[Odb-help] Update on ODB developments

[odb-help at lists.democracygroups.org]

Good Morning!

  I just wanted to share with you the good news that a new release
is just around the corner.  We have had an unusual amount of activity,
some of it with clients who have paid for ODB enhancements, and
our collaborative "open source" model means that these enhancements
are going to be available to everyone!
  We have been working on our grant (from the Community Tech
Foundation of California) which making ODB a bilingual software program.
  Plus our team of interns and our staff have found some things over
the summer that needed fixing.

  If you are in Boston we hope you can come to our public demo of
this new release, which will take place next Monday at the Boston
Foundation (you must reserve a space to attend).

  To be brief, the 0.9.5a release will contain:

a) revised and expanded user manual, with a dozen screen shots
b) greater flexibility in adjusting codes
c) the "SRC" code feature is working 100% at last and therefore we
    have enabled this by default.  SRC codes are now part of ODB
    templates
d) ODB works better with Win2K, WinXP, and with machines that
    are "locked down"
e) When you save a query it will now save the sort order with the query.
f)  You can print a "tip sheet" describing your ODB installation to
    hand to your computer support person (so they can more easily
    restore or fix your ODB installation)
g) Ability to link your ODB data with a voter file to save on data
   entry, and greatly increased  speed when importing large data files
h) Redesigned print screen, providing an optional title for your printouts
i)  Extended spanish translation file
j) 17 minor bug fixes, and 6 "usability enhancements"
k) 4 major bug fixes, affecting thank you note printing, CSV import,
    SRC code importing, and SRC code updating.

The release is "feature complete" and a download link is available
to people who want to get started with it.  Some additional ODB
templates will be added prior to the release.

We need 4 or 5 current ODB users to volunteer to try the new
release this week.  If we find that the software works for all of you,
we know it will be a very stable release.  Just send an email to
oc2004 <at> organizenow.net if you are wiling to be an "early adopter."

Thank you!

Rich Cowan
for Organizers' Collaborative