CareerForceMN.com Release Notes

Sprint 108: 3/27/2024-4/30/2024

Summary: The split of the "First and Last Name" field on user accounts to separate "First Name," "Middle Initial," "Last Name," and "Preferred Name" fields was implemented. Multiple sections of the site were prepared to display the new separate fields, and the back end of the site was prepared for the import of user data with the new separate fields. Improvements were made to multiple features of the site to improve user-friendliness for customers and site admins. An online form was created to allow staff to request additional data access as needed, and methods of increasing the website speed were investigated.

End user changes:

MNDEED-7478: Updated mobile-responsive hamburger menu to default to Collapsed

To improve the experience of users navigating CareerForceMN.com on mobile, we updated the main navigation menu to be collapsed by default, with users able to expand each menu topic as desired.

MNDEED-7541: Fixed error when selecting a Decision Tree topic

To ensure that users can access Decision Tree menus (located on the Home Page, For Career Seekers, For Employers, and TAA pages, among others) to navigate CareerForceMN.com, we fixed an error that was preventing navigation suggestions from updating with users' selections.

MNDEED-7479: Investigated ways to increase CareerForceMN.com site speed

To continue to improve the experience of CareerForceMN.com users, we explored and prioritized potential ways to improve site performance and speed.

MNDEED-7533: Removed CareerForce hyperlink text on the Site Under Maintenance page

To ensure that the Site Under Maintenance page is intuitive to understand and navigate, we removed a potentially confusing hyperlink from the page.

MNDEED-7377: Moved the "Save and Continue" button to the center of the Welcome to CareerForce modal

To improve the experience of new users of CareerForceMN.com, we updated the "Welcome to CareerForce" modal to show the "Save and Continue" button more prominently in the center.

MNDEED-7539: Investigated Group Announcement timing issue

In response to staff feedback, we looked into potential reasons that a group announcement did not become visible at the listed start time. It was determined that the issue was a result of the timing of the process that posts the announcements, which updates every 10 minutes.

MNDEED-7488: Created CareerForceMN.com Data Access Request Form

To streamline the experience of DEED and MNIT staff, partners, and technical vendors who need additional access to CareerForceMN.com data, we created a Data Access Request webform accessible to users with CareerForceMN.com Staff & Partner accounts.

Administrative Changes

MNDEED-7531: Installed and configured Feeds module

To prepare the back end of CareerForceMN.com to receive the import of user data with the new separate First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name, and Preferred Name fields, we installed the Feeds module to fetch data from an uploaded CSV file.

MNDEED-7484: Provided MS SQL script for tables creation and importing data separately

To prepare the back end of CareerForceMN.com to receive the import of user data with the new separate name fields, we provided the necessary script for MS SQL to create tables and import data separately.

MNDEED-7530: Delivered name split CSV file to CareerForceMN.com technical vendor

To prepare the back end of CareerForceMN.com to receive the import of user data with the new separate name fields, we provided a single CSV file of user data for import.

MNDEED-7529: Ran mass action update using "Feeds" module for name split

To implement the change from a single "First and Last Name" field on user accounts to separate "First Name," "Middle Initial," "Last Name," and "Preferred Name" fields, we set up and ran a mass update to import the CSV file of user data to CareerForceMN.com.

MNDEED-7449: Updated Dashboard and Chatbot with new name field tokens

To prepare the front end of CareerForceMN.com to display the new separate name fields, the My Account dashboard and Chatbot were updated with new tokens corresponding to the new separate name fields.

MNDEED-7524: Updated Welcome Modal with new name field tokens

To prepare the front end of CareerForceMN.com to display the new separate name fields, the Welcome Modal that displays for users with newly authenticated CareerForceMN.com accounts was updated with new tokens corresponding to the new separate name fields.

MNDEED-7457: Updated People Emails to use new name field tokens

To prepare the front end of CareerForceMN.com to display the new separate name fields, the emails that go out to new CareerForceMN.com users when creating an account were updated with new tokens corresponding to the new separate name fields.

MNDEED-7489: Updated Connection Emails to use new name field tokens

To prepare the front end of CareerForceMN.com to display the new separate name fields, the emails that go out to employers and site admins during the employer vetting process were updated with new tokens corresponding to the new separate name fields.

MNDEED-7487: Updated People-related Views to use new name field tokens

To prepare the back end of CareerForceMN.com to display the new separate name fields, the Views for the Admin People list and Group Membership table accessible by site admins were updated with new tokens corresponding to the new separate name fields.

MNDEED-7525: Updated Group/Location-related Views to use new name field tokens

To prepare the back end of CareerForceMN.com to display the new separate name fields, the Views for the Group Connections, Group Members, and Location Members tables accessible by site admins were updated with new tokens corresponding to the new separate name fields.

MNDEED-7526: Updated Report-related Views to use new name field tokens

To prepare the back end of CareerForceMN.com to display the new separate name fields, the Views for the Connection Aging Report, Privileged User Report, and User Report accessible by site admins were updated with new tokens corresponding to the new separate name fields.

MNDEED-7450: Updated Webforms to pre-populate name fields with the new name field tokens

To prepare the front end of CareerForceMN.com to display the new separate name fields, the Employer Profile Questionnaire (MNDEED-7518), Minnesota Veterans Questionnaire (MNDEED-7519), TAA Contact Career Seekers (MNDEED-7520), and TAA Contact Employers (MNDEED-7521) webforms were updated to pre-populate the First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name, and Preferred Name fields where applicable when a user is signed in.

Sprint 107: 2/26/2024 - 3/26/2024

Summary: Foundational work was done in preparation to split the "First and Last Name" user account field to separate "First Name," "Middle Initial," "Last Name," and "Preferred Name" fields. A major security update was tested and implemented. The home page was updated to direct users to information about the Follow Your Heart to a Caring Career campaign.

End user changes:

MNDEED-7470: Added temporary Call to Action to the homepage for the Follow Your Heart to a Caring Career Campaign

To support using a shorter URL in radio and outdoor advertising, we moved Caring Careers content to the top of the home page.

Administrative changes:

MNDEED-7480: Create a CSV export that DEED can use to parse name data

Portland WebWorks (PWW) had to design and format a system to extract user name data, so the Performance & Technical Management (PTM) team could analyze and parse the name data.
MNDEED-7064: Research how to mass update all user accounts

PWW identified the method that can be used to update all the user accounts once DEED supplies a spreadsheet with the parsed name data.
MNDEED-7448: Create a way to indicate accounts to exclude from reporting

Since CareerForceMN.com will be used for performance reporting data, we needed a way to exclude test accounts from the data.
MNDEED-7459: Drupal Security Update

This was a necessary security update that required retesting the majority of end user functionality.
MNDEED-7471: Design workflow for users to update and verify their account info

After user names are split into first name, middle initial, last name, and preferred name fields, users will be prompted to verify the format of their name the next time they log in.
MNDEED-7473: Identify tokens where the "First and Last Name" field are used on the site

Since we will be moving away from using a combined name field, we need to find everywhere on the site it is being used (Ex: On email templates and welcome pages) so we can replace it with the new name field tokens.

End user changes deployed to Sandbox

MNDEED-7419: Create new First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name, and Preferred Name fields

Created the new name fields to make data usable for federal, state, and local performance reporting and to align with other DEED systems.
MNDEED-7458: Hide existing "First and Last Name" field

We hid the existing name field that prompted users to put their full name in one field, so users will not use it anymore.

Sprint 106: 1/30/2024 - 2/26/2024

Summary: Several enhancements were made to improve the user experience for registering for appointments and events, searching for content, managing information requests, and navigating the site with a screen reader. Bugs were resolved on the front and back end. Updates and additions were made on the back end to improve security and support efforts related to service/activity tracking and data cleanup.

End User Changes

MNDEED-7215: Added keyword search to Programs and Services page

To improve users' ability to navigate and identify programs and services that meet their needs, we added a keyword option to the search functionality.
MNDEED-7283: Adjusted aria tags to links on Location cards and Event cards

To ensure that users utilizing screen readers can easily navigate CareerForceMN.com, we updated the aria tags associated with the "Learn more" links on the result cards that appear when searching for a CareerForce location or an event. While there was no change to how the cards look visually, the update to the aria tags means that a screen reader will specify the destination of the "Learn more" link to improve ease of navigation - for example, "Learn more about CareerForce in St. Paul," or, "Learn more about Creative Job Search: The Job Interview."
MNDEED-7433: Added location of the job to each Job Search result

To improve users' experience exploring job listings with the Job Search feature, we updated the feature to display the location of each job on the search results page, without the user having to click through to the job description.
MNDEED-7438: TFS API Changes: CFWorkshopsAPI / Workshops - Updated API to exclude Appointments that are at capacity

In response to staff feedback about 1-on-1 appointments becoming overbooked due to the inclusion of at-capacity appointment slots on CareerForceMN.com, we updated the API to exclude Appointments that have reached registration capacity.

An Appointment will disappear from CareerForceMN.com within 15 minutes of reaching registration capacity. If the registrant cancels their registration for an Appointment, the Appointment will be listed on CareerForceMN.com again within 15 minutes of the cancellation.
MNDEED-7439: TFS API Changes: CFWorkshopsAPI / Workshops - Updated API to exclude Event Sessions that started more than 15 minutes in the past

In response to staff feedback about job seekers registering for Event Sessions that have passed the Session start time, we updated the API to exclude Event Sessions that started more than 15 minutes in the past.
MNDEED-7465: Online Veterans Questionnaire Updates

In response to a request from Veterans Employment Services staff, we made two updates to the Online Veterans Questionnaire:
1. We added a question about preferred method of contact, where users may select "Phone" or "Email." If the user selects, "Phone," the "Phone Number" field will change from optional to required.
2. We added a question from the printable questionnaire that was missing from the online questionnaire, "Do you have a criminal record?"
MNDEED-7382: Bug fix - Added Region Style and Error Message

In response to issues identified in the Drupal 10 testing period, we made two updates to the "My Labor Market" tab in the "My Account" section.
1. We increased padding between the radio buttons and their labels, so that the radio button's focus state will no longer block the label when it is selected.
2. We updated the "Add a Region" modal to close and refresh the page upon successful region selection, rather than remaining open, which had created confusion about whether the action was completed and sometimes resulted in a resubmission error.
MNDEED-7385: Spike - Trumba Calendar

In response to issues identified in the Drupal 10 testing period, we explored options for making the Trumba calendar on the Job Fairs page more mobile-friendly and more user-friendly overall.

Administrative Changes

MNDEED-7426: Updated AWS Database

To ensure that CareerForceMN.com remains secure and up to date, we updated and tested the AWS database.
MNDEED-7440: Added permissions spreadsheet module

To equip the product work team to better understand and adjust permissions levels on CareerForceMN.com, we added a permissions spreadsheet module to allow for a download of the various permissions as a spreadsheet.
MNDEED-7441: Bug fix – Error message when trying to navigate to Group types permission page

We corrected an error identified on the Group types permission page on the back end.
MNDEED-7442: Bug fix – Errors on recent log messages

We corrected two errors related to reindexing of occupation information on the back end.
MNDEED-7443: Updated Google Analytics triggers/tags related to moved buttons

We adjusted the triggers and tags on Analytics in Production environment to account for layout changes made on Occupation Details pages.
MNDEED-7446: Provided current user data for parsing analysis

To equip the product work team for an analysis related to splitting the current Name field into multiple fields, we set up a Secure File Transfer Protocol service and shared the credentials with the appropriate parties.