ChangeBASE 5.0.0 Release Notes
Quest® ChangeBASE
Version 5.0.0
Release Notes
June 2012
Contents
Welcome to ChangeBASE
New in this Release
Resolved Issues and Enhancements
Known Issues
Upgrade and Compatibility
System Requirements
Global Operations
Getting Started
For More Information
Welcome to ChangeBASE
ChangeBASE, now part of Quest Software, is the world leader in automated application compatibility analysis, remediation and conversion. In 2007, the ChangeBASE software suite was introduced which automated the testing and remediation process for moving applications to the latest operating system. Since then, ChangeBASE has continued to push the boundaries of what automation can do to facilitate enterprise application migration, and today, enterprises across the globe are using the solution to move to Windows 7, the latest version of Internet Explorer, and virtual platforms from Citrix, VMware, Microsoft and Symantec. The scope of ChangeBASE has also expanded; in addition to automated analysis and remediation, the tool can automatically convert native applications into virtual formats.
Quest Software is a leader in simplifying and reducing the cost of IT management, Quest’s innovative solutions make solving the toughest IT management problems easier, enabling more than 100,000 customers worldwide to save time and money across physical, virtual and cloud environments. The addition of ChangeBASE enhances Quest’s growing user-centric management product portfolio, empowering IT to deliver a productive, protected, dynamic user workspace on every device.
New in This Release
New Features in ChangeBASE 5.0.0
- Dashboard reporting - Dashboard is a powerful reporting tool with drill-down capabilities and graphical representation. Features include graphs, charts, drill-down queries, filtering, an ROI calculator and progress tracking. Web based access means that, depending on user configuration, the Dashboard reports can be accessed from anyone in an organisation without the need to install the ChangeBASE product. Reporting is designed to suit all levels of user from the experienced ChangeBASE exponent to a high level manager.
- Next Steps guidance - For technical staff, ChangeBASE now provides additional explanation about a detected compatibility issue, enabling a better understanding of the cause. In addition, advice is provided on the course of action (next steps) to be taken. This next steps guidance is available via the new Dashboard reporting component.
- Legacy application conversion - Previous versions of ChangeBASE enabled many forms of legacy (non-MSI) application to be converted into pseudo-MSI format in order for compatibility tests to be run. This was a 'static' process based on inspection only. 5.0.0 extends this capability and adds 'dynamic' repackaging. The dynamic process involves an installation of the legacy application in a virtual machine. All events from the installation are recorded and are used to construct an MSI. Compatibility tests can then be run on the generated MSI. In most cases, the MSI is of installable quality but this is dependent on the quality and complexity of the legacy application.
- User Interface revisons - The user interface (UI) has been substantially improved in line with suggestions and feature requests received from our client base. The UI is clearer, more friendly and more powerful. New functionality includes:
- Separate columns for local/imported/failures status, dependency, dotnet and isolated
- Add/Remove package from view in context menu
- Product name in organise views window
- Ability to save and restore report results
- Ability to detect duplicate packages and avoid the same package from being loaded multiple times
- Removal of import dependency options
- Web loading now has 3 options: all packages / web only / none
- Where information exists, 'more information' tips make it available
- Case sensitivity option is restored in All Table Scan report template
- The Add-ins tab in the options is now restricted to only specify executables linked to the context menu items
- The Test/Production indicator has been moved to the toolbar at the foot of the screen
- For the error log, a toggle option has been added to view just errors or everything
- The version. e.g. 5.0.0 is displayed at the bottom of the screen
- All actions have been renamed. Now Browse / Import / Assess / Fix instead of Load / Run / Fix
- Additional link to enable opening of upgrade log in Notepad
- Searching is now possible via Application name, manufacturer and version columns
- Comments can now be added to overrides
- It is possible to differentiate between packages that have been fixed and others
- Web applications are differentiated from others via a different icon - Single Installer - There is now only one installer for ChangeBASE. In the previous version of ChangeBASE, the user had to select the correct installer, e.g. "Standard" in line with their license edition. In 5.0.0, there is only one installer. All features are installed but access to the features is recricted by the user's license.
- Virtualisation extensions - Virtualisation is now possible for App-V 4.6 SP1 and ThinApp. For App-V, enhancements have been made to the editing of package settings. XP 32-bit is now supported as the host environment.
- Bulk Importer - A user-friendly capability has been added for importing packages in bulk from a folder structure. MSIs and transforms can be accommodated.
- Licensing revisions - More license-related information is now made available. For those users with a perpetual license, this will be clearly advised and the expiry date of the maintenance agreement can also be viewed.
- Core Application Scan (CAS) - Each rule for a CAS report can now be selected or de-selected according to the user's preferences. There is an option to hide issues relating to merge modules. Many other improvements have been made to improve the usability and accuracy for CAS reporting.
- Profile Report - The package name is displayed by default.
- Bulk Issues Summary (Readme) reports - Readme reports are replaced by Issues Summary reports. Issues Summary reports can be produced in bulk as well as individually, making it easier to obtain a broader picture.
- New Project Wizard - New users of ChangeBASE can use the New Project Wizard feature to step through the processes involved in exploiting ChangeBASE. The New Project Wizard appears as a tab on the UI and is displayed by default on first use.
Resolved Issues and Enhancements
- Non-English operating systems and regional settings - In some cases, ChangeBASE worked incorrectly where non-English language operating systems or regional settings were used. This limitation is no longer present in 5.0.0.
- Web crawling performance - Long scan/import times could result for large, complex websites. ChangeBASE now provides the option for limiting the crawling to the subdomain level, greatly reducing the scan/import times.
- Legacy applications marked as fixable - Legacy (non-MSI) applications were incorrectly denoted as fixable. This has been corrected in 5.0.0.
- Working directory path - The ability has been added to specify a UNC path as a working directory for a database.
- Duplicate packages - Checks have been added to prevent a user from importing the same package multiple times.
- Web analysis options - Options are now provided for the analysis of web sites: always analyse / web based applications only /analysis disabled
- File selection on folder drag/drop - When using drag/drop for loading files from a folder, the user can choose which file types to import and which to ignore. Back to Top
Known Issues
The following is a list of issues known to exist at the time of Quest ChangeBASE 5.0.0 release.
Feature
Known Issue
Defect ID
Dashboard chart background
Dashboard reporting uses Fusion controls for charting graphics. It has been observed that if certain pre-requisite software is not installed, the background of some charts will be white. This behaviour has been seen when dashboard is viewed using IE8 and IE9 but not with other browsers. The problem manifests if the latest Adobe Flash Player software is not installed. If this is the case, Fusion resorts to Javascript and the results in turn will depend on whether the latest version of Javascript is available.
If you encounter this issue, try using another browser if you have one available to you. If that does not resolve the problem or if you are unable to access a different browser, install the latest Adobe Flash Player software.
Internal issue reference #143
An MSI generated from the import of a legacy (non-MSI) application is not installable
ChangeBASE produces installable MSIs for most legacy applications but there will be some exceptions. Given the variable quality and complexity of legacy applications and a huge combination of application variables, some generated MSIs will not be of installable quality and some may install but not run correctly.
Other factors that influence whether an MSI is installable are:
- The legacy application is a bootstrap EXE that calls one or more MSIs
- An EXE calls another EXE which is not a child processAs explained above, ChangeBASE exceptions are to be expected and are not due to errors in the ChangeBASE processing. If, however, you believe that a legacy application should have generated an installable MSI, please report this to the Quest support team and Quest may, if appropriate, update the MSI generation in a future release to cater for an application of this type.
Internal issue reference #130
Bulk Issues Summary reports
Where several MSIs are selected and the Bulk Issues Summary action is clicked. Issue summaries are produced for those issues for which a report has previously run but for others, the report is just blank. This may be fixed in a future release.
Internal issue #215
Virtualization for Symantec SWV If the workbench configuration is incorrect or the virtual machine is not set up according to the documentation, the history log for a package virtualized for Symantec SWV may still report the virtualization as successful. If you do not have the files that you are expecting after a virtualization, carefully check that your workbench configuration and your virtual machine are correct. Reboots during legacy application conversionn
Some legacy applications include a reboot as part of their installation process. These are generally handled by the ChangeBASE conversion processing, however, some are written without any user prompts and may cause the conversion to fail. In these rare cases, a separate ChangeBASE utility is available - see the Troubleshooting Guide for details.
Upgrade and Compatibility
If you are upgrading from a very old version of AOK (3.1.x.x), you are advised to take a backup of your database before you install 5.0.0. ChangeBASE will automatically detect the old database format and upgrade the database to be compatible with 5.0.0.
Do not attempt to use an old licence for 5.0.0. Significant improvements have been made to the licensing components of ChangeBASE and any licence created in a 3.x.x.x or 4.x.x.x will not function with 5.0.0.
With the exception of the database, it is recommended that you remove all traces of an old ChangeBASE or AOK version as follows:
- Uninstall AOK or ChangeBASE using the Control Panel applet. If found, also uninstall AOK VReady-It, AOK Convert-It, InstallMonitor, AOK Report-It, Visualise-It, AOK Zenworks.
- If you were using a 3.x.x.x version of AOK, delete the *.cbl license file from the %AppData% folder. If you were using the 4.x.x.x version, delete the license file from the %LocalAppData% folder.
- Using a registry editor such as regedit, remove any AOK or ChangeBASE keys in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software.Before installing Quest ® ChangeBASE, ensure that your system meets the following minimum hardware and software requirements.
Where all components are installed on the same machine (standalone):
Where many users are connected to the same database, the database server requirements are as for a standalone setup except:
For each client workstation attached to a database server, the requirements are as for a standalone setup except:
Additional Software • Microsoft System CLR Types for SQL Server 2008
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Shared Management Objects x86 (10.0.x)Further information concerning system requirements and dependencies is provided in the Quest ® ChangeBASE User Guide.
Global Operations
Global Operation Statement - ChangeBASE 5.0.0
This section contains information about installing and operating this product in non-English configurations, such as those needed by customers outside of North America. This section does not replace the materials about supported platforms and configurations found elsewhere in the product documentation.
This release supports any single-byte character set. Double-byte or multi-byte character sets are not supported. In this release, all product components should be configured to use the same or compatible character encodings and should be installed to use the same locale and regional options. This release is targeted to support operations in the following regions: North America, Western Europe and Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe.Getting Started
Contents of the Release Package
The ChangeBASE release package contains the following products:
Installation Instructions
Refer to Quest ® ChangeBASE - Getting Started document for installation instructions.
For More Information
Get the latest product information, find helpful resources, test the product betas, and join a discussion with the ChangeBASE Quest team and other community members.
Contacting Quest Software:
Email info@quest.com Mail Quest Software, Inc.
World Headquarters
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Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
USAWeb Refer to our Web site for regional and international office information.
Contacting Quest Support:
Quest Support is available to customers who have a trial version of a Quest product or who have purchased a Quest product and have a valid maintenance contract. Quest Support provides unlimited 24x7 access to the Support Portal, our self-service portal. Visit the Support Portal at http://support.quest.com/.
From SupportLink, you can do the following:
View the Global Support Guide for a detailed explanation of support programs, online services, contact information, policies and procedures.
The guide is available at http://support.quest.com/. This guide is available in English only.© 2012 Quest Software, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This document contains proprietary information protected by copyright. The software described in this document is furnished under a software license or nondisclosure agreement. This software may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the applicable agreement. No part of this guide may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording for any purpose other than the purchaser’s personal use without the written permission of Quest Software, Inc.
If you have any questions regarding your potential use of this material, contact:
Quest Software World Headquarters
LEGAL Dept
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Refer to our website for regional and international office information.
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Quest, Quest Software, the Quest Software logo, are trademarks and registered trademarks of Quest Software, Inc in the United States of America and other countries. For a complete list of Quest Software's trademarks, please see http://www.quest.com/legal/trademark-information.aspx. Other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Third Party Contributions
This product contains some third party components (listed below). Copies of their licenses may be found at http://www.quest.com/legal/third-party-licenses.aspx.
Disclaimer
The information in this document is provided in connection with Quest products. No license, express or implied, by estoppel or otherwise, to any intellectual property right is granted by this document or in connection with the sale of Quest products. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN QUEST'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS SPECIFIED IN THE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR THIS PRODUCT, QUEST ASSUMES NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER AND DISCLAIMS ANY EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY WARRANTY RELATING TO ITS PRODUCTS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL QUEST BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR LOSS OF INFORMATION) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS DOCUMENT, EVEN IF QUEST HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Quest makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this document and reserves the right to make changes to specifications and product descriptions at any time without notice. Quest does not make any commitment to update the information contained in this document.
System RequirementsAdditional Software• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 and 4.0.30319 or later
• Microsoft Log Parser 2.2 (for application packaging prior to importing)
• VMWare Workstation 7.1.3 or later or 8.x or VMWare Server 2.x
Quest ChangeBASE version 5.0.0
Product Documentation, including:
Quest ChangeBASE User Guide
Quest ChangeBASE Troubleshooting Guide
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