Summer Vacations 2013

Hope all of you have had the opportunity to relax, kickback, and recharge your batteries this summer.

We have been since been working hard on pushing out our next big update on our web app set out to launch on the last week of September. The new version includes a major overhaul in terms of functionality and conceptual model. We have focused on the basics, how to organize all our project tasks and files and keep everyone together on what’s happening.

Here is a sneak preview :-)

Server Problems Affecting Users

We're sorry to report that we're currently experiencing some hardware issues at our data center, and it's affecting a large portion of our users. We're working on replacing the hardware and then restoring backups, which means this will take several hours to complete. In order to protect the data, we've closed access to Ap4ProjectManagers for users on the affected database shards. We're very sorry for the inconvenience.

UPDATE: We are finally up and running. All server issues have been resolved and everyone should now have access to Ap4. We have taken this experience and added further security and failover measures to our infrastructure system. If you have any issues please send us an email to support@ap4projectmanagers.com and we will get back to you immediately. Once again we deeply apologize for any inconvenience.

Ap4 Integrates with Box OneCloud to Help Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Companies Go Mobile in the Cloud

We are really proud to announce that Ap4 now integrates with Box.com for smarter and better collaboration for your mobile teams and co-workers.

So how does this perfect match help you?

Let’s start off. First of all, Ap4ProjectManagers is a file and task project manager for the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) industry.

Ap4 connects your construction project files and tasks with everyone. It turns your project information into tasks, allowing you to easily access, share, and manage your project deliverables and progress, on time.

Box simplifies online file storage, replaces FTP and connects teams in online workspaces. Read more here.

With Box for Ap4, you can turn your construction project information stored in your Box folders into projects tasks right from your phone.  Within Ap4 your project teams now know when and how to carry out their AEC information because their files, drawings, and photos are now time and progress driven and connected with the right project members.

How-to Guide:

To use Box for Ap4, simply open a Box file and select the “Open With” action button and choose the Ap4ProjectManagers app. If you already have an Ap4 account you will prompted with Ap4’s Turn File into Task page with your Box file attached. Just enter your task information, add assignees, and a due date. Within Ap4 you can then share, comment, download the Box file task, and manage its progress.

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An Example:If you need someone’s feedback and review on a project drawing stored on Box, simply create a task, assign it to your project collaborator and attach the Box file to the task. Your project collaborator will have access to the Box file and can add comments directly to the Ap4 task and update its progress.

Let us know what you think! Please send us your feedback. What other apps would you like to see integrated with Ap4?

Android Ap4 Mobile App

Today we are delighted and proud to announce the launch of the new Android Ap4 Mobile app. It is pretty awesome might we say!

You can now access, create, and manage your project files, drawings, photos, tasks, and projects on the go, anywhere, anytime with your Android phone.

And yes, you can turn files and photos into tasks right from your phone now!

           

Our first Android version was thought out as an extension of Ap4’s web app, where one could just basically view recent project information created from the Ap4 web app. With the new Ap4 Mobile version you can now actually manage your projects and project information from your Android phone, literally.

Here is a quick feature list overview:

To-do’s

-          Create and delete project to-do’s

-          Share to-do’s

-          Comment to-do’s

-          Edit to-do progress

-          Add files and photos to your to-do’s

 
Files & Folders

-          Upload, download, and delete files

-          Share files

-          Comment files

-          Turn files into to-do’s

-          Create, delete, and share Folders

Photos

-          Upload, download, and delete photos

-          Share photos

-          Comment photos

-          Turn photos into to-do’s

-          Create, delete, and share Folders

Projects

-          Add new projects

-          Edit project information

-          Invite Users

-          View project progress

We will be working hard on the Android app, tweaking and pushing out new updates, such as the Android Tablet version. Stay tuned!

Check out our how-to guide for using the new Android Ap4 Mobile app to manage your files. Please give us your feedback! Let us know how you work with the new Android Ap4 app.

New Photos

This afternoon we rolled out an update that brings you a slew of sublte improvements that drastically improves Ap4’s Photos.

The entire uploading, editing, and sharing experience is now coherent with the new Files & Folders module.

Uploading Photos

You can now simply drag and drop multiple photo files directly into your Ap4 Photos page. Unfortunately, users using Internet Explorer (IE) will not be able to use this feature. You will have to uploading photos files manually.

Photo Updates

You and all your project members now know which photos have been updated or are new since your last login in Ap4.

You can now also visualize which photos have been shared or have comments. The share and comments buttons turn light blue when photos are shared or commented.

Check out our how-to guide for using the new Photos module to manage your files. Plus, please give us your feedback, and let us know how you work with photos on Ap4 internally in your company or externally with other project teams and organizations.

New Files & Folders

We just made collaboration around files easier and we did some significant design improvements to the Files & Folders module. The entire uploading, editing, and sharing experience has just gotten a whole lot better!

Uploading Files 

You can now simply drag and drop multiple files directly into your Ap4 Files & Folders page. We have used HTML5. 

Folder Sharing 

Users can now view and access their project folder structure using the folder dropdown or through the folders links found at the top of the Files & Folders page. 

Folder Navigation 

Users can now view and access their project folder structure using the folder dropdown or through the folders links found at the top of the Files & Folders page. 

File Updates 

You and all your project members now know which files have been updated or are new since your last login in Ap4. 

You can now visualize which files have been shared or have comments. The share and comments buttons turn light blue when files are shared or commented. 

Check out our how-to guide for using the new Files & Folders module to manage your files. Plus, please give us your feedback, and let us know how you work with files on Ap4 internally in your company or externally with other project teams and organizations.

New Dashboard

We have finally rolled out the new dashboard for everyone. Check it out!

Quickly get an update overview on your project status. See what project information is new or has been updated and by whom. Easily navigate right into the project updates.

New Ap4 Dashboard

What is new about it? What can you do and see?
 

1. With just one click you can now edit the project name and description and start and end dates.
2. New project progress indicator bar (we divide the number of closed to-do’s by the total number of to-do’s).
3. Project totals. We report the total number of project files, to-do´s, project planned tasks, photos, comments, submittals, meeting minutes, and daily log entry reports and a quick link to each project item.
4. See all of your project’s latest information updates. Everytime someone updates any information in your project you will know once you log back into Ap4. All updates are coloured in orange.
5. We have posted your upcoming to-do’s on a post-it. Simply click and work your to-do.
6. Visualize all of your project members and their 5 last activities, or invite new project members.

Lets us know what you think about our new dashboard at sales@ap4projectmanagers.com !