Project Engine Client Readme

 

 

Installing a Java Runtime Environment

 

Since Project Engine is implemented in Java you need to make sure you have a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed. We strongly recommend installing Java Runtime Environment 1.4 or newer since some older versions have proven troublesome. Download one from java.sun.com at:

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html

 

In some cases the .jar extension has not been properly registered by the Java installation program. Then use the second (2) shortcut in the Start menu that uses the form:

“JAVA_HOME\bin\javaw.exe” -jar “path to ProjectEngine\ProjectEngineClient.jar”

 

Note that the second shortcut requires that the Java Runtime Environment have been installed and that the computer was restarted before Project Engine was installed!

 

 

How to run Project Engine Client

 

Project Engine should be ready to run immediately after installation but if something fails follow the instructions below:

 

 

Working offline

 

After installation Project Engine Client is set up for using offline. Work offline in a single user project or temporarily when out of contact with the Project Engine Server. The settings for port number and server address is of no importance when working offline.

 

  1. Run the Project Engine Client by selecting Project Engine Client from the Start menu or by double clicking on the ProjectEngineClient.jar file.
  2. Select the work offline (cancel) button at the “connect to server” dialog.
  3. Log in using the default user Administrator with no password (blank).

 

 

Working online connected to a Project Engine Server

 

The normal way of working in a project of more than one user is connected (online) to the server.

 

  1. Run the Project Engine Client by selecting Project Engine Client from the Start menu or by double clicking on the ProjectEngineClient.jar file.
  2. Modify the properties from the “connect to server” dialog and make sure the server address property points to the computer running the Project Engine Server. The property port number needs to be the same as the one used by the Project Engine Server you like to connect to (there may be more than one on a single computer). The default is port number=1234 but any number may be used.
  3. Log in using the user name and password given by the administrator of the Project Engine Server. The Administrator user has no password initially after installation.

 

 

Note about firewalls

 

If you are behind a firewall you may experience problems when trying to access a computer outside the firewall. This can be solved in one of three ways:

 

  1. Open up a port in the firewall for Project Engine to use.
  2. Set up Project Engine Client and Server to use port 80.
  3. Set up Project Engine for proxy tunnelling (see the Project Engine documentation how to do this).

 

 

Upgrading the client

 

New versions of both the server and the client are available on the Project Engine home page at all times.  It is recommended to upgrade both the server and client at the same time. Using different versions of client and server might result in unexpected results, usually that some functionality is unavailable.

 

To upgrade an existing client installation with a new version, follow the steps below:

 

  1. Start the installation program of the new client version.
  2. On the “Select Destination Directory” screen, make sure the path points to the directory where the old Project Engine Client installation was installed. This directory should be selected by default.
  3. Accept the default settings on all other screens.

 

 

Revision History for Project Engine Client

 

Version 2004:10 – 19 aug 2004

* Task List property dialog improved.
* Added buttons for inserting parent title, parent goal or delimiter in task dialog.
* New todo service able to display a simple task list for XHTML mobile phones.

 

Version 2004:9 – 2 aug 2004

 

 

Version 2004:8 – 21 jul 2004

* Improved GANTT chart.
* Add time intervals off work for any user.
* GANTT chart now visible from web interface.
* Possible to change task status from details view in web interface.

 

Version 2004:7 – 13 jun 2004

* Send email when assigned a new task or task changed.
* Gantt Chart based on priority and expiration date.
* Server does not wait for a user before a save/backup – more efficient.
* Server Web Services documented.

 

Version 2004:6 – 3 jun 2004

* New menu to be able to make new instances of templates easier.
* Show unassigned tasks from Task List.
* [parentGoal] and [parentTitle] tags in goal description.
* Updated UI for new JRE.
* New template suitable for a manual test process.

 

Version 2004:5 – 15 mar 2004

* Fixed problem with foreign characters in attachment filename.
* New language: Portuguese.
* Fixed problem with viewing office files in web interface (almost).
* Attachments can be added from the web interface.

 

Version 2004:4 – 7 mar 2004

* Performance optimisations.
* Fixed bugs regarding attachments and importing large xml files.

 

Version 2004:3 – 23 feb 2004

* Version control for attachments.
* View attachments in Internet Explorer.
* Fixed problems with synchronizing and templates.

 

Version 2004:2 – 3 feb 2004

* Microsoft Project Import.
* Improved scheduling and possible to deliver a task on a specified time.
* Manual On/Off-line replacing the automatic connection to the server.
* Fixed bug when resetting the password for a user.

* Client and Server now use the same installation program.

 

 

Version 2004 – 6 jan 2004

* Entirely rewritten client/server communication protocol.
* A new improved and very user friendly Web Interface.
* A new Mobile Phone Client, even easier to use than before.
* A Web Service Tester for direct access to the server.
* Customisable login page for the Web Interface
* Improved installation

* Possible to match workers and sub-workers in all reports.

* Workload report does not spread workload on weekends.

* Add days off work for any user.

* Customisable visible columns in task lists.

 

 

Version 3.1.3 – 4 nov 2003

* New Report: Gantt chart

* Possible to define the ideal workweek in the Users Dialog.

* Work remaining and work done can be specified with two decimals.

* Fixed bug when entering & in the Task title.

 

 

Version 3.1.2 – 27 sep 2003

* Folders and Folder Templates are replaced by automatic folder behaviour.

* Task List and Estimation Summary Report are now indented (title field)

* Bug fixed when importing an XML file when connected to server.

 

 

Version 3.1.1 – 18 sep 2003

* Task List Filter and Task List now contain task type.

* Clear password function.

 

 

Version 3.1 - 31 aug 2003

* Child order replaced with “Deliver subtasks in sequence”.

* Synchronization can be turned off to improve performance.

* synclog.txt is cleared when client properties are changed.

* All task icons replaced.

* Select task after an update bug fixed.

 

 

Version 3.0.13 - 16 aug 2003

* Search task now starts at selected task.

* Updated documentation.

 

 

Version 3.0.12

* Improved installation, adds two shortcuts in case the first does not work.

* Copy or Delete multiple tasks in the Task Tree.

* Assigned to moved to the advanced tab for Folders and Folder Templates.

 

 

Version 3.0.11

* Ability to search for a task in the task tree.

* Improved focus handling.

* Save Report in Excel format now replaces \r, \n and \t with spaces.

* US calendar now begins at Sunday (instead of Monday as before).

 

 

Version 3.0.10

* Arrows in the task tree that indicates the tasks that are delivered.

* The move task (drag and drop) command is now synchronized.

 

 

Version 3.0.9

* Drag and drop support for moving tasks in the task tree.

 

 

Version 3.0.8

* Improved performance of Project Engine Encryption.

 

 

Version 3.0.7

* Improved user authorization including three new user types (Restricted, Normal and Administrator).

* Support for real attachments.

 

 

Version 3.0.6

* New import task from XML-file option in task tree.

* Fixed error in version 3.0.5 when saving folders.

 

 

Version 3.0.5

* Improved update of internal frames in the client desktop.

* Schedule a task for recurrence on dates, weeks, months or years.

* Possible to create a new child task directly from the task dialog.

* Integer validation in task dialog.

 

 

Version 3.0.4

* New and improved tutorials.

* Task id removed from Your Task List and History List.

 

 

Version 3.0.3

* Update interval 0 turns the automatic update off. Negative values not allowed.

* Not able to add more users than specified in license (when online).

* Only the creator is allowed to delete a user/worker or group.

 

 

Version 3.0.2

* Updated documentation.

* Stores all data to the xml directory at each update even when working offline.

* Bug fix when synchronizing users.

* Shows user id in User Dialog Title.

* Not allowed to activate a template task without authority.

* Updated license key format.

 

 

Version 3.0.1

* Bug fix for Workload Report giving an Invalid Date message if no tasks are found.

 

 

Version 3.0

* Project Engine Client offline mode. Work with Project Engine Client even when not connected to the server.

* Automatic synchronization between client and server.

* Repeat a task manually.

* Only auto start and auto complete non assigned tasks when they have no child tasks.

* Bug corrected with date format in Task Dialog.

* New task types: Task Template, Folder and Folder Template

* Getting Started Tutorial

 

 

Version 2.3.1

* Support for three languages.

* Local date/time format for each language.

 

 

Version 2.3

* Properites can be changed from the client.

* Password can be changed from the client.

* Scheduling - Repeat your tasks any number of times or at certain intervals.

* Shows when a task has been delivered and to what user.

* Support for SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and SSL tunneling through a proxy.

* Updated user interface.

* New Reports:

          Task list - Lists tasks using a filter.

          Status report - Shows tasks started, completed and completed late day by day.

          Late task list - Gives a list of tasks that are completed late, are late or estimated to be late.

          Workload - View the workload of the project or any in the past, the present or in the near future.

          Estimation summary - Summarizes estimations in a task with all child tasks.

          Estimation history - View task time estimation through history.

          Estimation statistics - View the accuracy of a users estimation on each task and on average.

* Your task list now hides tasks that have not completed subtasks.

* Print option for all reports.

* Disables functionality when fields are not accessible.

* Tooltips for all options in task dialog.