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Hybrid Objects
An object can now be created comprising of different component types (eg .htm and .exe) which can be manipulated seamlessly as a single entity.
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Integration with Visual Source Safe
VC/m can store objects in a Visual Source Safe library. A Visual Source Safe library is used by VC/m in exactly the same way as VC/m uses its native library. Multiple versions of objects can be placed into and retrieved from a Visual Source Safe library. When placed in the library, each component is labeled with the object name, variant and version of the object that owns it.
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User-Definable Transfer Functions
In earlier releases it was only possible to define one transfer route of any one type between any two locations. For example, a Transfer from A to B. It is now possible to create multiple routes between two locations by using a different function code for each pair. Each route can then have different characteristics (such as access codes) enabling them to be used for different purposes and in different contexts.
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Web-based Client Interface
A completely new user interface allows objects to be manipulated using Microsoft's Internet Explorer web-browser. The interface includes a tree-like display of locations and their contents. Objects can be manipulated using intuitive drag-and-drop methods.
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New License Key Mechanism
A license key mechanism has been introduced that enables key files to be distributed that control the user count and component and location drivers that are enabled. Additionally, an expiry date can be specified for any component enabling new features to be evaluated in the environment of an installed VC/m system.
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;; Comments
The M routine component driver (R type components) now allows comment lines to be generated with ;;vc; prefixes. This allows comments to be generated that do not get removed from the routine when its source code is removed.
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Transfer Route Attributes
The following new attributes have been added to transfer routes:
o Create new version? The version number can be incremented at any point in an object's life cycle.
o Hide/Show/Prompt for status date? The status date associated with each version of an object can now be hidden, displayed or prompted on any transfer route.
o Status date caption. The caption for the status date is also configurable for each transfer route.
o User-definable audit trail message. The text of the message that is stored in the audit trail is now user-definable for each transfer route.
o User-definable dependency functions. An extrinsic function may be referenced in the 'Dependent locations' field to allow user-definable dependency conditions to be setup.
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Generic Locations
Three generic locations can now be created (%ANY, %FROM and %TO) and referenced in transfer routes. This allows transfer routes to be set up from anywhere to anywhere.
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Location Maintenance
The location maintenance function has been completely reworked to allow a single logical location to map to multiple physical locations. A component mask specifies which components map to each physical location. As an added convenience, physical locations are created on-the-fly to make the setup process easier and quicker.
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Menu Reorganisation
The main menus have been reorganised to make them more rational and intuitive.
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Audit Trail
The audit trail now allows inquiry by date to use a date range rather than just a single date.
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Bulk Transfer
Bulk transfer features are now controlled by run-time call arguments:
o Enable/Disable status function
o Print transfer report
o Release auto-default
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Load
The load function does not match versions against different variants. This enables components with the same name, but which are actually different, to be loaded more easily when installing a VC/m system.
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Object, Variant and Component Names
o The combined length of the object and variant name can now be up to 40 characters.
o Objects can now include a period in the object name.
o The length of a component name can now be up to 200 characters. This can include a partial path for text and binary components.
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New component
drivers
The following component drivers are now available:
Standard:
o text components
o binary components (not supported for VMS)
Add-on options:
o CDL components
o WebLink developer run-time components
o DSM p-code
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Change Request API
An API interface has been created for integrating change requests with third-party systems.
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Serenji and Caché Studio Integration
Both Serenji and Caché Studio can be configured to integrate with VC/m. These editors will perform status checks against VC/m and prevent code from being edited unless it is checked out.
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Miscellaneous
o Ability to execute arbitrary M code on any device initialization
o Setup/Properties screen includes many new configuration settings and defaults.
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Transfer Screen
The display of information on the main transfer screen has been improved. The following additional information is now shown:
o The current master location and active locations of the selected object are displayed.
o The predicted new master and active locations after transfer are displayed.
The following functional enhancements have been made:
o Entry of @? at the object prompt invokes change request lookup.
o Entry of a component reference at the object prompt automatically selects the object that owns the component.
o Entry of ? in the change request field when it contains a value invokes change request maintenance for that change request.
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Systems
Changes have been made to the behaviour of the system in the situation where objects and locations are not associated with systems.
An object that is not associated with a system will only belong in locations that also have no systems. The system code for an object will default to the object's variant code if this a valid system code. An internal switch can be used to validate variant codes so that only valid system codes can be used as variants.
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Deprecated Features
o Retrospective checkout.
o Component renaming.
o Super-user access right (#) has been replaced by generic transfers as these are more controllable and predictable.
