Report:VantagePoint/Major Recent Updates

Major Recent Updates

See the Intellogist update policies for more information.

January 2013

VantagePoint SCE, also known as VantagePoint – BizInt Smart Charts Edition, is a "customized version of VantagePoint, developed jointly by Search Technology and BizInt Solutions for use by BizInt Smart Charts customers."^[1] According to a description of the product on the BizInt Solutions website:^[1]

VantagePoint – BizInt Smart Charts Edition is PC-based Windows software which is installed on each user's PC.

VantagePoint – BizInt Smart Charts Edition contains VantagePoint's core analytics suite including market-leading Data Cleanup, Thesaurus, Record Classifications, My Keywords, and interactive analytical visualizations. Data exchange between the two tools is simplified to make it easy to move data back and forth, allowing the user to concentrate on analysis and reporting, rather than managing data flow.

VantagePoint – BizInt Smart Charts Edition does not contain the import filters found in VantagePoint; data can only be imported from BizInt Smart Charts reports using the XML Smart Data Exchange format.

The VantagePoint website mentions the release of a product called VantagePoint SCE on January 8, 2013, although no additional data is currently available about this product.^[2]

July 2012

Although the version number is still 7.1, new updates appear to be available for VantagePoint and VantagePoint Reader as of July 18, 2012. For more information, please see VantagePoint's Current Version information.

September 2011

This system has been updated since our last review. During our next scheduled update, this article will be revised to include a description of the newly added content and features. For more information, please see VantagePoint's Current Version information.

In September 2011, VantagePoint released a new software revision, bringing the version number to 7.1. The major features of this release include:^[3]

• World Map View - Create an interactive view of the Country fields in your dataset. The new “WorldMap” script converts country names or patent country codes into a standard abbreviation (FIPS), creates a new field, and displays a color-coded interactive VantagePoint sheet.
• XML Smart Data Exchange - Use a new data exchange format to import data from and export data to 3rd party tools. Developed in collaboration with other vendors, this open format is a bridge for your data that makes it easy to use a variety of tools in your analysis. You can also use the open XML format for your custom data exports and easily import data into VantagePoint.
• Exchange Data with BizInt Smart Charts - Using the XML Smart Data Exchange, you can quickly import data from and export data to BizInt Solutions Smart Charts products.

For more information on the version 7.1 update, visit the VanagePoint website.

VantagePoint Reader was also updated to version 7.1 in September 2011.^[4]

February 2011

This system has been updated since our last review. During our next scheduled update, this article will be revised to include a description of the newly added content and features. For more information, please see VantagePoint's Current Version information.

In February 2011, VantagePoint released a new software revision, bringing the version number to 7.0. The major features of this release include:^[5]

• "My Keywords List" - "Create and edit custom sets of terms relevant to your topic of interest. Applications of these lists include: Entity extraction, Term highlighting in record view, List Comparison, Creating a group of items in a field, Simplified removal of trivial terms (a.k.a. 'Stop Words')."
• "Customizable toolbar buttons" - "Can be assigned to: Run a script, Run 'Further Processing' text manipulation commands."
• "Easier on-line updates"
• "Matrix view changes" - "Set 'Floor' (minimum) and 'Ceiling' (maximum) values to be displayed in Matrix Cells. Matrices automatically adjust their size, removing rows and columns that do not have values within the Floor/Ceiling range."
• "Unicode support"
• "Record View Window Enhancements"
• "Updates to import commands"
• "New Scripting commands"

For a full list of all changes in VantagePoint 7.0, visit this page.

October 2009

This system has been updated since our last review. During our next scheduled update, this article will be revised to include a description of the newly added content and features. For more information, please see VantagePoint's Current Version information: http://www.thevantagepoint.com/support/current_versions.cfm

In October 2009, VantagePoint released a new software revision, bringing the version number to 6.1. The major features of this release include:

• New Macro for Visualizations - A Java applet that displays co-occurrences of items from a single field on a dynamic map

• Improved Compatibility with Windows Vista

• New Options for the Thesaurus Tool

• Allow Multiple Matches - Permits a sub-item to match two or more main items

• Include Unmatched Items in New Field - After running the thesaurus, the processed field can discard or retain unmatched items from the source field.

• Summary Screen Highlighting - Fields with low or incomplete data in the % Coverage column of the Summary screen will now be highlighted.

The update also fixes numerous bugs.

October 2008

VantagePoint version 6 was released in October 2008. The release page breaks the additions into ten sections (listed below). These improvements include:

• Database interoperability - A new import wizard that accepts data from Excel and Access databases.

• Refine after import – Additional commands are available to further clean and customize the dataset.

• Improved performance – The new version processes larger datasets more quickly, and uses less system memory than the previous version.

• Save graphics inside VPT files – All graphics are saved within the VantagePoint file (.vpt), rather than as a separate file.

• Export value-added records to other tools – Exporting functions have been now built into the system, rather than requiring a macro to export data.

• Turn a matrix into a "heat map" – Color shading can be added to matrices to improve the visualizations aspects.

• Zoom in/out for lists and matrices – New zooming functions have been added.

• Get a new vantage point on a matrix – Sorting is now available in a matrix, making it easier to see the relevant results.

• Easier access to sheets in the dataset – Users can now view the open sheets in a list in the toolbar.

• New flexibility working with maps – A variety of commands have been added to improve the functionality and aesthetics of the maps.

The VantagePoint version 6 release page contains more detailed descriptions of these improvements, at http://www.thevantagepoint.com/VP6/.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "VantagePoint - BizInt Smart Charts Edition." BizCharts website, http://www.bizcharts.com/product/vpsce/default.php. Accessed January 17, 2012.
2. ↑ "VantagePoint SCE." The VantagePoint website, http://www.thevantagepoint.com/index.php?option=com_fabrik&view=details&fabrik=19&rowid=7&random=0. Accessed January 9, 2013.
3. ↑ "VantagePoint." The VantagePoint website, http://www.thevantagepoint.com/index.php?option=com_fabrik&view=details&fabrik=19&rowid=3&random=0. Accessed October 3, 2011.
4. ↑ "VantagePoint Reader." Vantage Point website, http://www.thevantagepoint.com/index.php?option=com_fabrik&view=details&fabrik=19&rowid=4&random=0. Accessed October 3, 2011.
5. ↑ "Product Support." The Vantage Point Website, http://www.thevantagepoint.com/support/details/19/3.html. Accessed April 27, 2011.