We’re continuing to edge closer to MovieSite Version 2, the biggest single technical project undertaken by Open Brolly – since the release of MovieSite version 1!

As you may know, we have been using version 2 code for some months on customised public sites, such as the Irish Film Board Production Company database. It has proven to be robust and flexible as we had hoped. The focus is now on updating the MovieSite backend, to improve consistency and allow our clients to customise the information they hold.

In our schedules we hoped to commence go live with a Screen Agency in Jan / Feb 09, and we expect to meet this target with a new client. This is an ideal opportunity as we’re migrating information anyway, and the structure of data in their old system lends itself to the more flexible structure of MovieSite v2, rather than trying to shoehorn information into version 1.

Of course, equally important is ensuring that the transition to version 2 is painless and delivers benefits for our existing clients too. We will therefore be opening up a demonstration environment, currently scheduled for the first week in February. This will allow users initially to try out the new data entry forms and, later in February, try out the whole MovieSite system in V2. This will mean that users can “play” with the system without any implications for their own data and provide us with feedback.

We will ask system testers to complete a short questionnaire. Once we’re confident we’re on track with our users’ wishes, working with the chair of our user group, we’ll begin rolling out the upgrade to all MovieSite.

If any client wishes to remain on MovieSite v1, as it addresses their needs better at this time, they will be able to do so. We will announce formal long term support arrangements for version 1 later.