Compiere Blog

Compiere 3.0 Spotlight: Master Detail Forms in the Web UI

Welcome to the world of easier order entry! Compiere is bringing a friendlier face to ERP with the new Web architecture and UI in Compiere Professional Edition. The Web UI supports the new functionality and applications of Compiere 3.0 and presents them in an easy-to-navigate, clean, and user-friendly interface. One of these “friendly” features is support for master detail forms.

Using Compiere's Swing client, you drill down to the order line tab and view each order line of the record one by one. You make changes to each order line one by one, opening a new line record each time.

The new Compiere Web UI makes the job of order entry simpler. Using the Web UI in Compiere Professional Edition, you can now open up an order form and easily see all the line items listed on the main record page. You can also see the details of each order line, such as the total and quantity, directly from the main record page without having to drill into each line. This gives you the added benefit and ease of order entry with fewer clicks and better functionality.

Master detail forms are available for Sales Order window and numerous other Compiere windows. For more information about Compiere 3.0 please visit the Compiere Web site.

Compiere 3.0 Spotlight: New Financial Reports

We will be posting a series on our blog so that we can help you learn about and better familiarize yourself with the new features in Compiere 3.0.

One of the many new features of Compiere 3.0 is the new and improved reporting capabilities, specifically the financial reports. Compiere 3.0 features new standard reports such as the General Ledger, Trial Balance, Profit & Loss Statement, and the Balance Sheet which are the some of the basic reports needed to run accounting functions in an organization. These reports are built on the existing ones in Compiere and are improved in 3.0 to be more simplified, easy-to-use and more standardized, based on general US accounting standards. They can also easily be modified and changed to apply to various accounting standards across the globe.

Sales by Product and Sales by Business Partner are two brand new financial reports in the new Compiere release. All of these reports are standard across the board in all three 3.0 editions. In fact, Compiere is currently using all these financial reports internally as well. This expanded set of financial report templates allows you and your customers to more effectively use Compiere to manage the business. For more information about Compiere 3.0 please visit the Compiere Web site. 

Compiere 3.0 Now Available

Compiere 3.0 is here! This strategic milestone release adds functional and stability innovations on top of the leading open source enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) solution. Compiere 3.0 also marks the introduction of Compiere Professional Edition, a new premium offering targeted at larger organizations that require advanced services and commercial licensing from Compiere.

Please take a moment to visit the Compiere Web site to learn more about Compiere 3.0. In particular, you'll want to visit the What's New in Compiere 3.0 page. There you can learn about our expanded product line-up and the many new features and benefits of Compiere 3.0. 

Sneak Peek – Compiere's New Web Architecture and UI

As many of you know, Compiere is working on a next-generation Web Architecture. Today we are providing a sneak peek at the forthcoming technology on the Compiere web site.

This is a rather ambitious project offering multiple benefits. Compiere users gain a modern, interactive and feature-rich Compiere client that provides easy and secure access from a web browser. IT administrators benefit from not having to install or administer client software on every desktop.

We want to know what you think. Please share your comments regarding the Web Architecture demo to this thread. Thanks!

Better Productivity Through eLearning

Working in the Learning Services Division for Compiere, Inc., I quickly found that with our number of customers and partners reaching across the globe, it became rather important that we provide alternative methods of training to reach as many people as possible. Currently, Compiere provides quarterly, instructor led trainings as well as an array of free product demos. However, as interest in our product increases, so must the provision of educational materials.

In response to our growing educational needs we’ve decided to utilize some of the technology available today and provide a suite of eLearning modules. The ability to educate as many people as possible on our product is not only valuable; it’s exciting to us as well. As a result, it is becoming much easier to reach as many people as possible, especially in an educational format.

Since the introduction of our suite of eLearning modules, we have noticed business partners, customers, and prospects have taken interest and have used the eLearning modules as a tool to fill the gap between our quarterly, instructor-led trainings and the present. We’ve also noticed a higher level of product knowledge in those who have reviewed the eLearning modules.

Our eLearning modules cover lessons from the Initial set up of Compiere to Purchasing Products and Sales. A learner could purchase all of the eLearning modules in one series or simply purchase the individual eLearning modules that best suit their learning needs. Learners will find that each module incorporates interaction as well as quizzes in order to provide a full, engaging, learning experience. Learners may also repeat a lesson or return to the module anytime within 120 days.

So far, we have found the interest in eLearning is increasing and we are adding more eLearning modules to our suite often. We also plan to provide an eLearning option to educate users on every capability within Compiere as we move forward.

All of our eLearning modules are available online at www.compiere.com. We have found it to be a valuable addition to our services and a great way to gain product knowledge as well as useful skills related to Compiere ERP and CRM and ultimately become more productive sooner rather than later. To test drive an eLearning module before making a purchase, visit our website today and try ‘Navigation in Compiere’ free of charge.

Innovation and the Value of Service Packs

A wise person once said “success requires change.” Customers seeking even greater success from their Compiere software, asked us to make changes—and we did. This month we introduced a new software delivery vehicle called “Service Packs.” Service Packs are a highly visible example of the kinds of changes we are making to improve customer success with Compiere.

“Deliver Frequent, Well-tested Improvements Without Requiring a Major Upgrade”
The most common request we’ve heard recently is as old as enterprise application software itself – deliver frequent, well tested fixes to Compiere software without introducing major new functionality at the same time. New functionality, which may require additional user training and other deployment effort, should be packaged and distributed separately.

Service Packs, introduced in August 2007, are our response to this important request. Service packs enable customers to safely apply bug fixes to their production Compiere systems without requiring a functional upgrade to the next release. A Service Pack consists of full source code, binary build, release notes and installation documentation. Service Packs go through a full regression test before release.

Service Packs are the second form of software release from Compiere, joining the “Stable Release.” The first Stable Release of Compiere was made available in 2001. Since that time, the software has been downloaded over 1.25 million times and used in production by businesses around the globe. Stable Releases are broadly distributed and include both new functionality and quality improvements. Factors including business needs, technology changes and the magnitude of enhancements determine the specific contents and timing of Stable Releases. Compiere 2.6.1, the current Stable Release, shipped in May 2007.

Service Packs, which are a fee-based service from Compiere, enhance the ability of our customers and Authorized Partners to maintain a stable, supportable production environment. Compiere makes significant investments to produce both Service Packs and Stable Releases. As such, the contents of Service Packs and Stable Releases are first available to customers with a Compiere Support Subscription. However, others still benefit from this investment at a later date, when Compiere distributes the Stable Release through SourceForge.

“Don’t Stop Innovating”
Service Packs address supportability, not innovation. Compiere remains committed to adding new capabilities, improving usability and increasing the business value from Compiere solutions. Major innovations are typically delivered through a Stable Release. Importantly, all cumulative Service Pack fixes are incorporated into the next Stable Release.

Simultaneously delivering rapid fixes, supportability and product innovation requires additional investments in people, processes and technology. Compiere’s success in attracting and serving customers has enabled higher levels of investment on product innovations.

“Remain Open Source”
Compiere Stable Releases and Service Packs are both distributed under an OSI-approved open source license: GPL Version 2. This means that organizations using Stable Releases and Service Packs have full access to the source code. They have all of the rights and responsibilities that are associated with open source software.

In embracing Service Packs, Compiere ended one rather common practice of many (but not all) open source projects: providing immediate access to unstable builds and source code through “Daily Builds.” The Daily Builds had the disadvantage of introducing data model and dictionary changes, functional changes and code instability from day to day. Service packs provide a more stable way to deliver documented and well tested bug fixes on a regular basis. Service Packs also makes it easier for Compiere to incorporate contributions from the community.

Unprecedented Value and Supportability
In conclusion, Service Packs are a step forward by Compiere towards improving stability and supportability for the large class of customers who want vendor support for their business-critical ERP solutions. They are not a step away from open source licensing for the highly successful Compiere ERP project. Compiere’s practice of providing enhanced availability and superior services to companies who pay a nominal fee for our services is standard practice for commercial open source companies. We are proud to be able to offer these capabilities and services at a small fraction of the cost of proprietary vendors. For those companies that choose to pay nothing to Compiere for support, they may still benefit from Compiere’s investments - but with some delay in availability.

The New Compiere Web Site

Compiere is changing the economics of business software by making ERP easier. In addition, we are changing our corporate identity and web experience. See for yourself at our newly updated web site, www.compiere.com

I encourage you to explore some of the exciting new features on the site:

• Clean and clear site wide navigation, including an improved site architecture and navigation scheme
• Updated descriptions of product capabilities, platform advantages, global-ready features, open source benefits and value-added services
• A new Industries section describing Compiere advantages for the Distribution, Retail, Professional Services and Manufacturing industries.
• A new, easier to use partner locator
• Improved descriptions of Compiere services and Editions.

While much is new with the web site, the tried and true Compiere advantages continue into the future:

• Compiere products deliver powerful ERP & CRM functionality, enabling businesses around the globe to automate financial, distribution, sales and service processes…quickly, affordably and easily.
• Compiere’s Model-drive Application Platform provides unparalleled flexibility to adapt Compiere to unique and changing business needs, typically without programming
• Compiere, Inc. continues to invest in creating ERP and CRM product innovations and in delivering valuable services to the Compiere community
• Compiere ERP & CRM is freely available via an OSI-approved open source license

Our goal for the site is to provide customers, partners and developers with a single reliable source of information for all things Compiere. We are happy to share our new web site and enhanced vision with you today, and will continue to provide additional services through the web site in the future. If you have suggestions on how to improve the site, please contact us.

Compiere Available through the New Red Hat Exchange

The Red Hat Exchange, or RHX,is now open for business. RHX is a new marketplace for leading integrated business application solutions such as Compiere. We are excited and honored to be among the initial 13 open source solutions offered through the exchange. For additional discussion around Compiere on RHX, read Compiere CEO Don Klaiss' blog entry on the Red Hat News Blog, or the Red Hat's press release.

We want to thank Matt Mattox, director of product management for RHX, and the rest of the Red Hat team who worked tirelessly to make today's "grand opening" a success.

Introducing Compiere 2.6.1

Compiere 2.6.1 is now available. You can learn more about this new release by reading the press release or downloading the latest software.

The big news in this release is support for EnterpriseDB Advanced Server version 8.1, providing customers with expanded database choices and additional price points. Both EnterpriseDB and Oracle offer Compiere customers enterprise-class database functionality and performance. Both vendors back their software with a range of support services. Importantly, the choice of vendor is yours.

In all, the new release includes more than 58 enhancements and improvements. My personal favorite is user-saved queries, giving you the ability to easily define, store, retrieve and reuse frequently used queries. The release also includes improvements in materials movement functionality, data imports and to the data dictionary.

For those of you who use sourceforge's tracker statistics as an indicator of product quality, the backlog of open issues declined 20% between March 19 and April 27. I can also report that Compiere's expanding QA department provided significantly higher levels of testing than in previous releases.

Database choice, new functionality and improved quality are three great reasons for you to make the  move to Compiere 2.6.1. Automated migration tools for moving to Compiere 2.6.1 are included with Compiere Self-service, Standard or Expanded Support subscriptions.

Compiere Expansion

Compiere announced today our expansion into Europe in addition to expanding Compiere's executive team.  Having an office in Germany will allow us to better serve the Europe, Middle East, and African markets with a local presence to focus on sales, support and solution delivery for our channel partners and customers throughout the EMEA region. As general manager of Compiere EMEA, Yves Sandfort will lead efforts to further increase our reach and the productivity of our partner network to our 20+ authorized partners within the EMEA region. With our expansion into Europe, we will also begin holding training classes in Europe again with the first class tentatively scheduled for the June / July timeframe.  We will post more details about the training class on our website in the next few weeks after we have finalized the dates and logistics for the training session.

We also announced the addition of three people joining our executive team in our U.S. corporate office:

• Kyle Rosier, director of sales for the Americas, will oversee channel activities and lead direct sales in the Americas.
• Sunny Gosain, vice president of development and customer support, has global responsibility for product development, customer support and information technology.
• Bill Freedman, director of marketing, will lead outbound marketing efforts globally.

When Compiere had only a few people employees, the number of initiatives we could focus on was very limited. This expansion gives us the ability to focus on a larger number of initiatives including more focus on product development, support, global sales programs, and marketing.

We welcome Yves, Kyle, Sunny, and Bill to the Compiere team!