Disclaimer: I have already searched through this forum and have not found a similar idea already posted, but in the event that I missed it, just ignore this one.
As time marches on, there is on occasion an increasing need for more and more complex filters to be applied to a bundle. In most environments, there is a large mix of operating systems (even when all the user workstations are just running Windows), various software packages from other vendors (and even settings within these), Dynamic Group memberships, and the list goes on. As I've been watching over the years, I've been seeing the filter list on the requirement page of some bundles grow without end regardless of how they are restructured to make things simpler.
Is it time to consider allowing for nested filters and sets to put a more logical flow to these? For some of these bundles, my only other option would be to create a large number of copies of the same bundle, all with different filters (which to be honest, isn't impossible, but it is just as large of a headache to manage). For most organizations, keeping all users on the same OS with the same software packages installed is not a realistic option (mostly monetary reasons), so there are multiple conditions that may need to be tested for within a bundle.
Example: Within a school district, there may be many labs for various programs spread across multiple campuses. When attempting to develop a standardized bundle set for the entire district, some bundles may have some rather large filter sets. Then along comes another lab that needs to be brought in line with the rest. Due to additional software that may be present (in this case, let's say DeepFreeze), I would have to duplicate all of the filter sets within a bundle just to test for which state DeepFreeze is in, simply because testing for a value of a registry entry that does not exist will cause the entire set to fail, even if it would otherwise pass.
I will be monitoring this "idea" and will post replies to comments and questions as needed.
by: Benjamin M. | over a year ago | Application Mgmt
Comments
Hi!
I miss this too - option to create a more powerful/flexible req's for bundle. For instance - built in reports using parenthesis for grouping req's. Such a option could be useful in bundle req's as well.
Alar.