23.3.04 updates

New Language Support

We have expanded our language offerings with the addition of Portuguese and French (Canadian) support. Users can switch to these languages for a more localized experience. For more information, see Supported Languages. 

Expanded Definition Scope

The system definitions have a public scope, enabling their usage outside the original library. This update provides greater flexibility, allowing definitions to be applied across various contexts. 

These definitions are also customizable, enabling users to tailor them to specific project needs. For detailed guidance on how to modify and use these definitions, see Adding Custom Fields using Extension Containers.

Resource Management Improvements

Significant improvements have been made to the Resource Management Module, addressing key issues and delivering enhanced functionality. For more information, see Resource Management Overview.

Gantt Chart Enhancements

Users now have the ability to directly update the predecessors of tasks in the Gantt chart, by editing the corresponding cell in the "Dependencies" column. This improvement simplifies workflow adjustments, making it easier to manage project timelines and dependencies in real-time. For more information, see Gantt Chart.

Project Import

This release also introduces the Project Import feature, to seamlessly import projects into the app, reducing manual effort and potential errors. The feature supports the files from the Microsoft Project application exported in the .XML format, preserving the structure, relationships, and metadata of the original project file during the import process. For more information, see Project Import Overview.

23.3.02 updates

General enhancements

Below is detailed information on the general enhancements made in the latest version of Helix Portfolio Management. 

Make changes in the Best Practice Mode and never lose your customization

The Portfolio Management application is now available in Base Mode with an overlay. The developers are advised to make customizations and changes in Best Practice Mode. This approach is crucial to make sure that customizations and changes remain intact during upgrades to new versions of the Portfolio Management application. 

User-level enhancements

Below is detailed information on the user-level enhancements made in the latest version of Helix Portfolio Management.

Manage your organization's Foundation data

Foundation data refers to the organization-level data, comprising Resource Groups, Resources, Qualifications, Trainings, and Examination Certificates details.
The application's latest version allows you to manage this data through its Foundation Data Console. The console provides the users with a centralized location to"

• view the data components
• add/update the competencies for the resources
• initiate self-assessment for their subordinates and (d) approve or update the self-assessments.  

For more information, see Managing-Foundation-Data. 

Keep track of your Competencies

The My Qualifications section under the Profile is now replaced with the comprehensive My Competencies section. The new interface encompasses Qualifications, Trainings, Certificates, and Assessment History, providing users with a holistic view of their competencies. 
This allows users to manage their competencies and submit the assessment to their managers for review. 

For more information, see Managing My Competencies. 

Request/Submit Self Assessments

Self-assessment refers to updating own's Qualifications, Trainings and Certificates within the application and submitting it for review. 
Resource Managers are the approvers of the Self-Assessment submitted by the resources. Resource Managers can also initiate self-assessment with a target date for their subordinates, individually or for the whole resource group at a time. 
Additionally, the Assessment History console allows one to review as well as compare the submitted self-assessments. 

For more information, see Managing-My-Competencies. 

Have Multiple Approvers for the Timecards

You can have multiple approvers to the timecards. The Approver tab on the Resource Assignment Edit view allows adding new approvers to the timecards. 
This has changed the Timecard Edit view as well. Unlike previously, the approver name will appear once the timecard is approved/rejected. 

For more information, see Viewing-and-updating-resource-assignments.

Referencing a Task, if the Timecard is created based on a Project Assignment

This is an enhancement in the Timecard create and edit view. When you select a project assignment, you will, by default, get a field to specify the task the resource worked on. 

For more information, see Creating-timecards.

Configure Multi-level Resource Group Nesting

The Resource Groups can now have one or more Sub-Resource Groups under them. Further, the Sub-Resource Groups can have Sub-Resource Groups of their own, allowing users to create a multi-level resource group nesting, where, the parent resource group will be referred to as the Top-Level Group.

The Top-Level Groups as well as the Sub-Resource groups can be managed from the Manage Resource Groups Console. 

For more information, see Configuring-Resource-Groups.

Admin-level enhancements

Below is detailed information on the admin-level enhancements made in the latest version of Helix Portfolio Management. 

Configure Competencies

The Application Settings now have Certificate, Course, Course Type and Skill Area Group console along with the previously available Skill and Skill Area console. This allows the administrator to create, edit and obsolete the competencies. 
The skill management hierarchy has Skill Area Group at the highest level. A Skill Area Group can have multiple Skill Areas, which can have multiple Skills within them. Every Skill Area Group has an associated Resource Group, and the manager of that Resource Group stays responsible for managing the Skill Area Group. 
The records added in the respective consoles help the users/managers to plan and assess the Qualifications, Trainings and Certificates under My Competencies. 

For more information, see Configuring-Competencies. 

Relate Skills with Courses and Certificates

The Skill Edit view has Related tabs to relate courses, certificates and resource groups to it. This suggests that by obtaining a certain certificate or attending a certain course, a user can obtain a certain skill. 

For more information, see Configuring-Skills.

Check the Skills, Courses and Certificates relevant to the Resource Groups

The Resource Group Edit view has Relevant tabs to see the skills, courses and certificates relevant to the resource group. A user can not add or remove the records from these relevant tabs. The information is auto-populated from the respective section. 

For more information, see Configuring-Resource-Groups.

Define Job Profiles

Job Profile is another feature introduced in the application Settings. This allows the administrator to manage the Job Profiles within their organization and allows the users to see what skills, trainings and certificates are compulsory for a particular job profile.
Also, it adds ease in filtering resources with the required skills. 

For more information, see Configuring-Job-Profiles. 

Customize views with Custom Fields

You all might acknowledge the fact that each business has unique needs. Hence, the application has enabled this option to add custom fields to its views. While the default record views of the Portfolio Management application offer an extensive array of predefined fields, the custom fields can be introduced to empower you to go beyond the standard. 
The Portfolio Management has extension containers that allow users to create custom fields to customize different record views within the application. These additional custom fields can be added in the record views of different root objects to add more information to the records.  This allows users to effectively adapt and tailor their systems to meet their specific business requirements. 
Users can configure these custom fields within the BMC Helix Innovation Studio, provided they have access to the application. 

For more information, see Adding Custom Fields using Extension Containers.