So, I'm trying my best to use Aras for a project in our corporate environment, but it is fighting me all the way. Now the latest discovery is that we have some users that use Macs.
I am fairly certain that even using Internet Explorer for Mac, will not work because of Active X issues, but I am not certain as I have no real Mac handy to try it on.
So my next question to everyone, is what would you think as a possible work-around? I have 3 solutions, 1 of which I am not sure is feasible.
1. Create separate web pages that still use Aras but I would program them using IOM.
2. Install Windows Virtual Machines on each Mac users computer (I know how to do this)
3. Create sort of a web-based virtual machine "server" where Mac users could go to a web site and it would run a windows virtual machine which they could then use to run Aras. (I don't know really how to go about this)
I like solution #3 the best, but the problem is, I really don't know how to implement it, I'm thinking I could use VMWare Server, but then I don't know how to get the Mac's to connect to it.
Any other brainstorms, ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Here is what I think we are going to go with:
We are going to just set up a windows machine, and then have the Mac users use Remote Desktop Clients to access the windows machine. Once remoted into the windows machine, they will launch IE, and run Aras.
Not the prettiest of solutions, but the fastest and easiest solution we could think of.
Phil,
Have you thought about what functionality the users on MAC's need? if they do not need the full Aras Innovator client, then there are some alternatives. Some of the engineers at Aras are working on a skunk-works project for a browser independent AJAX style client. Doesn't have a ton of features yet, but it runs on a MAC. This client source code is available if you want to build a role-specific client for MAC users.
Another very cool solution for MAC (cross browser, cross platform) is being developed by Yoann (at Prodeus in France). Check out this video he made of the prototype. http://prodeos.fr/?p=132
Peter.
Thanks for the info Peter,
I can't seem to find the download anywhere for the AJAX client that you are referring to....? Do you know where I would go about getting that? I think a stripped down version of the client may be acceptable. Chances are, if I can't find one that is already done, I would be creating my own anyhow.
Hi phil,
I am the manager of Prodeos and the video you've seen is one of the project we work on to help Engineering schools to use Aras Innovator. We're stil developping it and preparing a test version to give access. As it is done in collaboration with a school we'll make this project OpenSource.
Technically, how this is developped:
the Ajax process is just an HTML query with it results handled with javascript. All the javascript is public has it is read by your browser.On the server side we have asp.net files which are called in the Ajax Process and make the link with the API.
We'll post a new version soon. Let us know if you need any advice on your development.
Best Regards,
Yoann Maingon, Prodeos
I just spent my whole weekend trying to install Wine (and WineBottler) in order to get IE running on a mac. I was able to get IE 7 running on the mac, but of course Aras failed when the login box popped up asking me to change my .NET security settings. I kind of figured that would happen, but I thought it was worth a shot.
With that being said, are the .NET security settings going to be an issue with the next release of ARAS? I am trying my best to use ARAS on a project now with about 100 or so users, and its a very hard sell when I say....."it doesnt work with mac", "it doesnt work with IE 8 without the Firefox plugin", "you have to run this clent .NET config tool for each person that wants to access the system". Ugh.
I think without a doubt that ARAS is the best available free content management system out there, but trying to get it to work in a large, diverse client environment is becoming a job in itself.
Hi Peter,
The AJAX project looks very promising. The code looks lean, structured and clean. It performs. On any client. With any (slow) connection). This is the way to the future!
What is the current status of this project? Are engineers working on getting relationships in this AJAX client? Can I contribute to this project?
Regards,
Alex van der Linden
Hello Alex,
Are you looking at the AJAX project that Yoann is working on http://prodeos.fr/?p=186
Or the one that Aras posted on the Community Projects site: http://www.aras.com/communityProjects/default.aspx?projectid=0EE74C70EC52497D89B5D87D5F3B5881
Aras published this project to give some samples and examples for how to build an AJAX client. But we are not actively developing this. We have too many (paid) projects at the moment. let me know if you start working with the code though, and I am happy to collaborate with you.
I was talking about the Aras Community Project (developed by Mark Beaulieu). I hope I have some time to work on this. If I have results I'll definately will let you know.
Alex