Act! v20 Future Scope? [ Edited ]

[J G]

What are the plans for service packs?

Custom Tables?

Will Insight allow advanced queries or custom fields?

Bugs/Fixes?

Trying to determine if we should continue using/renew our Act! addons.

Thanks!

[JonTaylor]

Hi J G,

There certainly will be service packs released for v20, and I know that 20.1 is in development as we speak.

Unfortunately, I have no specific information regarding time-frames for you. I'd expect it to be available early 2018, but it could be rolled out earlier or later to address specific needs.

The Custom Tables feature is currently in a testing phase which is available exclusively to our accredited consultant network, but should be a powerful aid for advanced customisation. Again, I apologise I don't have any definitive dates for you, but I'd expect to see this rolled out alongside v20.1.

Insights will be continually developed with more features to come, and we'll continue our work to improve the user experience through bug fixes and improvements in every release.

I know I've been vague here, but with 20.1 still being developed there's a lot that could change before it goes live.

Hope this helps!

[J G]

Not looking for time frames, but want to know what is being planned for future updates/service packs/versions.

[JonTaylor]

Like I said, we don't have any specifics as the patches are still in development.

v20.1 is expected to be focused around bug fixes, mostly with Outlook, and the addition of Custom Tables.

I'm sure we'll have more information closer to the time, sorry I couldn't be of more help with this one.

[J G]

Any update to whats going to be included with service pack 1?

[RenSchmid]

I know that I would be considered small cheese in the wider ACT! framework, but a subscription model for ACT! should at least outline feature improvements especially when I have committed to subscription-based add-ons to make it work effectively in my settings. These add-ons make-up for shortfalls in ACT! and are often not very well supported. XACT is a notable exception here, but other developers are lazy in documentation and arrogant in their support. Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Aspergers) is live and well amongst ACT! add-on developers.

Some ACT! franchises sell or up-sell ACT! add-ons as part of their product mix and support. Version 20.1 must be going to affect their product mix. Although I bet the documentation will be cryptic enough to excite a new era of paid service support rather than empower users to develop usable tables with functionality.

With anniversaries of subscriptions coming up I would like the information that will help me make a business decision. Surely you can list the scope and limitations of what is coming. For me an extra $200 a year is significant. Empower your user base - support them - generate a climate of trust and reliability. Avoid pushing your product as some kind of pyramid money-making venture that will continue to place users at the bottom.

Those that are flogging ACT! products, add-ons and services: could someone write a review or provide a table of the strengths, limitations and support experiences so that people can make informed choices? You could also compare ACT! to other choices.You never know competition may actually lead to positive useful improvements.

[J G]

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@RenSchmid wrote:

I know that I would be considered small cheese in the wider ACT! framework, but a subscription model for ACT! should at least outline feature improvements especially when I have committed to subscription-based add-ons to make it work effectively in my settings. These add-ons make-up for shortfalls in ACT! and are often not very well supported. XACT is a notable exception here, but other developers are lazy in documentation and arrogant in their support. Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Aspergers) is live and well amongst ACT! add-on developers.

Some ACT! franchises sell or up-sell ACT! add-ons as part of their product mix and support. Version 20.1 must be going to affect their product mix. Although I bet the documentation will be cryptic enough to excite a new era of paid service support rather than empower users to develop usable tables with functionality.

With anniversaries of subscriptions coming up I would like the information that will help me make a business decision. Surely you can list the scope and limitations of what is coming. For me an extra $200 a year is significant. Empower your user base - support them - generate a climate of trust and reliability. Avoid pushing your product as some kind of pyramid money-making venture that will continue to place users at the bottom.

Those that are flogging ACT! products, add-ons and services: could someone write a review or provide a table of the strengths, limitations and support experiences so that people can make informed choices? You could also compare ACT! to other choices.You never know competition may actually lead to positive useful improvements.

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Dilly Dilly!

[gleo]

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@RenSchmid wrote:

I know that I would be considered small cheese in the wider ACT! framework, but a subscription model for ACT! should at least outline feature improvements especially when I have committed to subscription-based add-ons to make it work effectively in my settings. These add-ons make-up for shortfalls in ACT! and are often not very well supported. XACT is a notable exception here, but other developers are lazy in documentation and arrogant in their support. Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Aspergers) is live and well amongst ACT! add-on developers....."

Thanks for your kind reference to Xact Software.
It's a hard road for the development community, there are others that do things very well, take a look at Exponenciel out of Canada for example. Swiftpage have shown great reluctance in embracing the add-on community yet this community is responsible for a good portion of the 'stickability' of Act! and new customers due to a long period of add-on innovation and innovation in depth that Swiftpage have neither the resources nor the wit to replicate. 

With custom tables, of course there has been for a longtime the ability to add these but no user interface to do so making custom table additions reliant on a developer using the Act! SDK or the two prominent companies Durkin and Topline for provision of the tools to the end user to do so. If it is the intent of Swiftpage to ask for additional subscription fee for custom table tools for end users I believe that is regrettable and short-sighted. It needs to be included in the current subscription in support of those loyal to Act!. It serves neither Swiftpage, the customers or the product in the long term and diminishes any goodwill they hope to preserve.The question Swiftpage has before them is where is market growth going to come from without delighting their customer base with benevolence and goodwill toward them and a path to the future rather than trying to eke out a dollar at every turn.     

[J G]

Is there any update to the upcoming service pack?

[JonTaylor]

Hi all,

I've asked our product team to reply here - as I don't think I have enough information on the plans for 20.1 to write up a satisfactory overview as asked.