We are moving forward with the multi-browser compatibilty and it’s time for an update. As you know our goal is to support the following browsers:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Google Chrome
• Apple’s Safari
• Mozilla Firefox

In my previous blog I shared with you some important improvements in the multi-browser compatibility. Among others we have added a new document editor that enables you to create and edit documents, you could as well create and edit workflow or view Microsoft SQL Server Reports.

In the product update 245 we added new functionalities that are multi-browser compatible. You can now view and edit your homepage and customize menus in your preferences. Moreover, the personnel cards and search functionality, when searching for people, accounts and documents, are now compatible with multiple browsers.

If you would like to know more about the changes regarding multi-browser compatibility in the product update 245, watch this video.

The only fully supported browser is Internet Explorer. While some functionality may be available in other browsers, they are not officially supported.

Image source: http://www.arencoitsolutions.com/?page_id=6

It has been a while since we wrote about our multi browser project for Exact Synergy Enterprise. A lot has been done in the meantime; let me explain what we did so far.

What is our goal?

Our goal is to support Google Chrome, Apple’s Safari, Mozilla Firefox and of course Microsoft Internet explorer. Looking at one of the statistics provider hitslink.com, the market share of the Microsoft Internet explorer has dropped below the 60% of all internet users. Firefox has over 22% of the total internet users and Chrome currently has over 8% market share.

Exact Synergy Enterprise consists out of 1500+ pages which all have been developed using Microsoft technology and based on Microsoft Internet Explorer compatibility. Next to the pages we also have many controls, style sheets and other possible HTML and script containing items; all of which should eventually be compliant with the mentioned four browsers.

New functionality

As you probably read on this product blog this is not the only project that is running. The new features (created with new pages and controls) we develop compliant with the 4 web browsers from the start. Take a look for example at the new User Interface and Mobile. You will be able to use them with all four browsers.

How and what?

The multi browser project can be split in two parts. The first part includes making all our controls which are used within web pages compliant to the four mentioned browsers. This part, the foundation, is completed for 75%. However, this part will not guarantee full compliancy for all features since features within the page itself are overlooked that way.

This is where part two comes in the picture which is used to make each individual page compliant to the four different browsers. In this approach only the priority of the page within the project is important because eventually we should validate, test and update each individual page. The priority of each page has been determined and mostly corresponds with the usage frequency of that page by our customers.

To get an idea, this table shows the top 10 of most frequently used pages. This represents roughly 6% of the daily tasks done via Exact Synergy Enterprise by our customers.

Alright, nice but tell me what has been done!

From your point of view you are probably much more interested in the results so far. As of product update 244 you should be able to use IE, Chrome, Safari or Firefox to:

1. Create and edit documents using the new document editor.
2. Create and edit workflow.
3. View Microsoft SQL Server Reports.
4. Other small pages and functionality has been made compliant.

But…

As you might have guessed this project is not finished. In fact, the major part of what we did has been done “under the hood” (controls) to prepare ourselves and the product to take on the individual pages and functionality. In product update 245 we have started the second part of the project in parallel with the first part.

In the upcoming releases you will see that more and more of your daily tasks can be performed using any of the four browsers. I will keep informing you on them using this product blog.

Feedback is highly appreciated!

Exact sees an increase in the usage of internet browsers other than Microsoft IE in its customer-base. This may increase further after Microsoft press release last week that they’ll be shipping Windows 7 with a ballot screen, allowing Windows 7 users to select their preferred internet browser.
As a result of this trend in adoption of other browsers, Exact has started developing multi-browser support for Exact Synergy Enterprise. This will be delivered in pieces to the market during the quarterly product updates where each product update will see an improved level of support for browsers other than IE.

We’ve started in 242 by removing a check that Exact Synergy Enterprise can only be started by users with an IE browser. In 243, scheduled for general availabiltiy in April 2010, we’ve made several adjustments ‘under the hood’ that give us a good starting point for further enhancing Synergy Enterprise with multi-browser support. You may already notice these improvements in i.e. the request area.

Via this blog we’ll keep you updated of what the next areas will be that have multi-browser support in upcoming product updates of Exact Synergy Enterprise.