Changelog
The following overview describes the new features and bug fixes in SCCM Manager.
Client version 3.7.0.2
The following plugins must be updated, otherwise errors will occur:
- WebServiceCache plugin
- LanguageAssignment plugin
- ClientCreatorService plugin
- CollectionList plugin
In the previous version, the CollectionList plugin contained a bug that caused the SCCM Manager to crash if .NET Framework 4.8.1 was installed on the system.
Due to changes in the Windows features of .NET Framework 4.8.1, the login time for the SCCM Manager was significantly longer in the previous version.
Client version 3.7.0.1
Dynamic GUI Editor 2.0 (Documentation)
New Dynamic GUI features (Plugins: Client Creator, Reset Computer, Custom Inventory)
Dynamic GUI: Dynamic combo box entries can be filtered using rule definitions
Example: The selection in Combo Box 1 filters the options in Combo Box 2
New configuration value for combo box rules: TargetItemFilter (regular expression)
Dynamic GUI: Dynamic text box values configurable via rule definitions
Example: Selections in multiple combo boxes and additional input values in text boxes define the computer name
- If a text box is selected as the rule target, a value can be set as the TargetItem
- TargetItem can also consist of placeholder variables. These are derived from the names of the existing controls
- Details and examples can be found in the documentation
New configuration value for rules: ProcessType
ProcessType = Default means that the rule only applies when the associated combo box item has been clicked.
ProcessType = All means that the rule applies whenever a value is changed (across all existing controls).
Hybrid cloud support: Clients can connect to the SCCM Manager Service on-premises via HTTPS using a supplied cloud service (which can be deployed in Azure, for example); no ports need to be opened; full functionality is provided
New client implementation based on .NET 8.1
Dynamic GUI Editor 2.0
Dynamic GUI: Dynamic combo box entries can be filtered using rule definitions
Example: The selection in Combo Box 1 filters the options in Combo Box 2
New configuration value for combo box rules: TargetItemFilter (regular expression)
Dynamic GUI: Dynamic text box values configurable via rule definitions
Example: Selections in multiple combo boxes and additional input values in text boxes define the computer name
- If a text box is selected as the rule target, a value can be set as the TargetItem
- TargetItem can also consist of placeholder variables. These are derived from the names of the existing controls
- Details and examples can be found in the documentation
New configuration value for rules: ProcessType
ProcessType = Default means that the rule only applies when the associated combo box item has been clicked.
ProcessType = All means that the rule applies whenever a value is changed (across all existing controls).
Collection Membership Viewer 3.6.2.0
To improve performance, the behaviour of the Collection Membership Viewer plugin has been adjusted.
The collection status is no longer retrieved automatically. Users can now retrieve the status themselves via the context menu.
Further information can be found in the plugin documentation
The ‘Remove from Collection’ function no longer triggers an ‘Update Membership’.
Software Assignment Plugin 3.6.0.0
New configuration entry: Enable Update Membership
Enables the collection update to run automatically after computers have been added.
Web Service 3.6.6.0
Error during list import if the imported computers were assigned to multiple permission groups.
Web Service 3.6.5.0
Clients are no longer created in the so-called ‘dirty state’. Previously, the values of the computer object (Active, Client and AgentName) were sometimes set twice. This was caused by a DDR inbox entry being written that sets these values.
Web Service 3.6.4.0
The “Update Membership” action is no longer triggered automatically as soon as a collection assignment is made. If you wish to perform an “Update Membership” explicitly, this can be done manually, e.g. via the Collection Manager or Collection Membership Viewer. Previously, an “Update Membership” was performed for every single assignment
In this release, a Boolean value within the ‘Add Client To Collection’ web service function has simply been set from True to False. This release is based on web service version 3.6.3.3, so the SCCMWebService.dll (and .pdb) file can be replaced without any concerns
Web Service 3.6.3.3
The in-memory computer filtering has been optimised, so that errors or “freezes” should no longer occur here
If computer filtering is disabled (web.config ComputerFilterEnabled = false), an error no longer occurs when CollectionQuery is configured but no collections have been configured
If search collections are disabled (web.config SearchCollectionsEnabled = false), an error no longer occurs if no collections have been configured
‘ResourceByOwner’ has been removed again for performance reasons. These are computers that have been newly created and do not yet appear in the Computer Query. However, they can be accessed via the Client Creator.
If no computers are found for a user, a warning appears in the web service log advising you to check the UserPermissions.xml file
The query for the computer list was incorrectly being performed from the SCCM Manager database. This has now been fixed and is once again being performed from the MECM database
Web Service 3.6.3.0
Implementation of the computer cache (see documentation: SCCM Web Service 3.6.3.0 Computer Cache)
New setting (web.config): EnableSqlQueryLogging – Enable/disable SQL query logging = less log spam
New setting (web.config): EnableComputerDataCache – Enable/disable the cache system
New setting (web.config): ComputerDataTTL – the time interval, in seconds, at which an SQL query is run to update the list of computers
Bug fix: The permissions cache (web.config: EnableUserGroupCache) returned a ‘not granted’ error if multiple groups were configured for a plugin. This issue only occurred under certain circumstances and has now been fixed
Various improvements to logging behaviour
Client version 3.6.3.0 (2023-27-09)
Only the computers from the first Scope query were displayed; this has now been fixed
Flood of messages bug fixed
The idle timer was not stopped after the idle time had expired and an error occurred due to the server being unreachable. (WorkItem #1385)
Client version 3.6.1.0 (2023-27-09)
New setting in AppConfig.xml.
MaxComputers – Only the configured maximum number of computer objects will now be displayed in the search interface.
Search field customisation
You must now press Enter in the search field for the filtering to take effect.
The search filter determines which computers are displayed; the search continues to cover all columns containing a string. You must now press Enter in the search field for the filtering to take effect.
Please note! The search filter also affects the availability of selectable computers in all plugins launched after filtering. However, it is possible, for example, to add computer objects to the ‘Selected Computers’ worklist, as this list remains intact.
This only affects the display of computer objects in the GUI; all objects remain in memory. A new web service request is only sent after clicking ‘Refresh’ in the search interface. As before, however, this is only necessary if, for example, there are new computer objects that did not exist or were not within the user’s scope at the time of launch.
Version 3.5.0.0 (2021-03-09)
Executer Plugin: New configuration option “DirectPing”: This causes a ping to be sent from the client rather than the server.
New server configuration “CollectionPostfixMapping”: ..\Resources\Configuration\CollectionPostfixMapping.xml. Replaces the web.config settings “InstallCollectionPostfix” and “UninstallCollectionPostfix”. Any number of Postfixes can be created.
Web service access via HTTPS is available as an option in the login area: This can also be enforced by configuring the client component. SCCMManager.exe.config -> Setting: ForceSSL.
Web service access via HTTPS is available as an option in the login area:
Supported variable: {SERVICEACCOUNT} corresponds to the service account executing the request.
Supported variable: {REQUESTINGUSER} corresponds to the user making the request.
Web service reinitialisation: Reinitialisation via the SCCM Manager interface, meaning that the pool does not need to be restarted when configuration changes are made.
Collection Manager Plugin: New configuration option: ‘ObjectType’, provides a mode for distributing to user collections.
Software Assignment Plugin: Collection lists can be added. Computer lists can be added. New configuration option: ‘UserCollectionMode’, a mode for distribution via user collections.
Collection Lists: Lists of collections can be created. These lists can be used in the Software Assignment Plugin.
Cache: Can be enabled via the SCCM Web Service. Group permissions are stored so that they only need to be retrieved once when a user logs in multiple times. Existing cache entries can be managed via the “Web Service Cache” client plugin in the “Administration” feature group.
Client Creator: Queuing functionality: Client creation is now performed asynchronously. The creation and processing of clients can be controlled via additional interfaces using SQL and the included queue service.
A client loader is now available for client installation. This is designed to simplify the distribution of updates. A new client version only needs to be installed on the server. When SCCM Manager is launched on a client, the system automatically checks that the latest version is present; if not, it is downloaded from the server and installed in %LOCALAPPDATA%.
Kafka support: New services and features are now available for generating, receiving and managing Kafka messages.
SQL: The database can now also be installed on instances that do not have an SCCM database, without the use of a linked server.
Version 3.4.0.0 (2020-02-01) - Bug fix
Incorrect display of the server name in ‘Maintenance Mode’.
Client Actions displays an incorrect status for the ‘Software Distribution Agent’.
The programme crashes when you select ‘Reset Computer’ if no computer has been selected.
Process Manager does not support full-text search.
Process Manager does not return an error message if WinRM functionality is not available.
Duplicate entries when importing computer lists.
Client Creator error ‘Unable to add OSD variables’ for orphaned entries.
Duplicate computer entries.
Version 3.3.0.0 (2019-01-01)
Global plugin configurations (SCCM Manager “Primary” instance).
SQL replacement strings (application-wide).
Dynamic computer search – SQL queries, SCCM collections, dynamic permissions.
SSL connection configurable.
Dynamic determination of group memberships using the * wildcard.
Interface configuration – Cloning groups and plugins.
User interface configuration – Import/Export.
Client Creator / Software Installation: Post Action Script Execution.
Client Creator: Usability of ‘internal’ variables (Post Action Script).
Client Creator: Additional software can be hidden.
Computer Data Sheet: conditional formatting.
Logging: Switch to WinRM.
PowerShell GUI: Passing computers via the {COMPUTERNAME} replacement variable.
Client migration: Transferring data from source systems into the corresponding text fields; matching by column name.
Product Rule Editor: Export/import products.
Display Admin Mode / Primary Instance / Release Type in the window header.
Version 3.2.0.0 (2018-03-01)
New setup.
Importing computer lists has been re-enabled.
Multiple plug-in configurations.
Simplified configuration of plug-ins.
Client Creator: New feature: migration.
DatabaseConnector: A new plugin for configuring various database connections, enabling access to external data.
MatchProductRuleEditor: A new plugin for consolidating inventoried software.
Excel export: XLSX format is now supported.
Client Creator: A tool for creating computer objects in Active Directory.
Add Computer: Option to create computer objects in Active Directory.
New licensing system.
Version 3.1.0.0 (2017-10-01)
Web service: Session-based web service call.
Display of the connected server in the window header.
Direct login via server: SCCMManager.exe can be launched using the server name.
Cancel login: Login: can be cancelled.
Collection Manager: Automatically focus on the first entry.
PowerShell subfolders: The PowerShell plugin can now display specific subfolders.
Custom Inventory Plugin: Custom Inventory Plugin: new plugin.
Setup: Clear Client Cache: The client cache directory is automatically cleared after an update or reinstallation.
Setup bug fix: Shortcuts are now removed during uninstallation.
Importing computer lists has been disabled due to a bug.
Version 3.0.0.0 (2016-11-01)
Framework redesign: Framework design: Overhaul of the software’s underlying architecture.
New client component: The client component is no longer accessed via Internet Explorer; instead, a Windows client application is provided.
New system requirements (client and server): .NET Framework 4.5.
Administration mode: The command-line parameter “–admin” launches SCCM Manager in administration mode if the user is a member of the Administrators group.
Login screen: The command-line parameter “-login” launches SCCM Manager with a login screen.
Silent Setup: The new setup allows for a silent installation.
Open plugin interface PuginBase.dll: A simple interface for developing plugins (e.g. by customers themselves).
Context menu plugins: Plugins can now be integrated into the context menu for the computer search.
Configuration mode: The entire interface and plug-ins can now be configured directly via the client application, provided it has been launched in administration mode and the user in question belongs to a configured user group.
PowerShell extension: Various new features.
Search-on-demand functionality is available in the computer search.