| Assigned resources on timeline, budget separation, in Feature Requests |
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dale.castro
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 Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:56 am Post subject: Assigned resources on timeline, budget separation |
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Hey,
I have a couple feature requests that would help me save a ton of time.
1. If you could display any resources allocated to a task on the gantt chart, that would help me not have to go back and forth between the timeline and task all the time.
2. If you could set permissions to budget and actual cost separatey, that would allow me to let me clients see the budget but not how much money i made on the project. This is pretty important to me because we practice extensive client involvement in our development process.
3. Can you fix the IE flash bug where you have to activate the object by clicking in it. It's pretty annoying to have to click in there all the time, especially since you can't manage most things from the timeline. I have a script you can have if you want. It's literally like a 5 minute fix. Haha, sorry to vent on you. You can tell I'm frustrated with it, don't mean to sound like an @ss!
Thanks! |
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Ben
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| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:07 am Post subject: Re: Assigned resources on timeline, budget separation |
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| dale.castro wrote: |
Hey,
I have a couple feature requests that would help me save a ton of time.
1. If you could display any resources allocated to a task on the gantt chart, that would help me not have to go back and forth between the timeline and task all the time.
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Easier said than done Dale!! I know because I wanted it that way from the beginning  That gantt timeline has a huge amount of investment in it, quite a hefty footprint (an application in and of itself!). However I do continue to push for this in future releases, hopefully we'll crack that nut soon.
| dale.castro wrote: |
2. If you could set permissions to budget and actual cost separatey, that would allow me to let me clients see the budget but not how much money i made on the project. This is pretty important to me because we practice extensive client involvement in our development process.
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Hmm, this is a little fiddly IMHO, to most people budget is anything monetary, and we'd likely have push back on this. Via customization its completely feasible though.
Another workaround is to not allow clients access to the project, but only single special tasks within it like 'Sign-off' where you can upload finished works and other client correspondence that they can collaborate on, without them seeing your 'dirty laundry' (Like the one time your junior designer/developer vents about clients without knowing the client is watching.. I've been there.)
| dale.castro wrote: |
3. Can you fix the IE flash bug where you have to activate the object by clicking in it. It's pretty annoying to have to click in there all the time, especially since you can't manage most things from the timeline. I have a script you can have if you want. It's literally like a 5 minute fix. Haha, sorry to vent on you. You can tell I'm frustrated with it, don't mean to sound like an @ss!
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That's cool, we appreciate the feedback. Can you be more specific? Which flash bug, which object, which fix script? |
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dale.castro
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| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:01 am Post subject: |
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Hey Ben,
1. Hope so too.
2. This wouldn't work...we provide our clients the ability to see progress on all the tasks of a project. We want them to always know what's going on. This way the project can move and mold to the clients needs. This is why we code in iterations...but that's a different topic. It's not a huge deal, I just hide the budget from them completely, but it'd be nice to allow them to see the budget for each "iteration" and see how it is affected by changes they request.
Your comment does bring up another issue though, it'd be nice to be able to post a message and specify who can see it.
3. If you view the timeline in IE7 for PC, you'll see what I'm talking about. Here is a link to one of the most commonly used solutions:
http://blog.deconcept.com/swfobject/
We use it on all our projects, as do a ton of flash shops I know of.
Thanks! |
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Ben
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| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:17 am Post subject: |
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Hi Dale,
2. Post a message and specify who can see it. In the task?? As a comment? So restricting who can see the comment. I'd have to say again that this would add complexity that we'd want to avoid. If you don't have an open and honest relationship with your client then I'd probably again recommend not granting them full project access and instead pushing for single task access so you can control what they see.
3. What will I see? What does it do? I don't have IE7 on PC, and we don't have any other registered issue in the timeline area. Do me a favour and specify the issue?? |
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dale.castro
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Ben wrote: |
2. Post a message and specify who can see it. In the task?? As a comment? So restricting who can see the comment. I'd have to say again that this would add complexity that we'd want to avoid. If you don't have an open and honest relationship with your client then I'd probably again recommend not granting them full project access and instead pushing for single task access so you can control what they see.
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This has nothing to do with relationships with the client. There are just times when you want to post comments to some users (like your developers or direct client) and not others (like the client).
For instance, we do a lot of work for agencies (our direct client) and like them to have access to most of the features you offer. But the agency's client (the actual client), we want them to see the timeline and most other features, but not necessarily messages about what goes on behind the scenes. I don't think there's a way to give access to tasks, but not comments. If so, that might suffice for now.
This isn't anything sneaky or malicious, just a fact of business. We are moving over to copper from basecamp and we use this feature a lot in basecamp. I hate to make comparisons, but it's just a useful feature request that we use frequently. It's up to you whether you think it's valid or not.
It's just a recommendation.
| Ben wrote: |
3. What will I see? What does it do? I don't have IE7 on PC, and we don't have any other registered issue in the timeline area. Do me a favour and specify the issue?? |
I apologize, I thought you would know. In IE starting from IE6 on PC, when the browser renders embedded content they force you to click on the object to activate it. It will say "click to activate" when you mouse over and you can't interact with the object until you do so. This was because of some stupid lawsuit or something. It's pretty rediculous if you ask me, but it's reality. Here is some info:
http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_Rolls_Out_IE6_ActiveX_Change/1141233576
You can also do a google search for "IE click to activate" and you'll see a bunch of people talking about it. It's pretty annoying.
The link I posted above for the SWFObject javascript is the fix for this. This bypasses the bug by embedding the flash movie through javascript instead of directly in the HTML. It also has a nice flash detector as a bonus.
You seem a little frustrated by my post. Please know that I am only trying to help and get a more usable product for the money I pay you every month.
Thanks for considering my input! |
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Ben
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| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:26 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Dale, the feedback is all good.. A few comments.
| dale.castro wrote: |
There are just times when you want to post comments to some users (like your developers or direct client) and not others (like the client).
For instance, we do a lot of work for agencies (our direct client) and like them to have access to most of the features you offer. But the agency's client (the actual client), we want them to see the timeline and most other features, but not necessarily messages about what goes on behind the scenes. I don't think there's a way to give access to tasks, but not comments. If so, that might suffice for now.
This isn't anything sneaky or malicious, just a fact of business. We are moving over to copper from basecamp and we use this feature a lot in basecamp. I hate to make comparisons, but it's just a useful feature request that we use frequently. It's up to you whether you think it's valid or not.
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There's currently no way to specify who in the task should see a comment. If you have access to the task you have access to the comments within it. Implementing a way to select who should see each comment would get old pretty quickly, and you might find a few gotchas (e.g. client sign off that someone doesn't see). You could have a separate task that the client has access to and you and segregate that way.
How does it work in basecamp? You can specify who's going to see an update??
As for allowing the end client to only see the timeline, we could customize for you and add a permissions item, whereby they would be able to see projects listed, but only see the timeline. But then we'd need to develop a locked down timeline, locked down projects module, and it would get kinda expensive.
Let me know on the above though, I'm interested in knowing how you currently achieve this with Basecamp.
| dale.castro wrote: |
I apologize, I thought you would know. In IE starting from IE6 on PC, when the browser renders embedded content they force you to click on the object to activate it. It will say "click to activate" when you mouse over and you can't interact with the object until you do so. This was because of some stupid lawsuit or something. It's pretty rediculous if you ask me, but it's reality. Here is some info:
http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_Rolls_Out_IE6_ActiveX_Change/1141233576
You can also do a google search for "IE click to activate" and you'll see a bunch of people talking about it. It's pretty annoying.
The link I posted above for the SWFObject javascript is the fix for this. This bypasses the bug by embedding the flash movie through javascript instead of directly in the HTML. It also has a nice flash detector as a bonus.
You seem a little frustrated by my post. Please know that I am only trying to help and get a more usable product for the money I pay you every month.
Thanks for considering my input! |
No not frustrated, definitely interested in why IE6 is causing an issue for some users.. If others want to chime in here we'll add the workaround, although to be honest Microsoft needs a slap for introducing counterintuitive 'features' (but what's new!) |
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