Status Update Page

mdlandrec.net Version 3 Roll Out and plats.net Enhancement

Updated January 8, 2010




mdlandrec.net Version 3 Roll Out

Internal and external functional testing has been ongoing since September 17, 2009. Functional testing is intended to reveal user issues that will need to be addressed and corrected before the system can "go live". To date, we have received very little input from our testing community. This might be a very good sign, indicating that the system is as robust and user friendly as we hoped. But it also may mean that testers haven't been hitting the system hard over the last couple of months. At this point we need to test the system's ability to handle a large volume of concurrent users by widening our circle of testers. This will assure us that the system is robust enough to handle the 100,000+ registered users currently accessing Version 2.

To that end, last month, we sent out an email to 13,000 randomly selected current system users, asking them to sign up as Version 3 testers. Fewer than 700 individuals applied for user IDs and passwords in response. This third round of testing has been completed. While response has been underwhelming, some significant problems have been identified with the new user registration module that require code modification. After code corrections have been made, a fourth round of testing will be needed to test code modifications.

Assuming all goes well, our “best case” target timeline for roll out is now as follows:

To be completed by 1/15/2010
• Code changes made to make registration process more user friendly
• Test Version 3 with Fortres and Cooler – JIS

During week of 1/18/2010
• Provide Barbara Hansman with the Archives script for internal functional testing
• Barbara to modify and distribute testing script to the Clerks
• Archives to e-mail to an additional 15,000 current subscribers asking them to assist with testing
• Conduct fourth round of external testing to make sure code changes have corrected identified problems without creating new ones

During week of 1/25/2010
• Set up one public access PC in each courthouse to access version 3 – JIS
• Set a specific date/time for simultaneous functional testing in the courthouses – Circuit Court Clerks Association
• Correction of any functional problems identified by testing

During week of 2/1/2010*
• Notification e-mail to all current subscribers alerting them to the upcoming switch to version 3 - targeted for 2/10/2010 – urging them to apply for new user IDs
and passwords prior to that date
• Ongoing functional testing in the courthouses
• Correction of any functional problems identified by testing

During week of 2/8/2010*
• Make the switch to Version 3 so users are directed there as of Wednesday morning, 2/10/2010

 * Planned February activities are dependent upon successful completion of functional testing in January. If testing should reveal major issues that must be addressed before roll out can be successful, then the target roll out date of 2/10/2010 may have to be pushed back.
 

plats.net Enhancement

We have been able to make substantial enhancements to plats.net. Our main focus has been on Worcester County plats, where Mr. Hales kindly volunteered to act as a pilot. Here are some of the improvements we have accomplished this fiscal year with  plats.net:

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