Merlin (software)

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Merlin Project
Developer(s) ProjectWizards
Stable release 3.1.5 / Nov 24, 2015
Operating system OS X
Type Project management software
License EULA
Website Merlin's Homepage

Merlin Project (originally called Merlin in versions 1.x and 2.x) is a commercial project management software application for OS X, developed by ProjectWizards GmbH in Germany. It focuses on project plans creation, tracking the status of activities, assignment of resources, and managing budgets. Merlin Project includes creation and visualization of activity timelines (Gantt), net maps (Project network), mind maps, work breakdown structure (wbs) and resource workload in bar diagrams, histograms or time boxes.

Filters allow to isolate personal tasks, milestones, items on critical path, those behind schedule, complete etc. Its earned value analysis on task or project level complies with standard project management methods.

The application comes with a built-in set of reporting and other work views ready to use. Further customization in style or content is possible over the standard user interface.

The project information can be forwarded to third parties by export or repeated actualization of files in various formats.

Targets for files with exported content can be local paths, connected network drives, ftp, webdav or smtp mail servers. Latter requires configured accounts with login data to the server accounts.

Merlin Project supports a set of cloud solutions, which allows users to work on the same project over two different macs or locations and share thus project information.

Even if Merlin Project is technically a 3.x version, it hadn’t yet completely replaced its predecessor Merlin 2:

  • Merlin 2.x allows collaborative work among project stakeholders using the Merlin OS X application and multi-user-mode-editing over the local network or internet.

Multi-user-mode-editing isn’t currently supported by Merlin Project.

  • Additional sharing options for Web and iPhone project sharing implemented to work with Merlin 2 or Merlin Server are not offered in the Merlin Project application.
  • Existing Merlin Server isn’t supporting Merlin Project files.
  • Existing iOS app isn’t supporting Merlin Project files.

That means publishing options sharing a project to be accessed by project stakeholders working on OS X or other operating systems like Windows, Linux or the iPhone (in Merlin iPhone app) exist only for Merlin 2, whereby for larger teams a server solution is provided in form of an OS X System Preference Pane handling a watched projects folder and the necessary sharing options. New products such as ‘Merlin Project Go’ (an iOS app for Merlin Project files) and 'Merlin Server' (Server for Merlin Project files) are introduced as successor products but not yet released.

Version history and awards

ProjectWizards originally created Merlin 1.0 for its own internal project management. It contained a very basic set of features. Merlin 1.0 was officially released in November 2004. Public betas[1] of Merlin 2 were available in June 2006 and Merlin 2.0 was released in November 2006. It included several new features including an extended calculation function, Entourage support, multiple project linking, an improved interface, and more. It also supported import from MS Project, NovaMind, OmniOutliner, and MindManager, and synchronized with iCal. Version 2.0.3 was reviewed and scored 4 mice by MacWorld (April 2007):[2]

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"Merlin 2.0.3, from Project Wizards, is project management software that is not only as good as its Windows competition, Microsoft Project, but much better. Merlin 2 takes the excellent foundation provided by the initial version of the software ( ) and evolves it into the kind of intuitive program that leverages the best features the Mac has to offer."[3]

On December 2007 it received a MacWorld 2007 Editor's Choice Award.[4]

Merlin 2.5 was released in January 2008 and added project publishing functionality: Merlin users could now work simultaneously with others on the same project over the network. - Reviews by Mac User [1] in February 2008 (5 mice) and TechRadar May 2008 (4 stars).[5]

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"Merlin's best feature is housed in its Elements window. Here you can build or collate information and attach it to an activity or the whole project. An element can be as simple as a checklist or an attached file, but a risk management element enables you set details of the probability and potential impact of a threat to the project in financial and time terms. You can allocate a reserve for this risk and when the risk element is applied, this is reflected in the costs of the activity or resource."[6]



"There are many aspects to setting up and using any project management system, so total simplicity isn't really possible, but Merlin does an excellent job of keeping things as clear and logical as it possibly can."[7]

Merlin 2.6 was released in July 2008 and added publishing for the web. Merlin users could now publish projects that they and their team members could view and edit over the network through a supported web browser.
On Oct 2008 it received a MacUser 2008 editorial award.[8]

ProjectWizards released Merlin 2.7 in April 2009, along with a new Merlin iPhone app. - In its review by the German Website 'Heise online' Merlin 2.7 scored 5 out of 6 stars.[9] Customer reviews of the App Store criticize configuration difficulties and syncing concept of the iPhone app.[10]
Merlin Server was first released in May 2009.
2.7.4 was the first version supporting Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.
2.7.9 supported better collaboration to Things and MS Project.[11]
2.8 was the first version supporting Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.[12]
It was reviewed by Macworld and received 5 out of 5 mice.

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"Merlin 2 is a best-of-breed project management application that is capable, versatile, and powerful. It offers a compelling set of project management tools that give project managers who want to use a Mac an excellent reason to forgo Windows virtualization, drop MS Project, and manage everything they do using a Mac."[13]

Merlin 2.9 and Merlin Server 2.9.1 supported Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion).[14]

Merlin and Merlin Server version 2.9.2 supported Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks).

Merlin 2.9.3 worked under OS X 10.10 Yosemite (beta 5).

Merlin 2.9.5 solved an issue, which appeared after the update to OS X 10.10.3 Yosemite.

Merlin Project public beta started in October 2014.[15]

Upon release of the first public beta Merlin Project Go[16] and Merlin Server for Merlin Project[17] were named as successor products:

- Merlin Project Go is planned as an iOS app editing Merlin Project files on iOS devices. It will allow to be used as a standalone app, or a server client.

- Merlin Server for Merlin Project is planned as a sharing service for Merlin Project files. It will allow the Multi-user-mode-editing of Merlin Projects by project stakeholders running Merlin Project (on Macs), supported browsers (on Windows or Linux), or Merlin Project Go (on iOS devices).

Merlin Project 3.0.0 was released on January 22, 2015.[18] There are various free maintenance updates ever since.

With the release of version 3.1,[19] Merlin Project supports scripting in AppleScript and Javascript dialects.

Merlin Project 3.1.2[20] was the first version supporting OS X El Capitan.

Current versions

  • Merlin Project 3.1.5
  • Merlin 2.9.9 [21]
  • Merlin Server 2.9.6 [22]
  • Merlin iPhone 1.4.1 and Merlin iPad 1.4.1 [23]

This iOS app requires iOS 6.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

Merlin products

Merlin Project

Merlin Project runs on OS X 10.9.5 (Mavericks) or newer.

Merlin features project activities management, resource and assignment management,[24] and budget management.[25] It therefore includes views for Work breakdown, Assignments, Resources, customizable Reports, Mindmaps, PERT.

It supports import of and export[26] to various project management file formats including .mpp, .mpx and .xml (MS Project), NovaMind, MindManager, and Freemind (mind mapping software). Merlin also integrates with Apple (Apple Inc) Mac OS X: It can publish project activities or resource assignments to Calendar or todos in Reminder , access the Contacts or Outlook for resource (staff) management,[27] and create email messages to project stakeholders from current view. It may also send other configured views. Merlin reports can be printed or exported as image (PDF, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP or GIF).

Merlin can link activities by the typical project management dependency FS, FF, SS, SF kinds, and visualize activities, dependencies, and assignments in various ways. Merlin can also display the critical path in Gantt charts or the net plan, and show a work breakdown structure (WBS) in an Organizational Chart.

Merlin's internationalization supports English, German, French and Spanish.

Attachments
Merlin attachments include risk, issue, information, event, and document management. They can be attached to the complete project, on single activities, activity groups, assignments or resources. Merlin recognizes following 6 attachment types:

  • Checklist: - to do list. Can be used to keep track of lists.
  • File - Embedding documents of any file format. Version control for embedded files is implemented.
  • Risk - Risk information for risk mitigation and later evaluation.
  • Event - For organizing project relevant events.
  • Information - Additional information for the project as a mini CRM (Customer relationship management).
  • Issue - Issues arising during project realization.

Collaboration over email or publishing
Merlin collaborates to other project stake holders by email or publishing. Collaboration over email allows users to forward the report views as images or current state of the project in its native or another compatible file format. Should forwarding be required in regular base, collaboration over publishing allows users to define publisher configurations selecting the view, exporting type and way of forwarding the publisher. That means, the publisher may create files on local hard disks or mounted network drives, upload content to an ftp or webdav server, or even create and send emails when connected to an smtp server.

Merlin Project supports a set of cloud solutions, which allows single users to work on the same project over two different macs or locations and share thus project information without the need of a server. The vendor warns to not open Merlin Project documents directly from folders controlled by unsupported cloud services.[28]

Merlin Mac OS X

Merlin 2.x is the former version or Merlin Project and runs on Mac OS X 10.10.x or OS X 10.4.11 minimal.

It offered just four views for Activities, Resources, Utilization and Netplan. Was not as customizable as Merlin Project and some import or report features required a Java Runtime SE 6 installation. It supported AppleScript and followed a different approach for publish and collaboration:

‘‘‘Publishing and collaboration
 Merlin's 2.x multi-user mode allowed users to open and edit published projects remotely. Saved changes were distributed and displayed automatically to all users. A rights management defined authenticated users' scope of access.

Optional features by additional licenses
Web sharing: sharing and access to Merlin 2.x projects by a supported web browser. This option is discontinued.
iPhone sharing: sharing and access by Merlin iPhone app over an iPhone or iPod touch.

Merlin iPhone app

The Merlin iPhone app provides users the ability to remotely access and edit Merlin 2.x projects, and supports all core features of the Merlin native application except sharing. An online connection to the Merlin sharing system is needed when saving changes. It runs on iPhone, iPad or iPod and supports the latest iOS versions on those devices. It is not supporting Merlin Project files. A future version has been named on vendor’s web page, not yet available though.

Merlin Server

Merlin Server provides additional features useful for larger projects and teams, including centralized project storage and project publication for remote access to Merlin 2.x projects using the Merlin desktop application, or a supported web browser, or the Merlin iPhone app. It is implemented as a preference pane for the Mac OS X and can be installed for the current user or all users on a Mac. A Merlin desktop application is required for initial project creation. Supported web browsers for Merlin Server are Safari 3 or later (Mac and Windows), Firefox 3 or later (Mac and Windows), Internet Explorer 7 (IE 8 in compatibility mode) or later (Windows) and Chrome 24 or later (Mac and Windows).[29] It is not supporting Merlin Project files. A successor version for Merlin Project files has been named on vendor’s web page, not yet available though.

Additions for Merlin

Existing additions for Merlin 2.x

  • MerlinDaylite-Link is a tool connecting Merlin and the CRM system Daylite. It is sold separately and created by a third party company, called Lgo Consulting Ltd
  • Various Applescripts provided for free in the internet, allow Merlin to integrate to more applications that it would normally connect to over standard exporting procedures. Some of these apps are Billings [2], GrandTotal [3], Mon(K)ey Office ([4] page in German), Starface (phone system)

Further reading

  • Blome, Frank and Cherif, Antoni Nadir (2009): Projektmanagement mit Merlin:  Das offizielle Handbuch. Hanser Verlag, ISBN 978-3446419278

Sources

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Teague, J.C. (April 23, 2007). "Merlin 2.0.3", Macworld.com
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Gorham, T. (Feb 2008) "Merlin 2.5", MacUser.co.uk
  7. ↑ Editorial team (May 13th, 2008) "ProjectWizards Merlin 2.5.2 review", techradar.com
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Battersby, J. (March 22, 2012) "Merlin 2.8 is a top-tier project management application", http://www.macworld.com/article/1165834/merlin_2_8_is_a_top_tier_project_management_application.html
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Merlin product page
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Merlin Server product page

Further external links / Reference

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