combines settings to reduce icons.
4. Parameters setting on Chart Preview pane makes chart testing easy.
5. Collapse Sidebar allows more space for chart design.

Online Maps

1. Online Map is a newly designed Google Map. It is more straightforward to create a new map.
2. Displaying setting on left pane, instead of popup dialog, makes UI more user-friendly.
3. Save dialog shows Organizer node tree. It makes it easier to locate the desired organizer folder to save map file.
4. Heatmap feature provides visualization of data intensity.
5. Being able to set parameter values in Map Designer makes testing easier.
6. More map types satisfy different needs.
7. Users can draw various shapes instead of simple map points. The shapes are drawn in Coordinates Editor.

SVG Maps

1. Redesigned UI is more straightforward to create a new map.
2. Allow users to change SVG image after a map is created.

General improvements

1. Bug fixes and performance improvements - hundreds of bug from customers supports. Many of them are not included in lates V6.3 update, because their integration required deep code rewriting. Our software runs much faster and better than ever before.
2. Java 7 and Windows 7 support.

New features

1. PAK Files - make it easier to transport data registries, dashboards, and maps in a single file which makes them easier to share between servers.
2. Improved Organizer with Advanced Search Dialog - features flexible sorting options and intuitive icons that improve ease of use and functionality.  The Organizer is now embedded into the browser window, without any pop-ups.
3. Support for Multiple Administrators - enhances the manageability of information and security.
4. Improved LDAP Support - LDAP users can be integrated from any existing Active Directory, without any modifications to the Active Directory. Users can be managed completely in the Active Directory and all changes in the AD will take effect immediately.
5. Import Users from CSV File with GUI - lets you import users by simply browsing the local directory and loading the file in an easy-to-use interface.
6. Improved database upgrade - The most common databases are now upgraded automatically by the installer, which makes upgrading from any previous version to the new 6.6 version very easy.
7. Tooltips for Charts in Dashboards - are now more detailed and easier to read. Users can clearly see data points and other key information.
8. Touch Screen Gestures for Dashboards - make it even easier for users to view and analyze dashboards anytime, anywhere all while using intuitive touch screen gestures on mobile devices.
9. QD Report/Chart Insert Variables Dialog - enables parameter values to be displayed on Quick Designer reports and charts, giving users more control over the content of their reports and charts.
10. Tomcat 6 support.

Report features

1. “ALL” Parameter Value - allows users to select the all values in a parameter, rather than selecting each value individually.
2. Unexpanding PAK Files - allow users to seamlessly transport reports, sub-reports, and drill-downs in one file, making collaboration easy and effective.
3. Round Corners for DHTML - offers another way to make reports more visually appealing and adds another element of customization.
4. Vertical Text in Report Cells - allows users to further control report options to suit their visual requirements.
5. Auto-Resize Column Width for Excel Export - makes the Excel export conform to Excel reporting.
6. GUI for Inserting Data Source Column to RTF - gives users the flexibility to insert columns, formulas, and parameters into rich text without having to remember and type the item names.
7. Data Types in Previews in Query Builder and Data Views - let users easily see the types of data in their reports which allows the tracking of data types and makes it easier to build formulas.
8. New Chart and Report Designer Icons - make designing reports intuitive and aesthetically appealing.
9. Dialog to Specify Section Height - enables users to easily create precise section heights by entering the desired value rather than by controlling the height of different sections with a mouse.

Chart features

1. Time Based Zooming for HiLo and HLCO Charts - Users can select an aggregate data range to more efficiently analyze large amounts of data.
2. Top N and Bottom N Options - allow users to get a quick overview of key performance metrics.
3. Smooth Trend Lines - present a more accurate picture of the trend.
4. More Configuration Options for Gradients - gives users complete control of gradient options for each part of a chart.
5. Insert Vertical Line with Today as Value on Gantt Charts - lets users clearly label a point in time to show the progress of projects.
6. Improved Transposition UI - for charts allows users to intuitively transpose charts visually, without the need to understand the underlying structure.

New features

1. Introducing Alerts - Keep track of key performance data in real time with the new Alerts feature.
2. Alerts for All - Create alerts for reports, charts, and maps. Existing charts with control ranges and SVG maps with thresholds can be immediately used as alerts.
3. Real Time Monitoring- Monitor your data by specifying the alerts to watch, defining the time interval and frequency of the check, and sending detailed emails to notify key personnel.
4. Dashboard Alerts - Highlight components when a specific alert is triggered prompting the viewer to take timely actions.
5. Excel Datasource - Extract data from Excel spreadsheets directly using the new Excel datasource feature in the data registry. Excel 2007 and 2010 are supported.
6. Auto Start Server - Once configured, this new feature automatically starts the EspressDashboard server when the application server is started.
7. Improved File Management - When saving maps, dashboards, and Quick Designer files, the new interface blocks users from overwriting other people's files.
8. Map Parameters to SQL Query in Quick Designer - Quick Designer users can now map parameters directly to an SQL query.
9. Quick Designer Dial Chart Options - New options such as draw full circle and needle options are available in the Quick Designer Dial Chart.
10. HTTPS Install - Users planning to use HTTPS can install using the HTTPS option, which will automatically create a local certificate. This allows users to connect to the server using HTTPS immediately after installation.

Dashboard features

1. Multiple Dashboard Drill-down - Dashboard components can have multiple drill-downs and the new interface allows for easier control.
2. Maximize Dashboard Components - Components in dashboards can now be maximized so users can view the enlarged component clearly.
3. Default Dashboard Options - Users that prefer options different from the default can now set their preferences in the admin console to have their settings loaded automatically.
4. New Dashboard Options - Dashboard Designer can now enable auto refresh in the builder. Parameter ranges dialog now allows the flexibility of showing the entire dialog or only the drop down list portion.

Data export

1. Export to the Latest Excel Format - An addition Excel enhancement, reports can now be exported to the XLSX format viewable in Excel 2007 and 2010.

Report features

1. Excel Datasource - Extract data from Excel spreadsheets directly using the new Excel datasource feature in the data registry. Excel 2007 and 2010 are supported.
2. New Barcode Library - Reports now support 30 different barcode standards.
3. Expand and Collapse Grouped Reports - The new feature takes large summary break, master & detail, and crosstab reports and makes them much more manageable by allowing you to expand and collapse groups of data.
4. Import Existing Charts to Reports - The new feature allows you to select an existing chart to add to your report rather than creating a new chart or going through work-arounds.
    

Chart Features

1. Excel Datasource - Extract data from Excel spreadsheets directly using the new Excel datasource feature in the data registry. Excel 2007 and 2010 are supported.
2. Chart Color Sets - New color sets are available to make your charts look better than ever. Choosing a color set means new data that did not have a color mapped will always use colors from the set rather than choosing a random color.
3. PAC Files - The new PAC feature will combine all charts and their drill-downs into a single file for greater transportability and easier backups.
4. Auto Adjust 3D Charts - Charts are automatically adjusted for scale and position to create a much better appearance when using the Chart Designer.
5. Chart Designer Bounding Box - A convenient new bounding box has been added in the Chart Designer to help scale charts without using the right mouse button.
6. Improved Sorting in Charts - When users choose to sort the data in the Chart Designer, the sort order will be applied to dynamic data as well.
7. Chart Designer Dialog Enhancements - Several dialogs, such as Insert Link, Trendline, Control Area, etc., were updated to provide an easier to use interface.
8. Single Color Column/Bar Chart - Column/Bar charts without series are drawn with single color by default.

New features

1. Animated Flash Charts - Take data visualization to a new level by utilizing the sleek and stylish flash option for charts. Create impressive presentations by incorporating animation in dashboards, integrating flash using the URL generator, and exporting flash directly from menu page. All the while maintaining a rich set of features such as mouse over hints, drilldowns, and hyperlinks.
2. 2D and 3D Doughnut Charts - Highly customizable doughnut charts are here. Configure the data order, labels, exploding sectors, sector gaps, and more, as well as position, scale and rotate 3D doughnuts in true 3D.
3. Improved 3D Curve Surface Rendering - The new rendering algorithm delivers smooth color gradients and realistic light shading making it the best looking 3D Pie and Doughnut charts to date.
4. Internationalized by Default - Make internationalization a core feature rather than an after thought. With version 6.2, the entire ERES system will by default support all international characters using UTF-8 encoding. This includes all XML files used, all export formats, all filenames, all text data, all parameters, usernames and passwords, and more.
5. Administrative Convenience - The administration console has been revamped to include more options and a more organized user interface. Now setting up the Google map key and enabling secured parameters are done by simply filling in a few fields.
6. Optimized Libraries and Installers - All client side jars files have been optimized and compressed to allow for faster load time for applets. We have also reorganized the system to make the entire installer smaller and quicker to download.
7. Windows 7 Support - Fully tested and ready to go on the Windows 7 Operating System.
8. Custom Date Formats - Parameters mapped to columns and data view conditions are traditionally displayed in the raw database format making it difficult to read and choose from. The new feature allows users to build a custom date format using the new format builder. As such, all future parameter prompts and dataview conditions for date and time fields will be displayed using this format.
9. No Data Message in Charts - A convenient new option has been added to give designers a way to set the no data message in the chart designer.
10. Cut Corners - A new "cut corners" style as been added to chart legends and annotations. The legends can be modified in the chart designer as well as API and the annotations can be set via API only.
11. Symbol Border Color - Users can now select a data point symbol border color in the chart designer.
12. Finer Gradient Control - Users can now specify to display gradients for chart data only. For example, draw the bars in a bar chart with gradient but leave background gradient turned off.

New features

1. Improved Performance
2. Enhanced Paging Algorithm & Data Structure for Large Reports - The enhanced vitural memory/paging algorithm allows users to run very large reports with millions of rows of data without any concern of running out of memory.  The system automatically adjusts memory usage based on given quota and maintains performance for even high traffic servers.  On-disk data structure is optimized for storage space as well as performance.  A new set of configuration options is available to provide detailed control over system memory usage.
3. Paging for DHTML Viewer - The DHTML Viewer commonly used to preview reports prior to export has been updated as well.  The new version uses paging to display the first page as soon as it is available even while the rest of the report is still being run on the server side.
4. DHTML Viewer User Interface Improvements - New glass pane, progress bar, and page navigator greatly enhance the user-friendliness.
5. Parameter Value Validation - New parameter validation will alert users when they enter a value of the wrong format for unmapped parameters.
6. ERES Using JNDI Data Source - Now administrators can connect ERES to a JNDI data source to increase portability across various testing and deployment environments.
7. Scheduler Support for Secure FTP - The ERES scheduler can now deliver reports and charts to Secure FTP servers.
8. User Friendly Column Mapping Dialog - The column mapping dialog in report designer has been updated with auto resize, auto select aggregation type, and improves default mapping features.
9. Export GIF to Excel - Excel export now supports JPG, PNG, and GIF image formats.
10. Multilevel Undo & Redo - Now, it is even easier to design reports and charts.  New multilevel undo and redo in both Report and Chart Designer gives users the freedom to try different layout and styles without losing the previous settings.
11. New Gauge Templates - A new set of circular, semicircular, and quarter circular gauges featuring realistic metalic covers in different shades and curvatures is now available.
12. Flexible Translucency Setting - A new sliding scale gives designers added precision to creating elegant semi-transparent charts.
13. Aggregated Charts - Rather than having to modify the database query for aggregation, this handy feature will perform a specified aggregation on the data before plotting the chart.
14. Improved Gradient Controls - A new set of gradient options is available for all chart types.  Designers can now control the direction as well as the start and end locations for the gradient.  They can also fine tune the gradient range by specifying a start color and either an entirely different end color or a different shade of the same color.
15. New Chart Label & Ticker Options - Even with label step intervals, large sets of data could clutter the x-axis with labels and tickers.  Now designers can specify a maximum number of labels and tickers so that no matter what range their end users set, the chart will always look perfect.
16. New Dial & Gauge Chart Pointer Options - Four new pointer options (Pointed Blade, Round Headed Blade, Triangular Pointer, and Step Pointer) add elegant options to any dial and gauge chart.
17. Stack Bar & Stack Column Chart Enhancement - New option allows users to enable or disable padding for a better looking chart.
18. Crisp HLCO & Candle Stick Charts - New option is available to add a border to HLCO and Candle Stick Charts for a crisp clean look.

New features

1. Introducing
   1. MapsSVG Maps - An SVG map allows users to define areas on the map and associate them with data points. It supports parameter options, customizable color code based on data ranges, and drilldowns to reports, charts, and dashboards.
   2. Google® Maps - Users can take advantage of Google® Maps' rich functionality and ease of use while viewing their own data.  The new Map Designer makes it simple to embed Reports and Charts directly into Google® Map tooltips and allows users to add parameters and drilldown.
   3. Flexible Map Publishing - Present the maps by themselves in the menu page or publish alongside other reports and charts within executive dashboards.
2. Drilldown to Dashboards - Now users can drilldown from dashboard to another dashboard, allowing for even more control over flow and detail.
3. Improved Schedules & Archives
   1. Create Packages - Schedule multiple reports and charts into a single package.  Send a single email with multiple attachments or links to the recipients.
   2. New Interval Options - Now users can specify time intervals for fixed day schedules.  For example, run a report every hour between 9AM - 5PM, or specify the exact export time for irregular schedules.
   3. Informative Error Handling - In case a problem occurs when running the schedule (perhaps the database is down or network connection is faulty), users can send an alternative email to recipients notifying that they're on top of the situation.  ERES can also send the error logs to an email address of their choice.
   4. Send Emails Based on Parameter Set - Users can now send a single parameterized report to multiple users based on the parameter set values.  For example, a report with a region parameter can be scheduled to deliver each region's report to a different set of email recipients.
   5. Export Now - New option to run schedules immediately at the click of a button.
   6. Enhanced UI - The Scheduler is now shown with tabs allowing for easier back and forth navigation and improving functional clarity.  A new email recipients page is added to give users further control over schedule delivery.
   7. Scheduler Logs - Admins can view past schedules, status, errors, recipients, parameter options, and much more with the new detailed scheduler logs.
4. Intelligent File and Data Registry Node Locking - The ERES file and data registry node locking system has been updated to allow the same user to override their own locks from different locations, but still maintain proper concurrency control.
5. Limit ERES Organizer Browse Directory - Adding a single parameter to the ERES Organizer restricts users from navigating away from the specified directory.
6. Forward Compatibility - Starting in version 5.5, files created in later version can be opened in previous version.  So now users can share v6.0 reports with their colleagues who are still using v5.5.  Note that newer features will not be available in earlier versions.
7. SalesForce® and WSDL SOAP - The new version includes two new SOAP datasource implementations to support WSDL Standards and the SalesForce® SOAP format.
8. Multiple Databases in MS SQL Server® - Create a single query or dataview that retrieves data from multiple Microsoft SQL Server® databases on the same server.
9. Scripted Image URLs - Add complex logic to Image URLs to display specific images under various scenarios in a single report.
10. Chart Gauges - ERES provides dozens of gauge templates of various styles for the dial chart.  Users can even create their own gauge template and add it to the designer options.
11. QuickDesigner Aggregation Alias - Provide user-friendly names to aggregations that accurately reflect the purpose of each fields.
12. Pie Chart Text Placement - New algorithm is included to improve pie chart text placement to minimize overlap and enhance readability.
13. 3D Add On Charts (API Only) - Now users can display 3D charts on top of another 3D chart.
14. Legend Enhancement for Line Charts (API Only) - A new method allows users to show the line within the legend icons.
15. Scatter Chart Point Size (API Only) - A new method allows users to change the size of scatter chart point size to as small as a single pixel.