Release Summary 2023.1

Enhancing Collaboration and Streamlining Workflows

We are thrilled to announce the release of censhare 2023.1, packed with new and improved features designed to enhance collaboration and streamline workflows for our valued users. In this article, we will explore the exciting updates and enhancements introduced in censhare CORE, PIM and DAM. So, let's dive right in!

Marker improvements

At the heart of our 2023.1 release lies a major upgrade to the Marker, a highly popular component of censhare DAM. With the Marker feature in censhare DAM, users can collaborate seamlessly on images, PDFs, videos, and other digital assets by leaving comments with markers. This upgrade brings forth a range of new features aimed at boosting productivity. Let's take a closer look at some of these exciting updates.

• Extended Marker Properties: Previously, markers only had two properties: a number and a title. We have now added the date of creation, the creator's name, and the associated version. This enhancement improves collaboration by providing information about who added the markers and when.

• Marker Description: Users can now add a description of up to 600 characters to their markers in case the title is not sufficient.

• Marker Filters: Finding relevant markers for the current version has become super easy. Users can search for markers by their state, properties, and description.

• Marker Styles: Markers that were added to previous versions are not always useful for the users. They can make the screen overcrowded, and with the content versions and changes, it's possible that they are not even in relevant places anymore. With Marker styles, users can find the relevant markers for the current version easier. From now on, markers for older versions have dotted lines.

• Marker in Version History: The side-by-side Version History view now displays markers that were added for the selected versions, making it easier to compare them.

• Optimized Delete Function: Markers won’t get a reassigned number when deleting other markers.

• Change Marker State: Users now have the ability to modify the status of markers. Once a marker is marked as "done," it will be automatically hidden from the preview, enabling users to focus on the relevant markers.

Communication Widget improvements

The Communication Widget in censhare DAM plays a crucial role in facilitating asset-related conversations through comments and tasks. In the 2023.1 release, we have made several improvements to ensure a seamless and productive user experience:

1. Delete Comments and Tasks: Users can now delete their own messages, keeping conversations up-to-date and clutter-free. And don't worry, if a parent message is deleted, the child messages will still be retained.

2. Edit Comments and Tasks: Mistakes happen, and we understand that. That's why users can now edit their own messages, tasks, attachments, and more after sending them. Edited elements are clearly marked with an "edited" tag, allowing others to follow the changes.

3. Task Approval Enhancement: Approving tasks has become even smoother with the addition of an approve option directly in the task widget. No more navigating to the task asset page—everything you need is right at your fingertips.

4. Simplified Task Creation: We've made it easier than ever to create tasks by allowing users to skip filling out all fields such as "Assign to," "Description," or "Deadline." This flexibility enables users to fill in specific details later or skip them altogether, saving valuable time.

5. Convert Comment to a Task: Actionable conversations often lead to new tasks. To support seamless collaboration, users can now turn messages into tasks, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

Properties Editor improvements

The Properties Editor is a censhare PIM administrative function that allows users to display and edit asset properties in an intuitive tabular view. With the 2023.1 release, we improved it with a new feature, and with a bunch of UI & ease-of-use improvements:

• Bulk Edit Child Properties: With the enhancement, users can bulk edit multiple assets child properties.

• Required Metadata Labeling: Required fields are now labelled with an asterix ( * ), to help users provide the necessary information. This ensures accurate asset categorization.

• Expanded Nested Properties: By default, we have collapsed all features in the Properties Editor, allowing our users to have a clearer view of the necessary data inputs.

• Latest Configuration Recall: The Properties Editor now retains the user's most recent configuration, making it convenient to quickly access their preferred setup when reopening.

• Search Query Persistence: Going forward, the Properties Editor maintains and reloads search results, even if the user refreshes the browser or experiences temporary internet connection loss.

VFS 3 for macOS

censhare CORE’s Virtual File System (VFS) enables users to drag and drop assets from censhare to other applications, like InDesign. With this release we've changed the underlying VFS backend implementation from Apple's Kernel Extensions (kext) to FUSE-T. Apple is deprecating kext, so with the new technology, we ensure compatibility with future macOS versions.

VFS 3 does not require changing security settings on users' machines, which helps reduce administration time and it also improves security. Maintenance also became easier, because FUSE-T eliminates complexities tied to Kernel Extensions, enabling easier debugging, and less time spent on maintenance

Security, Data Retention & Compatibility

• Keycloak v21 Support: censhare uses Keycloak as the default authentication solution. Keycloak is an open-source identity, and access management solution. With Keycloak, censhare provides easy, but secure user authentication to keep your data safe. With this release, from now on we support Keycloak version 21, and we updated, and extended our documentation, so you can find relevant information easier.

• Source Code Modernization: Following our ambition to deliver the best software to our customers with no compromise on security, we conducted multiple updates to modernize the core code base. In addition to that, we updated third-party libraries used in censhare tools that are not part of the core product, including censhare CLI.

• Asset Deletion 3 Improvement: Asset Deletion 3, an administrative function in censhare CORE, simplifies clean-up tasks for asset versions that are no longer required. In the 2023.1 release, we have improved functionality to provide users with accurate information about the versions marked for deletion directly from the report. This enhancement ensures transparency and helps users make informed decisions about asset deletion.

• macOS Sonoma and Windows 11 Compatibility: censhare was tested and verified working with the latest version of both macOS, and Windows.

Conclusion

With the release of censhare 2023.1, we are thrilled to bring you a range of new and improved features that enhance collaboration, streamline workflows, and improve productivity. From the upgraded Marker and Communication Widget in censhare DAM to the optimized VFS 3 for macOS and the enhanced Properties Editor, we are committed to providing you with an exceptional user experience. Upgrade to censhare 2023.1 today and unlock the full potential of your asset management and collaboration processes. Stay productive, stay efficient, and enjoy the benefits of our latest release!