New Fixed Asset Extension to Compiere

[Robert Klein]

Red1,

Excellent Web Site! It has helped me many times. I appreciate the work done by you and the team at RED1.org. THANKS!

For the last year I've been developing an extension to the Fixed Asset functions in Compiere.

Features of the fixed asset extension include:

Seamless integration with Compiere's:
-Partner Relations functions - to retrieve name and addresses for tax authorities, financiers, insurers,
-Accounts Payable functions – to automatically create fixed assets on payment of invoice
-General Ledger functions – post depreciation and other fixed asset transactions to the general ledger

Ability to compute and maintain multiple sets of depreciation expense per asset for GAAP, tax and budgeting purposes .

Multiple depreciation methods allowing users to depreciate assets in a variety of ways including user defined values. In addition a user can select specific depreciation rules, conventions, and depreciation spreads to meet their specific needs.

Manage and maintain assets by asset groups to set default characteristics, such as depreciation settings, balance sheet and income statement accounts, automatically when creating assets or perform mass changes to many assets at the same time. Note group settings can be overridden when necessary for a given asset

Perform various transactions on assets including asset splits, transfers and disposals and record the activity to the GL.

Perform asset revaluations and create the resulting GL entry.

Establish parent and component relationships for complex assets reporting

Ability to track assets by standard or user defined fields.

Ability to forecast depreciation expenses.

Review on-line history for a given asset.

Record an asset's financial, insurance, license, and tax information for an asset. In addition alerts can be set to warn users of an approaching dates that require action for example contract and license renewal dates or property tax due dates.

Import assets from a spreadsheet.

I'm in the stages of completing user documentation and unit testing as well as finalizing a package containing the new code, tables and data to distribute the extension to users.

I would like to start limited testing with the Compiere Community at the end of January but not sure how to go about it. Do you have any suggestions on how I can recruit users to participate in limited testing? Is there any infrastructure in place to facilitate this process?

Your thoughts are GREATLY appreciated!
Rob.

[red1]

Hi RobertK,
Thanks for your post!
1) U come to the right place, or its what we try to keep it that way here. Just that our recommendation is that u keep it Open Source albeit Mozilla lincesed too as the Compiere original. Then that will be helluva way to gain free testing, branding, marketing and improvement of your component. You then have to prepare your company's services well along the way too, otherwise it will be dificult to sell u. If u do have that, do register yourself and state your website for others to click onto u.

2) Fixed Assets depreciation is something that Jorg has planned, but i m not sure if its coming along or late. However what u have written here is of value and should go ahead nevertheless, as your specialisation of it will grow into something.. well... specialised. Why i ask u to keep it Open is that, Jorg or other people can already easily reverse engineer anything that u black box anyway. U already stated the user specs a bit here, and that is all it takes.

3) When u Open it, we can get the XML2AD by Marco Lombardo into the picture it saves time to merge your product into any Compiere version, or thats the purpose. To combine forces, will allow us to grow exponentially.

4) By even doing the user docs, again push u further uphill, as u attempt to deliver the whole package. People will love u!

5) Now the next thing to do is publish it and plant your flag on the ground. I recommend that u post your snippets and docs at your own site (with Mozilla license notice attached) and place links to it from here.
At the same time you can also place links from Compilo too (i will prompt Marco to examine how we can XML2AD it).

make your day! many regards! PEACE!
red1

[robertk]

Thanks, I really appreciate your feed back.

And yes I plan to keep it open source, however I'm not familiar with the licensing aspect. Is there a source that you know of that will provide me guidance as to the steps I must take to license the new code under Mozilla Public License (MPL)?

Again Thanks!
Rob

[red1]

Hi Rob,
Usually u can do a better search to get to much of the literature on such.
My basic understanding is that GPL is viral meaning that any commercial intent that tocuhes it also turn to open, thus making much investment from that sector shunned off.

Since Compiere is already Mozilla which means that its not viral and can be used under the hood of commercial packages, while keeping the Compiere source clear, open and declared, then u have to keep yours as such. Otherwise your codes will have a license conflict to be used on Compiere and others who needed it for commercial reasons will shun it.

I kinda find this still controversial as which is better, but i think its being pragmatic. U see, thieves are abound anyway, and to get commercial giants looking at your code and using it Mozilla wise will guarantee u branding and recognition rather than keeping it fiercely open and guess who still steals it?

(Its like legalising drugs so that the price dont get higher and people dont feel pressured to addiction.)

Wanting recognition from commercial sector is the first thing we want. Pure academic community won't give that balance of profit for effort 'egg and chicken' story we all face.

Thus thats why while i fiercely open up the secrets of Compiere wherever i can (not much secrets anyway, its already that open), i allow commercial players to work with me up the road. And yet i bring in my worldwide associates or give them the chance, as i want to move higher up the road (got it? ).

Its all about getting the best bang for your buck, i mean effort.

red1

[trifon]

Do you have any suggestions on how I can recruit users to participate in limited testing? Is there any infrastructure in place to facilitate this process?

Hi Robertk,
I could help you with testing. This what you have done seems very useful.

Regards,
Trifon

[misoz]

Hi people,

I would like to ask , how you did with this extension to the Fixed Asset functions. This is functionality that I am looking for. Did you test it successfully ? Is it now open or closed source? Whom can I contact to get this extension?

Thank's in advance for any replay.

Miso

[robert]

Hi people,

I would like to ask , how you did with this extension to the Fixed Asset functions. This is functionality that I am looking for. Did you test it successfully ? Is it now open or closed source? Whom can I contact to get this extension?

Thank's in advance for any replay.

Miso

I created the extension using an application I created called POPI(PackOut/PackIn). POPI is an application packaging system for Compiere. This packaging system will allow developers and users to easily share their Compiere customizations and data with other Compiere users.

The prerelease documentation for POPI is posted at http://sourceforge.net/projects/cfa along with the first release of the Fixed Asset Extension.

I'm finishing up testing the POPI application and should be able to release it to the general public this weekend. In addition I will be releasing the second release of the Fix Asset Extension.

Compiere versions supported for these two extensions are 252d,252e,253a and 253b.

Please check both out and let me know what you think.
Thanks
Rob

[robertk]

A new version of the Fixed Asset Extension has just been released. The two major improvements to the FA Extension have been made and many other minor ones.

Major:
1.The extension now has support for Compeire version 253b.

2.Compiere Source code is no longer necessary. Users can directly
install the FA Extension directly to a pre-compiled Compiere installation.
Recompiling Compiere's source code is no longer necessary.

Minor:
1.Package size has been reduced to 50% of original size.

2.Bug Fixes.

3.Easier Installation.

4.Depreciation functions removed from Oracle database.

The extension and user documentation can be downloaded at http://sourceforge.net/projects/cfa/ or http://www.oslabs.org/

Please let me know what you think. User contributions and ideas are always welcome!

Rob