ProofHQ Beta
New ProofHQ “Version Compare” Feature
We are really pleased to announce a great new addition to ProofHQ’s version control features. It’s out in Beta only so please let us have your feedback.
Version control already streamlines how you manage proofs through several versions or revisions. The new “Compare Versions” tool makes it even easier to keep track of changes that have been requested by reviewers.
Compare versions side-by-side
The new “Compare Versions” feature lets you quickly check changes that have been made between versions of a proof. You can click on comments on either version and both versions will be synchronised to show the same page and the same zoom level as you move from comment to comment.
Start by clicking on the “Compare Versions” function in the Versions menu.
Then select the older version that you want to compare with the most recent one.
Both versions will be show side by side on the screen.
Click on the thumbnail to see a full screen view.
- The latest version is on the left and the older version is on the right.
- If you zoom, pan or change page, both versions will be synchronised - how sweet!
- If you click on a comment on either version, both versions will move to the page showing that comment.
- You can stop versions moving together by clicking the padlock at the bottom of the screen.
- To close the Compare Versions function, click the close icon in the top right of the screen, or uncheck the Compare Versions function in the Versions menu.
As always, we would really welcome your comments about this new feature.
New ProofHQ release
I wanted to let you know about a major new release of ProofHQ.
- New Proof page design
- Multi-page proofs
- New version tools
- Basecamp integration
- Proof URLs and Embed Codes
- New API
- Single sign-on to the Forum
We have had great feedback from clients over the last two months and have made some big changes and improvements to ProofHQ.
Proof page
The proof page has a great new design and has a much smoother flow. The two key functions (New Comment and New Decision) have been highlighted. The navigation and proofing tools have been grouped together to make them easier to use. We have created a new menu structure so you can find the tools that you need more easily.
Page navigation - ProofHQ lets you create multi-page proofs. Check out the page navigation at the bottom of the proof page. You can also use your mouse wheel to scroll from page to page.
Version management - Also check out the new Versions function. This lets you upload multiple versions of the same proof as you make changes during the life of a project. Your reviewers will get an email telling them that a new version is available and they can quickly switch between all versions in the Versions menu.
Workspaces
Several users have asked for a way to group proofs together by client or project. To help them do this we have created Workspaces. You can set up as many workspaces as you want and label them any way you want. This will help you organise your proofs.
You will find a new Workspaces tab on the main web application and later this week you will see a Workspace menu in the proof page.
Proof URLs and Embed Codes
Lots of people asked us about embedding proofs in other web pages such as blogs and wikis. We have now given each proof a Proof URL and an Embed Code. When users access the proof using either link, they will need to login or subscribe to the proof so that you know who is commenting.
Basecamp integration
ProofHQ is now tightly integrated with Basecamp, the project management application from 37signals.
When you create a new proof in ProofHQ you can link that proof to an existing Basecamp project. On the New Proof page you simply choose the project name, the message category and the project members who you would like to add to the proof. This will create a new message in the Basecamp project and send the message to the project members you have selected. The proof will also be embedded in the message.
To set up Basecamp integration you need to enter your Basecamp URL and login details in the Account tab of ProofHQ. Other users in your ProofHQ account will need to add their Basecamp login details to their Profile in ProofHQ.
API
We have documented and released the ProofHQ API to a small number of trial users. The API lets you login, get a session and create proofs from inside third party applications. If you would like to use the API on a trial basis, please let us know.
Forum - single sign-on
The forum now has single sign-on with ProofHQ. If you are logged in to ProofHQ, just click the ‘Feedback’ link at the top of the page and you will go straight to the forum already logged in.
Lots of other small changes. As always, please let us have any feedback.
ProofHQ now in Public Beta
The team at ProofHQ is proud to announce that we have now launched in public beta.
Anyone can sign up to test ProofHQ and use it to streamline proofing and approvals in their organization.
File types that you can proof
We have added to the file types that ProofHQ can convert to proofs. You can now upload:
- PDFs (no password or print protection please)
- Photoshop (PSD’s)
- JPG’s
- TIFF’s
- GIF’s
- BMP’s
If you want to proof multi-page files, please use PDFs. There is a 50MB file size limit currently.
Don’t forget that you can drag and drop files direct from your desktop using the ProofHQ Uploadr.
New ProofHQ features added today
Today we are announcing some important new features to the ProofHQ Beta.
The proof page has been upgraded to include drawing tools. This lets reviewers create freehand and straight line drawings linked to a comment. Drawings can be added to new comments or existing comments in edit mode. The drawing tools also include an eraser, so that drawings can be deleted quickly and easily.
The proof page also includes a new “rotate” button which lets reviewers rotate to proof through 90, 180 and 27 degrees. As the proof rotates all Comment markers and drawings will rotate with it. We hope that you find this useful.
On the Dashboard we have added comments and replies to the recent activity lists. This lets users see comments and replies as they are added by reviewers without have to have the proof open. In a couple of days we will be adding email notification for new comments and replies. This will be an optional email which users can subscribe to in their personal profile or on a proof-by-proof basis.
The Beta continues. Have fun and keep the feedback coming.
Heads Up
Well we have not posted to the Approvr blog for a few months.
We are very impressed with bloggers who manage to keep posting through thick and thin. As a team we have just found it impossible to get blogging when work on the product has been all consuming. Our standard excuse would be that we have been “head down and arse up” driving to get the Approvr beta out into the wide world. In reality, I think that it is hard to blog about something that we are so passionate about when it is so close to going live. As a team we have just wanted to shut up and deliver.
It has been an incredibly intense process bringing together all aspects of the product. Planning and implementing the GUI, database design, hosting, testing, hiring, documentation and much more. Daily decisions on issues like which currency to sell in (dollars, pounds, euros)?
We have been in private Beta for a couple of months and have had great feedback from our core group of Beta testers. We are extending the private beta each week and will soon be announcing the public beta and launch.
Stay posted.