This documentation describes the changes on the component package "A" with the components IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST, IDL.XLSLINK, IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST Application Server and IDL Smart Connectivity in Release 2020 compared to Release 2019 Update 1 (version 19.1). The minimum requirement for the installation of this version is the previous Release 2019 from September 2018 which may not be left out in the installation sequence of this component package.
The corrections for Release 2019 Update 1 that have taken place up until the release closure are contained in Release 2020. The maintenance for Release 2018 (Update 1) is finished with disclosure of Release 2020.
Attention: Because of the redesign of the consolidation voucher numbers (see below) for the first statement after installation of this Release a carry-forward over the cast of the year for group data must not be used since otherwise references to the old keys in the shareholding transactions can provide for faulty states of the capital consolidation.
You should always perform a database backup before you install a new release. Due to the extensive conversions of consolidation vouchers and postings a database backup before the Release upgrade is mandatory. To prevent a user from losing data, a notice on the necessity of backing up data will be issued by the installation program at the start of installation.
There is a new licence component for country-by-country reporting. This licence is required for maintenance of all additional entries in the company master data.
In case of questions about licences please send your inquiries by e-mail to Lizenzierung@idl.eu.
You must always perform the release migration for IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST (see ch. 2.1.1) first, after a new release has been installed. For this reason, a message will be issued when you start IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST for the first time after installation of this release to let you know that migration has not yet taken place. This message box contains the button 'Start migration now'. If you click this button, migration will start automatically. Following successful completion of the migration on this way, IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST does not need to be restarted again. All of the applications will be available immediately.
If migration is not started in this manner, for instance because the user logged in does not have access rights, all other applications will be locked. The only exceptions are the applications that are used to maintain authorization data, in case the logged-in user is not authorized to carry out migration, due to the use of individual authorisation groups. Following manual completion of migration, you will need to start IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST again to ensure that all of the application functions are available again.
Release 2020 uses version 11 of Java. For IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST Application Server as well as at download to the client using IDL.LAUNCHER IDL delivers the corresponding JRE (Java Runtime Environment) in the installation directory.
Since Java 11 doesn't support Java web start any longer the links for Java web start have been removed from the website of the IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST Application Server. Internet clients which had been connected to the IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST Application Server using Java web start now have to be readjusted to the usage of IDL.LAUNCHER. IDL.LAUNCHER also downloads Java 11 as the Java runtime environment of the client.
Due to the recommendations for the application IDL.FORECAST new clients are now set up with the memory option -Xmx1024m (up to now) -Xmx512m) as far as the IDL.FORECAST licence is present.
Methods for encryption of the communication between application server and client which had been classified as uncertain in the meantime (RC4 e.g.) are no longer offered in the configuration of the IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST Application Server.
The website of the IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST Application Server no longer offers the option "IDL.KONSIS.FORECAST (debug)" in the start menu since debug information now generally is collected by the application server. If required an appropriate command can be issued for the client during the dialogue.
The read and write functions of IDL.CONNECTOR were no longer developed since Release 2016 and delivered with Release 2019 Update 1 for the last time. From this Release 2020 on no more new versions are provided. Running Excel worksheets yet may be continued to be used depending on the Excel versions supported by the respective Release, however, there will be no more support by IDL. Now only IDL.XLSLINK is supported for these purposes. Only IDL.XLSLINK can be used in connection with the 64 bit version of MS Excel. Please note particularly the current software requirements in www.idl.eu/service-center/software/hard-and-software-requirements when changing your MS Office or Excel versions.
If you have many and extensive Excel maps with IDL.CONNECTOR formulae the transition to IDL.XLSLINK may be a major project. In this case it is recommended to arrange support by an IDL consultant.
The following English language documentations have been updated or supplemented in the documentation directory "doku" along with this release:
For a current version of the "Hardware and Software Requirements" please refer to the service centre of the IDL website at www.idl.eu/service-center/software/hard-and-software-requirements.
The "Complete help in Browser" (German and English) offered in the menu tree in the branch "Information and documentation" -> "Application guides" is now delivered by IDL as standard and made available in the directory linked there. Up to now this collection of help texts had to be separately downloaded from the IDL website und copied into this directory.
The installation script now contains a link to the documentation "Release 2020 News" at its end. It is recommended to follow this link to get familiar with the changes in this release.
Release 2020 contains the following essential functional changes and enhancements: