Version 4.5
Released April 17, 2007
Current Build 4016

New Features in Version 4.5 

Comparative Pricing to Document Savings

A field has been added to the database to let license administrators track the list price of software they purchase ― so they can better demonstrate to their management how much money they are saving!

Savings Report

A new report has been added that graphically demonstrates the savings from software license administration. 

New User Interface

The ESLM user interface has been revised throughout to a contemporary look and feel that employs Windows themes to allow users to adjust colors.

Enhanced Load Directive

In addition to the listing of authorized software (formatted to customizable specifications) available from Authorize of the software authorized for any workstation.

Import

The import utility has been significantly enhanced.  Many database fields that could not previously be imported now can be.  Several issues that could cause import difficulties have now been resolved. 

Approve Request Form

Many users have requested that when all requests have been approved or denied, the form automatically close.  It now does so.

More Database Fields Exposed in Edit License Screen

Users can now set a secondary purchase order number ("PO2") and part number on the Edit License form.

Issues Resolved in Version 4.5

Reports

Reports have been improved, and several issues with report database paths have been resolved. 

Delete License

Version 4.0 sometimes erroneously claimed that a license was in use and would not allow the license to be deleted.  This has been resolved.

Button Configuration

Version 4.0 added the new feature of allowing users to select which buttons should appear on the License Flow and Data Entry tabs, but users' choices were not always correctly reflected on the screen.  Now they are.

Reseller Version

Several small data entry problems have been resolved in the Reseller version.

Upgrading to Version 4.5 from 4.0

1.   Download the ESLM 4.5 upgrade.

2.   If you have customized your reports or your reports menu, save a copy of your Reports directory before upgrading.

3.   Extract the contents of ESLM_4_5_Upgrade.zip into your ESLM directory (by default, c:\Program Files\Engagent\Engagent Software License Manager).  This will update:  ESLM.exe, the Reports directory, and the LoadDirective directory. 

Upgrading to Version 4.5 from Releases Prior to 4.0

1.   Save your databases.  If you are using local databases in c:\program files\engagent\engagent software license manager\data, save the whole data directory in a safe place outside the Program Files directory.

2.   Remove Engagent Software License Manager using the Add or Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel.

3.   Download ESLM.msi and install.

4a.  If you are using local databases in the Data directory, copy the saved databases over the ones created by the installer.

4b.  If you are using databases elsewhere, use "Configure Databases" to attach to them.

5.    When you run Engagent Software License Manager, you will be prompted to update your databases to Version 3.0. Choose "Upgrade Databases" to do so. 

Version 4.0

Released September 10, 2006
New Features in Version 4.0 

Real-Time License pool

Users can now see how many licenses are available before they attempt to assign one.  

Multiple Maintenance Records

Previous versions of ESLM only handled one maintenance record per license.  Version 4.0 allows multiple maintenance records per license.  Among other uses, this allows users to preserve information about previous maintenance contracts when adding information about renewals. 

Hardware Management

ESLM will now manage hardware as well as software.

Reports

Graphs have been added to many reports, along with the option to suppress the graph.  Many reports have been added, including: 

•   Reports to show all of a category (for example, all Software titles) rather than selecting individual items from a parameter selection box;

•   An entire suite of new hardware reports;

•   More detailed reconciliation reports, including exception reports that answer the question:  "What workstations are running software I didn't assign to them?" 

Associating Employees and Departments

In previous versions of ESLM, even though an employee was associated with a department, when software was assigned to an employee, it was not automatically assigned to the department as well.  Now it can be. 

Request Assignment, Approve Assignment

Screens have been added to allow users to request the assignment of a license, and for their managers to approve the request. 

Load Directive

License Administrators can now print a listing (formatted to their customizable specifications) of the software authorized for any workstation. 

New User Interface

The main screen has been extensively revised, with the former panes now assigned to tabs, allowing more functions to be accommodated while fewer are displayed at any one time. 

More Configurability

Many more aspects of ESLM's appearance and functionality can now be configured from the configuration menu.   Users can now select which buttons they want to see on the License Flow tab, and which reports on the Reports tab. 

Import

The Import utility has been extensively revised to allow importing more information about license assignments.

New Platforms

ESLM is now a Micrsoft.NET 2.0 application, created with Visual Studio 2005.  Reports are written and maintained in Business Objects Crystal Reports XI R2. 

Preconfigured Demo

The installation process now creates a pre-configured demo database so that evaluators can see sample data and run sample reports immediately.  To return to an empty database, a "Restore Defaults" button has been added to "Configure Databases."     

Version 3.1

Released January 4, 2006
New Features in Version 3.1 

License Assignment

Formerly all assignment screens were organized around the assignment of software to a specific workstation.  Now software can be assigned, assignments changed, or the software removed, based on user, workstation, department, budget code, location, etc.   

License Assignment Available from Edit License Screen

A button has been added to Edit License screen which allows the user to assign that license directly.   

Extended Comments Filter

The Extended Comments field has been added to list of fields available for filters in the Edit License screen. 

Report Item Limit Configuration

A configuration item has been added to increase the number of items that can be displayed in a Crystal Report selection box. 

Improved Reports

Many reports have been improved to make valuation information more relevant to the selected records. 

Issues Resolved in 3.1 

Deleting Licenses

The Edit License screen now searches for associated records in the Agreements database when deleting a license record, and asks the user whether the Agreements records should be deleted as well. 

Field Renaming

Renamable fields have been renamed in the Add Workstation, Edit Workstation, Add Department, and Edit Department screens. 

Currency Formatting

Formatting has been improved on currency fields. 
 

Version 3.0

Released October 17, 2005
New Features in Version 3.0 

Extended Comments

User can now add up to one gigabyte of comments for each license, and search for any text string within the comments field. 

Searchable Fields

Most fields on the Edit License screen are now searchable, allowing users to select a subset of licenses for editing.

 Generate Purchase Orders

ESLM will now generate Purchase Orders.  Purchase Orders can be printed or emailed. 

Multiple Serial Numbers

ESLM now allows keeping an unlimited number of serial numbers and authorization codes for each license.  Serial numbers and authorization codes are kept in a separate table.

Bulk Assign – With Profiles

An administrator can now assign several titles, grouped into a "Profile," with one assignment operation.

Bulk Remove Assignment

An administrator can now remove all the licenses from a workstation, employee, budget code, department, or location, with a single operation.

Bulk Transfer

An administrator can now transfer all the licenses from one workstation, employee, budget code, department, or location to another, with a single operation.

Assign License

Warns if license already overdeployed.

Import

Field names alphabetized in drop-down list.

Now allows importing installed count. 

Configure Database

Configure Database now displays the currently configured database before prompting for change. 

More Configurable Fields

Additional configurable fields have been added to the database and to key screens such as Edit License.  Configurable field names have been moved from the configuration file to the database, so that all users see the same names. 

Reports

Graphs have been added and all reports updated to Crystal Reports version 11.  A new Compliance Reconciliation Report has been added.

Issues Resolved in 3.0

Import formerly imported some maintenance records incorrectly; maintenance records now import correctly.

Inactive licenses formerly appeared in some reports where they should not appear; now all reports check for active license status.

Several issues regarding null fields encountered in Microsoft SQL Server databases have been resolved.  Deleting the last license record in a SQL Server database now works correctly.

Import now allows a broader range of import file names (including hyphens, etc.)

Import now correctly handles records with null departments.

Alternate Instance Table creation now proceeds to currently configured database.

Edit License now correctly handles null Department description.

Error handling has been improved throughout to handle previously unhandled exceptions. 

Upgrading to Version 3.0

1.   Save your databases.  If you are using local databases in c:\program files\engagent\engagent software license manager\data, save the whole data directory in a safe place outside the Program Files directory.

2.   Remove Engagent Software License Manager using the Add or Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel.

3.   Install Version 3.0.

4a.  If you are using local databases in the Data directory, copy the saved databases over the ones created by the installer.

4b.  If you are using databases elsewhere, use "Configure Databases" to attach to them.

5.    When you run Engagent Software License Manager, you will be prompted to update your databases to Version 3.0. Choose "Upgrade Databases" to do so.

Version 2.4

Released February 4, 2005
New Features in Version 2.4

Notification

ESLM users now can get email notifications of license flow events:

License Expirations (with configurable advance notice).

Maintenance Expirations (with configurable advance notice).

Requestors can get notification when their requests are approved, disapproved, ordered, and received.

Approvers can get notifications of new requests and subsequent dispositions.

Many configuration options allow you to specify recipients – for example:

·  For one department
·  For one budget code
·  For all events

 Configurable Fields

More fields can be renamed: 

    Budget Code, Comments, Custom Fields, Department, Invoice, Location, Purchase Order, Workstation.

Deletion

All data entry screens have a delete button allowing records to be deleted.

 Inventory Interface

The Inventory interface has received a major revision with many enhancements.

In addition to license count, the following fields can now be imported from the inventory database:

 
·  Workstation
·  Version
·  Location
·  Install Date
·  Budget Code
·  Quantity

   An alternate table may be specified for information imported from the Inventory database.

   Major improvements have been made for SMS inventory users.

Archive Agreements

   Dramatically improved performance of access to the archive database.

 Import

   The Import utility runs four times faster than before.

 Issues Resolved  in Version 2.4

 Edit License Screen

     The “Restricted” and “Unrestricted” license buttons correctly reflect the information in the database, in all cases.

 Database Exceptions

     Database error handling has been markedly improved throughout.

 Main Menu Screen Sizing

     The License Flow Panel in the Main Menu is now sized better at varying screen sizes and resolutions.

Version 2.3

Released September 27, 2004

New Features in Version 2.3

Drop-Down Boxes            
            All drop-down boxes are now sorted alphabetically.
            Drop-down boxes auto-complete for quick searches.

Import 
            Import feature is now included in Professional Edition

Reports
            Every report has been updated.
            Reports consolidated:  duplication of “All” and “By” reports eliminated.
            All reports are now more attractive and information is easier to see.
            New reports:
                        By Custom Field 1 and Custom Field 2
                        By Location 1 and Location 2
                        By Assigned (as well as requesting) Dept. and Budget
                        Deployment Report to show where license has been installed.

License Management Screens
            Every screen has been updated.
            Fields have been widened to allow more characters on screen.
            All employee references now use both last and first name.
            License records may now be deleted.
            Ability to mark license as “Inactive.”

Configuration Menu
            New menu item, no longer under Tools

Issues Resolved in Version 2.3

Edit Employee and Edit Software Screens
            Subsidiary combo boxes were set wrong on entry for the first record.
Edit License Screen
            When invoked on empty database could cause an unhandled exception.
Instance Table
            The Department Field was set to Text; corrected to Number.

Additional Issues Resolved in Build 1110
Import
            Import could fail on some path names, particularly those with spaces.
            Handling of Employee fields has been improved.
Change Assignment Screen
            Now disabled if no workstations have been defined.
Registration Screen
            Problem resolved with Extended Evaluation key.

Upgrading to Version 2.3

To upgrade to Version 2.3 from version 2.2:
 

1.      Save existing data by creating a copy of the Data directory in a safe place.

2.      Remove Version 2.2

3.      Install Version 2.3

4.      Copy saved data into the Data directory.

To upgrade to Version 2.3 from a version previous to 2.2:
 

1.      Save existing data by creating a copy of the Data directory in a safe place.

2.      Remove Version 2.2

3.      Install Version 2.3

4.      Run the database upgrade utility by choosing “Upgrade Database” from the Tools Menu.  Use the file open dialog box in the database upgrade utility to point to the place where you saved your databases.  The contents of your old databases will be imported into the new database format

Version 2.2

Released June 21, 2004

 New Features in Version 2.2

 New Reports
            OverDeployed – Shows software assignments exceeding licensed count.
            Undeployed – New version uses License Count to reflect license pool.
            By Provider, One Provider – Maintenance contract information.
            By Assignee, One Assignee – Shows license assignment.
            Not Ordered – Shows software requested but not ordered.
            Compliance Overview – At-a-glance view of compliance for all licenses.
            Compliance Details – Closer examination of  compliance for one license.           

Configure Database – Allows quick connection to any OLEDB provider database. 

Tools Menu – Dynamic, configurable snap-in tools added. 

Invoice Number – All license screens now show Invoice number. 

Assign License Form, Update Installation Form – Now show Version, Service Pack, Location 2, and Quantity.   

Changes to Database in Version 2.2
 

Instance Table – Quantity field added.

License Table – Invoice field added.

Issues Resolved in Version 2.2
 

LicenseType – Was previously shown incorrectly in New License, Edit License, and Define License screens.

Import – Import facility now correctly handles a non-numeric BudgetCode in database; CustomField2 and CustomField3 now load correctly.

Assign License – Could previously generate concurrency error on first use.

Maintenance Information – In some previous versions, when maintenance information was assigned to a license record, it could be incorrectly added to other license records at the same time.  This issue is now resolved.

Backup and Restore – Functions have been deleted for improved security.

Version 2.1

Released March 17, 2004
 New Features in Version 2.1
 

New reports have been added.
         UnDeployed Software
         One Requestor / By Requestor
         One Assignee / By Assignee
         One Location / By Location

Some existing reports have been reformatted
         By Manufacturer / One Manufacturer
         By Vendor /      One Vendor

Non-numeric characters can now be used in fields previously restricted to numbers:
         Budget Code
         Department Code
         Employee ID
         Manufacturer Code
         Purchase Order
         Service Provider ID
         Software Code
         Workstation ID

License screens now show Upgrade links:
         What license this license upgrades
         What license upgrades this license

"New Title" button added to New License form

Issues Resolved in Version 2.1

    Configure Custom Field
    Date formatting on various data entry screens
    Maintenance fields on Edit License screen
 

Version 2.0

Released January 22, 2004
 New Features in Version 2.0

Major improvements to reporting capability.      
            Users can now dynamically change or add new reports at run-time.
            Many new reports have been added.

All existing reports have been significantly improved.

All reports now allow specification of a period for the report.

User interface completely revised throughout for improved usability.

All functionality is now available from buttons and menus on the main screen
Editing existing data is now much easier. 
A (configurable) Getting-Started screen has been added to the main screen.

Digital images of license agreements can now be saved in a separate database.
The database can now be backed up and restored.
Custom fields have been added to the license flow screens.