How to access Merlin projects from dynamic-IP driven locations
John Kranz on 9. March 2010
If you are publishing Merlin projects from a computer that has a dynamically generated IP address, this can cause problems for your users already having received the project URLs and use in the meanwhile obsolete IPs to access the projects. This situation easily occurs, as the IP address of your router changes upon re-connecting to your internet provider.
In this case the actual project URLs will fall out of sync with the URL and IP address that Merlin has originally published. Fortunately, there is a solution readily at hand thanks to the free service provided by DynDNS.org that allows you to create a static host name that can be used instead.
Tags: DynDNS, Merlin 101, Merlin Web
Merlin on a web browser
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 5. March 2010
The other day we received the following question in support:
We are testing Merlin for project management on the Mac and are very interested to use your solution but there is one functionality which seems to be not covered in the web access; we are not able to add elements (risk, issue, or files)
That’s correct. Merlin in the web module allows users working on other platforms to collaborate on Merlin files using a web browser*. It is not just another implementation of the Merlin Mac OS X application for the web.
While behaving similarly to the native Merlin application, its functionality and graphical user interface is deliberately minimalized** to insure better usability from web users not having deeper Merlin knowledge.
_
*) Supported web browser: IE7, IE8 in compatibility mode, Safari 4, Firefox 3
**) All differences between Merlin on Mac OS X and in the Web module: here
Tags: Elements, Merlin, Merlin Web
Merlin 2.7.6 is available
Frank Blome on 19. February 2010
Today we published another maintenance update for Merlin and Merlin Server.
New features in Merlin
- When exporting in CSV, you can now define in which time unit the duration fields will be exported. Available options are: Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Calendarweeks, Months and Years. They can be defined in the export dialogue. The same behavior is possible for the import.
Tags: Merlin, Merlin Server, Merlin Web, Release notes, Update
New British Pound prices starting on Feb 1st 2010
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 29. January 2010
Good news for our Merlin users in the United Kingdom!
Happily the last year’s turbulence in the exchange rate of the British Pound to Euro (our base currency) seam to have come into an end, and we can now adjust the prices in our Merlin online shop starting from the 1st of February, 2010 as follows:
- Merlin 2: £130
- Merlin 2 Upgrade £70
- Merlin 2 iPhone-Sharing £40
- Merlin 2 Web-Sharing: £85
- Education Merlin 2: £91
- Merlin Server : £715
Tags: Merlin, Merlin iPhone, Merlin Server, Merlin Web
Hello 2010, bye bye 2009!
Frank Blome on 4. January 2010
One lays a bit longer in bed at Christmas, and finds the new year already in full swing when awaking. But wait. Our hibernation was not that deep, we simply granted ourselves a short break. 2009 was after all the most active year in our young history.
Directly on its begin, January 2009, we were in the Macworld and presented Merlin iPhone to the interested visitors.
In February 2009 the beta test of Merlin 2.7 started containing the new version of Merlin Web. A Merlin Twitter presence was also created, with over 750 followers meanwhile.
Tags: App Store, Communication, Merlin, Merlin iPhone, Merlin Server, Merlin Web, Snow Leopard, Story, Team
Merlin 2.7.5 is available
Frank Blome on 2. December 2009
In our regularly maintenance of Merlin, Merlin Web and Merlin Server we have published today the version 2.7.5.
Please read the details of what is changed. (more…)
Tags: Merlin, Merlin Server, Merlin Web, Release notes, Update, Version
Merlin Web: Accessing over Bonjour
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 30. October 2009
Local Web Services can be accessed directly in Safari with the help of Bonjour. To do so, simply open the bookmarks, and select ‘Bonjour’ under ‘Collections’. Should there be any Merlin Servers running in the local network or Merlin 2 applications sharing projects for the web, you will see them listed in the ‘Bookmarks’ area.
To start the Merlin Web module and gain access to the shared projects, simply click on such listed Merlin ’server’.
Tags: Merlin, Merlin 101, Merlin Server, Merlin Web, Safari
Merlin Server: new build available
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 25. September 2009
Merlin developers are very responsive on solving issues and reacting on your reports. So here you are. Enjoy the new build for Merlin Server 2.7.3.
You will find it as always in the update area and it is free of charges for license holders of Merlin Server 2.
What became better…
- Improved performance when editing projects on the web browser
- No need to re-start the Merlin Server service when copying new projects into the shared ‘projects’ folder. The server always lists them all !
The recommended updating procedure for Merlin Server is described here.
Tags: Merlin 101, Merlin Server, Merlin Web, Update
Private vs. global IP address
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 24. September 2009
The best thing about working on a mac is that things work simply, nice and silently. You do not really need to know much about MacOS, its architecture, file system, application interfaces or protocols involved. You just use your programs and be creative. This applies for Merlin 2 as well. You do not need to know much about MacOS X to use it. You can let Merlin sync calendars with iCal. You see it accessing Address Book for the resources. You can get it to mail reports to project stakeholders, send budgeting information to Billings, publish your project to allow access via Bonjour from other Merlin 2 applications, a web browser or the Merlin iPhone app. It simply works like a charm!
Merlin really keeps it simple for you! There are cases though that you might get into situations where a bit of technical understanding comes handy to you.
Tags: Merlin, Merlin 101, Merlin iPhone, Merlin Server, Merlin Web
Merlin: MacOS X Firewall
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 17. September 2009
As you know Merlin has very powerful publishing features that allow you to publish your project files, and share them with other users or other applications.
You can publish your saved project files to:
- Other users using Merlin’s powerful Project Sharing. This will allow you to collaborate with other Merlin users using the same project file.
- The Web using Merlin’s own Web Module
- The iPhone or iPod touch using Merlin’s own iPhone Application
- iCal so you can synchronize your activities with iCal
When allowing external access to your machine you should consider setting up a Firewall. This is usually done in your router, but some users would like to use the built-in MacOS X Firewall. Here is a small description of how to set your Firewall for Merlin 2 and Merlin Server 2 on a current MacOS X 10.6.1 (snow leopard) configuration.
Tags: Firewall, Mac OS X, Merlin, Merlin 101, Merlin Server, Merlin Web, Server
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