Just two weeks after releasing Clarizen 2.5, a major release featuring time tracking, customer billing and other new features, the fully loaded version, Clarizen 2.5G, with the long awaited Clarizen Gantt Chart, is now live.

1. Gantt Chart View

To view the Gantt Chart, click on the Gantt icon on the top right corner in the Current Project view:

2. Alert Notifications on Dependant Work Items

Also included in 2.5G are instant Alert notifications to members who are awaiting for dependant work items to be completed so that they can start working on their succeeding work items. For example, if Task 3 is dependant on Task 1 and Task 2 (FTS- Finish to Start), only once both Task 1 and 2 are completed will the assigned team members (Resources, Reviewers and Managers) be notified via email that they can start working on Task 3. Keep in mind that this is only an email notification and does not trigger an activation of Task 3.

The Admin must enable this feature which by default is disabled. Enabling of the related setting is in Admin->System Settings->Alerts & Highlights

Sample email alert for item ready to be worked on:

3. Reporting Overtime Hours

Now you can also report overtime hours in timesheets. Simply click on the 'Duplicate' button and a duplicate task will be created for a task that has also overtime hours that need to be reported.

When entering hours, simply check the 'Overtime' box for the one that relates to overtime hours.

Overtime hours are illustrated via the blue exclamation mark just right of the hours. 

4. Managers in Templates

Clarizen templates have been further enhanced with the ability to also choose between using the Managers stored with the original template or update the current user to become the Manager on all of the new project's items.

5. Custom Session Timeout

In response to popular demand, we now allow the Admin to set the organization session timeout. This will apply to all users and the session will remain open for the set period so long as the browser is not closed. To change the default 1 hour session, goto: Admin->System Setting->Organizations, Users, Licenses->Session Timeout

6. Disable Resources from Creating Sub-tasks

Thus far, resources were able to break down their tasks to sub-tasks. Now you can block this by checking the related box in Admin->System Setting->Organizations, Users, Licenses->Allow resources to add work items

What's Next?

Even though the year is coming to the end very soon, we have in store many new usability enhancements, such as saved filters, new features, such as personalized calendars, and new reports for time tracking and reporting all included in releases scheduled to be available still in 2008!