Attaching Files to Emails
Hi,
We often want to attach multiple files from within OpenVPMS when emailing a history (for example we attach the history, blood results, x-rays, etc).
Both in "Attach" and "Attach Files" you can only attach one file at a time (unless we are doing something wrong).
Can someone in the know please let us know if we are doing something wrong, or if not can we create a project to get this improved.
Thanks,
Adrian
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
Works for me. The snapshot below is from the demo site: http://demo.openvpms.org/openvpms/app
Created by:
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
Tim A - I suspect that the requirement may be to attach multiple files at once - ie in the browse window, allow the user the ctrl-click on multiple files (or shift-click a range of files) so as to attach multiple files in one hit (as you can do with say Outlook).
Regards, Tim G
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
Dear Tim A,
Apologies for not being clear. Tim G is correct. The requirement is to attach multiple files at once from the browse window.
1) Select "Attach" and be able to select multiple files at once from the file browser.
2) Select "Attach File" and be able to select multiple files from within OVPMS in the one operation.
3) You should be able to delete attachments individually from the email window. At the moment if you inadvertently select the wrong file you have to cancel out of the email browser and start again.
Thanks,
Adrian
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
sorry, another niggling point is that the difference between "attach" and "Attach file" is not particularly clear. You are attaching files in both operations, just one is from within openvpms and one is from your system file browser. These buttons could be renamed for better clarity.
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
>another niggling point ....... is not particularly clear
Yes, OV has funny little things like that - for example the "Find" button should really be "Refresh" because it certainly doesn't find anything.
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
Hi Yuri,
Yes, funny little things. However I was at a conference last week and discussing with another OpenVPMS user that my biggest issue with OpenVPMS at the moment is the useability issues. You talk to staff and newcomers to the system and they do not find it user friendly and complain that it is very "clicky".
Little things like mislabbeled or misleading buttons, lack of documentation, multiple steps to complete operations and the such are a big barrier to uptake, useability and satisfaction with a system and my belief is that perhaps there needs to be a concerted effort to try to address this in future updates.
Sorry to spray, I just have to "sell" the system to newcomers and find myself in agreement with them at times.
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
As regards documentation, I think that the responsiveness of developers to give us requested features means that the features are released as soon as they're developed and paid for, thus way ahead of the documentation. This also cuts the cost of the software for all of us - "open" means we can/should all contribute co-operatively (yeah, I know, dream on!!) to spreading the word.
I must confess I do prefer to be able to have some small influence in the direction of this software and have the features I can use ASAP - even at the expense of a delay while documentation is written. The alternative is a massively more expensive, "set-in-stone" unresponsive but well-documented software package.
As well, TimG is writing a massive amount of documentation that will become available via the Help menu for v1.7. You can find his excellent work in the Developer's Forum.
Yuri.
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
Yes, I understand this, however it seems at some point with increasing complexity the cost of documentation for the feature should be included within the feature cost... For example the advanced macros project will be useless to most people without good documentation.
In terms of the "model" I am generally curious how the contribution and funding system works (or doesn't). It seems there is a small "core" group of funders with a larger group of people wanting to see features implemented (e.g. the http://www.openvpms.org/forum/what-do-you-want-see-next-release-openvpms thread) but with less action on the funding front. I am not sure how many users have the software but are not actively engaged in the discussion and or development process and so are not contributing for this reason.
I have noticed Tim's documentation on the forums and it looks like a wonderful addition...
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
What would you call them instead?
-Tim
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
Tim - left to me I would change "Attach" to "Attach Document" and leave "Attach File" as is.
We already have Customer Documents, Supplier Documents, and a Documents tab on the patient medical records and all these deal with 'documents' that are in OPV. Also when you press "Attach" on the email screen, it displays the 'Select Document" screen.
So changing from "Attach" to "Attach Document" would seem very logical.
I think the change in messages.properties is line 379 goes from
button.attach &Attach
to
button.attach &Attach Document
Regards, Tim G
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
Hi,
I would personally be even more explicit. "Attach OpenVPMS Document" Vs "Attach File".
The other option would be to have a single button "Attach" or "Attach File" that then takes you to a screen where you can select to attach an OpenVPMS document or external file.
Sounds like the former option is the easier to implement though.
Regards,
Adrian
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
Adrian - I would vote against this. If you use 'Attach OpenVPMS Document" then logically you should also change the "Documents" entry on the left panel in the Suppliers & Customers workspaces to "OpenVPMS Documents", and also change the "Documents" tab in the Patients Medical Records screen to "OpenVPMS Documents".
I vote that the button be just "Attach Document".
By the way - you could change it for your practice by editing the messages.properties file - to be found in <TOMCAT_HOME>/webapps/openvpms/WEB-INF/classes/org/openvpms/web/resource/localisation/messages.properties file
This file is discussed in the Reference|Setup|Times, Dates and Language of the CSH information at http://www.openvpms.org/documentation/csh/1.7/reference/setup/localisation
Maybe I should add a note about 'if you don't like the button labels, you can adjust them here'. Yuri's "Find" should be "Refresh" or perhaps "Find/Refresh" is at line 79.
Regards, Tim G
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
As a result of documenting all the 'documents' stuff (something I have not yet completed), I realised that the subject needed a 'concepts' entry - this is now done - see http://www.openvpms.org/documentation/csh/1.7/concepts/documents.
Hopefully this clarifies things.
Regards, Tim
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
You can delete an attachment by selecting it and pressing the delete key.
-Tim
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
Hi,
Thank you, I just worked it out...
However, to give you an example of some issues with this....
1) Click a little to the left (i.e. the icon) and our system automatically opens the file.
2) It is very subtle when you click to the right and "select" the file. I and my staff have not noticed this at all.
3) We use macs. When I just hit "delete" it exits from openvpms. I have to hit "Function-Delete" on my keyboard.
4) It would be easier for most users if there was simply a little "delete" check mark next to each file.
None are insurmountabe problems but for basic computer users that are using a new system they all add up to no-one working out how to delete files since the feature was implemented.
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
OK - three points:
1. I have tweaked the write email documentation to include the 'how to delete' - see http://www.openvpms.org/documentation/csh/1.7/common/email
2. Macs - I am not a Mac person - can you give me a set of 'these things are different on the Mac' so that I can include it. You will see that there is a Introduction|Clicks & Keys section - at http://www.openvpms.org/documentation/csh/1.7/introduction/clicksKeys
I can either addd the Mac stuff into this or add a separate 'For Mac People' section to the Intro.
3. System annoyances: I spent my working life doing tech support and systems programming. We had a saying 'the problem does not exist until you report it'. In you have a look in the development forum you will see that there is a whole lot of very petty stuff from me [like need a space in the patient description field]. If people put up with stuff and don't report it, then it never gets fixed. If you report it but it doesn't get fixed, at least you have done your part.
As an addendum to the above, it is very difficult to get anything from statements like 'You talk to staff and newcomers to the system and they do not find it user friendly and complain that it is very "clicky".'
Note that I also have exactly the same problem with my son - beyond saying that the screens look like something out of the DOS era - he can't tell me how he wants the system design changed/improved.
Good user interface design is not simple, and the approach taken with OPV (where a significant part of the layout control is automatic - and thus inexpensive to implement) puts major constraints of the system appearance.
By way I totally agree with your remark about crap documentation. Hopefully the work I have been doing addresses this problem.
However, even here user feedback is going to be very important. If nobody bothers to point out errors, typos, and 'not explained well's then the documention will not be as good as it could be. So when the beta opens officially in the near future, please please please report the problems. If you have got a spare weekend or so, go to http://www.openvpms.org/documentation/csh and follow your nose.
Apologies for the rant - after 307 pages of help and around 295 screen shots, I am starting to think I need a break - but the end is in sight!
Regards, Tim G
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
Hi Tim,
I apologise if my previous comment was inflammatory. It was not meant to be.
1. Will reply later
2. Will reply later
3. To explain, my comments were made as a continuation of my train of thought about general useability improvements in OVPMS.
I can see how you would get frustrated when you get non-specific feedback such as "not user friendly and very clicky". On the other hand, I employ my vets to be vets and my nurses to be nurses and I don't expect them to have the buy-in to have a long hard think about what button could be changed to make the system better. To them it is a tool they are trying to use to do their jobs and as a manager it is my job to try to provide them the best tool possible to do this. They want it to "just work".
My point is, the feedback is there and so I am trying to act on it on their behalf. For example my post about the notes entry box sizes....
I personally am more than happy to make specific comments and suggestions about design changes/improvements. E.g. my comment about adding a little "X or delete mark" next to files to be deleted in the email screen.
Things that hold me back from saying things are:
- Time
- Not wanting to appear a total whingbag (I wonder how much this holds others back. I imagine some people are not so comfortable posting such things on a public forum).
- Not sure where or how it is appropriate to flag these issues.... For example for documentation feedback do I create a single post in the user forums? Developer forum? Post for each issue? Likewise, useability issues... Where is the best place to flag these?
Again. The new documentation looks great. That it is page specific/linked is even better.
Adrian
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
No worries Adrian. Your 'things that hold me back...'
a) Time - agreed - it is a real problem if you are trying to earn a crust and not happily retired
b) appearing to be stupid/too picky/a winger - again a real problem - I wonder if this could be addressed by having some non-public 'complaints box'
c) doco feedback - I suspect an off-forum email to say opv-documentation[at]gmail[dot]com might be the way to go. [And indeed a couple of people who I asked individually to start looking over the CSH stuff have just emailed me.] If we don't go this way, then a specific CSH topic in say the developers forum would keep the CSH stuff out of the way of the more important 'it doesn't work' entries.
Whatever way we go - I would rather deal with 50 typos reported in one email/post than 50 emails/posts each containing one problem.
Tim A - any thoughts?
Regards, Tim G
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
I have no problems with comments, queries and criticisms being aired in the forums. If they are technical in nature, post them to the Developer's forum.
If you do have criticisms about something, post how you think it should work.
Regards,
-Tim
Re: Attaching Files to Emails
I've added a new project for the multiple attachments/delete attachments requests.
Please posts comments here: http://www.openvpms.org/project/multiple-email-attachments-delete-attach...
Thanks,
Tim