Caspio Bridge Previous Releases

Firefox/Mac Support

Caspio Bridge login and administration is now available using Firefox 2.0 (or higher) on Windows and Macintosh. Linux and Unix are also supported using browsers based on Gecko 1.8.1 (or higher).

Secured HTTPS-Only Deployment

An extra layer of security is now available when deploying your applications to ensure DataPages are only accessible via an encrypted SSL web connection (https). When this option is enabled in the Deploy Wizard, any attempt to access the DataPage from a non-secure connection will be blocked.

Configurable Session Timeout

Customize your web applications' sessions to automatically time out after a specific period of inactivity (starting at 5 minutes, with several time intervals up to 24 hours). Configurable in the advanced options of Authentication Wizard, this feature is especially useful for authenticated applications containing highly-sensitive information. Prior to this release, the default session timeout for all apps was 2 hours.

Auto-Login Between Apps

When enabled during authentication design, authenticated users are granted automatic access to all other password-protected DataPages that have their authentication based the same table (directly or through a view). Configurable in the advanced options of Authentication Wizard, this feature is helpful for multi-app deployments since the end user only has to log in one time for all related applications.

Expanded Data Type Conversion

You now have superior control of your field data types in Caspio Bridge tables. We've added many more conversion options to existing fields in table design, so nearly all data type conversions are possible. This feature is especially useful when you need to change default TEXT4000 fields resulting from imported CSV data files to appropriate types. To change data types, open your table in design mode and use the Data Type dropdown to select a new type for your field. Caspio Bridge alerts you of any data incompatibilities and gives you the option to proceed or cancel the conversion.

Smart Labels

This is a handy new feature everyone can start using right away – when naming your fields in Table Design (or in a data file that will be imported to Caspio Bridge), use the underscore character where you would like spaces to appear in your labels. The DataPage Wizard will then automatically convert the underscore to a space for field labels. For example, a field name of "Date_of_Birth" in your table will automatically appear as "Date of Birth" in the label of that field in DataPages. Now you can standardize your naming conventions across all DataPages when you name your fields with this feature in mind. Note that renaming field names will not impact existing DataPages.

Custom Time Formats in Localizations

The Caspio Bridge Localizations wizard now provides a "Custom" option for Time formats. You can also configure a custom rule in the DataPage Wizard for any field to override the formatting inherited from the Localization wizard.

Layout Improvements for Multiple Fields on Same Line

Upon customer requests, we have made a small change to the advanced layout feature "Keep Next Element on Same Line". Now the width of the first column of forms and details DataPages is always preserved for proper alignment.

Enhanced "Search by Date" Function

Search and Report DataPages that use DATE/TIME fields in the search criteria are now free from the implicit time values associated with dates. So for example, searching for date values in a range such as June 1, 2007 to June 10, 2007 will include all dates in the boundary values regardless their associated time values.

In addition, a new "Precision" option was added when configuring DATE/TIME search criteria for situations when you want to search for all records belonging to an entire year, or a range of months. Learn more.

Full Compatibility with IE 7 and Windows Vista

Caspio Bridge 5.2 is verified to fully support Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Vista.

Relational DataPages and Other Advanced Options

• Relational DataPages – Caspio Bridge Relational DataPages utilize web parameters to maintain a relationship with the page before it and communicate with the page after it, or both. These associations help you build new types of applications and achieve a higher level of customization and interactivity. Parameters can be passed to and from pages outside Caspio Bridge, or from one DataPage to other DataPages.
  
  To work with parameters, Advanced Options must be enabled in your DataPages (on the first screen of the DataPage wizard). During field configuration, you can configure any field to receive a parameter "On load", or pass its value as a parameter "On exit".
• Insert Fields – You can also insert field values in HTML blocks and other areas to personalize or improve the functionality of your applications. Both parameter and database fields can be inserted freely. Fields can be inserted in labels, HTML Blocks, Headers & Footers, confirmation messages and automatic emails.
• Virtual Fields – Caspio Bridge now provides way for you to display fields or capture data without storing the data to the database when the user clicks submit. Virtual Fields can be used creatively for multi-page forms or pseudo search forms that simply pass the search parameters to multiple "default-criteria" Search and Report DataPages.
  
  Note: Advanced Options are available to Standard packages at current rates.

Richer Application Interfaces

• Multi-Column Forms Lay out your forms and Details Pages in multiple columns. Each form can be divided in several Sections and each Section can have one to four columns. The Section feature is accessed in DataPage wizard in the field configuration screen. See example.
• New Results Page Layouts Search and Report DataPages now provide different layout options for Results Pages.
  • Table View This is the previous layout where results display in rows of a table.
  • List View Displays each record vertically down the page.*
  • Grid View Displays results in a grid of up to 10 columns.*
  • Direct to Details Skips Results Page and opens the first record's Details Page.
  In addition, now any field in a Results Page can be used as link to the Details Page.
  
  * Requires an update to your existing Styles, or use one of the provided v5 Styles.
• New Label Positioning Options The labels of your forms can now be positioned on top or left of the field. They can also be turned off. Label positioning can be managed at the Section level or individually for each field.
• Multiple Fields Per Line This advanced option allows you to place two or more fields on the same line (by removing the line break between fields). It can be combined with the standard multi-column option for great layout control. To enable this option for any field, enable Advanced Options on the first screen of the DataPage wizard (available to Standard packages at current rates), then check the "Continue next element on same line" checkbox in the Advanced tab for each item you want to adjoin to then next element in the DataPage Elements list.

Enhanced Localization and Data Formatting

• Data Formatting – You can now format many types of data based on the standards used in your geographic location or according to your taste. Choices are comprehensive and cover date, time, and various number formats such as currency, percent, and even yes/no values.
  
  You have several ways to format your data. Choose your formatting preferences in your Localization object and assign it to your DataPages with one click, create different Localizations for each locality if you deploy apps in several locations, or create a custom formatting rule for a particular field in a DataPage.
  
  View screenshot of Localization wizard.
  
  Read Online Help for creating a Localization.
   
• Time Zone – To localize time stamp fields, each account now has a default time zone setting accessible from the top menu "Options --> Account Time Zone", plus each Localization object can have its own custom time zone which applies to all DataPages using that Localization.

Usability Improvements for DataPage End Users

• "Pop-up Calendar" – Option to display a calendar icon next to a field so users can enter dates through a calendar. See Calendar.
• File and Image Auto-Detection – Caspio Bridge can now automatically detect whether a file field contains an image or not. It will display image file types according to your image settings and other file types according to your files setting. Just select the "Auto-detect" option during field configuration.
• "Render as URL" – More control over displaying field as hyperlinked URLs. The URL could be masked with a custom text and the link could open in a new browser window.
• "Render as Email" – Have your email links display as text you customize, plus pre-populate the email's subject line and body.

Improvements to Caspio Bridge User Interface

• New UI Design – Existing users will quickly notice that Caspio Bridge has undergone a small face lift. We have streamlined many wizard screens and updated the graphics and icons for improved usability. See Caspio Bridge UI.
• New "Insert" Option – This new button appears under your fields in field configuration so you can quickly add Header & Footer, HTML Blocks, New Sections and Virtual Fields. This function eliminates separate steps in the wizard so you can build your DataPages faster. See "Insert" option.
• Confirmation Message – Take advantage of the new built-in confirmation screen which can be displayed after any form (or editable Details Page) is submitted. They eliminate the need for an external confirmation page. Insert fields such as the user's name to personalize the message.
• New "Any" Option for Y/N Fields – Radio buttons and dropdowns can be now used for yes/no fields in searches so users can not only filter fields that match with "Yes" or "No", but also easily select "Any" to eliminate that field from the search criteria.
• HTML Blocks in Results Pages – All DataPages, including all types of Results Pages, can now contain HTML blocks for static or dynamic text, free layout, inserted fields and parameters.
• Min and Max Characters in Fields – Additional data validation option enforces minimum and maximum characters expected in a field.

Security and Performance Improvements

• Enhanced Security and Performance – Several security and performance enhancements are provided in this release, including a new option that by default prevents questionable scripts submitted by web users to be executed at run time.

New v5 Styles

• Style Object Upgrades – New v5 Styles were loaded into all accounts in order to support the new Results Page layouts. Existing customized Styles in your account were not touched. To utilize the new layout options, either use one of the provided v5 Styles or customize your own layout preferences using the Styles Wizard (go to List/Grid Layout under Results Pages).