dhis2-users team mailing list archive

[Lars Helge Øverland <larshelge@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,

DHIS 2 version 2.13 is out. This release brings some great new features and
a much improved Web API.

*(Demo login is admin/district)*


- *Dashboard*: We have a completely new dashboard which brings lots of new
features. It is focused around search - you can use the search area at the
top to look for and include maps, charts, pivot tables, users, reports by
clicking on "Add" in the search result. You can now have any number of
personal dashboards - for instance can create one for each subject you find
interesting and easily switch between them. You can put any number of items
on each dashboard and drag-and-drop to arrange them in your preferred
order. Maps and pivot tables can now be embedded directly (previously they
appeared as links). Dashboards can be shared with other users or group of
users, just like you do with charts and pivot tables.

Check it out here<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-dashboard-integration/index.action>
.


- *Touch-device optimized data visualizer*
App<http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch26.html>:
We have a new App which lets you do advanced analysis and visualize your
data as a wide range of charts, including bar, column, line, pie, area. It
works similar to current data visualizer module, only optimized for
smartphones and tablets. You can load any predefined chart and create new
charts which later can be saved as favorites. The app is web-based and
therefore completely integrated with the charts you create in the current
visualizer module on the web. It is pretty cool - try it out on your
smartphone or tablet by pointing it to
http://apps.dhis2.org/demo<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-dashboard-integration/index.action>
and
select "smartphone" as the log in option, or directly on the web.

- Apps are now *completely integrated in the menu system*, both in
"services" menu and in the system overview
page<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-commons-about/modules.action>,
and are now first-class components in DHIS 2. On the demo you can check it
out by looking for "Mobile visualizer". Apps are light-weight web
applications which can be uploaded through the user interface in the "App
management" module under "maintenance". Read more about the app
concept<https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Apps/Quickstart/Build/Intro_to_open_web_apps>and
apps <http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch26.html> in DHIS 2.

The mobile visualizer app can be downloaded from http://appstore.dhis2.org


- The analysis tools - GIS, visualizer (charts) and pivot table - now
feature more *flexible selection of organisation units* through three
modes. Select the mode by clicking the gear icon under "organisation
units". You can select organisation units by *levels*, for instance you
easily select all facilities in a province by first selecting the province
from the tree, then the facility level in the level drop-down. You can
select organisation units by *groups*, for instance you can select a
province and then all public facilities inside it. You can also select
multiple organisation units as "boundaries" in GIS. This has been
harmonized and works similarly across all modules.

Screenshot select by
level<http://www.dhis2.org/download/misc/ou-level-selection.png> |
select by group <http://www.dhis2.org/download/misc/ou-group-selection.png>


- *Data surveillance and alerts*: We now have a new component for data
monitoring / surveillance and user alerts. It lets you monitor data, look
for outbreaks and send alerts to users for notifiable conditions like
measles, cholera and yellow fever outbreaks. The solution is an extension
of validation rules - you can set rule type to "surveillance" (as opposed
to "validation"). With surveillance rules, you can compare current data on
the left side with previous data on the right side. You can define a
"sequential sample count" implying the number of preceding values to
compare with. You can also define an "annual sample count" meaning the
number of years to compare for the same period as the current. The average
value will be used and you can define a number of high and low outliers to
be excluded from the average. Monitoring can be scheduled as a nightly task
which checks the data entered since yesterday from "data administration" ->
"scheduling". You can configure validation rules as usual under "services"
-> "data quality". You can define which roles of user should be alerted
when notifiable conditions are detected from "validation rule groups".
Alerts will be delivered as DHIS messages, which can be configured to be
forwarded to email and SMS as usual.

Data surveillance docs
here<http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch11s05.html>
.


- *Integration of analysis module*: We have integrated and harmonized the
GIS (map), visualizer (chart) and pivot table modules to make them appear
as one. You can now move seamlessly between table, chart and map
visualizations of data. For instance, you can load a pivot table, then
click on a cell and click to render the table as a chart. You can also
click in the top-right corner to visualize the whole table as a map or
chart. Check it out by loading this pivot
table<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-pivot/app/index.html?id=RhHTMlQgW5h>,
then visualize as chart or map. You can also go back to the previous table
/ chart / map from the top-right menu. Screenshot
here<http://www.dhis2.org/download/misc/analysis-integration.png>
.


- GIS now supports *reporting rates* for data sets - you can now visualize
reporting rates on maps. In the thematic layers, select "data sets" under
value type. Example
here<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-mapping/app/index.html?id=b06sSAjCa6F>
.

- GIS now supports *relative periods* - you can now create maps which
updates itself over time, for instance for "last month". Select "relative"
under "period type". Example
here<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-mapping/app/index.html?id=cH1M9AjUaIZ>
.


- *Embedded analysis*: All analysis modules now feature *plugins* which
make it simple to embed maps, charts and pivot tables straight in web pages
like portals. Check it out on our portal demo at
http://apps.dhis2.org/portal

Image maps <http://apps.dhis2.org/portal/> | Table
plugin<http://apps.dhis2.org/portal/table.html>| Chart
plugin <http://apps.dhis2.org/portal/chart.html> | Map
plugin<http://apps.dhis2.org/portal/map.html>| Carousel
plugin <http://apps.dhis2.org/portal/carousel.html>


- Pivot table lets you include the *organisation unit hierarchy* inside the
pivot. You can select "show hierarchy" under "options". Example
here<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-pivot/app/index.html?id=mkNlpJL3RMT>
.

- Pivot table now supports *legend sets* for improved visualization. You
can select a pre-defined legend set under "options". Check it out on the demo
here<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-pivot/app/index.html?id=KmJwftqlU86>
.

- Pivot table supports "details", meaning selection of individual category
option combos for data elements. Under "data elements", select "details"
and then your desired items. Example
here<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-pivot/app/index.html?id=AOphCIgmjeN>
.

- Data visualizer now supports *radar charts*. Example
here<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-visualizer/app/index.html?id=FYZwn1ISVBY>
.


- *External access level*: The sharing solution has been extended with an
external access level. This means that you can make reports, resources,
charts, maps and pivot tables available without logging into the system.
This is ideal e.g. when you want to share a report with someone not having
a user account in the system. After clicking on the sharing icon next to
some object. Screenshot
here<http://www.dhis2.org/download/misc/external-access.png>
.


- *Tabular report* (analysis for event data) is much improved. It is now
built on top of a new analytics Web API resource for event data, making it
really fast and scalable for large databases. You can use it for querying
events and producing aggregate data reports. You can select date ranges,
relative periods, organisation units, attributes, identifiers and data
elements as report dimensions and filters. Check it out on the demo
here<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-caseentry/app/index.html>.
Event query screenshot<http://www.dhis2.org/download/misc/tabular-case-based.png>.
Aggregate report
screenshot<http://www.dhis2.org/download/misc/tabular-aggregate.png>
.


- *Custom locales* for database translations: You can now specify any
locale for database translations. Translations can be created under "data
administration" ->
"locales<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-maintenance-dataadmin/locale.action>".
Database translations now also works with fallback. This is convenient e.g.
in a global setup, where you can provide a complete translation for
Spanish, then provide a specific translation for Mexican Spanish, where you
only translate the elements which are specific to Mexican - the system will
fall back to Spanish when Mexican Spanish translations do not exist.


- *Internationalization of login,* account restore and create account
pages: Users can now select their language from the drop-down in the
bottom-left of the login page. This is handy in a multi-country deployment.
The locale is stored in the local storage of the browser. Check it out on
the demo <http://apps.dhis2.org/demo> by logging out.


- *Data entry (aggregate)* now lets you view the data and complete
registrations which have been captured of offline. This makes it easier to
keep track of what has been entered into the system while offline.


- Indicators support various *mathematical formulas*, like absolute
numbers, sin, cos, tan, square root, ln, log and modulus. You can add it
directly in indicator numerator and denominator screen.

- *Import-export of events with registrations*: The import-export module
now lets you import and export events which are linked to registered
persons. Look under "import-export" -> "event data import" and "event data
import" here <http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-importexport/index.action>
.


- *Improved messaging in tracker*: New feature that allows the DHIS user to
monitor progress of a multi-stage program through:
i) automated messages as SMS or DHIS messages to registered persons phones
or DHIS users
ii) send when a program is started or completed
iii) send when a stage is completed
iv) live message feed on the dashboard


- Multiple stage programs in tracker - more flexibility to meet local needs:

i) combine registration, enrollment and the first mandatory stage into a
more seamless process

ii) define custom linkages between programs, e.g. to make it easier to
enroll a baby into a child health program directly after the delivery stage
of the mother program

iii) schedule events based on either incidence or enrollment dates
iv) define gentle reminders to users when a stage is completed, e.g. to
make sure the next is scheduled


- Custom registration and enrollment forms in tracker: Simplify the person
registration and enrollment process by designing custom forms only using
the attributes and identifiers that are relevant to your program and in the
layout that you require. No need to bother the user with all the irrelevant
details anymore.


- *Improved PNG maps*: The PNG maps now support pre-defined legend sets,
data set reporting rates, multiple map layers in the same map. It can be
accessed under /api/maps in the Web API. Example
here<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/api/maps/aVYDp6FYyFU/data?width=800>
.


- *Message recipients*: Messages now show the recipients inside the
conversation. Check it out
here<http://apps.dhis2.org/demo/dhis-web-dashboard-integration/readMessage.action?id=WzMRrCosqc0>
.


- *Text areas in data entry*. Data elements of type "long text" now render
as text areas in aggregate data entry.


- *Clean menu design*: The menu system has been given a more modern look
and it better suited for touch-screen devices, with larger areas to click
on.



For *developers and the technically interested*, we have a much improved
Web API with lots of new features. General docs
here<http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch25.html>
.


- Support for creating, modifying and removing persons.
Docs<http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch25s28.html>
.

- Enrolling persons into programs, completing and cancelling.
Docs<http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch25s28.html#d5e8351>
.

- User and system settings.
Docs<http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch25s26.html>
.

- Information relevant to current user.
Docs<http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch25s25.html>
.

- Information about the DHIS instance / system.
Docs<http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch25s24.html>
.

- Event analytics. Aggregate reports and event queries.
Docs<http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch25s22.html>
.

- Dashboard API resource.
Docs<http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch25s20.html>
.

- Support for sending messages to user groups.
Docs<http://www.dhis2.org/doc/snapshot/en/user/html/ch25s13.html>
.



Get the Live package, WAR file and source code from here:
http://www.dhis2.org/downloads

Documentation and javadocs here: http://www.dhis2.org/documentation

Full list of blueprints: https://launchpad.net/dhis2/+milestone/2.13


This release had contributions from PSI <http://psi.org/>, Critical
Software<http://www.criticalsoftware.com/>and Yuriy
Ivanovich <https://plus.google.com/104974352722347143329> - much
appreciated!



Enjoy the new features.



best regards,


the DHIS 2 development team