Release Notes for Front Office 9.5

This article covers the following topics relating to the release of Front Office 9.5:

• Enhancements
• Bug Fixes
• System Configuration Setting Amendments
• Access Rights Amendments
• Installation/Upgrade Considerations

Enhancements to the product this release

The Front Office Help Centre provides an ever-increasing set of self-help resources, including knowledge base articles, FAQs, videos, adapters, and templates to download. Support calls can be logged online at https://frontofficehelp.biomni.com/.

New API Method to Send Email

Reference: 2905
A new Directa API `SendEmail` method has been added, enabling authenticated API users to send either a plain text or HTML email to a specific user of the system; this method will not work for anonymous API users. The authentication options are set in the Directa API adapter, within the Adapter Maintenance administration page.

In addition to the `SendEmail` method, a new `GetGroupMembers` method has also been added, which will assist API users by providing a list of all users within a specified group.

There is more information about the Adapter Maintenance security options and new API methods in the SDK documentation is installed here:

• <install location>\SDK\Biomni.FrontOffice.Sdk.chm

Approval API Methods

Reference: 2905
Three new approval methods have been added to the Directa API:

• ChangeApprover: Change an upcoming approver within a specific request to either a user or group.
• ResendApprovalNotification: Resend an approval email by supplying the request and sequence references.
• GetRequestApprovalStages: Fetch a comprehensive set of data of all approval stages for a specific request.

More information about each of these methods can be found within the SDK documentation installed here:

• <install location>\SDK\Biomni.FrontOffice.Sdk.chm

Number Field Format Control

Reference: 3028
An additional `maximum decimal places` configuration option has been added to the `number` request field, enabling users to define the maximum number of decimal places allowed when a number field is added to a request type form. The maximum value is 10 and it must be left blank if there is no restriction to decimal places; the default is no restriction. All values are stored and outputted as they are entered, and this configuration value does not control formatting.

Email Address Field Format Control

Reference: 3027
An additional `allow multiple email addresses` configuration option has been added to the `email` request field enabling users to define the validation rules used when an email field is added to a request type form. The default value is unchecked, which means the value is validated to make sure it is a single email address.

Approval Matrix "Does Not Contain" Rule

Reference: 2928
A new `does not contain` option has been added to the approval matrix rules, which expands the options available when defining rules for the following request fields:

• Single line text box
• Multi line text box
•  External list box

Approval Matrix "User Group from Field" Assigned Approver

Reference: 3006
A new `User Group from Field` option has been added to the approval matrix rules, which expands the options available when assigning an approver. A user group can now be assigned based upon a value within an external picklist, in a similar way to how the `User from Field` option functions. The supported request fields are:

• Forms v1
  • External Listbox
  • Listbox
  • Text Box
• Forms v2
  • External Listbox
  • Listbox
  • Multi-line text box
  • Single line text box
  • Radio Button

Please note: As part of this update, the `Base Data Upload Template` Excel file has been updated to include a new `User Group from Field` column within the `Approval Matrix` worksheet.

Password Security Features

Reference: 3014
Two new password security configuration options have been added to the `System Configuration` page:

• Maximum repeated characters in password: This value will determine how many times the same character can appear consecutively within the user’s password; for example, a value of 2 will not allow the same 3 characters to appear in a row. Setting this value to zero will disable this check, and this is the initial default.
• Password complexity: Configuration value to determine the level of complexity a user-entered password must meet, with `None` being the initial default; options are:
  • None
  • Require letters and numbers
  • Require letters, numbers, and symbols
  • Require uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols

Please note: `Password complexity` replaces `Force AlphaNumeric passwords` and configuration settings will be migrated as part of the upgrade:

• Yes => Requires letters and numbers
• No => None

More information about each of these security options is available in the System Settings List, available in the Documentation folder, and via the Admin > Support category on the website.

Bug Fixes

System Configuration Setting Amendments

A full list of System Settings is available in the Documentation folder and via the Admin > Support category in the website.

Deletions

• PWD_ALPHANUM: Force AlphaNumeric passwords

Additions

• PWD_COMPLEXITY: Password Complexity
  • Previously set values for PWD_ALPHANUM will be migrated to this more comprehensive configuration setting:
    • Yes => Requires letters and numbers
    • No => None
• PWD_CONSECUTIVE: Maximum repeated characters in the password.

Access Right Amendments

A full list of access rights is available in the System Settings List, available in the Documentation folder, and via the Admin > Support category on the website.

Installation/Upgrade Considerations

The install and upgrade process, as well as the instructions for applying a service pack, is explained in more detail in the Front Office 9.5 Installation and Upgrade Guide. If upgrading, please also review this section within each Release Notes for intervening versions.

Please contact the support team via the frontofficehelp if you have any questions

Prerequisite: .Net Framework 4.7.2

Front Office 9.5 requires .Net Framework 4.7.2 to be installed.

Role Privileges for Installation and Upgrade

The user who creates or upgrades the database should typically have the database ‘sysadmin’ role.
Prior to starting the process, a validation check warns if the user entered does not comply.

It is possible to run with reduced privileges. Details can be found in the Installation and Upgrade Guide:

• Installing and Upgrading Front Office 9.5 – Installing Database with reduced permission set. 

SDK

The Front Office SDK can be found in <install location>/SDK

Software Requirements

It is recommended that the latest service pack should always be used for all software.

Server Operating System

The following operating systems are supported:

• Windows Server 2012 R2
• Windows Server 2016
• Windows Server 2019

SQL Server

The following versions of SQL Server are supported:

• SQL Server 2014
• SQL Server 2016
• SQL Server 2017
• SQL Server 2019
• Azure SQL database
• Microsoft SQL Server on Amazon RDS

Client Browsers

The following client browsers are supported:

• Internet Explorer 11
• Edge
• Firefox
• Chrome
• Safari