What's New in Accolade 16.2 Release
The following sections describe new functionality and areas that have changed in Accolade in the 16.2 release.
Updating the Portfolio Planner
Accolade 16.2 introduces a new timeline view toggle feature for the Portfolio Planner. When accessing a project’s data in the Portfolio Planner, users can now toggle between the classic table view and a new Gantt view. The Gantt view displays pertinent timeline information, including project start and end dates.
Introducing “Read Only” Mode for Planning Views
In Accolade 16.2, process managers can now lock planning views and Gantt charts viewed in a pod on a layout. This prevents users from clicking on and accidentally updating project data. With this update, process designers can designate roadmaps to be in “read only” mode.
Enhancing the Preview Mode
Those who are using Accolade 16.2 in Preview mode will notice several enhancements to the user interface. Accolade 16.2 users in Preview mode have access to an improved user selector. This selector displays additional information about searched-for users, including their status and email address. The Preview mode also features an updated “About” page as well as a newly designed “Environment” page. Users have also gained access to context-sensitive online help while in Preview mode.
Updating User Administration
With Accolade 16.2, the following enhancements have been established for user administration:
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New Resource Planner role – This role combines and replaces the Demand Planner and Capacity Planner roles, as both roles are intertwined and necessary for resource planning. On upgrade to 16.2, if a user has either the Demand Planner or Capacity Planner role, they will automatically be assigned the new Resource Planner role.
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New IT Manager role – A new role that grants access to Advanced Administration, generally given to IT or Administrative roles within a company.
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“Add” Access Group rights can now be granted to all Process Execution roles – Previously, only users with the Process Manager role were able to be given rights to create a new project. With 16.2, “Add” rights can now be given to all Process Execution roles (i.e., Executive, Project Manager, Idea Manager, Gate Manager, Document Reviewer, Project Team Member, Process Manager), allowing these users to also be able to create new projects in the Access Groups for which they have “Add” rights.
New Advanced Administration Page
Previously, there were several simpler application settings that required an Administrator to be on the application server to manage them. With 16.2, Accolade begins to move some of these settings from the Admin Console on to the Accolade website, minimizing the need for users to access the server.
Currently, this page includes the Distributed Cache details, and allows users with the IT Manager role to clear cache, if needed.
Adding Attributes to Resources
Accolade 16.2 has the ability to add resource attributes, for example, Skill Set, Location, Role, etc., with the use of a new reference table. This table is installed on upgrade, but other versions can be added to include company specific attributes that will apply to the company's resources. When planning projects, resource managers can now filter resources by these new attributes, assisting them in choosing resources that best fit a project.
The new resource attributes reference table also applies Pool Extended Fields to each resource in its respective pool, eliminating the need to maintain both sets of attributes. The Pool Extended Fields become additional attributes in the resource attributes reference table, and can be applied to any resource.
New Resource Capacity Page
Accolade 16.2 introduces a new Gantt where Resource Managers and Pool Administrators can view a resource’s attributes, assigned work, and availability. This page provides a view of all work that is currently planned for a resource, allowing users to gauge which resources are available for additional work, or if work schedules need to be adjusted.
Additionally, a new read-only page named “My Future Work” is now available for resources to view their own current and upcoming work.
Enhancing the Plan Projects (Beta) Page
Accolade 16.1 introduced the new Plan Projects page. In 16.2, the following enhancements are included for this page:
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Navigation controls, allowing users to zoom in and out of the Gantt, and collapse or expand all projects.
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Filtering when adding a new project, allowing users to filter their list of projects by their status, or other filter metrics.
Extending Team Collaboration with Microsoft Teams
Accolade 16.2 extends Accolade’s integration with Microsoft Teams, allowing collaboration options within the Gate Document dialog, making it easier, for example, for users to communicate with co-workers, or customers, suppliers, etc., regarding specific content items. When a project is connected to a Microsoft Teams channel, the communication menu is now available on the Gate Document dialogs, with the following options:
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Go to Channel
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Post in Channel
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Email Channel
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Schedule Meeting with Channel
New Visual Indication for Inactive & Deleted Users
In Accolade 16.2, you can now verify user status, at a glance, on project pages, pods, quick grids, roadmaps, timesheets, configuration pages, and from the user selector. A name with a strike-through indicates a deleted user. An italicized and greyed-out name indicates an inactive user. This update allows users to quickly see that someone who was previously an Accolade user is no longer a licensed user.
Adding SCIM API to Accolade Application
Accolade 16.2 is now packaged with the System for Cross-domain Identity Management (SCIM) API. SCIM API offers a standardized way for different systems to communicate and manage user identities across multiple domains. Among other uses, Administrators can leverage SCIM API to apply the settings of an Accolade template user to create new users, as well as update the roles, rights, and other data of existing users.