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.Release Notes v2020.2

Owned by David Engblom
Last updated: Jun 16, 2021
7 min read


Release 2020.2 is now available; it is a minor feature release that contains new features, bug fixes, and refinements.

We will begin scheduling 2020.2 updates on customer Test systems starting June 5th, 2020.

Notable Changes

  1. Items can now be added to a Purchase Order after Receiving has started.
  2. Changes to Estimates:
    1. Attachments are now copied to Service Orders or Actions created from Estimates.
    2. Remarks are now copied to Service Orders or Actions created from Estimates
  3. Add Locations Actions can now be created from the 360 Wizard for non-Phone Services.


Please review the Database Changes in 2020.2 and make any necessary changes to your Adhoc Grids, Custom Events, and API calls.

Review and Refresh Session(s)

We are planning two Review and Refresh sessions for 2020.2; the first session is scheduled for June, 9th at 11:00 AM Eastern, and the second is scheduled for June, 10th at 3:00 PM Eastern.

Key

Release 2020.2.5 (12-16-2020)

Component

Description

Type

Incident(s)

Documentation

Billing

Billing Group Pricing now applies to GLA Charges.

IN-5072

Cable

Creating a new Cable Path from the Service form no longer defaults to creating the Path with a status of Left In.

IN-5066

Calls & Rating

The Call Rating process no longer fails if the Service Host cannot be determined.

IN-5057

IN-4321 


Imports & Exports

The Call Import no longer triggers "Undefined index AUTH_CODE_FLAG" warning messages that can fill up the Error Log.



GLA Import Fixes

  • The Import no longer creates a blank component record using an empty string rather than a null value.
  • The Import can now find existing GLA records when the last component of the GLA is blank. Previously the Import was not able to look up those GLAs.

IN-4446

IN-5094


Inventory

Staging multiple pieces of Equipment at the same time from the Warehouse Actions grid no longer reuses the same Equipment record multiple times.

IN-4429 

Reporting

Corrected minor formatting issues with PDF reports.

IN-5013

Service Desk

Users can now open the Service Desk Form that corresponds to the Workflow record from the Workflow Grids (i.e. if the Workflow is on an Action, the User may open the Action form or the Workflow form from the Workflow Grids).

 IN-4427

My Service Desk

Workflow

The Service Desk Archive Log retention process now properly cleans up log entries based on the timeframe set by the configuration option ARCHIVE_LOG_RETENTION.


Archive Log
Improved the loading times for the Service Desk Tab on Services & Equipment. For Oracle customers, the grid was either extremely slow or would not load.

IN-4336
The "Type Value" selector on the Escalation Criteria form now lists all Service Desk Types.



Service Desk number formats less than 8 digits now work properly.



Service Desk Items will no longer allow Services and Equipment to be Owned by both a Contact and a Department Owner.

Note: There will be an AdHoc added during the upgrade process to allow customers to find and fix any Services or Equipment that have two Owners defined.

IN-3335

IN-4395

IN-4340


The columns on the Service Desk Archive grids now match the corresponding Service Desk Grids (i.e. the columns on the Service Desk Actions Archive grid now match the Service Desk Actions grid.)

IN-5090

IN-3923



Release 2020.2.4 (10-06-2020)

Component

Description

Type

Incident(s)

Documentation

API

Submitting poorly formed JSON data, or data with bad characters will no longer fail and return a null value. Now $params will be returned with the default data.



Billing

The Bill process now checks for Equipment Billling Group overrides for Equipment Charges.

IN-4342
The Bill process now checks for Billling Group overrides for GLA Charges.



Custom Logic

Restored the data displayed on the Schedule Tab on the Custom Events screen.

IN-4333

Inventory

The Warehouse Actions Return is now changing the Service Desk Equipment Status from Pending to Complete.

Note: With this change, the Return "Quantity" field will no longer be available when returning "In" Equipment on Remove Actions. All items must be returned at the same time for Remove Actions.

IN-4304

IN-4262


General

Fixed issues with the validator when creating an empty database for new installs.



Reporting

Due to licensing the constraints of Oracle Java, we have officially dropped support and switched to using OpenJDK for Crystal Reports.  Please submit any requests to upgrade java on our portal help.pcr.com.



Services

The Call Details Tab on the Service form now includes Rated Unbillable calls.

IN-4316

Service Desk

Service Desk Actions will no longer display an erroneous "was not found in the haystack" error on the Service Options field.



Completing a Service Order with Actions no longer produces erroneous "Failed to save record" errors, when there is some other issue on the form (such as no owner or a missing GLA).


IN-3000

IN-4225

IN-4239

IN-4365

IN-4192


Release 2020.2.3 (09-01-2020)

Component

Description

Type

Incident(s)

Documentation

CustomerCenter

Approved Service Requests are now showing in the Service Requests Grid.



Custom Logic

Customer Validation now supports using call function to invoke Write methods for API types.


Custom Validation

Syntax

Large Custom API, Custom Events, and Custom Validation scripts no longer generate erroneous error messages.  (e.g. that the str_replace function is not supported)

IN-4164

Events & Notifications

Workflow Start Date Notifications/Escalations are now triggered when the Workflow Start Date is set automatically.

IN-4216

Services

The Service Desk tab on Services once again includes Pending Add Actions.

IN-4215

Service Desk

Completing a Service ID Action no longer clears the Path Location.

IN-4188 

SDC Workflow steps that should be added at completion are now added to Incidents and Work Orders upon completion.

IN-4196


Release 2020.2.2 (08-06-2020)

Component

Description

Type

Incident(s)

Documentation

API

The Service Desk API now properly supports Service/ Equipment UDFs on Incidents.


Service Desk API Calls

CustomerCenter

The Service Option flags (Billable, Directory, Report 911, etc.) are now set for Task, Change, and Remove Actions on Service Requests created from CustomerCenter.

IN201833105

IN-2965


SDCs are now properly applied to Service Requests when a matching SDC is found.

IN-4125
Existing Service Charges are now added to Change Actions on a Service Request.

IN-4125
Task Actions are no longer converted to or displayed as Add Actions in the Cart. Similarly, in certain cases, Add actions are no longer converted to or displayed as Tasks in the Cart.



Service Desk

Converting an Estimate to an Action now allows applying the Estimate to Task Actions.

IN-4153


Release 2020.2.1 (08-03-2020)

Component

Description

Type

Incident(s)

Documentation

Billing

The "Test File" column on the Call Details grid has been restored.

IN-3983
The Available Charges Bulk Update event no longer fails on Oracle. 

IN-4066
Back Dating a Monthly Recurring Charge Stop Date on a Back-Billing & Forward-Billing Charge no longer generates double Credits

IN-4051

Cable

The Service Location column on the Ports/Pins/Lens grid now displays data for the "To Port" on a Path. 

IN-3873

Events

Events that occur during the Fall Daylight Savings Time change should no longer fail. 



Inventory

User-Defined Columns now stay in the correct position on the Equipment Grid after you save the Perspective.

IN-2899

General

Long-running reports sent via email no longer get stuck in an infinite loop (which prevented the reports from being sent out). 

IN-3963

IN-3965

IN-3968

IN-3970

IN-3964

IN-3966


Service Desk

Completing a Service ID Action now sets the Ports/Pins/Lens status to Assigned. (Previously this was set to PDPC)



Default Charges from Task type Service Catalogs are now applied to Task Actions. 

IN-4031

IN-3915


The Add From SDC button on the Service Desk Workflow tab, now selects from the correct SDCs.

IN-4094


Adding Equipment to an Incident Request no longer generates an Oops Error. 



Release 2020.2 (06-04-2020)

Component

Description

Type

Incident(s)

Documentation

Billing

Changing the Charge Override Amount or Quantity on an unbilled Monthly Recurring Charge (MRC) and choosing "Effective Today" now stops the charge using yesterday's date. The charge is restarted with the new amount and the current date. Previously this was using "Date to Last Billed" no matter which option was chosen.



Imports & Exports




Multiple fixes for the Service Import:

  1. The Service Import now prevents you from updating the Service Catalog of an existing Service to a different Service Type (like Phone to Backbone) or to a different Service ID format.
  2. The Service Import can now update certain Service Type-specific fields like Report 911 and Directory if the Service Catalog is not provided to the import.
  3. The Service Import no longer requires you to provide a GLA when the GLA field is mapped.
  4. Running a Service Import in a batch, with two different Import Record Formats, no longer produces the same GLA error messages multiple times.


Service Import

Fixes for the Charge Catalog Import:

  1. The Charge Catalog Import no longer fails if you do not map certain fields.
  2. The Charge Catalog Import now throws an error if you try to use an Inactive Object Code.


Charge Catalog Import

Fixes for the Service Charge and GLA Charge Imports:

  1. Both Imports no longer require you to provide certain fields, like Service and GLA and Charge Catalog, if you provide the Charge Recid in the Import file.
  2. Both Imports now throw an error if you try to use a Category type Charge Catalog to create a Charge.
  3. The CHARGE_TYPE flag no longer defaults to NONRECURRING, it defaults to blank. If the Charge Catalog Name is unique, it is no longer required to provide the CHARGE_TYPE = MONTHLY_RECURRING in order to find a Monthly Recurring Charge Catalog. 


Service Charge Import

GLA Charge Import

Fixes for Charge Imports:

  1. Charge Imports no longer clear the Charge Stop Date when the Import file contains Stop Dates prior to the current date.
  2. Charge Imports will now clear the Amount Override on an existing charge if you provide a blank Override Amount value during an update.


Service Charge Import
Most Imports now accept GLA values where the first or last GLA component is blank. (This does not currently cover Service Desk or Equipment Catalog Imports).

IN-3803

Inventory

Items can now be added to a Purchase Order after Receiving has started.

Won Voting List #2

Purchase Order

Purchase Order Equipment

Service Desk

Changes to Estimates:

  1. Attachments are now copied to Service Orders or Actions created from Estimates.
  2. Remarks are now copied to Service Orders or Actions created from Estimates


Users GroupEstimates
Billing Group Pricing is now applied to a Charge if the Owner is Changed on a Service Desk Order or Action.

IN-2831

IN-2964


Service Desk Items will no longer allow Services and Equipment to be Owned by both a Contact and a Department Owner.

Note: There will be an AdHoc added during the upgrade process to allow customers to find and fix any Services or Equipment that have two Owners defined.

IN-3335
Add Locations Actions can now be created from the 360 Wizard for non-Phone Services.



Clicking "Save New" on an existing Action will now create a new Action with the Default Action GLA(s) from the Service Order. (Previously no GLAs were pulled onto the Action).

This also addresses GLA Component Pricing not being applied to the new Action when using the "Save New" button.

IN-2998 (IN201834420)

IN-2999 (IN201834421)


Changing the GLA on an Action now updates any Default Service Charges loaded from the Service Catalog with the Component Pricing.

IN-2999 (IN201834421)

 * Indicates external documentation not written by PCR.



Database Changes in 2020.2


Default Schema


Table NameChangeTable Changes
No Changes


Metadata Schema


Table NameChangeTable Changes
No Changes


Archive Schema


Table NameChangeTable Changes
No Changes

Supported Versions


PCR will patch the last two versions of the application and the current LTS Release. Customers will continue to receive Help Desk Support for releases outside of the support period for a given release.  Bug fixes are only released for versions that are actively supported.

Key

Active supportA release that is actively supported.
End of lifeA release that is no longer supported and will not receive bug fixes. Customers using one of these releases should upgrade as soon as possible.


Version History


 Release Types
LTS ReleaseAn LTS Release is a Major Release that PCR will support for 12 months. All other releases are supported for two release cycles. LTS Releases will be patched (as a hotfix) for any Critical or High Impact bugs applied after a release. These include (but are not limited to): service-impacting issues, billing issues, or charge-related bugs. These issues have no workaround, or the workaround is cumbersome. LTS Releases are intended to relieve “Upgrade Fatigue” for Customers who may not need all of the latest features but need critical bugs fixed. Once the 12-month period has elapsed, PCR will work with customers to move them to the next LTS release.
Major ReleaseMajor releases consist of new features and some bug fixes. These features have a relatively large scope with a greater impact on development and testing, e.g. Accounts Receivable, Service Desk Archiving, Work Order, etc. There will be three feature & bug-fix releases in a given year.
Minor Release

Minor releases consist mostly of bug fixes and occasionally minor enhancements to the application. Minor enhancements are relatively small changes with a low impact on development and testing, e.g. adding a column to a grid, a new field, or tweaking the API. The specification process will occur in at least the month prior to being assigned.

The specification process will occur in tandem with the traditional development and testing cycle.

VersionRelease TypeRelease DateSupport EndsRelease Notes
2024.1
Major

  

Until 2024.2 is releasedhttps://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/3-MQAQ
2023.1
Major

  

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/hZEQAQ
2022.2
Minor

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/NpEQAQ
2022.1
LTS

 

24 months+ or until the next LTShttps://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/Q5AQAQ


Archived Releases No Longer Supported

 Click here to expand...
VersionRelease TypeRelease DateSupport EndsRelease Notes
2021.3Minor

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/zo8QAQ
2021.2Minor

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/eY8QAQ
2021.1LTS

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/Yo8QAQ

2020.4

Major

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/A48QAQ

2020.3

Major

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/g44QAQ

2020.2

Minor

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/lQYRAQ
2020.1Major

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/FI0QAQ
2019.7LTS

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/v4sQAQ
2019.6Minor

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/DeAQAQ
2019.5Minor

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/FosQAQ
2019.4Major

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/qIoQAQ
2019.3Minor

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/wNUQAQ
2019.2Minor

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/DeAQAQ
2019.1Major

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/DeAQAQ
2018.1Major

 

 

https://pcr360.atlassian.net/wiki/x/DeAQAQ
2.1.4.7Minor

 

 

https://forums.pcr.com/t/release-notes-2-1-4-7-2018-10-09/526

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