Merlin (software)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Merlin
Basic data

developer ProjectWizards GmbH
Current  version 5
operating system macOS
category Project management software
License proprietary
ProjectWizards GmbH website

Merlin Project (originally called Merlin in version 1.x and 2.x) is a commercial project management software for macOS and iOS that is being developed by ProjectWizards GmbH from Germany. The application allows the creation of project plans, the monitoring and tracking of the status of the processes in the project, the allocation of resources and the management of budgets. - With 'Merlin Server for Merlin Project', a server solution for larger teams has been released, with which project files created by Merlin Project can be centrally released for shared use.

Editions

In addition to Merlin Project, which is aimed at professional project managers and demonstrates its strengths in the management of complex projects, ProjectWizards has developed other applications: With Merlin Server, larger teams can work together and at the same time on project files that are saved on a secure server.

Merlin Project Express has also been available for beginners since 2016, a lean version of the native software. Merlin Project Go for managing projects via smartphone has also been on the market since 2016. Merlin Project Go can be used both as a standalone app and as an extension of an existing Merlin Project or Merlin Project Express license.

history

Merlin 1 was first officially released in November 2004. Since then, the application has been continuously developed.

Merlin 2 was released two years later, in November 2006. Since version 2.5 - released in January 2008 - users can work on projects together over a network. Version 2.6 added the option of editing projects in the web browser, followed later by iPhone sharing.

Merlin Project, the further development of Merlin 2, was published in early 2015. Since June 2016 the Merlin Project 4 together with Merlin Server and Merlin Project Go form the current product range.

Current official version numbers are:

  • Merlin Project for Macs, iPhones and iPads
  • Merlin Server for Macs from OS X 10.10.5 Yosemite or newer (recommended)
  • Merlin Project Express for Macs from macOS 10.11 or newer (recommended)

Functions

Merlin Project offers all functions to plan, manage and control project processes. Project managers can manage activities, resources and budgets even for complex projects. Numerous customization functions enable users to keep an overview at all times and have easy access to the information they want.

Merlin Project differs from comparable products in a number of features.

  • Visualizations: The heart of Merlin Project is the work breakdown structure . Dependencies, milestones and complex processes can be defined. Processes can be represented in various ways: in a time diagram (Gantt diagram) , network plan representations, Kanban or a mind map . For example, you can focus specifically on the critical path.
  • Resource management: Merlin Project offers extensive functions to manage resources. The utilization can be visualized in bar charts, histograms and time boxes, for example. It also offers a resource pool.
  • Filter functions: With the filter function, personal tasks, milestones, content on the critical path, processes behind the schedule, completed processes and much more information can be shown separately in the project. The performance value analysis at task or project level corresponds to the standard project management methods for performance values. There is also a grouping function for summarizing information.
  • Reports: The program is supplied with a set of ready-made views and reports. It is also possible to customize your own views and reports directly in the program.
  • Export: * The project content can be saved for third-party products using the export function. In addition, a function for automatically updating the content allows the project content to be made available in various formats at all times. Local paths, connected network volumes , FTP , WebDAV or SMTP mail servers can serve as sources for the exported content . The latter require a configured account with access data to the server.
  • Cooperation: * Merlin Project supports a range of cloud solutions such as iCloud or Dropbox . This enables the editing of project files and the exchange of information by users from two different Macs and from different locations. If projects are to be processed by different users at the same time, Merlin Server can be used. Changes are automatically integrated into the project. Private workspaces make it possible to make changes locally and publish them later for other team members. An intelligent history can be used to decide very granularly which changes should be integrated, which should be discarded and which should be reversed.

Merlin Project and Merlin Server can be fully tested free of charge and without restrictions for a one-time period of 30 days. After the test period has expired, documents can only be opened for reading. To convert the demo version to a full version, the purchase of a license file is required. The activation of the demo version is carried out using the license file you have acquired.

Company history

Founder and managing director Frank Blome initially developed the idea for Merlin Project as a solution for his own consulting company ProjectWizards, as he was dissatisfied with the project management applications for Mac available to date. In the end, the first version of Merlin was released as commercial software. The response was so positive that ProjectWizards ended its own consulting business and has since concentrated entirely on the further development of Merlin. Today Merlin Project is one of the most successful project management applications for macOS and iOS .

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Professional project management with a little magic . ProjectWizards. March 7, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  2. ↑ What is Merlin Server . ProjectWizards. June 1, 2016. Accessed June 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ Merlin Server
  4. ^ Merlin Project Express . ProjectWizards. March 27, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  5. ↑ What is Merlin Project Go . ProjectWizards. June 1, 2016. Accessed June 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ Merlin Project - Product information and download. ProjectWizards
  7. ↑ Merlin Server - Product information and download. ProjectWizards
  8. ↑ Merlin Project Express - product information. ProjectWizards