News

[2004-06-25]

Helpdesk 0.9 is now released and can be downloaded from sourceforge. Features include a vastly improved reporting system (with a print stylesheet for nicer paper reports), improved email facilities, and more. For details, see the changelog.

[2004-06-23]

Helpdesk version 0.9 is currently installed onto the demo site and after some more testing, a public release will be made. 0.9 is a pretty big release with a number of new features and bugfixes (including improved reporting) that should make this a worthwhile upgrade. For more details, see the changelog.

[2004-02-16]

After some delays, much other development and the project admin (Chris Puttick) changing jobs and moving 200 miles in the process, 0.85 is finally released. Lots of little increases in functionality, including some i18n support, a CMS style front page and some mods to the knowledge base, issue handling, etc.. Nothing too scary, but we hope worth the upgrade! Download v0.85.

[2004-01-21]

Version 0.85 has been installed on the demo site, and will be available for download in the near future. The major changes are an improved user preferences system, preliminary i18n support, and several bugfixes/usability improvements.
[Mark Harrison]

[2003-09-11]

0.81 has been released. Primarily an interrim bugfix release until 0.9, the main new feature is the ability to restrict certain users so they can't change their details, allowing guest/anonymous accounts for issue submission. For more details, see the Changelog.
[Mark Harrison]

[2003-08-26]

0.8 is now here (finally!). Aside from a few bugfixes and tweaks, the major new features are enhanced email notification and a basic reporting system. The reporting system is in development and feedback on both what is there at the moment and what you would like to see in later versions is greatly appreciated. For more details, see the Changelog. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Mark Harrison]

[2003-08-14]

Version 0.72 is now here. It has a few major enhancements and some bug fixes and is designed to be the precursor of the 0.8 release we are planning for in the coming weeks. We have a second paid developer on our team and so hopefully it shouldn't be too long. Most notable update in 0.72 is the time management, followed by the global preferences page. Take a look at the Change Log. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-06-12]

Well, with the advent of a new developer joining our merry little team, we are possibly looking at full internationalisation (i18n) in a later release. Obviously English is the first language as it's already in English, then followed by French. I'll keep you up to date with the developments. My to-do list is getting bigger by the day, and so I've got my work cut out for me. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-06-10]

Version 0.71 is now available. There are some bug fixes - most notably with the database installation script. There are some enhancements now in, and groundwork ready for the next release. I've started to get some good feedback from users, and they're helping enormously to make sure everything is done in the best way. Coming up are a couple of feature enhancements that will be very benficial to everyone, and hopefully we'll better the email notification. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-06-03]

Version 0.7 had a mistake in the database.sql script that meant it failed to create a working database. This did not affect those who simply upgraded from version 0.63, as the error was not in the upgrade.sql script. If you attempted to install version 0.7 cleanly you will have come across the problem. To fix it, simply install the patched version 0.7.1 instead. If you successfully updated from 0.63 to 0.7 then DO NOT INSTALL 0.7.1. Any newcomers should download the 0.7.1 release! Oops. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-06-02]

I've been busy recently and so I haven't had the time I'd have liked to spend on the project. I have however done a few small bug fixes, and hopefully will be releasing 0.71 soon. The next release will have a little more knowledge base functionality and will have the ability to choose for each domain a default priority. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-05-25]

Version 0.7 is now here. This has basic knowledge base functionality, but has not yet implemented the 'Most Recent' or the 'Top Ten' pages. Publishing to and searching from the knowledge base is now fully working. A couple of bugs have been fixed, and a couple more enhancements are in. Had some feature requests that will go in the next minor release and so keep your eyes peeled. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-05-19]

Okay, version 0.63 is here. This is the last minor release before version 0.7 becomes available. I have fixed a little bug, enhanced the paging of issues, and reworked the database in order to fully accomodate the knowledge base - the functionality of which will be in the next release (version 0.7). I have also updated the documentation and am close to finishing it, I just have the user guide to write now, and it will be complete (well, more like acceptable, but it will be constantly improved). I have introduced from this version onwards the ability to upgrade an existing installation to the next version number. Take a look at the docs. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-05-16]

We've migrated the whole demo system onto a really big server, and so it may have been down for a little bit yesterday as there was a problem with the DNS. Anyway, I've updated the documentation so take a look. I'm going to start a change log, and put it onto the site changes between releases can be seen in more detail. I have a good deal of work to do, and I'll be doing that over the next few days. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-05-12]

Okay, some bug fixes and minor functionality enhancements. I've also changed the default stylesheet (as I'm sure you can see) to help those who are visually impaired (thanks Dirk!). I have some more enhancements to make, and then I'm going to make a start (finally) on the knowlesge base. The knowledge base is not my current priority and so might take a little while to complete. I have a lot of documentation to write as well. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-05-09]

I've added documentation to the site and will be in the next uploaded distribution. It's only limited so far, with installation instructions, but it'll do for a start. Take a look. I've got a busy weekend ahead so drop by next week and see where we're up to. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-05-08]

Okay, we're now on version 0.6. This increase was spurred by the full email notification being implemented. The next major release will have full documnetation and a full install script. Then it will be time to implement the knowledge base. There's a lot to do and so I'd better carry on working... Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-05-07]

A few bug fixes, and some foundation work for the further features that will be implemented soon for this new release, v0.52. The most significant change is the ability to allow for importing a user list from a CSV file to populate the user database. This is quite important for getting systems up and running in the first place when an existing user base is present. I'm toying with the idea of having the authentication running on LDAP but if that were to ever come about it would be a while away and would be in a new branch of releases. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-05-06]

After a weekend of relaxation, I have launched straight back into sorting out my current bug list and as such have increased the version number to 0.51. This small increase shows only minor changes, but some quite critical ones. Also, prompted by increasing interest, I have included in the latest distribution a set of installation guidelines. They are so far just simple instructions to help out those who are interested, but they should be sufficient. Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-04-30]

WHOA! We're half way there. Version 0.5 is now available. Some minor bug fixes and some (obvious with hindsight) functionality enhancements. From simple auto-refreshing pages to logic changes. Beta testing is doing wonders, with the system being used quite extensively at the moment. Every day I have a good long list of enhancements to do, and so I think we're on track to have a fully stable, and comprehensive system ready within the next month. With the currently LIVE version running for the CMCLC ICT helpdesk the creases are being ironed out. Documentation is on it's way! Beta testing has now started - SO JOIN IN!
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-04-28]

I've fixed all the bugs I have on my to-do list. I've neatened up a functionality, and I've added a summary page for basic statistics. The system is now in beta testing and is being used as a live system (albeit unfinished). The next thing to do is fully implement issue tracking and enforce page level security. I have some functionality to add to bring it to version 0.5 but I hope to have that done soon. For now I've increased the version number to 0.45 - an almost arbitrary figure that reflects the work done since 0.41. Once we get to 0.5, the knowledge base will be going in. I have also made a start on the online documentation so keep an eye out. Beta testing has now started.
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-04-27]

Okay, we've turned on the functionality for allowing a user to have different access types for different sites, and as such, the 'new issue' page works slightly different now. It asks you to choose a site before allowing you to continue entering details. There is also a slightly modified issue page, specifically the changing of an issue's site. These changes fully partition sites within domains, and as such will allow the system to scale well and as such will be usable by both large organisations and small ones. We're now on version 0.41 (the extra '1' shows the changes above). Alpha testing has now started.
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-04-23]

This week while alpha testing is going on, I have been cleaning up my code. I have modified the entire site to make sure it is commented correctly, and that the PHP will work without RegisterGlobals turned on in the php.ini file. This will increase the security of the system as a whole. The latter half of this week will be concentrating on security, putting page-level access checks in. Then I will be writing a preliminary INSTALL file with instructions on how to roll out the helpdesk in your own systems. Alpha testing has now started.
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-04-18]

11:20 - Okay, the new site and user admin is in, and so we have upgraded the version number. At one point it was going to be rolled back, and then we changed our mind again. In the end we ended up with version 0.4 but limited the new admin pages to give effectively the same functionality as in version 0.3. In other words, we have added latent functionality for use at a later date. It also cleaned up quite a lot of my SQL statements. Alpha testing has now started.
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-04-18]

01:20 - The site and user management has been fundamentally changed in the latest release. Whereas users were given access levels (client / support agent etc.) across domains, one result of the consultation I have undertaken is that it may be required for a user to be a support agent at one site and an administrator at another, but within the same domain. This has meant a change in the database, but to the users, there shouldn't be a discernable change. The only difference will be on the site administration pages. As the only difference between the last two releases is this user management, we have a choice. Once again, let me just say that Alpha testing has now started.
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-04-17]

I've been busy consulting over the past few days and so I have a good long to-do list to be getting on with. I've just finished changing the password encryption to md5, and have been tweeking the system for a day or two. My next job is to code the ability of tracking user locations into the system. I have plans to clean up all the PHP code, but those plans can wait a little while as I have more pressing issues at hand. Hopefully next week I can spend some time writing up some install notes and getting the system in a state that can be distributed. Oh, and by the way, alpha testing has now started.
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-04-15]

14:40 - I've added some screenshots of the admin areas, and completed most items on my current "to do" list (such as issue list paging). I have a minor cross-platform issue with some javascript which I will be fixing shortly I hope. Then there are a couple of tasks to do with closing issues. Once they are done I'm going to review everything and start documenting the system as is before going on to make a start on the knowledge base functionality. Remember, if you have any suggestions or feature requests let me know.
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-04-15]

12:00 - Okay, the searching functionality is now completely in (as I've been promising for days). I've added a public notice page for administrator's to give public notices to users of the system. They are designed to be domain specific and could be used for general announcements or to give time specific information out. I've also tidied up the sorting functionality of the issue pages. I will be consulting with the CLC extensively over the next few days to ensure proper functionality.
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-04-14]

Well thanks to the full implementation of domains (take a look at the features page) I've decided to bump up the version number once again. Call me trigger happy but it's quite a fundamental change in the system and I thought it was justified. The next big change on the books is the introduction of the knowledge base. It will probably be a skeleton to begin with, but it shouldn't be long until it is full enough to be useful. I'm going to concentrate on the searching function over the next two days to make it full functional.
[Dave Thorne :)]

[2003-04-11]

We have just leapt up a version so that we are now on version 0.2! This increase was spurred on by the migration from MySQL to PostgreSQL and the quantum leap in functionality that the system has experienced in the last few days (I was up until 04.30 the other morning). Hopefully in the next few days, I'll be completing the search functionality and making a start on the domain administration.
[Dave Thorne :)]