Openbravo - New Grids!
Openbravo 3.0 RC4 is due out VERY soon and we are all excited at Eintel about the grids that are going to be part of this release.
Even thought I implement ERP and CRM systems I also use them. We actually "eat our own dog food" so have a good feeling for what works and what doesn't.
I am looking at the latest build we have created from Openbravo source code. As things currently stand it is VERY close to RC4 which includes brand new grids with some exciting new features that I have outlined below.
Logging in
Recently there has been a changed to the splash screen when logging in. It has a much clear feel to it, which some might count as trivial, but it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy about the application and I am just like every other user, seeing nice new modern interface can make you feel like you want to interact with the system.
My Openbravo Workspace
Once logged in you get to see your OB Workspace to which the administrator can setup widgets for you to see and you can also add your own. The folks at Openbravo have been very smart about the way that have created the widgets and have made it easy develop your own very easily (check out the resource page here). I envisage that over the coming months we will see the community contributing to a growing list of widgets that can be installed.
One of the great pieces of functionality I found is the ability for the administrator to setup a on the front screen (known as the users workspace) a different view depending on what role they are in. This means that the person in the payables role will get to see everything that is coming up to be paid, receivables will see everything that is due etc. This works nicely allowing users to concentrate on the data that they need to see in summary form rather than having to dig for it in reports.
Grids
When reviewing the grids I have looked at sales orders as this is where I spend much of my time. The process that I have outlined here is very similar for purchase orders and other documents created in the system.
Keep in mind that the comments I am making are based on what is still very much in development and the roadmap for the grid system in Openbravo shows that there are some great features to come.
With the new grid system, the way you enter a sales order into OB has changed significantly. In the 2.X versions of OB you had to create the header, then move to a different tab (reload the page) to create a new line, then relad for the next line etc etc.
 |
|
The 2.X style Openbravo interface for data entry
|
It worked, but if you wanted to move through some orders quickly it not that helpful. The next release of Openbravo 3.0 will see the introduction of a 2 part grid system where you can see the header, lines and tax all easily from the one window and manipulate without having to constantly reload the page, move to another tab etc.
It takes a little to get used to the 2 part grid and where you are placed at any one time, but once you spot the orange bar on the far left hand side it becomes straight forward.
Here are some of the features that I really like.
1. You can search from the top of the grid. So I can limit the grid view based on a partial term that I fill out at the top. This will make it very easy for users to be able to bring up all sales orders for a particular customer, in a partuclar status etc.
One thing that I also noticed is that you dont have to fiddle around with wildcards (% * etc) either, you can just type in a partial word and it is assumed you are happy with a part word search. From experience this seems to be the most straightforward way of searching.
2. There is now the option to add extra columns to the grid, meaning that if you have particular fields that you want to see in your sales order, invoice, purchase order view you can add them in as you please. There is also the option to be able to sort the colum and create calclated and summary fields (thought this option seemed a bit limited at the moment in that the formula building tool was not designed around sum calculations etc).
3. You can edit in the grid. Now it is possible to put a line on the grid in edit mode and change values without having to go into the full form. It is still possible to get to the full form of course (double clicking on the row), but if you setup your grid to only show the fields you will usually edit it might not ever be necesary to do so (nice).
Final Comments
There is still some polishing to be done, but in general Openbravo have done a great job with the creation of the new grids and the additional functionality that it brings. With the addition of a few more features, shortcuts and enhancements this new grid will put Openbravo in the lead in the Open source ERP space and make it a real contendor in with the commercial vendors.
Comments
Aphorism
Случайные афоризмы:
фото знаменитостей создано худо без добра.
Чтобы отучить сына играть со спичками отец для Адриана Лима фото ударил его 3 раза огнетушителем по спине.
Верность - дело совести. Измена - фото Аврил Лавин дело времени.
Ксения Собчак назвала Ксюшу Памела Андерсон фото лошадью, и долго ржала...
И откуда они берутся? Точно помню - Дженнифер Лопес фото пустых бутылок не покупал!
Мы знаем,как возродить автопром России - вот Рианна фото не знаем, зачем?
Пэрис Хилтон защитник отечества должен уметь защитить себя от военкомата.
Куриная слепота - это Дрю Бэрримор фото удаляешься с сайта знакомств, а все контактыэтого не замечают.
Пожарники выезжают, чтобы отмочить там, фото Натали Портман кто-то отжег.
Человек с техникой может Мария Шарапова фото на «Ты», на «Вы» и на «Ваше Величество».
Джулия Робертс фото был бизнесменом средней руки и большим мастером средней ноги.
Лучше всего реакция человека бесплатные журналы поносом.