Skip to main content

Blaise 5.2 - The October 31st 2016 release

This version includes a new web data entry client (MVC), a production version of CATI, a production version of Manipula, a major security upgrade and a few smaller additions. Furthermore, we have worked on unifying the layout between data entry clients, improved the iOS and Android apps, and solved many issues that were reported by our users.

MVC

A new web data entry client has been added to the system.
This web version uses AngularJS, a client-side MVC (Model-View-Controller) framework. The MVC data entry client has been built from scratch. It relies heavily on JavaScript on the client device. This means that the web server can handle many more concurrent users, but the client devices have to be powerful enough to handle the increased load.

CATI

A production version of CATI (Telephone Interviewing) is now available.
A new CATI server role has been introduced for this part of the system. The Blaise CATI server hosts the Call Scheduler for CATI surveys. A CATI Management web site (the Dashboard) has been added to the system to manage CATI surveys.

Manipula

A new version of Manipula is available with many improvements / new features.
New features include:

  • Access to installed survey data using relative bdix
  • Improved processing of Text files (InMemory=No)
  • Regular expression functions
  • Block assignments
  • Run() function
  • Call() function
  • Confirm() function
  • ZIP() and UNZIP() function
  • Support for calling R and IronPython using the RUNSCRIPT() function

Note that dialogbox, edit en menu (Maniplus functionality) have not been implemented yet!

Security

Access to the services is now protected. Users will have to have the correct credentials and access rights to access the Blaise services. A login dialog will be presented if access rights are required.

This is the case for:

  • Managing server parks
  • Managing surveys
  • CATI
  • Accessing Survey Data (Data Viewer, APIs, …)
  • Apps

It is also possible to have a login dialog for surveys. Respondents will have to enter a username and password to gain access to a survey.

 

Gaining deeper understanding