What's New for February 2015

Safe Harbor Statement: Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other documents or public statements are not currently GENERALLY available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase Cornerstone OnDemand applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available.

Select this link to download the complete release notes.

The following new features and enhancements are available for February 2015:

Compensation Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary By Request? Description
Retroactive Proration Retroactive Proration   With this enhancement, compensation can now be prorated retroactively based on the employee's Last Hire Date. This enables organizations to account for periods of time an employee worked before the start of the compensation period. For example, employees who were ineligible for the last compensation cycle because they were hired after a specific cutoff date can be prorated for the cutoff period in the next compensation cycle.
Proration by Last Salary Change Date Proration by Last Salary Change Date   With this enhancement, compensation proration can now accommodate for salary changes that occurred during the compensation period. For example, an employee who received a promotion and a raise in salary mid-year can be prorated from the date of the salary increase.

Connect Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary By Request? Description
Connect Redesign - Configurable File Size Limit Configurable File Size in Connect Yes With this enhancement, organizations can configure the maximum file size that can be uploaded within Redesigned Connect.
Connect Redesign - Course Rating Activity Update     With this enhancement, a new Course Rating activity update is now available for the Redesigned Connect Live Feed. When enabled, this activity update displays in the Live Feed whenever a user rates a learning object within the system.
Connect Redesign - Custom HTML Widget Custom HTML Widget in Communities  

With this enhancement, organizations can now customize their communities using an approved list of HTML tags. When enabled, a custom HTML widget is available on the following pages:

  • Edit Knowledge Bank
  • Create/Edit Community
  • Create/Edit Learning Community
Connect Redesign - Default Images for Widgets Default Image for Featured/Trending Widgets   With this enhancement, if a Knowledge Bank or community posting does not have an attached link and is displayed in the Featured or Trending widgets, then a default image is displayed in the widget. However, each posting type has a unique default image.
Connect Redesign - Live Feed Optimization Live Feed Optimization   The Live Feed pages within Redesigned Connect are being optimized for faster processing and future API opportunities. This does not change any of the functionality, but testing is advised to validate experience and workflows.
Connect Redesign - Social Feed Widget Connect Live Feed Widget   With this enhancement, a new Social Feed widget is now available when configuring the Welcome Page or a custom page. The Social Feed widget displays the latest Live Feed updates from connections and team members.
Connect Redesign - Upload New File Types Upload New File Types in Connect  

With this enhancement, the following file types are now supported as attachments in Redesigned Connect:

  • .mov
  • .docm
  • .xlsm
Knowledge Bank and Communities Data Migration Connect Data Migration Yes With this enhancement, a data migration script is now available for all organizations using the legacy version of Connect. Communities, topics, and postings from the legacy version of Connect are copied into the redesigned Knowledge Bank and Communities functionality. The redesigned Knowledge Bank and Communities functionality functions differently than the legacy version of Connect, so only data is migrated; no permissions or preferences are migrated.

Learning Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary By Request? Description
Curriculum Player Redesign Phase 2 Curriculum Player Redesign - Logic Enhancements & In-Line Enhancements Automatically available when Curriculum Redesign is in use.
Curriculum Redesign is automatically enabled in Stage when Curriculum Player is enabled. By request in Live until October 1015.		 With the November 2014 release, the Curriculum Player was redesigned and enhanced to include additional functionality. With a more intuitive design, the new Curriculum Player is now optimized to track a user's completion percentage more accurately, return users to the last visited section in the curriculum, and view full postings in line. Users will also have a more intuitive navigation experience with the removal of the Overview button and the addition of section title wrapping in the navigation.
Data Merge Tool Optimization Data Merge Tool Performance Optimizations   With this enhancement, the Data Merge Tool is optimized and can now sync a high volume of transcript items without causing page timeouts or other performance issues. In addition, the Data Merge Tool now indicates an accurate status during the merging process.
Edit Coupon After Activation Edit Active Coupons (EXE)   With this enhancement, coupons can now be edited after they are created. Previously, coupons could not be edited once they were saved. If errors were made on the coupon or if the administrator wanted to make changes to the coupon, the administrator needed to create a new coupon.
HTML for External Training Instructions Add HTML to External Training Instructions   With this enhancement, administrators can now utilize HTML when configuring the instructions for the Add External Training page. This enables administrators to implement HTML tags, including hyperlinks and font tags.
Microsoft Lync Integration MS Lync Integration Yes. Requires MS Lync account. With this enhancement, the system can now be integrated with Microsoft (MS) Lync. This integration enables organizations to conduct meetings and virtual instructor led training (vILT) sessions over MS Lync through the system.
Offline Player Support Offline Player Redesign Yes With the June 2014 release, a redesigned Offline Player was introduced. The new Offline Player also added support for SCORM 2004 learning objects.
With the May 2015 release, the old Offline Player functionality is being retired and will no longer be supported. Organizations that are currently using the old Offline Player are able to convert to the new Offline Player functionality. To enable this functionality, contact your Account Manager.
Training Purpose Email Tag Add "Training Purpose" tag to Assign ILT Session Email   With this enhancement, the Training Purpose email tag (TRAINING.PURPOSE) is now available for the Assign ILT Session email trigger. This enables organizations to notify users who have been assigned an instructor led training (ILT) session of the training purpose for the assignment.
REPORTS Analytics - Added Extended Enterprise Fields     With this enhancement, fields are added to the Transaction section for custom Transaction reports.
REPORTS Analytics - Added LMS Fields     With this enhancement, fields are added to the Training section and the ILT Seat Allocation section for certain custom reports.
REPORTS Training Plans Co-Planners in Reporting Training Plans Co-Planners Fields to Standard and Custom Reports   With this enhancement, training plan co-planners can now be reported on in custom reports and the Training Demand Forecast Summary standard report. New fields are added to custom Training Plan reports, and a Contributor Co-Planners column is added to the Training Demand Forecast Summary standard report output.
REPORTS Training Plans Deny Items in Reporting Add Training Plans Denied Items to Standard and Custom Reports   With this enhancement, training items that have been denied or approved for a training plan can be reported on in custom reports and the Training Demand Forecast Summary standard report. New fields are added to custom Training Plan reports, and Approval Status and Denial Comments columns are added to the Training Demand Forecast Summary standard report output.
REPORTS Training Unit Key Code Custom Report Constraints Constraints on Training Unit Key Code Report (EXE)  

With this enhancement, constraints are added to the permissions for creating and viewing the Training Unit Key Code custom report. Prior to this enhancement, users with permission to create or view Training Unit Key Code custom reports could see all training unit assignments and key codes in the portal. This enhancement enables administrators to set constraints on the permissions to limit the visibility of report data to specific users or organizational units (OU).

In addition, a Training Unit Contact field is added to the Key Code section in the Fields panel to enable reporting on the training unit contact.

Mobile Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary By Request? Description
Launch Mobile Material Learning Object Launch Material Learning Types on Mobile   With this enhancement, users can now launch and complete material learning object (LO) types in Cornerstone Mobile®. The LO must be mobile-enabled by the administrator in Course Catalog in order for users to launch the LO in the app.
Mobile Device Management Mobile Device Management, iOS Not accessible in Stage. By request in Live. For iOS devices, organizations that have a Mobile Device Management (MDM) provider can now remotely wipe the Cornerstone Mobile® app, localize and brand sign-in pages, and control mobile offline learning. Administrators have additional control and security over the Cornerstone Mobile® app on an employee's iOS device.
Search for Training Mobile Search, Request, Assign Training   With this enhancement, within the Cornerstone Mobile® app, users can easily search for and request training to be added to their transcript. Users can also view training details, ratings, and reviews for all types of training to make informed decisions prior to learning. Managers can quickly search for and assign training to direct reports.
Session Timeout Mobile Session Timeout   With this enhancement, users are automatically logged out of the Cornerstone Mobile® app after the period of inactivity that is defined for the portal. Users are automatically logged out regardless of the method they used to log in to the app: single sign-on (SSO), user name and password, or device registration.

Performance Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary By Request? Description
Display All Instances of Recurring Checklists Display All Instances of Recurring Checklists   With this enhancement, all instances of recurring checklists are available on the My Checklists page.
Lock Completed Checklists Option to Lock Completed Checklists   With this enhancement, administrators can configure an observation checklist task so that completed instances of the checklist are locked. This prevents the completed checklists from receiving new items, which would cause the checklist to switch from Completed status to In Progress. Similarly, checklists that are not completed would be updated with the new item.
Observation Checklist Validity Period Observation Checklist Validity Period   With this enhancement, when creating an observation checklist, administrators can designate a validity period for previously validated competencies. The validity period for a checklist is the amount of time a previously validated competency is considered valid towards the checklist. This enables administrators to ensure that certain competencies are being validated on a regular basis.
Skills Matrix - Additional Competency Information Display Additional Competency Info on Skills Matrix   With this enhancement, administrators now have the option to include additional competency details on the Role Details page when creating or editing a role. The additional competency details include the competency description, items, and behaviors.
Skills Matrix - Role Availability for Administrators Restrictions for Managing Roles in Skills Matrix   With this enhancement, when an administrator is creating a role, administrator availability can be set for the role. When administrator availability is set, this determines which administrators can view and manage the role. In addition, permission constraints are now available for the Role Management permission. Administrators can now only assign roles to users within their permission constraints.
Skills Matrix - Include all LO Versions Include all Learning Object Versions in Skills Matrix   With this enhancement, users now receive credit towards role qualification for completing any version of the required LOs. Users can request or assign the latest version of the LO from the Role Details page.
REPORTS Localize Performance Review Custom Fields in Analytics Localize Performance Custom Fields in Analytics   With this enhancement, the translated values for the Checkbox, Dropdown, and Radio Button Performance Review custom field types now display when creating and viewing custom Performance Review Reports.
REPORTS Observation Checklist in Analytics Observation Checklists Custom Reporting   This enhancement adds the ability to report on observation checklist data in custom reporting. This provides greater flexibility when creating reports and extracting data generated from those reports. Users have the ability to filter results based on fields and define which fields to include in the report. In addition, the report can be exported to Excel.

Platform Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary By Request? Description
Admin User Page Optimization - Delayed     This enhancement has been delayed until the May 2015 release.
Emails - Include Recipients of All Languages Email Administration - Include Recipients of All Languages   With this enhancement, administrators of multi-language portals can now create a single email trigger that will be sent regardless of the user's configured language. When this new language override option is selected, an email that is created in English (UK) will be sent to recipients of any language configured for the portal (e.g., English (US), Japanese, Polish, Thai) that meet the selected availability criteria.
Gender Neutral Default Photo Gender Neutral Default Photo   With this enhancement, a new gender neutral default photo is used throughout all new user interface (UI) pages for users who do not have a custom photo loaded.
Help Videos More Help Videos for Admins Automatically enabled. Contact Global Customer Support to disable all Admin Help Videos. With this enhancement, additional in-line help videos are available if in-line help videos are enabled. These videos provide a simple and visual demonstration of how to use the administration pages. The videos are available directly on the page, making the information easy to view while using the page.
Inherited Permission Constraint Clarification     With this enhancement, when editing a parent role that has inherited a permission from a child role, administrators do not have the option to add constraints to any permission that was inherited from a child role. The instructions on the Create/Edit Role - General, Permissions, and Constraints pages are updated to more accurately reflect how permissions, constraints, and inheritance function within security roles.
Language Pack Updates to Thai and Spanish (Spain) Language Pack Updates to Thai and Spanish (Spain)   With this enhancement, the language packs are updated for Thai and Spanish (Spain). These improved strings will enhance the user experience with clearer phrases and words.
SOAP Web Services Throttling    

To increase the performance and reliability of the system, throttling is implemented on all existing SOAP Web Services for all organizations using SOAP Web Services. The maximum request rate for all SOAP services is now 35K requests per hour per organization, meaning that an organization cannot make more than 35K requests within an hour. Other limits include:

  • The maximum throttle rate for the GetTranscriptandTask SOAP Service is 2K requests per hour per organization.
  • The maximum throttle rate for the Learning Object Web Service (LOWS) is 2K requests per hour per organization.
REPORTS Analytics - Added Fields in User Section     With this enhancement, two existing fields are modified and new fields are added to the User section for all reports that include a User section.
REPORTS Colon Added to Criteria Items in Reporting     With this enhancement, a colon is added to the end of each criteria item label in the header of the criteria for non-Excel output report views for custom and standard reporting. This creates consistency between the report outputs, as a colon is already used at the end of each criteria item label in the header for reports when viewing the Excel output.

Recruiting Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary By Request? Description
Anonymous Reference Letters Anonymous Reference Letters   With this enhancement, reference letters can now be sent directly from an applicant's referrers and automatically added to the applicant's Applicant Profile page. The recruiter sends the applicant a new Reference Letter Request task, and the applicant provides the names and email addresses of each referrer. When the applicant submits the task, the referrers are sent an email containing a link to a reference letter form. Once the reference letter form is submitted, the letter is automatically added to the applicant's Documents tab in their applicant profile.
Attachments on Forms Assign Forms with Attachments   With this enhancement, administrators can add attachments to forms that are assigned via either an onboarding workflow or form task so that new hires can reference the attachments as they complete the forms. Up to three attachments can be added to a form.
Form Creation Workflow Enhancements Form Creation Workflow Enhancements   With this enhancement, updates are made to the Create Form pages.
Internal/External Applicant Email Availability Email Availability by Applicant Type  

With this enhancement, options are added to Recruitment emails to allow administrators to specify the type of applicant recipient. Previously, Recruitment emails could be sent to Applicant, but this option did not allow administrators to specify whether the applicant was internal or external. This enhancement removes the Applicant option and replaces it with separate External Applicant and Internal Applicant options. Administrators can select to send an email to internal recipients or external applicants or select both as recipients.

In addition, when defining availability for emails that are configured to be sent to Internal Applicant recipients, the Internal Applicant recipients who receive the email are the recipients that are part of the organizational unit (OU) that is defined for the job requisition to which the applicant applied. Previously, the availability setting for the email applied to the OU in which the user was defined.
Job Search Enhancements Job Search - Geolocation   With this enhancement, applicants can now search for jobs on the career site by geographical location (geolocation). Prior to this enhancement, applicants could only search for jobs by selecting a specific location, such as a city or state. In addition, applicants can view their job search results on a map and in a table that offers sorting options.
Multi-Select Question Types Multi-Select for Question Types on Form Builder   With this enhancement, checkbox and drop-down question types can now be configured in the Question Bank in Form Management to allow users to select multiple options for a question. Prior to this enhancement, checkbox and drop-down question types only allowed users to select a single option for a question.
Onboarding Task Due Dates Configurable Assignment Dates and Due Dates   With this enhancement, administrators can configure the onboarding assignment date and due dates for tasks assigned via an onboarding workflow. This provides administrators with the flexibility to determine their own assignment and due dates for onboarding tasks.
Related Requisitions Phase 2 Related Requisitions - Apply to Multiple Jobs   With this enhancement, applicants can now apply to up to 10 requisitions at the same time that are related to the parent requisition. A new related requisition type Related Requisitions (Apply to Multiple Jobs) can be selected when configuring related requisitions for the parent. Applicants select the requisitions to which they would like to apply on the Job Details page on the career site, and then complete a single application that applies to all of the requisitions to which they selected. Once submitted, the completed application is available on the Applicant Profile page for all of the requisitions to which the applicant applied.
Search Candidates Enhancements Candidate Search - Geolocation  

With this enhancement, the following improvements are made to the Search Candidates feature:

  • Recruiters can search for candidates by geographical location
  • Search Candidates page now displays all search options by default

Succession Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary By Request? Description
Pre-populate Succession Task Succession Task Pre-populated by Most Recent Data   With this enhancement, administrators can configure Succession Management Planning (SMP) tasks to be pre-populated with the most recent succession data, including succession custom field values, ratings, and successors. This enables succession planners to leverage existing succession data more easily.
Display Inactive Successors Display Inactive Successors in Succession Plans   With this enhancement, administrators can configure SMP tasks to display inactive successors. When inactive successors are displayed in a succession task, they are clearly identified as inactive.