Two minor bugs have been fixed with the Gliffy Confluence Plugin version 2.0.3.

• [GLIFFY-1710] – System Error anytime we try to use the gliffy plugin
• [GLIFFY-1761] – Full Size link goes to page that just prints $globalHelper.renderConfluenceMacro($macro)

We suggest all customers upgrade to this release.

Today we are announcing that releases of the Gliffy Confluence Plugin and the Gliffy JIRA Plugin issued after March 31st, 2010 will require JDK 1.5 or better. The Gliffy JIRA Plugin version 2.2.0 and The Gliffy Confluence Plugin version 2.2.0 will likely be the last versions of our plugins that are JDK 1.4 compatible.

Our decision is based on the fact that the Sun EOSL date for JDK 1.4 was October 30th 2008, and Atlassian stopped supporting JDK 1.4 with the release of Confluence 2.9 and JIRA 4.0. Since Atlassian’s customers must now all switch away from JDK 1.4 anyways, we feel like it is reasonable to require JDK 1.5 as the minimum JDK version.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Gliffy support.

Today we did a major update of Gliffy Online. Gliffy Online now requires the Flash Player 9 to run. This upgrade now gives Gliffy greater performance and usability. We’ve seen at least a double in performance gain in many key areas of the application. The upgrade to Flash Player 9 also helps us to continue to focus on improving the quality of Gliffy Online. Already, significant enhancements have been made in this release that include an improved zoom feature, right-click options, easier page navigation and better usability with shape drag and drop.

Additional New Features:

• Improved Zoom – Huge performance boost and accuracy of position
• New Right Click Menu options:
  • For shapes: cut, copy, delete, send to front/back, lock
  • For lines: cut, copy, delete
  • For the page: Paste at mouse position and zoom levels
• Shortcut Key: CTRL + + to Zoom In and CTRL + – to zoom out
• Enable Zoom with CTRL+Mouse-wheel
• Workspace automatically scrolls when drag objects outside of parameters of screen
• Have page scroll when moving shape beyond viewable boundaries
• Ability to scroll page with arrow keys
• Position text below uploaded images, as default
• Enable scroll wheel for zooming and scrolling page.
• Shift + Drag when rotating makes rotation work in 15 degree increments.
• Swimlane stencils added to Flowchart shapes.
• Swimlane stencils added to UML Shapes.
• List shortcuts in a quick list window – Click on the Help button on the top right of Gliffy to see a list of shortcuts
  

Bug Fixes:

Please see our JIRA bug tracker for fixes for this release.

HAPPY DRAWING!

Happy New Year!

Let’s start off with a flowchart, shall we?

Make the Photo supplies this first entry of 2010 (or Two-Aught-One-Naught, as I’ve decided to call it). This one walks you through the process of selecting a digital camera.

It’s not quite as complicated as our guide to Choosing an HDTV, but that isn’t a bad thing–particularly if you’re having a little trouble getting your brain started this morning!

It is possible, according to the experts, that your website sucks.

Bruce Alderson of Warped Visions put this handy flowchart together to let you know.

Easy. It’s a joke, see? You’re website doesn’t suck. Probably.

If you haven’t seen this animated flowchart by Jonathan Jarvis and you’re still scratching your head about where all the money has gone, now’s your chance.

click through to watch the animated video

Flowing Data features Mr. Jarvis’ thesis work in their end-of-year wrap up and it’s definitely worth a watch, even if only for the lovely way he presents the information. Let’s hope 2010 is a little less financially explosive…

It is the time of cheer, the season of giving, the day you begin to seriously panic because you haven’t yet finished your holiday shopping.

Easy, there, tiger. Gliffy has you covered. We want all of your perfectly chosen presents to find their way under your tree, or beside your menorah, or <preposition> your <appropriate religious/cultural symbol> in time.

And, naturally, we’ll help out with a gift of our own: a flowchart plotting what we see as the simplest path to holiday shopping success.

click image to see full flowchart

Don’t you feel better now? That’s gotta make it all a bit easier, although even we can’t help you choose a gift for Aunt Maureen.

If you’re really stuck for present ideas, how about giving yourself a gift that clarifies everything? That’s right! Licenses for Gliffy Online are only $5/month!

Our online diagram editor makes it easier than ever to create great looking drawings like this Holiday Shopping flowchart. With Gliffy, you can easily create professional-quality flowcharts, diagrams, floor plans, technical drawings, and more. Check it out for 30 days for free.

Talking Points Memo posted this insanely complicated flowchart illustrating the military’s plan for Afghanistan.

NBC’s Richard Engel reports that this flowchart from the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “lays out the counterinsurgency strategy to achieve three goals: “Influence insurgent-minded individuals to adopt a neutral disposition”; “Influence neutral-minded individuals to adopt a supportive disposition;” and “Retain supportive individuals.”

The double lines through certain connectors on the chart represent “significant delay.””

All clear?

Why yes, I do think Jeff Goldblum would be excellent in the role of the plucky flowchart blogger who looks super awesome working in his PJs.

This map to daughter-support brought to you by lunchbreath. His photostream on Flick’r has other flowcharts in this vein plus lots of other good design work if you want more good advice.

Did you think that there was some magical elf that wandered through the woods, harvesting iPhones? That’s not 100% correct. The magical elf floats mysteriously through the woods, harvesting iPhones.

Or maybe that’s not quite it either? There may be something I’m missing about engineers, decades of development, and, according to Fast Company, innovation. Staff writer Dan Macsai put together this flowchart that illuminates how your fancy new holiday gadget sprung forth from the primordial ooze.

You’ll want to click through to see the interactive flowchart at Fast Company — it’s much nicer than the static screenshot I’ve got posted here.

click image to see interactive flowchart

I’ll see you in the nebulous future.