Configuration

The following section contains technical updates concerned with configuration.

For more detail, see our main Technical Documents Configuration area.

Q3 2024

Specify compressed text block size in FastStats Configurator

You can now set the Virtual Variable Text Compression Level in the FastStats Configurator under the Service Configuration > Connection Settings dialogue. The default and minimum size is 32,760 bytes.

This update allows you to choose a block size larger than 32,000, reducing the size of compressed .dat files and decreasing I/O calls. This improves performance, particularly on systems with high latency.

Q1 2024

LiveData Configuration UI

We've identified an issue with the LiveData Configuration UI running against the single database configuration in the Q1 2024 release. The UI, written in F# and utilising an ORM library, lacks flexibility in dynamically changing the database schema.

To address this:

  • The Q1 2024 release retains the LiveData UI targeting the multi-database configuration ([dbo] schema), as in the Q4 2023 version.

  • Adoption of the single database model is recommended only for those few customers who want to host PeopleStage/Campaigning on Azure SQL.

  • For customers requiring LiveData in a single database configuration, a custom build targeting the specific schema ([businesslibrary] schema) will be provided as needed. Please contact Apteco support if this is the case.

For more information, see the technical update on Single Database Multiple Schemas (SDMS) below.

Q1 2024

Hosting PeopleStage on cloud databases

Bulk Copy Program (BCP) integration

In the Q4 2023 Apteco software release, the dependency on Bulk Insert in PeopleStage was replaced with the Bulk Copy Process (BCP) option for inserting data into SQL Server for both FastStats PeopleStage and the Response Gatherers. This transition not only enhances compatibility but also expands usage possibilities, especially with technologies like Azure SQL.

To enable this feature:

  1. Open the FastStats Service Configurator.

  2. Expand Campaigning, in the side menu, then select PeopleStage.

  3. Check the box next to Use BCP for Bulk inserts.

You will also find the Use BCP option in FastStats Email Response Gatherer database settings.

Note: Administrators are reminded to restart the FastStats Service after making this configuration change to ensure the settings take effect.

Single Database Multiple Schemas (SDMS)

The Q1 2024 Apteco software release introduces the 'Single Database Model' for compatibility with Azure SQL database. It allows Azure SQL databases to group into an elastic pool for efficient sharing of SQL Server resources and license costs.

You can now us the Single Database Multiple Schemas (SDMS) mode in PeopleStage, eliminating the need for SQL Server file system access. This improvement allows PeopleStage to operate on various cloud databases, including Azure SQL database.

For first-time system configurations, administrators now have the option to choose between multiple databases or a single database within the database creation wizard. They can also specify the elastic pool to use if utilizing Azure SQL.

These updates enhance the efficiency, flexibility, and compatibility of PeopleStage, providing administrators with more configuration options and opening doors to a wider range of database technologies.

See below for the current supported database services.

Vendor Database Service Release Link
AWS Amazon RDS for SQL Server Q4 2023 https://aws.amazon.com/rds/sqlserver/
Google Cloud SQL for SQL Server Q4 2023 https://cloud.google.com/sql/sqlserver
Azure SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines Q4 2023 https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/products/virtual-machines/sql-server/
Azure Azure SQL Managed Instance Q4 2023 https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/products/azure-sql/managed-instance/
Azure Azure SQL Database Q1 2024 https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/products/azure-sql/database/

Q4 2023

FastStats

Prevent passwords from being exposed in the Configurator

When editing settings using the Configuration utility, passwords are now shown in clear text.

This feature now displays connection strings when editing, but with the password element obscured.

Q4 2023

FastStats

Reset Admin Password

When resetting the Administrator Password through the Configurator, the password is reset to ‘password’. We’ve now applied PasswordManuallyExpired = 1 to each of the Reset Administrator SQL scripts. On your next login to FastStats it correctly forces the Administrator to set a new password.

Q4 2023

PeopleStage

PeopleStage Update Script loses permissions on stored procedure

The PS update script dropped and re-created a stored procedure and some functions, causing 'execute' permissions to be lost.

Empty procedure/functions now use an ALTER PROCEDURE or ALTER FUNCTION statement to change the contents.

Q4 2023

General

Error running SQL Update scripts in AzureSQL

We’ve fixed an error running SQL Update scripts in AzureSQL. Our Control update script was not compatible with cloud hosted databases. We have reworked these scripts so that they no longer cause an error.

Q3 2023

FastStats

Bing transaction logging

Bing transactions are now recorded and stored in CSV files, accessible at Public\DriveZones\LoggedBingJobs within your system. With this feature, administrators can easily track and verify usage, providing clarity on transaction counts and allowances.

Q3 2022

FastStats

Bing API limits

In June 2022, our Bing API license agreement was changed from a per user basis to a transactional license (i.e. a count of API calls made). This means that an end user could incur a costly bill without realising the cost involved.

A change was made for Q3-2022 release to allow administrators to control the maximum number of calls a user could make in a single request.

Q2 2021

FastStats

Changes required for continued Password Reset functionality

The Q2 2021 release now requires the URL of the FastStats Web Service to be set, for the password reset function. This setting can be found in the General Tab of your FastStats Web Service configuration:

Once this change has been made, the FastStats Web Service picks up the configuration after some time or can be forced to do so by restarting IIS.

Q1 2020

Orbit

Additional user roles

The Q1 2020 release introduced further configurable user roles that can be used to control access to specific functionality within Orbit. These roles are configured through the User Administration suite already available within FastStats and allow administrators to control access to the following functionality:

  • Orbit Audiences

  • Orbit Dashboards

  • Orbit Data Purchase

The Orbit Audiences & Orbit Dashboards roles should be turned on by default (after update) but can then be configured as required.

If a given user or group cannot see any of the above features after the update please check the Roles configured for that user or group within FastStats. These should be set at the Global level but may be overridden by further Group or User level settings.

Q2 2019

FastStats

Introduction of the social database

The Q2 2019 release introduced a new SQL database to the existing FastStats architecture. The social database combines and is a replacement for both the Facebook and Twitter databases.

Note:
- When adding a ‘social’ database to an existing system, you need to run both the ‘Create Social Database’ & ‘Update Social Database’ Scripts.
- Due to changes in the Twitter API, advert functionality is currently unavailable. We are working on fixing this.

Q1 2019

FastStats

Adding the Orbit API URL to the Web Service

You need to add the Orbit API URL to each FastStats Service you wish to use with Orbit.

For more details, see Adding the Orbit API URL to the Web Service.

Q4 2018

PeopleStage

Tolerance Checking

The Q4 2018 release introduces Tolerance Checking for campaigns within Apteco PeopleStage. To receive emails relating to this functionality, it is necessary to add the templates needed. This process is carried out by opening the relevant FastStats Service settings, navigating to the ‘Emails’ panel, then pressing the ‘Add Default Templates’ button.

Q3 2018

Orbit

Orbit PeopleStage viewer role

Included in the Q3 2018 release, there are some prerequisites required:

Note: The Q3 2018 version of the FastStats Service is required for this role.

Note: Accessing User needs to have been given the ‘Orbit PeopleStage Viewer’ role applied.

This is administered through the FastStats User Explorer, see PeopleStage campaign overview. See Orbit: PeopleStage Viewer role.

Q2 2018

FastStats

Enable Storyboard

In order to use the Storyboard function, you need to enable the Storyboard plug in for existing users. Any new users you create with this release or subsequent releases have the Storyboard plug in enabled automatically. See Chapter 2.1.12 below to ensure you enable this new functionality.

See Enable storyboard.

Q1 2018

PeopleStage

GDPR Administration

The Q1 2018 release introduced a PeopleStage GDPR Administration tool. Access to this tool is controlled as an additional ‘Role’ in the FastStats Administration suite:

Q4 2017

PeopleStage

Explorer Interface

The Q4 2017 release introduced a new ‘Explorer’ style interface. To enable this view, Administrators need to check the option in the ‘Features’ panel of the PeopleStage client configuration.