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HMS updates TimeControl to version 3.1.1

MONTREAL - September 3th, 1999 - HMS Software released today an update to its popular TimeControl enteprise timekeeping system. TimeControl 3.1.1 includes enhancements to the existing functionality of the system as well as several new features.

TimeControl is a project-oriented timesheet system designed for enterprise-wide use. It provides information required by finance as well as task-by-task analysis needed by project management groups. This allows for activity-based-costing (ABC), the tracking of actual versus budgeted costs. Although TimeControl is a stand alone system, it integrates seamlessly with many leading project control systems including Microsoft Project, Primavera Project Planner (P3) and Welcom's Open Plan as well as virtually any finance system.

Enhancements to exisiting functionality

Links to Project Management

The link to project management feature has been rewritten to better support multi-project use and to better manage situations where activity identification may have been changed from previous project versions. The new link module is also much faster. The new link interface also allows the percent complete calculation in the project schedule to automatically open or close charge codes in TimeControl. In addition, milestone tasks can now be identified and optionally not transferred.

SQL Filter

TimeControl's filter dialog now allows the complete SQL statement to be viewed on a second tab. Also, the SQL can now be written directly allowing much more complex statements to be a part of the filter mechanism than were possible to generate from the menu-driven interface. Expert users will now be able to define a filter that matches any data condition.

Split Posting Reports Split Posting is designed to report or export data for timesheets that are incomplete, allowing data to be trapped mid-week for time-sensitive operations such as end-of-month billing. New reports and export formats in TimeControl 3.1.1 have been pre-prepared to deliver this mid-week information. Users can now select a cut-off date for the report or export to trap the required data.

New features

Customized Menus

TimeControl's menus are now completely customizable. Administrators can change the names of menus or translate them as required. Additional commands can now also be added to the menu. New commands can be either Executable files, SQL statements or stored SQL procedures. Once added, the new menu items become available to TimeControl's User Profiles for security just like any other menu item.

Support for Informix

TimeControl now supports the Informix client/server database environment. TimeControl data can now be stored directly into an Informix database. This adds Informix to a list of database support that already includes Oracle, Sybase, MS SQL Server, InterBase, FoxPro and Paradox.

Support for P3 subprojects

This version of TimeControl allows subprojects within P3 to be identified directly. For some users this is critical as their organization of projects in P3 was done in one large file. Now, those subprojects can be imported and linked back to P3 directly as though they were individual project files.

All new Java Interface

TimeControl includes both a Windows and Java timesheet interface. In this version, the Java interface has been completely re-written to eliminate the need for the Java Plug-in. By re-writing the interface, perfomance of the Java timesheet has been increased by an order of magnitude but, much more importantly, the total software that is downloaded or needed to be installed at the client has been reduced from 9 megabytes to only 180 kilobytes. There is no preparation of the individual client stations required by plug-in or anything else, making the configuration management of the new interface much easier.

In addition, the interface has now been re-written to the 1.1.5 AWT of Java ensuring support for a much wider range of hardware and browser platforms including Apple Macintosh, Sun Solaris as well as most versions of Netscape and Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

TimeControl 3.1.1 began shipping on September 3rd, 1999. Cost of the upgrade is free to users who have a current support and maintenance contract.

About TimeControl

TimeControl was originally released in 1994. It was immediately successful in the project management sector and today is recognized not only as a project management solution, but also as an enterprise timesheet solution in use by companies worldwide. TimeControl is designed as a multipurpose timesheet able to serve the needs of both Finance and Project Management simultaneously. It includes features such as a multi-browser, multi-device interface, a PC and mobile interface, vacation approvals, executive dashboards, extensive approval functionality, flexible reporting and links to project management and corporate systems which makes the timesheet product ideally suited for integration with existing systems in any organization. TimeControl's flexibility allows it to be deployed for use as a time and attendance, time and billing, project tracking and flex-time system. TimeControl is available both for purchase for an on-premises installation or as an on-line subscription in the Cloud.

To access the free Hosted TimeControl Trial site, visit our free trial page.

For more information about TimeControl, monitor the TimeControl blog at http://blog.timecontrol.org/ or the TimeControl website at www.timecontrol.com.

For information about TimeControlOnline, our hosted timesheet subscription service in the cloud, go to www.timecontrol.com/features/timecontrol-online.

For any other questions, please contact HMS Software at info@hms.ca.

TimeControl is represented around the world by our distributors in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, the UK, and the U.S.

About HMS Software

Based in Montreal, Canada with offices in Toronto, HMS Software has been a leading provider of project management and enterprise timesheet systems and services since 1984. HMS Software's first customized timesheet application was written in 1984. With the launch of TimeControl as a commercial application in 1994, HMS Software began servicing clients worldwide.

HMS Software's client list reads like a who's who of business. It includes Acergy, Aecon, Rio Tinto, the Atlanta Airport, the City of Montreal, the County of San Mateo, Electromotive Diesel, EXFO, FT Services, Kelly Services, Koch, Merck Frosst, the Government of Quebec, Georgia Pacific, Parker Hannifin, Rolls Royce, Sobeys, Volvo Novabus, Zimmer Inc. and hundreds of others.

For further information about HMS Software, please visit the HMS website at: www.hms.ca or contact us at info@hms.ca.