Picking Favorites with IBM Case Manager 5.2

Body

It’s hard for me to decide what my favorite new IBM Case Manager 5.2 feature is.

In my previous blog entry, I listed off some of the top items like:

• web based administration

• integrated page builder

• data layout editor

• integrated rules

• refined step editor

• multi user solution editing and deployment

• widget enhancements

• and the new Case History Visualizer widget

One item, however, stands out from the others as it will have a profound impact on how our customers and partners design and build their case (and ECM) solutions.

I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I am referring to our new Case Client web application. Built on top of ECM’s own Content Navigator framework, the new client provides our customers and partners with a user interface platform that is configurable, customizable and extendable in ways never before possible. The decision to make a transition like this is not one that we took lightly, but we think you will agree it was the right choice.

A top 10 list of benefits ICM gained by adopting the Content Navigator framework includes:

• Provides a modern, easy to use, web based user interface out-of-the-box

• Through configuration, supports customizing the UI for certain users or groups

• Provides consistency in look and behavior across the ECM applications to reduce training burdens

• Can host other ECM, partner, and custom applications and extensions via its extensive plug-in architecture

• When customizations are necessary, provides access to, and reuse of, standard components via a rich javascript toolkit using common web development tools and techniques

• ECM components can still be updated to new versions even when customizations have been made

• Reuse standard components in different web UI projects

• Supports a wider range of common app server and modern browser standards

• Improved performance

• Architectural simplification

Combine these items with Case Manager’s ability to customize and extend all of the standard case solution pages using the new point and click editors in Case Builder, and you’ve got a platform that will have you deploying your case style solutions on top of a powerful Enterprise Content Management system in record time.

Now that’s something that's hard not to like.