Households v2.2 Beta Release

[Kevin Bromer]

Households Version 2.2 is on the verge of general release, and I'm looking for folks who are interested in helping me test out the new functionality and bug fixes.

If you're interested in installing a beta version to either a developer edition organization, or a sandbox of your production org, please contact me at kbr...@salesforce.com

Release notes for the upcoming release are here:

http://wiki.developerforce.com/index.php/Nonprofit_Starter_Pack_Households_Release_Notes#Version_2.2

Final end-user documentation will be made available once the package goes to general release.

Feel free to contact me with questions.

FAQ

Q: What's a beta release?

A: Its a pre-release version of the package for use in developer or sandbox orgs to test functionality and compatibility with existing orgs and data. It cannot be installed to production orgs. 

Q: Why a beta release?

A: The more testing done now, the fewer errors will crop up later on down the line, and the fewer patches/minor releases will need to be pushed.

Q: What happened to version 2.1? 

A: Itchy trigger fingers created 2.1 awhile ago, it was never released, and was identical to version 2.0.  2.2 is the latest and greatest version, plus the symmetry of the numbering appealed to me.

Q: What's new in 2.2? Is it worth upgrading?

A: Once the general version is released, you'll want to evaluate each release for your organization. The release notes describing what was added and/or fixed are linked above. If you use fiscal years, are a multi-currency organization, need/want household naming functionality, or need additional opportunity rollup fields, you'll want to consider version 2.2.

[Kevin Bromer]

Just a quick update on this -

We're now on beta 4 for the new Households package.  Last week in San Francisco, we had our 2nd Annual Developer Sprint (more on that soon), and had the developers there run the new code through its paces. Fortunately, it went really well, so we should be good to go.  On the other hand of course, TONS of cool new ideas and code were introduced that we're looking at getting in to this next release, so that we won't need to do multiple update releases. 

So, the condensed version: We're probably another couple of weeks away before we release officially, but I think everyone will eventually agree the wait will be worth it. So bear with us a bit longer as we try and get as much cool (and needed!) stuff into this package as we can, and I'll keep everybody up to date as we get closer.

In the meantime, if there are any questions, comments or you need additional info, please feel free to contact me directly. kbromer [at] salesforce [dot] com.

Thanks!

[Kevin Bromer]

Final Beta now available for Households Version 2.2!!

If you're interested in a pre-release Sandbox or DE-only version, please let me know. Lots of new features in addition to the ones already covered since our last beta release in May:

- "NPSP Phone Home": Your package can now tell you when its out of date, and provide you with helpful information on how to update right in your settings page!

- Handy new buttons for pushing Mailing Address information from a Contact up to its Households, or from a Household down to its constituent Contacts

- Campaign Mailing List report that automagically deduplicates Household Members. Want to run a Campaign Mailing list report with only one record per Household? Done and done.

- Multi-language support for Household Naming

- Minor bug fixes for User Defined Rollups and Household Naming

Full documentation is currently in process and will be completed prior to release. Testing will occur throughout the remainder of this week, and possibly in to next, depending on what (if anything) is identified during the process.

Please let me know if you'd like to participate or if you have any questions-

Kevin