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Version 1.30: Release Notes

Welcome to Helm CONNECT 1.30. Click the links below to learn all about this release:

The Platform

Our "platform" is our base product and includes the features and functionality shared by all our customers. Changes to our platform affect everyone, regardless of the product lines or modules you subscribe to. We made the following platform changes in this release.

Enhanced Asset Management with Exclusive Asset Groups

In Version 1.26, we introduced asset groups as a useful way to organize, filter, and report on your assets. In this release, we’re introducing exclusive asset groups. The main difference between a generic and exclusive asset group is that while an asset can belong to multiple generic asset groups, it can only belong to one exclusive asset group at a time.

 

More about this feature

  • You can only decide if an asset group should be exclusive when creating it. Once you save a new asset group as exclusive, you can’t change it to be a generic asset group, and vice versa.
  • Exclusive asset groups are automatically assigned to your top-level or “root” division, and the “Share With Division” checkbox is automatically selected. These settings can’t be changed.
  • Although an asset can only belong to one exclusive asset group at a time, you can move it from one exclusive asset group to another as needed if you have permission to do so.

Assign Nationalities to Your Crew

You can now assign nationalities to your crew members:

  • To configure your list of available nationalities, we added a new Setup > Users > Nationality tab, where you can add new nationalities or edit or delete existing ones.
  • To assign a nationality to a crew member, you can select a nationality from the new Nationality field on either the My Helm > Profile > Profile tab or the Management > People > People > Details sub-tab. By default, the Nationality field is also visible on the sidebars of both these tabs, but you can manage this setting from the Settings > Field Configurations > People > Sidebar sub-tab.

End of Support for Windows 8/8.1 and Windows Server 2012/2012 R2

We’re ending our support for Windows 8/8.1 and Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 on January 15, 2025. After that date, we will no longer test Helm CONNECT for compatibility with or provide fixes for any issues reported with Windows 8/8.1 or Windows Server 2012/2012 R2. These changes are necessary because Microsoft ended its support for Windows 8/8.1 in January 2023 and its support for Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 on October 10, 2023, and no longer provides security updates, fixes, or technical support for any issues related to these products. Click here for more information.

End of Support for TLS 1.0 and 1.1

We’re ending our support for Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.0 and 1.1 on January 15, 2025. After that date, we will require all integrations with Helm CONNECT and the Helm CONNECT API to be secured using TLS 1.2 or later. This change is necessary to enhance security and continue providing best-in-class encryption for your data. Click here for more information.

Helm CONNECT Maintenance

We made the following changes to Helm CONNECT Maintenance in this release.

A New PDF Attachment on Requisition Email Notifications Provides Line Item Details

The email notifications that go to responsible parties when a new requisition is submitted now include PDF attachments with the following line item details:

  • Part
  • Description
  • Vendor
  • External #
  • Status
  • Qty

Learn more about email notifications in Helm CONNECT here.

Hide or Show Deleted Items in History Filters

We added a new option to the User Preferences menu called “Deleted items in history filters. " This option allows each logged-in user to choose whether or not to include deleted items, such as assets, parts, people, and certifications, in the filters on the History tabs throughout Helm CONNECT. After the upgrade to Version 1.30, this new option will be set to “Yes.”

NoteThe “Deleted items in history filters” option only affects History tabs that already include deleted items in their filters. History tabs that don’t already include deleted items, such as the Onboard > Personnel > History and Personnel > Schedule > History tabs, won’t be affected by this setting.

Search for Components in Onboard > Logs

In your workspaces in Onboard > Logs, we made it easier to find specific tasks, corrective actions, and maintenance checklists by including component names in the Description search field.

Helm CONNECT Compliance

We made the following changes to Helm CONNECT Compliance in this release.

Introducing Dynamic Forms

With the introduction of dynamic forms, you can now streamline your form library and simplify data entry for your crew to ensure they capture the information you need. If you currently have multiple versions of the same form in Helm CONNECT—because you require different fields for different scenarios—you can replace them with a single form that displays different fields based on the information that was entered in a previous step. For example, you could create a single near-miss form with specific fields for environmental, injury, or illness-related situations. Or a single training form that displays different fields for each position.

In your form templates, you can use the following field types to add conditions that will trigger other fields:

  • Custom Dropdown
  • Radio Buttons
  • Fail | Pass
  • No | Yes | N/A
  • Done

NoteItems hidden on a dynamic form will be included in reports based on the Forms data source, but they won’t include any data.

 

Helm CONNECT Jobs

Pre-release Features for Interested Customers

In this release, we’re introducing several new pre-release features for interested customers:

  • Onboard Readings: The Onboard Readings module provides a readings dashboard for your asset installations by live-streaming the data from equipment onboard an asset, such as engines and fuel tank sensors.
  • Logbook E-signatures: This new feature for the Logbook module helps organizations maintain accuracy and meet regulatory requirements by allowing authorized personnel to sign entries securely and trace actions in real-time.
  • Logbook Record Books: This new feature for the Logbook module provides your crew with an easy way to print and sign Logbook entries in compliance with the specific requirements of USCG and other regulatory bodies.
  • Logbook Fluid Tanks Onboard: This new feature for the Logbook module helps reduce data-entry mistakes by allowing you to upload your sounding tables into Helm CONNECT. Your crew can then simply log a sounding event and enter the feet and inches, and Helm CONNECT will calculate the amount inside the tank.

NoteThese pre-release features won’t be turned on by default when you upgrade to Version 1.30. If you’d like to learn more about them, your account manager would be happy to answer your questions or arrange a demo.

Helm CONNECT Personnel

We made the following changes to Helm CONNECT Personnel in this release.

Create a Payroll Rule that Automatically Selects the Highest Rate

On the Settings > Payroll > Payroll Schemes tab, we made the following changes so you can create a payroll rule that automatically selects the highest rate:

  • We added a new “Crew Change Exists” condition to the Date targets for Extra Pay, Bank Accruals, and Bank Withdrawals.
  • Under Rate Formula Values, we also added a new “Transaction Lines: Highest Rate” option.

Assign Default Payroll Classes to Crewing Requirements

We added a new Management > Assets > Assets > Crewing Requirements sub-tab that allows you to assign default payroll classes to your assets' crewing requirements. To save time and reduce errors, these default payroll classes will be automatically loaded into the Payroll Class field on the Crew Changes tab but can be manually overridden when necessary.

Protect a Crew Member’s Payroll Class

On the Management > People > People > Payroll sub-tab, we added a new “Protected” checkbox to the right of each payroll class listed on a crew member’s profile. If a crew member has a protected payroll class, it will always override any other payroll class assignment for that person, including default payroll classes assigned to a crewing requirement.

Set Up Dollars Only and Average Banks

In addition to First In First Out (FIFO) banks, we added two new options to the Bank Type field on the Setup > Payroll > Banks tab:

  • Dollars Only: This bank type allows you to set up amount-only banks that track accruals and withdrawals based on specific amounts instead of quantities.
  • Average Dollars: This bank type allows you to manage vacation balances for your crew by making withdrawals at the average rate (total amount in the bank divided by the current number of days).

Transfer Money Between Dollars Only and Average Banks

You can transfer money between the new Dollars Only and Average Dollars bank types. On the Setup > Payroll > Payroll Scheme tab, we added a new “Bank Transfers” section with two targets: Date and Payroll Period.

Once you set up a payroll scheme for bank transfers, payroll will be generated on the Personnel > Payroll > Payroll Details tab as follows:

  • The transferred amount will be shown as a withdrawal from the Dollars Only bank.
  • The transferred amount will be shown as an accrual in the Average Dollars bank.

Override Minimum and Maximum Bank Settings for Specific Crew Members

On the Management > People > People > Payroll sub-tab, we added a new “Edit Bank Override” button on FIFO and Dollars Only banks on a person’s profile. Clicking this button allows you to override a bank’s default minimum and maximum values for that person.

Track Canadian Sea Days

Canadian customers can now track their sea days in Helm CONNECT:

  • On the Setup > Payroll > Earning Codes tab, we added a new “Work Factor” field where you can enter a factor (up to eight decimal places) to applicable earning codes to account for sea days.
  • On the Setup > Payroll > Payroll Schemes tab, we added a “Transaction Lines: Work Quantity (Sum) option under Rate Formula Values for Extra Pay and Bank Withdrawals.
  • On the Personnel > Payroll > Payroll Details tab, we added a new “Show work” button that allows you to toggle the display to show work instead of quantity or total pay.
  • In the Pay Lines window, we added a new Work Quantity field.

Improvements to Crew Changes

Based on customer feedback, we made the following improvements to crew changes in this release:

  • Publish planned crew changes with unassigned positions: You can now publish planned crew changes from shore to your assets without assigning crew members to all the positions. Onboard, the unassigned positions are clearly marked as “Unassigned” on the planned crew change, and crew members must be assigned to them before the Actual Date and Time fields can be completed.
  • Edit the Position and Crew fields on published crew changes: From both shore and on your assets, you can now edit the Position and Crew fields on published crew changes.
  • Edit completed crew changes from history: We added a new Edit button to the Onboard > Personnel > History and Personnel > Schedule > History tabs that allows you to edit completed crew changes. The Edit button is only visible if you have permission to use it.
  • Edit current crew: On the Onboard > Personnel > Crew Changes tab, under Current Crew, we added a new Edit icon to the right of each crew name that allows you to edit these fields: Crew Member, Asset, Crew On Date, Crew Off Date, Position, Payroll Class, and Cost Center.
  • Trip Type field and Manning Requirements label are no longer visible: On the Crew Changes and History tabs both on shore and on your assets, we removed the Trip Type field and the Manning Requirements label from the Position Group header.
  • Visibility of Pending tab depends on approval policy: If the approval policy is set to No Approvals, the Pending tab on the Personnel > Schedule > Crew Changes tab will now be hidden. If the approval policy is set to Shore Approval Required, the Pending tab will be visible.
  • Visibility of Approval Date field depends on approval policy: If the approval policy is set to No Approvals, the Approval Date field on the Crew Changes tabs on shore and on your assets will now be hidden.
  • More options to set the actual dates and times for multiple crew members: We added two new buttons to the Crew Changes tabs on shore and on your assets:
    • Set All Crew On: This new button applies the actual date and time to the crew members listed under Crew On.
    • Set All Crew Off: This new button applies the actual date and time to the crew members listed under Crew Off.
    • Set All: This existing button still applies the actual date and time to the crew members listed under both Crew On and Crew Off.
  • Delete crew from crew changes: You can now delete a crew member from a crew change in the following places: Personnel > Schedule > Crew Changes tab, Onboard > Personnel > Crew Changes tab, Personnel > Schedule > History tab (with Edit permission), and Onboard > Personnel > History (with Edit permission).
  • Add locations to crew changes: We added a new Location field to the Personnel > Schedule > Crew Changes tab so you can add locations to your crew changes.
  • Add descriptions to crew changes: We added a new Description field to the Personnel > Schedule > Crew Changes tab so you can add descriptions to your crew changes.

Change Logs for Payroll Schemes

When you open a payroll scheme on the Setup > Personnel > Payroll schemes tab, you’ll notice we added a new Change Log button so you can see which rules in the payroll scheme have been added, deleted, or modified, as well as who made the change.

New Conditions for Date Targets in Payroll Schemes

On the Setup > Payroll > Payroll Scheme tab, we added three new conditions for date targets:

  • Crew Change Hours (Exact): This condition sums crew change hours per day without any rounding.
  • Crew Change Hours (Rounded): This condition sums crew change hours per day with rounding based on the payroll rounding settings configured on the Setup > Payroll > Payroll Groups tab.
  • Crew Change Hours (Individually Rounded): This condition sums crew change hours per day with individual rounding based on the payroll rounding settings configured on the Setup > Payroll > Payroll Groups tab.

Crew Scheduling Issues Addressed

Based on customer feedback, we addressed the following issues in the Crew Scheduling module:

  • Crew Sub-Tab: The crew list now filters correctly when you apply a global filter and select the Match Position checkbox.
  • Crew Change Report: The report now displays the correct crew members onboard by ignoring the published state if there are actuals.
  • Crew Change Notification: The notification now displays the correct crew members onboard by ignoring the published state if there are actuals.
  • Crew Change Tooltip: Crew members are now correctly organized by asset when multiple schedules have been loaded, and crew changes between assets occur simultaneously.

Work Rest Issues Addressed

Based on customer feedback, we addressed the following issues in the Work Rest module:

  • CSV Data Source: The data source now displays the crew members onboard correctly. Previously, it occasionally showed some crew members as not onboard if they had changed positions.
  • Record of Rest Report: The report now displays the asset names correctly. Previously, occasionally listed some asset names multiple times.

 

Reports

We made the following changes to our reports in this release. These changes may also affect report data linked to systems outside Helm CONNECT, such as Power BI. Please contact your account manager if you have any questions.

AP Transactions and AR Transactions Data Sources

We added Email Date fields to the AP Transactions and AR Transactions data sources.

Bank Records Data Source

We renamed the “Inactive” column to “Unfillable” to match the label in the user interface. We also added the following filters:

  • Banks: This allows you to only display the records for selected banks.
  • Include Manual: This allows you to choose whether or not to include manually created bank records.

Bank Totals Data Sources

We made the following improvements related to the new Dollars Only and Average Dollars banks:

  • We renamed the existing Bank Totals data source to “Bank Totals - First In First Out.” As it did before, this data source allows you to report on totals for First In First Out banks.
  • We added a new “Bank Totals - Dollars Only” data source so you can report on totals for Dollars Only banks.
  • We added a new “Bank Totals - Average Only” data source so you can report on totals for Average Dollars banks.

Crew Changes Data Source

We added the following fields under Location:

  • Archived
  • Created
  • External System Code
  • Latitude
  • Longitude
  • Modified
  • Name
  • Running Time
  • Short Name
  • Time Zone

Form Templates Data Source

We added four new columns:

  • Category > Category Condition
  • Category > Condition Type
  • Item > Item Condition
  • Item > Condition Type

People and Users Data Sources

We added Nationality fields to the People and Users data sources.

Upcoming Checklists Data Source

We introduced the Upcoming Checklists data source in Version 1.29 so you could report on inventory, inspection, and maintenance checklists that have not yet been started. In this release, to help you report on checklists that start within a future timeframe, we added two new options to the Date Range filter:

  • Next N Months
  • Next N Days

Helm CONNECT Permissions

In this release, we made the following changes to the permissions on the Setup > Users > Roles tab.

Platform

Permission for the New Nationalities Tab

We added a new “Nationalities” permission under Setup > Users that allows users to read and edit the new Setup > Users > Nationalities tab. After you upgrade to Version 1.30, this permission will be automatically turned on in your tenant and in your default Admin role. If you want specific users to have this permission, you must manually add it to their roles.

Permission to Change Exclusive Asset Groups

We added a new “Can change exclusive Asset Group” permission under Maintenance > Overview > Advanced Search that allows users to move an asset from one exclusive asset group to another from the Maintenance > Overview > Advanced Search (Beta) tab. This permission will not be turned on in your tenant or in any roles after you upgrade to Version 1.30. Please contact your account manager if you’d like it turned on.

Compliance

Permission to Show or Hide the Grace Periods Feature for Asset Certifications

In Version 1.29, we introduced the option to add grace periods to the renewal dates for your asset certifications. In this release, we added a new “Asset Certification Grace Period” permission under Management > Settings so you can choose whether to show or hide this feature for your users. After you upgrade to Version 1.30, this new permission will be automatically turned on for users with either of these permissions in their roles:

  • Management > Assets > Assets > Certifications > Manage Certifications
  • Setup > Templates > Asset Certifications

If you no longer want users to have this new permission, you must manually remove it from their roles.

Jobs

Permissions for Onboard Readings

We added a new “Readings” permission under Onboard that manages access to the new Onboard > Logs > Readings tab.

This is currently a pre-release feature only for interested customers, so this new permission won’t be turned on in your tenant when you upgrade to Version 1.30. Please ask your account manager for more information.

Permissions for Logbook E-signatures

We added a new “Shift Signing” group under “Onboard” for Logbook e-signatures:

  • Shift Signing: This permission provides access to the Onboard > Shift Signing > Shift Signing tab.
  • History: This permission provides access to the Onboard > Shift Signing > History tab.

This is currently a pre-release feature only for interested customers, so these new permissions won’t be turned on in your tenant when you upgrade to Version 1.30. Please ask your account manager for more information.

Permission for Logbook Record Books

We added a new “Record Books” permission under Onboard > Logbook that manages access to the new Onboard > Logbook > Record Books tab.

This is currently a pre-release feature only for interested customers, so this new permission won’t be turned on in your tenant when you upgrade to Version 1.30. Please ask your account manager for more information.

Personnel

Permission for the New Crewing Requirements Tab

We added a new “Crewing Requirements” permission under Management > Assets > Assets that allows users to read and edit the new Management > Assets > Assets > Crewing Requirements sub-tab. This permission will not be turned on in your tenant or in any roles after you upgrade to Version 1.30. Please contact your account manager if you’d like it turned on.

Changes and New Permissions for Bank Types Report Data Sources

We made the following permission changes under Reports > Reports > Data Sources:

  • Renamed the “Bank Types” permission to “Bank Types - First In First Out”
  • Added two new permissions: “Bank Types - Average Dollars” and “Bank Types - Dollars Only”

After you upgrade to version 1.30, anyone who has the original “Bank Types” permission in their role in version 1.29 will automatically have all three new permissions.

Changes to the History Tabs Permissions

We added new Read and Edit permissions under Onboard > Personnel > History and Personnel > Scheduling > History:

  • Read: This permission allows users to see the related History tab and its contents. Users with Read permission will not see the new Edit button.
  • Edit: This permission allows users to see and use the new Edit button on the related History tab.

After you upgrade to Version 1.30, anyone who has the original Onboard > Personnel > History permission will automatically have the new Onboard > Personnel > History > Read permission in their role. Anyone who has the original Personnel > Scheduling > History permission will automatically have the new Personnel > Scheduling > History > Read permission in their role.

Helm CONNECT API

We made the following changes to the Helm CONNECT API in this release. For more details, please refer to our API documentation.

Bank Balance (/api/v1/Personnel/Payroll/BankBalance)

This endpoint now loads bank balances for Dollars Only and Average Dollars banks. Previously, it only returned FIFO banks as they were the only bank type.

Create or Update User (/api/v1/jobs/users/CreateOrUpdateUser)

This endpoint now allows you to insert/update nationality for users.

Find Orders (api/v1/Jobs/Orders/FindOrders)

We added a new TemplateName field to this endpoint.

Find Users (/api/v1/Jobs/Users/FindUsers)

We added a new Nationality field to this endpoint to return the user's nationality and a new Nationality filter to allow you to filter users based on their nationality.

Forms (/api/v2/Public/Forms)

We added a new endpoint that does the following:

  • Finds form(s) based on the given conditions
  • Upserts form(s) with given payload(s)

NoteThis endpoint only supports adding/updating a form in the “IN PROGRESS” status.

Supported actions:

  • Get
  • Post
  • Patch

Form Versions (/api/v2/Public/FormVersions)

We added a new endpoint that finds form version(s) based on the given conditions.

Supported actions:

  • Get

Transactions (api/v2/public/transactions)

We added a new EmailDate field to this endpoint.

Updates

7.1.30.205

This update contains improvements to our Logbook and Voyages modules and introduces the new Tow Diagrams module. These improvements and new features are available as a pre-release for interested customers but will not be turned on for anyone automatically. If you’d like to learn more, your account manager would be happy to provide you with more information or set up a demo.

Affected version: 1.30

Affected product: The Logbook and Voyages modules in Helm CONNECT Jobs

 

7.1.30.203

We addressed an issue that sometimes prevented users from completing e-signatures on private forms if they were working on asset installations configured to use shared sign-on credentials for Helm CONNECT.

Affected version: 1.30

Affected product: Helm CONNECT Compliance

 

7.1.30.200

We addressed two display issues in the default Daily Log report:

  • One issue prevented some crew members from being listed under Crew Onboard
  • The other issue prevented a time-off value from being displayed for some crew members

Affected version: 1.30

Affected product: Logbook Module

 

7.1.30.199

As part of ongoing maintenance, this update included some backend server improvements.

Affected versions: All

Affected products: All

 

7.1.30.198

We addressed a syncing issue that prevented some users of the Work Rest module from seeing the same data on shore as they did on their asset installations.

Affected version: 1.30

Affected product: Work Rest Module

 

7.1.30.197

We addressed the following:

  • An issue that prevented the planner from loading on the Jobs > Dispatch > Planner and Onboard > Jobs > Planner tabs.
  • An issue that caused the Owner, Resource Type, and Divisions columns on the Setup > Ships > Resources tab to appear empty.

Affected version: 1.30

Affected product: Helm CONNECT Jobs

 

7.1.30.196

We addressed an issue that sometimes prevented users from being able to sign forms.

Affected version: 1.30

Affected product: Helm CONNECT Compliance

 

7.1.30.195

We addressed an issue on the Setup > Templates > Forms tab that prevented you from setting a role on an approval category if the form used the Limited to Roles field.

Affected version: 1.30

Affected product: Helm CONNECT Compliance

 

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