Proteus Envision 2.4.4 Update Released with PowerBI Integration, Certified for Air Force Network, and Space Systems Command Contract Option Executed
SNA Software LLC, the maker of Proteus Envision and Envision ETL solutions, achieved three significant milestones to close out the month of March 2024.
The first of these was the release of Proteus update 2.4.4. This update includes customer-driven enhancements, improvements and minor fixes. Among the most sought improvements were the introduction of new Banded Grid controls. Definable bands within a grid are a useful feature in allowing data to be displayed in a tabular form, yet grouped together with other common fields horizontally and/or vertically similarly to a pivot table. It supports complex layouts of data cells to provide greater intuitive and intelligent management of interrelated information beyond just a simple Excel-type list.
Other new features include enhanced data connections to JSON and XML file types, greater controls for sizing fonts in Grid views, the ability to reorder multiple reports in the Proteus native report designer, and the ability to pivot grids to popup value details in descriptions which provide additional data enrichment. Several new expression methods were added, including a new Oracle P6 Helper class to parse XER files, as well as the inclusion of updates to Ionic Zip and Newtonsoft JSON to allow for updated automated features in support of zip and JSON files.
Most interesting, is the inclusion of Proteus compatibility with Microsoft PowerBI. Under this new feature, data and formatting properties that are easily configured within Proteus grids aligned to business rules to enhance visualization, can be published and read by PowerBI. The combination of Proteus and Envision’s powerful ETL, data management, and open-systems configuration, combined with PowerBI to further distribute information to organizations, provide a comprehensive solution for both Agile-based deployed functionality and enterprise business intelligence. Proteus, which is a Microsoft .NET-based solution, already leverages easy access to .NET visual components to provide its customers with the ability to rapidly roll out applications within days or weeks, while traditional point solution software publishers require months or years to do the same.
Matt Pitstick, Chief Technology Officer for SNA noted that “this significant enhancement delivers a comprehensive solution to organizations that require an easy but robust application configuration solution layer. Proteus now seamlessly integrates with broad-based PowerBI business intelligence efforts, precluding the need by those organizations to expend significant labor in bespoke development efforts by leveraging Proteus’ intuitive and adaptable interfaces to promote analysis via visualizations.”
Concurrent with the release of Proteus 2.4.4, was the successful testing and approval of Proteus Envision for the use on desktop systems connected to the Air Force Network (AFNet) and the Airforce’s Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet). This was a renewal of the software for these systems, but the intervention of Covid restrictions and disruptions delayed the software’s final approval to continue to operate on those systems until now.
Brian Rhodes, the Proteus Technical Support Specialist for Air Force systems commented: : “Achieving both AFNet and SIPRNet approval allows Space Force activities to access the most current and detailed contract data and provide the government with the ability to perform detailed analysis of project performance using Proteus Envision technology. In addition, classified programs, as with SNA’s other customers, are also covered under this approval, which will provide capabilities not previously available to this class of users.”
Keeping the good news coming, Air Force Space Systems Command (SSC) also executed its option for SNA Software to continue to provide application and other support for its earned value and program management organization. This action continued the long relationship that SNA has had with Space Force, and is part of a $1.5M multi-year contract.
SNA CEO Nicholas Pisano commented, “Our work at Los Angeles allowed SNA to realize its vision of optimizing the value of data through the use of non-proprietary schemas and data tables, combined with modern open systems application configuration technology. But this award-winning environment was, more significantly, made possible through the foresight, vision, and leadership within the earned value organization at SSC.”
“Since that time, SSC has been objectively considered the gold standard in best practice project management analysis. Rather than rest on our laurels, both SNA and SSC have evolved the solution—which is a feature of the technology—well beyond its origins. This effort has allowed a new paradigm to emerge: that it is the user community and the SME that drives the technology, rather than the traditional system where software vendors determine what will be delivered within their limited toolsets and the organization must settle for and adapt to the technology.”