Cyclos on-line and mobile banking software.
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Dear Sir/Madam,

We are happy to announce that new versions of Cyclos and the Cyclos mobile app have been released. Cyclos 4.15 can be downloaded from our license server, the mobile app (version 2.11) has been published at the google play store and the apple app store.
This newsletter contains a summary of all the new features and improvements that were added since our last newsletter.

Improved voucher module
We listed all the new voucher features below, but for the people who never used our voucher module, first a short introduction:
The voucher module offers an additional means of payment in Cyclos. A voucher in Cyclos has a unique identification 'token' that can consist of a number of digits, which are usually presented as a QR code. The vouchers can be printed as a pdf file, sent via email or just opened in the Cyclos app. Apart from the unique code a voucher also has a title, a description and a layout. A Cyclos user, typically a shop, can scan the QR code (or type in the voucher number) and the voucher amount will be credited to the Cyclos account of the shop.
The voucher module has been extended with many improvements. The most important ones are listed here:

Partially redeemable vouchers
Previously the voucher had a single amount that had to be redeemed at once. Now it is possible to partially redeem the voucher. This means that the owner of the voucher can use the voucher to pay at shops multiple times until the total amount of the voucher is reached.

Top-up / recharge vouchers
It is now possible to top-up existing vouchers. This will make the vouchers reusable.

Voucher information page
Vouchers are an interesting means to include 'external users' in the system. Often voucher owners are 'occasional' users that do not have an account in Cyclos (for example in the case of 'gift cards'). Those users previously had no way to check their voucher status. This is now possible with an online Voucher information page.

Voucher PIN
Vouchers can now have a PIN for extra security. This is especially interesting for vouchers that can be partially redeemed and for reusable vouchers. The PIN can be sent via email or/and SMS to the voucher buyer, and the buyer can change the PIN at the voucher page. The PIN can also be used to unblock newly created vouchers.

Voucher templates
It is now possible to define the layout of the voucher directly in Cyclos. There is a preview page and it is possible to import & export voucher templates.

A complete description of the voucher module can be found at this Wiki page.

System monitoring page
A system page has been added that shows real time information about the Cyclos instance and the environment. It also contains actions for system administrators. This page can be found in the reports section and shows, amongst others, the following information:

System information:
- Versions: Cyclos/Database/Java
- Application properties (cyclos.properties files for each tomcat node)
- Server info (Operating system, uptime, CPU total/used, memory total/used)
- Database upgrades history with possible errors
- History of recurring and background tasks and their status

System actions:
- Vacuum database
- Rebuild account balances
- Re-run specific task
- Download full report to a pdf file for troubleshooting (includes the last 10 error logs)

Entity logs history search
A general search page has been added for all history (entity) logs. This feature will allow an admin to keep track of changes to any entity in the System (e.g. configurations, groups, products, channels, etc.). It is possible to search by period, entity and administrator (updater). Each log details page will show the admin that performed the changes with a timestamp and IP address, as well as the changes (old value / new value). The details page will also contain a link that opens the related entity. This log helps admins to keep track of the changes that are made in the system. It's even possible to monitor the changes a specific admin made in the system.

Improved invite user function
Cyclos has an 'invite user' feature that allows Cyclos users to invite external users (without a Cyclos account) to register and access the system. With this version, there is a new filter in the user search that will show all users that have accepted your invitation.
Another improvement of the invite feature is that the new user does not have to confirm the registration by email (because he has received the invitation by email).
Also, when a broker sends an invitation he can automatically become the broker when the user completes the registration.

Quick scan in custom operation
In the custom operation an option has been added to show a scan button that will open the camera (of a PC, tablet or mobile phone). This scan button can scan any string (QR-code), which can be used to fetch a Cyclos entity such as a user id or a voucher code. The custom operation can subsequently use this string as input for the required feature.
Also, it is possible to add extra input fields that will be shown above the QR code (and that must be filled in before scanning the QR code). When no fields are defined the operation will run directly after scanning (and process the custom operation script).
After the custom operation is executed a result page is shown. It is possible to define a time window (in seconds) after which the result page will close automatically, and the initial page (with scan button) is shown again.

The scan feature is very generic and can be used for a variety of use cases, for example quick bonus payments at shops, or validating entrance tickets for events.

New features Open Source front-end
With 4.15 we added support in the new front-end for the features:
- Messages
- Vouchers
- Invite user
- External payments
- Payment feedback

Other improvements are:
- Reduced download size
- Better performance (faster loading of pages)
- Option to install as a PWA (Progressive Web App)
- Improved layout
- Possibility to disable the home page for guests /non logged users (opening directly the login page)

Performance improvements
In this milestone version we put much effort on improving the performance, especially for big systems with a lot of data. The following modules have been improved:
- Login
- Payments
- Viewing user profiles
- Background and polling tasks
- REST operations
- Clustering (Hazelcast)
- The user / ads / transfer export now uses Elasticsearch, which makes them faster
- Accounts *
* Accounts are now created on demand, this means that accounts which never had a transfer/transaction, or credit limit change are not created in the database. This improvement makes operations involving accounts faster, and it does not affect the functionality of accounts in any way.

Account visibility preferences
A new setting has been added that allows users to hide specific accounts. This is practical for systems where users have many accounts. When an account is hidden the user cannot do payments from the account, but the account can receive payments.

Technologies & frameworks
- Updated Hazelcast
- Support for Java 17 (LTS)
- Updated Log4J *
* A security breach in the log4J library was found. Millions of systems were affected as was Cyclos (up to version 4.14.14). We have emailed all Cyclos users from our license server in December and January. More information can be found in this forum post.

Other improvements
- In the product list it is now possible to search by account type
- Added account type column in products lists
- Support reCAPTCHA at registration and change password pages
- Added bulk action type filter in the bulk action search page
- New data type for custom fields 'Dynamic multiple selection'
- Added history change logs for tokens and password
- New custom field type: 'scan QR-code'
- Allow advertisement addresses per user
- IP whitelists for guests
- New webshop delivery method option: 'pick-up point'
- Added support for oauth authentication for SMTP server
- Add user status search filter to user record search (by admin and broker)
- Cyclos messages forwarded to an email address now have a direct reply link
- Include account number in user export
- Transfer type is now included in the account history export
- Payment fields are now included in the payment overview export
- Added search filters for account fees list
- Added history logs for custom scheduled tasks
- Added next execution date/time in custom scheduled task details
- Improved (maskable) logos
- New option to add user (payment receiver) to contacts in payment confirmation page

Wordpress Plugin
The official Cyclos WordPress plugin has been steadily improved and extended. WordPress website owners can use the Cyclos plugin to let their visitors login into Cyclos via WordPress. And also, since Cyclos plugin version 4, it can show a list or map of your Cyclos users directly on your WordPress site. The information is automatically synced via the Cyclos REST API, so any change in Cyclos is reflected on your WordPress site automatically.

Are you using WordPress? Check out our Cyclos plugin!

Mobile app
Since the last newsletter, two mobile app versions have been published (2.10 and 2.11) with the following features:

Added features
- Vouchers
- Messages
- External payment

Quick scan for custom operation
As described above in the Web section, the mobile app can also open directly the camera in order to scan a QR code. After reading the QR code a custom operation can be run.

Receipt on custom operations
It is now possible for a custom operation to print to the bluetooth printer. The layout of the receipt can be customized, and admins can see a simulation / preview of the receipt at the (admin) web interface.

Improvements
- Rich text editor for text fields
- Support for reCAPTCHA v2
- Face ID support (iOS)
- Manage user records by broker
- Chargeback a payment
- Improved user settings page
- Option to group profile fields in sections
- Pick-up point has been added as a possible delivery method
- Numeric keyboard if only numeric values are allowed
- The layout of the marketplace categories page has been improved
- A link to the user profile has been added in the payment details page
- Added searching on description and user in account history
- Search ticket transactions
- Custom operations for payments

For more information about Cyclos and the Social Trade Organization (STRO), please visit:
www.cyclos.org
www.socialtrade.org

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