CMDBuild Newsletter nr. 83

In last days we have released the new CMDBuild 3.3.1 version.

The most important new functionality concerns the possibility to visually create views with joins between CMDBuild classes connected through “domains” (types of relationships). Here you can find more information about this. The functionality has been developed with the contribution of IZSAM Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise (Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Abruzzo and Molise).

CMDBuild 3.3.1 includes as well the following other new features:

• possibility of including dynamic images in reports, useful for publishing photographs stored in the document system, creating QR codes, etc.;
• full text search in files attached to a data card (both in the Attachments TAB and in the advanced search function);
• new operators in the advanced search on classes and the possibility of using filters in the search through relationships;
• improvements in dashboards (opening the chart in a popup, downloading the chart in PNG format);
• display of some types of attachments directly in the browser (PDF files, text formats such as TXT and CSV, images);
• possibility to consult in the 3D viewer also IFC entities not imported into CMDBuild;
• contextual help that can be differentiated for each step of the workflow;
• tooltip on the cells of the data grids;
• global search in the Administration Module on classes and attributes and on Lookup lists;
• import of CSV files with multiple keys (new configuration in the Administration Module function);
• new ADFS 4 and SAML 2.0 authentication modes. SAML 2.0 functionality has been developed with the contribution of Schneider Electric USA;
• possibility to use the Attachments and Email widgets also in the first step of the workflow;
• ability to navigate between classes using any “custom page” configured in CMDBuild instead of the standard forms generated by the system.

The update from previous 3.x versions will be carried out automatically by the CMDBuild Patch Manager, which will start once the application WAR has been replaced on the server.

After the release of CMDBuild 3.3.1 we are now working on planning the next development activities.

The roadmap of the CMDBuild project foresees for year 2021 the release of a second “minor version” 3.3.2, in spring, and then the “major version” 3.4, after the summer.

In 3.3.2 version we will include some activities that were excluded from the 3.3.1 version and other improvements identified more recently, including:

• possibility of searching in the metadata of the attached files;
• specific permissions on attached files, which can be differentiated from those of the related class;
• saving in the preferences of the columns ordering in grids;
• export of process data as well as classes;
• authentication on the Mobile APP with the same methods as authentication on the desktop interface;
• management of signature in emails.

The main activities on which we will work later on in version 3.4, more extensive and demanding, will instead be the following:

• new interoperability mechanisms with external IT systems, with a new control layer through which centrally managing and synchronizing information integration and sharing functions (connectors, queues, notifications, etc.);
• introduction of two-way integrated messaging solutions;
• implementation of new types of attributes in the classes;
• global search functions among data, emails and documentary attachments;
• improvements to the IFC BIM viewer, to make it increasingly integrated with the asset management application functionalities;
• new extensions of the Mobile APP, relating to geo-reference functions and the possibility of operating in offline mode.

During 2021 we also plan to release new versions of the CMDBuild READY2USE and openMAINT vertical solutions, extended with new application functionalities.

Since the aspects of application security are very important nowadays, and having released new functionalities about this in CMDBuild 3.3.1 version, we take this opportunity to summarize the authentication methods available in the system.

In its basic use, CMDBuild provides the local management of users, roles and permissions, and implements internal policies for controlled password management (criteria for definition, expiration, forgotten password recovery, archiving via secure one-way function, etc.).

Alternatively, password control can be delegated to the corporate LDAP system (a simple change to the configuration parameters is sufficient).

However, there are also a number of external Single Sign On (SSO) authentication modes available:

• Authentication on LDAP server or MS Active Directory through CAS (Central Authentication Service);
• SAML 2.0 protocol (new CMDBuild 3.3.1 functionality);
• Integration with ADFS 4 (Active Directory Federation Services) via SAML protocol (new CMDBuild 3.3.1 functionality);
• Header authentication (delegated to authentication systems at the HTTP proxy level).

There is also available an OAuth2 authentication for Microsoft Azure, aimed at accessing SharePoint Online, which we plan to extend in the next versions of CMDBuild to have complete coverage of the protocol.

Soon the authentication methods described above will also be used to access the Mobile APP.

V.A. Trapeznikov Institute of Control Sciences of Russian Academy of Sciences is the highest scientific institution of the Russian Federation and the leading center for basic research in natural and social sciences.

The basic lines of research are the following:

• System Theory and General Control Theory;
• Techniques of Control in Complicated Engineering and Man-Machine Systems;
• Theory of Control in Interdisciplinary Models of Organizational, Social, Economic, Medical and Biological and Environment Protection Systems;
• Theory and Techniques in Development of Software-and-Hardware and Engineering Tools of Control and Complicated Data Processing and Control Systems;
• Scientific Fundamentals of Technologies in Vehicle Control and Navigation;
• Scientific Fundamentals of Integrated Control Systems and Automation of Technological Industrial Processes.

In 2018 we started “The Center of Digital Solutions for Smart Grid” project and one of the first tasks was the search for an asset management system for our infrastructure.

It is extremely important knowing “who / what / where / when” about all the assets: sensors, counters, meters and other devices for data collecting.

We choose CMDBuild as an open-source solution with enterprise capabilities: asset management, history of activities, roles, GIS, interfaces (browser, REST, Web Services, SQL). Additionally, in CMDBuild building topology and power consumers are stored.

In these 2 years we have seen qualitative simplification in the installation process, improvements in the overall CMDBuild possibilities and in the valuable forum community, thanks to the Tecnoteca Team.

A webinar will be held on February 18th at 4.00 PM CET, where we will present the main new functionalities of the CMDBuild 3.3.1 version.

The participation is free, while the registration is required via this form.

The webinar will be held in English language.

At the end of the presentation, it will be possible to ask questions through the chat tool and have answers from the Tecnoteca technicians.

“CMDBuild” is the new Mobile APP of the CMDBuild project.

It allows to use the products of the CMDBuild Suite (CMDBuild, CMDBuild READY2USE and openMAINT) “on the move”, via smartphone or tablet.

The APP has been developed following the guidelines of Material Design and paying particular attention to usability on devices with small screens, and it is multi-lingual.

The “CMDBuild” APP implements the main functions available in the desktop version and uses the CMDBuild REST web services for data management.

The APP allows to manage cards, processes, reports, views, attachments, reports, searches, filters, customizable menus. It is also possible to take photographs and store them in the CMDB as attached documents, read Barcode and QR Code and automatically access the corresponding data card.

The following video describes its main features.

The “CMDBuild” APP can be used for:

• CMDBuild 3.3 version or higher;
• openMAINT 2.1 version or higher;
• CMDBuild READY2USE 2.1 version or higher;

and with devices:

• Android 5.1 version or higher (download from the Store)
• iOS 11.0 version or higher (download from the Store)

To activate the “CMDBuild” Mobile APP it is necessary to subscribe to the Maintenance Service.