Laserfiche 12 2024 H2

View highlights of the new features here:

What's New in Laserfiche 12

Repository Web Client

The Repository Web Client includes new powerful display options for metadata templates to reduce data entry errors and allow for more efficient and accurate data entry, as well as an improved repository template designer. Use the new metadata designer in the Repository Web Client that allows you to drag-and-drop components for you to input your metadata in a more efficient way that is tailored to your needs. Take advantage of the following new features in the metadata designer.

Provide important context with template-specific labels and static text. Field names can be overridden with field labels unique to that template, and static text can provide contextual instructions. For example, static text can describe the different types of information that should be entered in a case notes field, and field labels can provide additional context such as using "Emergency Contact Full Name" to label a Full Name field.
Reduce missing data with user-friendly lists with radio button and checkbox display options and an optional built-in "Other" selection, which admins can enable to allow free-text additions to that list field. For lists of options where multiple selections can be made, checkboxes can be used to allow a user to easily select the appropriate choices without extraneous clicks, making it more likely for them to select all of the relevant items.
Tables provide a clear way to view and enter multiple rows of information, as the new default display option for creating and working with multi-value field groups. For example, in a template associated with client documents, there can be a personal contact information section, and a business contact information section, each with a table.
Lessen user confusion with field rules. Since irrelevant fields can be hidden from users using field rules, users will not be faced with deciding which fields to fill out and which ones to leave blank.
Simplify metadata management by combining sections and field rules. Instead of having multiple templates for similar document types, or display all fields at once, it is possible to instead use one template with field rules and sections. For example, in an employee file folder, instead of having a separate template corresponding to the various employee file types, there can be one template with a section for document-type specific fields that can be shown or hidden a section at a time using field rules.

View a video on the metadata designer:

Forms

Streamlined Forms process testing

Laserfiche 12 helps process designers perform incremental process testing by introducing process test mode that allows you to dive into each branch of the process without modifying the process itself.

Designers can define test rules that dynamically substitute users and emails during a test run. Test rules eliminate the need to manually reconfigure user tasks and service tasks for testing purposes,

reducing the time spent on testing and speeding up overall process deployment time. It also allows organizations to safely test internal or public-facing forms without cluttering up production data.

Process test rules simplify process testing in the following ways:

All User and Email Service Tasks can be assigned to, and sent to, a specified user or inbox, without modifying the existing task. Users who are part of this process don’t have to be confused and overwhelmed with test emails, and the process designer can make sure that emails and tasks will be processed appropriately.
All Save to Repository Service Tasks can be set to save files in a testing location, keeping production folders clear of clutter and simplifying test verification.
Test instances and tasks are clearly labelled and excluded from reports. If a process designer is testing changes to an existing process, they can easily filter out live instances to view only the test instances. Furthermore, the process designer does not have to remember to delete test instances before the process updates go live, since test instances aren’t being included in process reporting.
Default rules make getting starting easy. To reduce configuration time, each process will have a test rule created to send all of the user tasks to the initiator by default when a test run is initiated. New rules can be added by clicking the Add Rule button.

Additionally, administrators can now manually complete boundary timers, simulating the time passing to thoroughly test reminders and escalations.

View a video on the new process testing:

Improve business-day calculations with Holiday Calendars

Set holidays that will be respected when automating task assignment. With the holiday calendar, you can specify date-based or rule-based holidays, duration, and flexible options for observing holidays, all from a central location.

These holidays are included in the "test wait duration" for reminders for user tasks and in calculations for timers.

Quick push-based user synchronization from Directory Server to Forms

Changes made to Directory Server users and groups by administrators or made by SCIM synchronization for SAML users will be sent directly to Forms, ensuring email changes, new users, and new groups are available when you need them, without having to wait for an overnight synchronization

More Options for Form Monitoring and Troubleshooting

Whether your SQL server is temporarily unavailable or there’s a misconfigured flow in your process, Forms now better supports resuming processes and pinpointing what went wrong.

The default handling for an issue is now Suspending instead of Terminating, allowing users to resume a process after the issue is addressed. Retries are more granular than ever, with support for retrying specific subprocesses, inclusive gateway steps, steps that failed to execute, and subprocesses missing outflows.

New scripting and customization options

Updates to scripting include support for submission-related actions, such as asynchronous events after submission. For example, you can now setting field values after the “onFormSubmission” event. Additionally, we now support queries process properties like stage and step information with LFForms, providing more actions based on the current process.

In the designer, you can now mark a signature as read-only for future steps. This means that signatures from previous users can be displayed on the form to other users, ensuring transparency and accountability.

New dynamic date restriction and styling options allows for more precise control over date inputs, including built-in options for today/tomorrow, custom scripted functions, and CSS styling for datetime fields.

Administration Hub

The Administration Hub is a new application within the Laserfiche Suite that will enable you to understand and support your Laserfiche system at a glance, reducing the time it takes to manage and troubleshoot.

View detailed application information and centralized logging for your Laserfiche applications across different servers in one place. This includes application-level information for Laserfiche 12 applications such as Forms, including status, application version information and database connection information.
Reduce time collecting or locating information on your Laserfiche system by having that information available in one place. Filter through recent event logs across your system by specific application, server, or error level, without having to visit each machine individually.
Onboard new administrators and help them learn your system with a list of machine specific links to the various configuration pages.

The server view shows your Laserfiche servers and installed applications all in one place, so you can easily see what’s been installed where, which applications are currently running, navigate to individual configuration pages, and more.

Server and application details provide information like current operating system, the version of Laserfiche software installed, a list of attached repositories and running services, and quick links to configuration pages for web applications.

Additionally, logs for several Laserfiche applications are viewable from the Administration Hub without having to navigate to the various servers themselves. Support contacts can also be configured for users to easily understand who to contact for Laserfiche support assistance, alongside general helpful links.

Workflow

Enhanced user management with Laserfiche Workflow

Streamline administrative and onboarding tasks with all-new Workflow activities, enabling easy creation and management of users and groups within the Laserfiche ecosystem.

Administrators can effortlessly create and delete Laserfiche users and groups, assign user licenses, and manage trustees using Laserfiche Workflow.

Additionally, existing Workflow activities like Find User/Group, Assign Rights, and Set Entry Owner can now act on Laserfiche Directory Server users and groups, bringing more power to your existing repository automation.

Processing saved forms and attachments in Workflow

Laserfiche Workflow now supports enhanced cross-functionality with Forms that have been saved to the repository. The Retrieve Business Process Variables activity can retrieve the recently-released Forms variables related to Save-to-Repository tasks, including entry ID, name, folder path, attachment ID, and more, for use in workflows that act on saved forms.

Directory Server

Working with SAML users in Forms and Workflow

Laserfiche 12 allows you to grow your self-hosted deployment alongside your organization with powerful Enterprise Identity Management tools and more efficient user management, without implementing custom code.

Set security on all user types automatically using Workflow. Previously, you could only set security on repository users, but now this option is available to all user types in the system. This can be really helpful in cases where each user needs their own folder in the repository or you have to grant a user temporary access to a requested document.
Automatically create users in Directory Server using Workflow. This is helpful in specific use cases that require a temporary user to be created. Some examples of processes where this can be useful are a parent needing to fill out a form once in K-12 setting, a government constituent needing to log in to access a document for their public records request, or a vendor needing tan account to log into Laserfiche to perform specific tasks.
Assign tasks to an incoming SAML user. You can easily assign Forms tasks to specific SAML users before their first sign-in. This can be very helpful with employee onboarding as everything can be setup before the employee's first day.
Synchronize Directory Server users and groups in Forms quickly and automatically. Changes to a user's information in Directory Server, such as an email address, will be automatically pushed to Forms without having to wait for a regular sync. This allows employees to work uninterrupted.
See and use SAML group membership in Forms and the repository. Previously, full SAML group membership was not visible to Laserfiche applications, and group-based security required additional manual configuration. Now, task assignment, security configuration, and reporting are easier to manage.

Usability Updates across Laserfiche

The new Application Picker can be configured for Forms and the Repository Web Client for switching easily between tasks and different repositories, as well as providing users with custom links to other web applications in your organization.

Laserfiche 12 web products have a refreshed look-and-feel, for a clean, modern experience, accompanied by the debut of new product icons.

The Repository Web Client has a new navigation sidebar, allowing quick switching between main areas such as recent documents and search results when the full folder pane is collapsed, and you can reclaim additional screen real-estate with the ultra-compact option. Revamped, expanded documentation that’s easy to navigate for Laserfiche users and administrators, and a targeted, separate guide for System Administrators that helps IT administer Laserfiche systems that focuses on topics like deployment, security, and maintenance, while explaining and cross-referencing Laserfiche terminology for tech experts building their Laserfiche-specific knowledge.

Miscellaneous Notable Features

German Language Support

Laserfiche 12 products now support the German language, in addition to all existing supported languages.

Continued improvements to SSL support

Quickly configure SSL between the Repository Server and the Laserfiche Full-text Search Service when installed separately.

MFA for Direct Share

A convenient new way to protect shared files when using the Direct Share feature.

See the changelog for a more comprehensive listing of changes.