Customizing FIT Made Easier

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  • Posted by Peter Worthing
  • Friday, July 08, 2011

    • The developers for FIT have always strived to make end user customizations one of the major benefits in choosing their software. The benefits of customization are :

    1. Being able to customize the appearance of the tool through html and css changes can be as simple as adding a logo and matching the colors of the interface to those of the company. This allows customers to make the software fit (pardon the punn) in an existing web site or match the pages that take the users to it. It also allows you to add html and links to other sites or tools which might be useful to users.

    2. Our workflow feature allows you to define rules about what users can see and which users are able to modify specific fields or issues. It can also be used to control or make modifications to issues based on the values which are saved during modifications.

    3. Language strings can be changed across the tool in the language settings feature where language translations can be modified or created for any string in the system. These strings will localize the product to any language, if someone is available to do the translations. The product is shipped with Spanish, French, German and English base translations.

    4. Complex customizations can be achieved by adding javascript to the product, which opens up an endless list of possibilities. Some common examples are :

    - changing field values based on the current user, or the values of other fields

    - hiding/displaying parts of the page depending on what is currently happening in an issue.

    - adding custom instructions or options to the user for a specific purpose

    One problem that has always been a nuisance to administrators, especially those on hosted systems, has been the ability to upload files where FIT can actually access them. Until now, access to the actual machine where FIT resides, has always been necessary. This meant that the system administrator or FIT team (for hosted systems) has always had to be involved.

    A new upload feature has just been added to FIT which will allow any administrator for FIT to simply upload a file to a public directory served by the system, so it can be accessed directly by the tool. So, if you have a new logo, a pdf with special instructions, or want to store your javascript in a .js file, rather than a custom string, you can now upload them directly to your server, where they can be accessed by FIT immediately. You no longer need to make a request to your IT tech or to the FIT team. (hosted systems)

    Example:

    A recent request came in about how to customize the favicon file which is used for the URL icon in the browser address bar.

    This image is configured by changing the sFAVICON custom string. If you have a proper .ico file that you would rather see in the address bar and on browser tabs, you can upload the file to FIT and then change this string to something like the following (since the upload goes to public) :

    This is equivalent to the following (leave out the port if you are redirecting through apache) :

    ** Note: the two lank tags above should actually be "link" this blog would not allow me to format link tags properly within the text.

    FIT TIP #2

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  • Posted by Caroline Redekopp
  • Friday, June 17, 2011
  • Labels:
    • CREATING USERS

    Action: Admin Menu>General Setup>User

    Complete the following fields: User Id (the name others will see, you can keep this a short form of their name as it also the name the user will have to login with), Password (user can always change it later), Confirm Password, User Tag (optional, this is where you can put the user’s full name if you want, which will be displayed in brackets after their User Id), Email address (this is the address that their notifications will be sent to). Select their user type. Profile to Copy is handy and can save you a lot of time if you are creating a large number of users and they all have the same profile. Add User to selected tracks is available as an option if you have more than one track. Here you can select which tracks to give the user access. Then select Add User.

    How to Add Formulas to Custom User Fields

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  • Posted by Peter Worthing
  • Thursday, May 19, 2011
  • Labels: , ,
    • FIT has always offered a Rank formula which allows the administrator to configure Rank to show a calculated value for each issue, based on the states of issues, or based on the values of specific fields for an issue.


    The most common use for the Rank field is to create an escalation order for issues based on a combination of :
    A) the priority of the issue, and
    B) how long the issue has been sitting open


    This way, a quick report can be made using the Rank field to order the issues.
    Any issues which have been sitting more than X days will become more important.


    The value for Rank is calculated using an OGNL formula, which allows us to use the values for fields of each bug structure, or methods defined in the BugStruct class, to make a custom calculation. For example, the default Rank formula :
    (100-mPriority*10)+getElapsedTime()


    This formula calculates an escalation value where any issue that is open for more than 10 days will escalate to a rank of a new issue in the next Priority scale.
    This is very useful but it is limited in that it only allows one calculation.


    With Version 8.03+, a few new classes have been created as part of the base code set for FIT. These are :
    FormulaCustomUserField - create a custom formula showing a Double value
    FormulaIntCustomUserField - create a custom formula showing an Integer value
    FormulaDateCustomUserField - create a custom formula showing a Date value

    Each of these new class types can be very useful to create your very own custom field.

    Note the new custom option in the Advanced settings of the Admin -> Custom Fields menu.
    Generally, this is used for classes that are created by our team as an add-on feature.

    These Formula types allow you to use the OGNL functionality as a formula for a readonly calculated field type which you can use for reports, other calculations, etc.

    As an example, one custom recently inquired about how to include the date that an issue was closed. Unfortunately, the Closed Date is not an existing default field in the system. However, the data does exist for the calculation of the ElapsedTime (time until closed) field.

    The new FormulaDateCustomUserField allows us to define a new field called "CLOSED DATE" which will simply take the value of the mClosedDate field, which is in the system. The formula in this case is very simple, but it shows how useful the field can be.

    The following images show the configuration option :






    and the resulting details for a given issue:


    We appreciate that OGNL can be complicated but we do list the BugStruct fields as part of the Rank documentation. Also, you are free to discuss with us if you are not sure, but you think this field could be of use to you.

    FIT TIP #1: IMPORTING USERS

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  • Posted by Caroline Redekopp
  • Wednesday, May 18, 2011
  • Labels:


    • Action: Admin Menu>General Setup>User>FileImport

    You can import Users from a file (excel spreadsheet) that has lines formatted as follows: [login,password,tag,email,type,group] for example: jsmith, password123, Jane Smith, jsmith@alceatech.com, normal, IT Group (add group only if you have already created groups previous to importing users)

    ALCEA TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE, FIRE STATION #11, IS HOT SPOT FOR LOCAL FILM STARRING FORMER OTTAWA NEWS ANCHOR

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  • Posted by Caroline Redekopp
  • Thursday, May 05, 2011
  • Labels:






    • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2011

    CONTACT: Robert Lacasse or Sue Norton at 613-563-9595, 424 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Y 1H1

    OTTAWA: Former Fire Station #11, which now houses local IT staffing/software technology company, Alcea Technologies Inc. transformed once again, but this time into a movie set. Phsychological Thriller, September Runs Red, began shooting at 424 Parkdale Avenue this weekend. “We fell in love immediately with the old firehall location (Alcea Technologies) because of its rich character, mix of old brick and twisting hallways, hardwood floors and massive ceilings,” says Director Dan Forgues of Blackhouse Pictures Inc. For the owners of Alcea it was about supporting the arts. “We jumped at the chance to support Canadian low budget film making and our local talent,” said Alcea Technologies President, Robert Lacasse, “It didn’t hurt either that the lead actress just happens to work here too!”

    September Runs Red is about a successful, modern day woman, Taylor Evans, starring former Ottawa News Anchor and now Alcea’s Sales Manager, Caroline Redekopp, who finds her world rapidly collapsing around her as a sudden and unexplained phobia to water grips her psyche and shatters her fragile world. “After watching a number of Caroline’s previous performances in various films (and her audition) my gut told me she could pull off the range needed in this complex character,” explains Forgues.

    Redekopp accepted the role without hesitation, “It’s exciting to play a lead role in my hometown especially one that is such an intriguing character and one that could help others confront their own fears,” says Redekopp. Taylor is forced to seek help from an unorthodox Doctor Cane, played by Xavier Sotelo, another Ottawa actor. “It has been nothing short of a real, genuine pleasure to work with Caroline. She, without question, inspires me to give nothing short of 'above-and-beyond' and to really focus. She’s a real pro!” says Sotelo. Sotelo’s character is nothing short of the worst kind of therapist who takes your breath away. “There’s nothing better than breathing life into words,” explains Sotelo, “with a Latino accent that will no doubt capture our female audience,” adds Redekopp.

    Dr. Cane, a notorious psychiatrist, is linked to a successful but controversial behavior analysis treatment he's pioneered on a desolate island.

    Reluctantly, Dr. Cane agrees to treat Taylor's irrational fear of water but on the sole condition the treatment take place on the remote island for her safety and wellbeing.

    Once on the secluded island, Taylor begins to suspect that Dr. Cane might not be giving her the whole truth, and that a terrible fate will befall her if she doesn't find a way off the island. Complicating matters further, Taylor learns Dr. Cane has a collaborator and a secret he's been hiding for more than thirty years, a secret he desperately wants to keep concealed at all cost.

    Driven to escape the island and the eerie Doctor, Taylor must face the demons within and enter the dark creepy lake water to reclaim the strength she desperately needs to salvage her being and escape the island alive. “Who knows,” explains Redekopp, “I just might exorcise a few of my own personal demons during the process,” On the island nothing is ever what it seems.

    Adam Beach is confirmed to play Taylor’s boyfriend, Dylan. He joins Redekopp on the set Monday, May 9, 2011.

    Shooting is expected to wrap up on a lake near Portland, Ontario May 26, 2011. September Runs Red will be available on the airwaves Spring 2012.

    424 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Y 1H1 Phone: (613) 563-9595

    City of Ottawa’s Light Rail project on track with FIT Tracking Solutions – Risky Business?

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  • Posted by Caroline Redekopp
  • Wednesday, May 04, 2011
  • Labels:

    • Ottawa, ON (May 5, 2011) – It may be about risk, but it’s no risky venture for City of Ottawa’s Light Rail project. City employees have fully integrated a local software solution into the risk management of its Light Rail project to help avoid costly and time-consuming risk.

    This local solution developed by Ottawa based company FIT Tracking Solutions, is a risk analysis application specifically configured for the city. “It’s a first for us, but it’s certainly not a first when it comes to providing tracking software,” said Robert Lacasse, Co-founder of FIT Tracking Solutions.

    FIT software developed from an in-house need for a bug tracking tool in 1999, and like the city’s speeding Light Rail transportation, the software has sped up quickly in growth to numerous applications, from issue to project to helpdesk tracking to now risk analysis tracking.

    “We’re always open to new ways to provide our customers with the tools they need,” said FIT Sales Manager, Caroline Redekopp, “you see a need, you fill it, that’s just good business.”

    That good business sense led to the creation of the OLRT RAID or Ottawa Light Rail Track Risk Analysis. OLRT RAID was designed to systematically help users identify, analyze and respond to project risk maximizing the probability and consequences of positive risk and minimizing the probability and impact of negative risk.

    The OLRT RAID system officially went into production November 2010 and is definitely on the right track with city employees. While the city’s no quote policy deters us from using direct quotes, we have been told FIT’s Risk Analysis Track is being well received and has now been fully integrated with the city’s Stakeholder Database.

    If you would like to see how this tool can be utilized in your company, please click on the following link and create your own hosted trial:
    http://www.fittrackingsolutions.com/demos/trialhosted.html
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