This version includes the third version of Manipula, the second version of CATI, Field Properties, Custom Error Pages, a new Table Control and a few smaller additions. Furthermore, we have worked on a number of security issues, improved the iOS and Android apps, and solved many issues that were reported by our users.
The Blaise 5 release of November 30th 2015 introduces functionality that allows you to choose a custom relational database for storing session and/or audit trail data. By default, Blaise stores session and/or audit trail data in two file-based SQLite databases used by all surveys: one default session database and one default audit trail database. A reason to switch from the file-based SQLite database to an alternative database system could be to improve performance, particularly in situations where there are many concurrent users.
You can use your own session database and audit trail database by creating a general data interface file for each database. A general data interface file contains all the information for connecting to a custom database. The currently supported databases are SQL, Oracle and SQLite. The general data interface files can be created and modified with the Server Manager Tool via the configuration settings 'Session Data Interface' and 'Audit Trail Data Interface' in the Logical Server section.
In the coming months the Blaise team will be further extending this functionality. The Control Centre will have a new option to add general data interface files to your project for the session database and audit trail database. This will allow you to define where your session data and audit trail data will to be stored for each survey. This means that you can choose to have all data in the same database, or to have separate databases for every survey.
The upcoming Blaise Release 5.0.5 will support making interviewer remarks in all Data Entry Clients. A Remark can be defined in the Datamodel Language as a Field Property. A Field property is additional data (of a specific type) that is available for all data fields. Field properties can be edited by the standard input controls and will be stored in the Blaise database.
In order to show a specific error page when some standard error occurs, it will be possible to specify for which standard errors an error page should be displayed. If no specific error page exists for an error, the default error page will be displayed.
In 2015 the Blaise team has been expanded with three professional testers. They are building an automated regression test for Blaise5, using the test automation tool Ranorex.
The purpose of the regression test is to check if functionality that worked correctly in previous Blaise5 builds, will still work correctly in future Blaise5 builds.
Since Blaise is a very flexible system in which a multitude of features can be combined, it is impossible to test all relevant combinations. However, the test team strives to make the regression test as extensive as possible.
So far the focus of the test has been on Manipula and the rules. In the coming months the regression test will be expanded to other Blaise5 programs and features.
On November 11 and 12 we had visitors from Statistics Sweden. Here’s what they had to say:
“After two days of digging deeper into the Blaise 5 software, our team are impressed by both its functionality and the possibilities to extend and integrate with it. We believe that Blaise 5 may be a suitable choice for current and future needs within Statistics Sweden.”
On our end, we got some nice tips for possible future functionality as well. We would be more than happy to welcome them into our community!
It's almost December. Time to release a new version of Blaise!
This version includes the second version of Manipula, which is now production-ready, the first version of CATI, Multi-mode support, User-defined special attributes, and a few smaller additions. Furthermore, we have worked on performance enhancements, improved the iOS and Android apps, and solved many issues that were reported by our users.
Gaining deeper understanding