On the occasionally installation of Directory Update, we are seeing a situation where the client tries to logon to the logon form and the Log On button does not work at all.  This appears to be a known, but not fixed issue with the WebUIValidation.js script. 

One discussion thread talks about problems with the Submit button not working after the .NET Framework v1.1 SP1 is installed.  Per KB 889877, this is a known issue, but the KB fix does not seem to work.

I found an interesting application for debugging HTTP communications.  It is called Fiddler and it is an HTTP Debugging Proxy.  Very cool.

We have solicited opinions from a number of customers about the use of Firefox.  At this point, our existing customers and the customers that want the v1.1 features do not care about Firefox support.  From a testing perspective, Matt and I are recommending releasing v1.1 with only official Internet Explorer support.  I know there are going to be some Firefox fans out there that won’t be happy, but we need to get this next version in to the customers that need it.  v1.0 still works okay with Firefox, though.

We are currently trying to get v1.1 to work with Firefox.  The tags that handle re-arranging the fields if we hide fields from the interface.  The span tags are not arranging properly on Firefox.   We are using span instead of div tags because we have multiple items on the same line.  We may end up releasing v1.1 without Firefox support, or at least the disclaimer that “Directory Update” looks best using Internet Explorer. 

To answer a slew of questions that we have gotten, Jim created a blog entry that explains what GALMOD is and why people need an alternative to it.

We changed the evaluation version from 5 days to 10 days.  Feedback from perspective customers was that 5 days was just not enough time to evaluate and customize the software.  The currently downloadable version on the Downloads page has the new evaluation timeout.

Based on requests and feedback we have gotten from potential customers, we have come up with a features list for the next couple of versions.  Here is a quick view of what is coming:

Version 1.1 features

• Hide any field from the User Information form
• Hide an entire section from the User Information form
• Convert drop-down boxes to text boxes
• Convert text boxes to drop-down boxes 
• Re-arrange Company Name to left-hand side of form
• Hide domain name from logon page
• Hide help string on User Information form

Version 1.2

• Add section for Custom Attributes 1 through 10
• Add Manager box and ability to browse the Active Directory for manager
• Add Employee ID and Employee Type fields

Hi, I’m Matt; I am originally from Thailand, but now live in Honolulu, Hawaii. I’m the lead developer for Directory Update.  I got involved in writing this application as a favor to Jim McBee almost a year ago.  The customer did not want to use Microsoft’s Exchange GALMOD application to allow end users to update their attributes in Active Directory. As a prorgrammer, I had never even seen GALMOD.

 We worked on it for a few weeks until the customer informed us that they did not have the money to continue the project.  We started up again last month on the Directory Update application and are working to customize it enough to make it commercially viable and flexible enough for any organization.

The key points in the design have been:

• Do not compromise Active Directory security
• Be flexible enough for any organization to customize for their users
• Be easy enough for any end user to use

We have started the blog to keep customers and potential customers informed of what we are doing to improve the product and hopefully to make more people aware of Directory Update’s existence.

Feedback is welcomed and encouraged.  Visit the Directory Update site for more information.