FF! 8+ Development Notes

Support Forums Now Open

2007-03-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

At long last, we've finally re-opened our
Support Forums on a new site, using DotNetNuke among other tools.

Like our blogs, the new forums support RSS and that is where the bulk of new information will be posted, including white papers, questions and answers and code snippets. We've created separate areas for sales and ER discussions, there are also five separate support forums : Foxfire! 8+, 6.0, 3.0, Web support and Object model/customization support.

While we will always respond back through email, we've found that the junk email that comes in on a publicly known or common email address makes it very easy for things to slip betweeen the cracks so register on the forum and post your questions for the very latest information and support on Foxfire!

See you up there!

Foxfire! 8.0 - Build 490

2007-03-02T11:41:00.000-08:00

Foxfire! Build 490 is available for download.

Full Install

Refresh

There are a few more items to wrap-up with regard to combo date filters however, we have been doing more internal tests than anything so we wanted to get this out to everyone:

This update also deals with the following:
1. SQL Errors now respect the timeout setting.
2. When you change output settings, they are saved as soon as you click Run. Email settings were not saved properly previously.
3. Improved Outlook email handling.
4. Fix for You Must Close FF! when hitting the Close box after running a request.
5. Floating workbench now reflects changes when removing data items.
6. A variety of changes for the combo classes including support for filters:

If you are using the aarcombo as a custom control class, set the cFilterDef property (under Control properties in the Filter button) to the filter criteria to use (such as [cars.make='Ford'], and only values matching that criteria will appear in the drop-down list.

Foxfire! 8.0 - Build 483

2007-01-20T13:51:00.000-08:00

Foxfire! Build 483 is available for download.

Full Install

Refresh

This update also deals with the following:
1. When previewing a report from the Designer, Foxfire! would sometimes go into a loop.
2. When you right-click on a Sort item, Group options are now shown.
3. Top N is now properly enabled.
4. Fixes for minor problems with the Expression Builder when using Filters.
5. Email address now stays when you view the Email Options.
6. Sort arrows now appear to the left of the sort items.
7. When you send a request to a different output that doesn't automatically appear, Foxfire! will tell you where the file was placed.
8. Some cosmetic changes were made to the Custom processing tab.

Foxfire! 8.0 - Build 480

2007-01-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

Foxfire! Build 480 is available for download.

Full Install

Refresh

Some users who had downloaded build 478 or 479 were noting some problems with the refreshing of selected data items and the selected data item groups. This has been corrected in build 480. It also resolves a problem when copying a filter that doesn't have a valid data item in it.

This update also deals with a number of cosmetic issues:
1. Cleans up the alignment of the group headers in the Design Preview page
2. When you select Cancel from the Exceed Width dialog, the data item is not added to the selected list.
3. The Permissions and Save As dialog uses more positive terms.
4. The License details and activation screens are clearer and make it easier to extend.

Build 477 - RC and Download Changes

2006-12-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the long delay in posts.

Build 477 is our release candidate and although we have identified some minor updates that will be released early next week (in the area of the Setup Wizard and the Help files), we did not want to delay it any further.

When you click the link to download the setup, you will be prompted for your email address and your company name. This will be used to identify your Customer ID where the location of the download will be sent to you. If your company is already on file, your existing customer ID will be sent to the email address we have on file for your company. If you do not receive an email, please email us at support@foxfirereporting.com.

When you first start Build 477, you will be prompted for your Customer ID and your company name as you entered it. Full instructions will be sent with the email.

You may get the download here

Foxfire! 8.0 - Build 476

2006-11-19T12:46:00.000-08:00

Full Install

Refresh

Updated Features
New content summary page available on property page shows the contents of the report, including sorts and filters.
Report and Output paths now support Windows environment settings. Specify the environment setting within % % and they will be updated when loading.
When using the Relationship finder, developers can specify the default relationship type and change it by right-clicking on the relationship. In the finder, Inner Joins appear as a thick line. Outer joins appear as thin line.

Fixes
The Expression Builder loads much faster with large data dictionaries.
Fix for filtering with DateTime data items when using ANSI or BRITISH date settings.
Fix for errors when adding a filter to a summary request
Filter now shows properly when docking and undocking workbench
The OR and AND statements in filters show in the Design Preview area as they will in the Report Preview

Foxfire! 8.0 - Build 475

2006-11-04T12:33:00.000-08:00

Build 475 is now available for download.

Full Install
Refresh

This build introduces a new security feature into Foxfire! where you can specify the default report set for a given user id.

Under the permissions screen for user managers, choose the default report set for the user login. When the user logs in, that report set will be selected automatically. This build also updates some issues with the SQL generation and upgrading.

Full notes will be posted later.

Foxfire! Build 474

2006-10-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

Lots of updates in this one , primarily in the area of dealing with outer joins and upgrading from older versions of Foxfire!.

Full Install

Refresh

Build 469

2006-10-06T14:32:00.000-07:00

Full Install

Refresh (only FOXFIRE.APP and FFADMIN)

Build 466: Better than 465!

2006-09-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

Yeah, ok, whoops! In my eagerness to get build 465 up, I introduced two little bugs that were found immediately and needed to be fixed.

Build 466 resolves these and you can download either the refresh or the full install (should be up there in a few minutes).

As a note, if you are downloading Foxfire!, you will be prompted for a password. Please email support@micromegasystems.com to receive it. We will be replacing that mechanism with a little more web-based approach hopefully next week.

Which one should you download?
If you have already started building report sets with Foxfire!, download the refresh and unzip it over your existing versions.

You can apply a single refresh over older versions (even as far back as build 433).

If you have never installed Foxfire! before or just want to create a brand new install, download the full build.

Sorry for the inconvenience if you just downloaded build 465!

Build 465: Designer and Request Manager Updates

2006-09-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

~~Foxfire! Build 465 is now available.~~ Update: Build 466 is now available - a last minute bug was found and had to be fixed immediately. These links still work.

Refresh
Full Setup

This version also includes an updated help file.

This update includes the following updates:
Request Manager Updates
- Updates for importing FFX files. If Foxfire! cannot import the FFX file, it will display a message explaining why. We have seen some instances where report layouts were incorrectly stored. There are still some other issues with importing depending on your use of characters (such as &) which will be fixed in a future build. (366772)

- Variety of fixes for running batches, including being able to run single requests in a batch. (355435, 353374, 520)

- After moving reports into different folders, the Request Manager stays in the same folder. In earlier versions, it would always reset to the main folder. (367489)

- When creating a new cross-tab, it puts the new request into the folder you started in. (367481)

- Permissions for designers and end users now correctly show Update Dictionary, Expand Search and Union options (34763, 331446)

Request Designer Changes
- if you change the column header and then export to Excel, the updated column headers will appear (327207)
- Help button is enabled in SQL (244449)
- Selected Item count was removed from labels (123143)
- Various cross-tab glitches (29921)
- When you preview a report after editing, it returns you to the same tab you were in when editing (367187)

Internal Updates
- Fix for invalid SQL being generated for SQL Server dictionaries that use alternate sort orders (367497)
- Fix for Foxfire! incorrectly selecting the wrong request when running Unioned requests (367490)
- When sending a report to support, the error dialog will disappear while it sends. (363993)

Build 462: Updates to Upgrading

2006-09-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

Build 462 is available for a while with some updates to importing and exporting as well as the auto-indent with reports that had to Auto-Fit.

Refresh

Full Install

Build 460: Updates for Upgrading and Distribution

2006-09-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

The latest update (460) includes a variety of fixes for upgrading and using the Distribution Wizard.

If you have an older version, you can simply use the Refresh and unzip the latest changes ontop of your existing files (it will update the necessary items).

Full Install

Refresh

Build 455: Available for Download

2006-09-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

Full Install

Refresh Update

Update Highlights
Request Permissions are now saved in the Request Manager.
Save As limits the Request length.
Fix for creating new data items with invalid characters (you are able to do it but the output field name no longer causes SQL error)
Fix for line spacing
Data Browser for Cross-tabs now locks first column but allows multi-column scrolling.
Fix for rolling up workbench
Fix for displaying larger font sizes in the Detail band.

Build 449

2006-08-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

Build 449 has been uploaded with various updates for some crashes on imports as well as updates for those running the web version.

Full Install

Refresh Update

Build 446

2006-08-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

Refresh
Full Install

The only item that had changed of significance in the FOXFIRE.APP file so you may choose to only install the refresh version.

Updates of Note
77702 - If you create a report with the same name as another and attempt to tab out, Foxfire! keeps you in the Describ Request tab.
250446 - Updated titles of workbench
120291 - The Auto-indent is recalculated properly when you add and remove multiple groups.
43 - FFCONFIG supports email bursting phases of PRE BURST, IN BURST and POST BURST.
251108 - Cosmetic changes in the New Request Dialog
253839 - Foxfire! cannot import FFX files with spaces in the name - this has been corrected during the export so that files with spaces get an _ instead.
252349 - When creating a report in a subfolder, Foxfire! puts the new report into that subfolder correctly.

Build 442: Minor Updates Only

2006-08-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

The build # jumped because we did a bunch of rebuilds while testing.

Refresh
Full Install

Some minor updates but more major ones in the COM component for the web edition.

165220 - Fix for Excel charts not working properly with Office 2007
209144 - Data Item group list should now be alphabetical
240639 - If you change the Data Item calculation, it is now displayed properly in the Summary Group footer page
242113 - When you cancel out of the Font dialog, it recognizes that you are canceling the option
248768 - When you view requests from a subfolder and then run them, Foxfire! remembers the subfolder and puts you back there when it reloads.

Build 439: Minor Updates

2006-08-08T17:51:00.000-07:00

Refresh Update

Primarily fixes for the web version including updated DLLs, and better handling of running with Inventory report from the default install.

Build 438: Minor Update

2006-08-08T03:49:00.000-07:00

Refresh
Full Install

Updates to:
186600 - A text box appears to be hiding under the design preview. Weird problem with FoxPro pageframes, containers and visible property settings.
211236 - Fix for Page Width Unknown Message.
143683 - Group Header options are now disabled when you turn off Show Group Header/Footer.
184240 - Fix for error when sorting by an aggregate field and then removing that field.
233291 - Change to text in dialog when removing a data item.
166906 - Customized layouts are now identified in red in the Design Preview. Note that we can't show the custom layout - but it is noted to you when working on the layout.
233029 - Request Manager now saves your current sort orders within a session.

Build 437: Administrative Tools Update

2006-08-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

Build 437 includes a number of updates to the administration tools, specifically the Setup Wizard, Distribution Wizard and Data Item Group Editor.

Full Install
Refresh Update

Issues
219334 - Fixed issue for renaming data items in data group editor
219803 - Fix for Error in Distinct Memo in Relationship Finder
201250 - Setup Wizard no longer crashes on views
34806 - Distribution Wizard runs with all files
34831 - Data Item Group Editor updates automatically with new names
219334 - When renaming data items in the Group Editor, it prompts you before retrieving it. This way, you don't get a performance hit right off the bat.
203489 - Distribution Wizard updates the distributed report sets
203463 - New distribution now works properly when first distributed.
227551 - Update for deleting New Data Items that haven't been registered yet.
115 - New labels on Setup Wizards
58403 - Fix for index tag not found when validating table names

Foxfire! Daily Build: 435

2006-08-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

This refresh includes updates only to the main Foxfire designer.

Fixes include:
- a number of fixes to the import process
215813 - the meta data (definitions) is not exported by default when you export. If you want the user to include the definitions, you need to select it directly.

151719 - Fix for error "Alias _FFGRPS not found" when reloading Request manager
182507 - Fix for not being able to add a new group filter based on count of records
755 - Update for import where the # of relationships, # data items remained after the import was completed.
144037 - a number of fixes for issues related to printing reports that were imported
161322 - Ensuring that new field definitions are not assumed when doing an export. Users would get errors if they attempted to export a request from an older install without editing it.

Build 434 Now Available

2006-08-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

Full Install
Refresh Setup

Note: Daily builds are going to start being posted. These builds will be focused on the daily fixes instead of waiting for a single update with a large number of fixes in it. Both the full installs and refreshes will be uploaded and noted here.

What's Been Updated in 434:
76 - Fixed error when closing out of PivotTable with Excel
1996 - Cross-tab errors when sorting
64621 - Fix for error that occurs when running exported requests with grouped layouts
78269 - Fix for data item group editor not working with tables and groups with the same name
184410 - Fix for renaming folders
186793 - Aggreg data items in summary reports now show up properly in Automatic summaries
193619 - The option to sort by Distinct counts has been removed as it is not supported with SQL.
123116 - Date Item builder now shows the new items that were just created.
123145 - Fix for not being able to create cross-tabs by choosing the calculation earlier
123148 - Fix for changing the sort order in cross-tabs
206874 - When you remove a summary calculation , it is now removed from the Group Filter if it was used there.
207136 - The option to Edit Data Items has been removed for Aggregate fields as there are calculated fields.
134396 - If you attempt to drag and drop an exported request from the Outlook web client, the ensuing COM error is trapped for.
134430 - Fix for attempting to import after running detect and repair as the files are already open.
134529 - Fix for removing data items from labels by double-clicking - an error would occur when no other items were on the list.
134853 - Fix for Label1 error being arranged when switching label types.
148523 - Fix for switching report into landscape mode in XFRX.
182507 - FIX for attempting to filter on summary or calculated fields like COUnt of records.

Minor Update

2006-07-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

There was a problem with the most recent uploading of Build 433 of Foxfire! in which new FFSTART files were not put into the refresh or full install. This causes a crash when you attempt to close out of the designer without saving your changes.

You may download a quick fix for this in a zip file here or redownload the full install.

A refresh update with some additional fixes should be available tomorrow.

Build 433

2006-07-24T08:04:00.000-07:00

Full Install
Refresh Setup

The following items have been updated:

67754 - Data Item Editor has selected/all disabled when you go in with Edit Mode.
110298 - Changing summary calculation to None - does not sum on the report.
22575 - Sort/Group arrows are black on white (instead of grey)
85587 - Cross-tabs do allow for Pivot Tables to be created but do not allow for formatted cross-tabs.
74805 - Cross-tabs do not output to PDF directly but recommend Excel or Data Browser videos
56814 - Sort changes are respected
69831 - Fix for Form2 Not found when resizing form
45235 - Correct report set is re-selected after doing Detect and Repair
111468 - Distinct count now appears as # of Values. (Note: existing reports may need to be modified)
111452 - Export now respects custom folders.
34881 - Fix for error when directories were not present.
148521 - When filtering on Other Data Items, the Other Data items combo drops down automatically.
148522 - Better messages now appear when using Reserved SQL Names in the output
34800 - Fix for error _FLTVAL not found
69907 - When using Contains, the Is/Is Not option correctly appears as Does/Does not.
46733 - Updated Developer Help now included.
762 - A variety of import changes including direct support for FFX and XML files
144690 - Items that are on the second line are now respected when you export them.
21449 - Exporting supports the proper email engine on the system
53118 - Fix for RQ_FLDVARS not found when editing request
68296 - Labels can now be sent to a PDF
712 - An option to Cancel closing the Request Editor is now available when you close the designer
148524 - Report comments are shown on the report
83167 - Excel Errors are now trapped and appear better when they occur in Foxfire!.
106850 - When saving a report with another name, the Report Title is updated.
101521 - The Request Manager now automatically expands to show the full name and description
641/673 - the Grand Total line now appears on the same line as the grand totals UNLESS the first column is a calculated value.
614 - Merge button is always available. Expand search is available only if security is enabled.
148519 - New labels are used for Total and Distinct.
103679 - Fix for error of Menu has not been defined in System admnistrator.

Build 431 - Minor Updates

2006-07-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Full Install
Refresh Setup

The following items have been updated:
26 - Setup Wizard Captions Updated
39484 - When filtering with Between or In the List, the Select a value dialog lets you select two values properly
82521 - updated Ask at runtime screen when doing Between searches with drop-down values
90980 - When printing cross tabs, you will only be prompted once
74805 - Sending a cross-tab to PDF or formatted Excel is no longer permitted - you can send each individual strip to formatted output but not the all of the individual pieces
Various minor internal updates to improve network performance