Latest Beta of ViewPort: 4.4.5

[Hanno]

This topic provides information on the very latest beta of ViewPort. Beta's are not for everyone- they may still be buggy- but they do contain the latest features! If you have problems, please start a separate topic. so I can answer questions there. Feel free to "subscribe" to this topic if you want to be updated when a new beta becomes available.

The Latest is: v4.4.5 released 8/27/2010
Improvements over v4.4.4:
+turning timescale knob when no firmware is loaded no longer displays bug message
+when "debugging" a c file in single file mode, "-g" option automatically suffixed

Improvements over v4.4.3:
+tutorial #20 added- c program!
+if blackcat (c debugger) or catalina not installed, will get helpful warning
+compile console defaults to on for c
+when loading/debugging an untitled file, first prompted to "save"
+conduit now includes a "low power" mode- where nothing is transmitted
and the cog "waitpne" for data. It starts in this mode, and can be
put back into it by clicking "pause".
+if source directory doesn't exist, don't show, and handle error
+breakpoint in debugger is more intuitive
+dials snap to min/max position near endpoints
+numbers are displayed in better formats when mousing over graph and in overview pane
+no hang during registration
+serial port issues resolved
+opencv doesn't show error message when user tries to use opencv even though they're not licensed for it, instead nicely notified
+an error in opencv processing will only affect opencv status message
+illegal terminal sequences are ignored
+changing/deleting current firmware directory is dealt with correctly
+no message when right clicking in designer mode
+no message when click on dso
+no message at program exit
+no message if all debugger tabs removed during close
+no message when deleting everything in designer
+no message when rt click on pins of propeller
+no message when "save-as" with illegal filename on some platforms
+opens spin files in notepad if propeller tool not installed
+no message when font size too small

Improvements over v4.3.4:
+when minimized and exit, starts next time in normal mode
+open files: spin,cbp
+trigger single step
+under very special circumstances, window would resize itself when switching tabs- fixed
+updated manual
+code view either shows "debug" panes when in debug mode, or just "code" view
+file open, then cancel- get weird message
+items not moved when resize form while in designer mode
+code view-watch variables not updated
+running in debug mode, click breakpoint, not set until edit variable- fixed
+items not moved when switch from design to normal view
+min and max of channel are now used to limit data sent to firmware. you can set neither, min, max, or both. min/max are associated with channel, not edit control.
+slight updates to manual- now at 4.4
+edit settings are lost in viewport when doing lissajous pattern
+autoscale also confused for lissajous demo
+verify ok..c.msg missing in plugins/dbg directory from installer
+spectrum with matching y scale
+folders are no longer lowercase
+spin files shown in file/open "all supported"
+files list on left of code shows last opened
+directory of any file opened is added to drop-down list
+opening a file switches to code view for that file

+opencv settings preserved when switch tabs
+numbers displayed in nicer format
+dso/lsa times in µs, not us
+save all files in project when start debug/load
+show error messages catalina

+syntax error at end doesn't show
+was hiding files
+viewport pane "edit" modifications are kept from view to view
+right click on graphs no error
+can set timescale when right click properties- to any value
+config wizard, bit example
+c compiler/linker error messages analyzed- will highlight line in file if it's open in a tab, or show message
+console window only shown if select in preferences
+no artifacts on startup
+stops port before reloading

Improvements over v4.3.3:
+read/write unicode ok when editing spin- otherwise use ansi
+handles files from different drives
+ensure -g when load cbp
+ask if unchanged
+compile c ok in verbose mode

Improvements over v4.2.8:
+if text is selected, pressing del/backspace deletes selection with no indenting
+terminal updates faster with no flicker
+rt click terminal in debug
+calling blackcat, not cataline debug host.exe
+new function keys:
F1=help,
F2=config manager
'F3=load to eeprom
F4=load to ram
F5=start debug
f6=disconnect
F7=reset prop
F8=compile
F9=toggle connection
F10 Step
F11 Step into
F12 Step out
+faster code/welcome tab switching, no more main tab flicker
+faster code tab switching and no flicker
+editor is focused when appears and after showing compile bug
+editor remembers selection between tabs
+tabs in text files are treated just like propeller tool
+dso labels
+manchester tutorial works
+tabs have rtclick context menu for new,close,save,close all,save all
+connect/load status dialog now shown as non-modal, so no longer sets rest of app to "disabled"
+able to compile c files with spaces in name
+when c,h,spin,cbp files changed outside of viewport, vp will ask to reload and correctly load it
+when a cbp file is saved, it ensures that the obj_output options of each target are set to the name of the cbp- this causes the resulting .dbg,.lst files to be named with the name of the cbp
+if your cbp file doesn't include "debug" or "release" build options, it'll use main options (WHICH MAY NOT INCLUDE -G!) and output to the cbp directory with binaries named as cbp.
+changed -v comment to "verbose"
+starts blackcat in normal window size, not minimized
+prj item starts centreparent and then remembers position
+saving a file to a new extension uses that extension for syntax coloring
+program preferences won't return you to welcome
+debug
+cbp add item
+easier to use prj editor- with tab wizard to enter file/compile/link/env data
+can associate compile/link options with builds, "load" uses "release", "debug" uses "debug"
+uses build bin/obj options
+load works
+folder info is retained for new versions
+new c,h,cbp,spin files start as untitled and "changed"
+Give "Toggle Outlining" its own hot-key
+Move "Toggle Outlining" up in edit menu
+f8 no longer overloaded, f4 for config wizard
+folder manager in preferences
+no edit menu duplicate after do preferences
+auto-indent after repeat, if, else, {
+save-as prepopulates extension, name
+open shows c,h,chp,spin files as default
+debug, want to reload file, doesn't detect new top
+if hit delete and next token is multi-whitespace, delete tabs
+perform outdent if hit backspace and previous tokens to front are whitespace
+resolved redraw issues on startup
+c highlights unsigned,signed
+if debugging, and switch project, no longer need to reset breakpoint
+shows prj objects in "object" pane, edits cause updates to obj viewer
+click on "browse" to add c/h files- will calculate relative path
+compile/link options include type of parameter: directory...
+save/save as from file menu will correctly save as prj
+console scrolls nicely
+on compile error doesn't load
+update project settings inside treeview
+concept of "top file" with associated "leaves". opening/tabbing to a cbp file will set top file to it, and "leaves" to contained files. loading a spin file will set top file to it, and leaves to contained files. subsequently, pressing "load", "compile", "eeprom", "debug" on "leaves" will result on action happening on "top"
+when "debug" is pressed for .c or .cdb, will find prop, compile c, and call: "Catalina Debug Host.exe -P <found port> -B 115200 -M LMM -D <path to .dbg file>"
+rt click delete from file pane in editor
+new,open,save,close editor files from welcome view
+help content weird characters (lf)
+allow c compile only
+open rosssizetest.cbp works (didn't have linker items)
+fold/outline code for spin and c!
+treat union as keyword
+files mentioned in cbp will be tagged to "debug" and "release"- (fixes "size.c" becoming untagged)
+opens/saves/edits/runs cbp files with "file:new" wizard
+opens/saves/edits h files with "file:new" wizard
+preferences include compiler, options for compile, link, single
+view code opens view tab
+no bug with welcome "browse"
+f11 for eepropm f7 for compile only
v4.3.1
+easier to use prj editor- with tab wizard to enter file/compile/link/env data
+can associate compile/link options with builds, "load" uses "release", "debug" uses "debug"
+uses build bin/obj options
+load works
+folder info is retained for new versions
+new c,h,cbp,spin files start as untitled and "changed"
+Give "Toggle Outlining" its own hot-key
+Move "Toggle Outlining" up in edit menu
+f8 no longer overloaded, f4 for config wizard
+folder manager in preferences
+no edit menu duplicate after do preferences
+auto-indent after repeat, if, else, {
+save-as prepopulates extension, name
+open shows c,h,chp,spin files as default
+debug, want to reload file, doesn't detect new top
+if hit delete and next token is multi-whitespace, delete tabs
+perform outdent if hit backspace and previous tokens to front are whitespace
+resolved redraw issues on startup
+c highlights unsigned,signed
+if debugging, and switch project, no longer need to reset breakpoint
+shows prj objects in "object" pane, edits cause updates to obj viewer
+click on "browse" to add c/h files- will calculate relative path
+compile/link options include type of parameter: directory...
+save/save as from file menu will correctly save as prj
+console scrolls nicely
+on compile error doesn't load
+update project settings inside treeview
+concept of "top file" with associated "leaves". opening/tabbing to a cbp file will set top file to it, and "leaves" to contained files. loading a spin file will set top file to it, and leaves to contained files. subsequently, pressing "load", "compile", "eeprom", "debug" on "leaves" will result on action happening on "top"
+when "debug" is pressed for .c or .cdb, will find prop, compile c, and call: "Catalina Debug Host.exe -P <found port> -B 115200 -M LMM -D <path to .dbg file>"
+rt click delete from file pane in editor
+new,open,save,close editor files from welcome view
+help content weird characters (lf)
+allow c compile only
+open rosssizetest.cbp works (didn't have linker items)
+fold/outline code for spin and c!
+treat union as keyword
+files mentioned in cbp will be tagged to "debug" and "release"- (fixes "size.c" becoming untagged)
+opens/saves/edits/runs cbp files with "file:new" wizard
+opens/saves/edits h files with "file:new" wizard
+preferences include compiler, options for compile, link, single
+view code opens view tab
+no bug with welcome "browse"
+f11 for eepropm f7 for compile only


Improvements over v4.2.7:
+Much improved "designer"- less bugs, less flicker, less artifacts
+Updated "menu"/"preferences"
+Now includes professional Code editor: macros, bookmarks- long list. Click the "code" view
+Welcome view and code view show C and 12B files, can be edited and "loaded". Debug coming soon. Only single C file can be loaded.
+Improved dir chooser and file chooser
+Improved binary triggering
+Revamped error handling with details/tips/reasons when connection failed
+Allows "connect" even when nothing loaded from within viewport
+Remembers settings/license from previous version

Improvements over v4.2.5:
+much more stable, many bugs fixed
+Configuration Wizard overhauled
+Default "base" for numbers is now "Decimal"- numbers are shown with all significant digits. Can switch to "Engineering" base (=-3) to show numbers with engineering units
+UI refinements

Improvements over v4.2.4:
+clockspeed available from dde: request($clkfreq)
+remembers which monitor is displayed on between sessions.
+dde.execute(load) fixed, won't throw exceptions when used, or when program exits dde.execute(load) returns when load is finished
+fixed the breakpoint bug, made debugging a tad more efficient, and prevented you from putting breakpoints on some statements where it
would never stop

Improvements over v4.2.3:
+can do configuration wizard from code window
+better mouse wheel scrolling in code window
+bigger dir chooser on welcome view
+press "run" on bad file no longer disables welcome buttnos
+dde array are not too long by 1
+now have tutorial,mycode,data,config dirs
+max number of vars is now 250
+cursor doesn't change to ibeam on tabs
+square button in debugger is different from "stop" in that it gets back to "editing" mode, without debugging windows
+"continue" button on exception dialog moved down and labeled "try to continue"
+configuration string problems no longer use main "exception" handler, less threatening message with guide to "configuration wizard"
+don't need to visit lsa tab to get trigger recognized for quicksample debugging
+trigger not active for pins in code window, let's you see pins while single stepping
+empty settings tab removed from dso view
+in lsa view clicking to plot another channel will plot that one
+lissajous and dde sample tutorials added

Improvements over v4.2.2:
- Memory leak fixed!
- May resolve flickering desktop

Improvements over v4.2.1:
- New Propellent
- Improvements to terminal- faster and now clears to end of line on command
- DDE server returns all elements of an array when using formats 1, 11, and 12
- Debug Watch window shows all 32 bits of a watched variable in binary mode
- Waveforms are graphed more cleanly


Improvements over v4.1.66:
+Significant changes- lots of goodies, but may not be stable yet- please let me know of issues you encounter!
+faster frame rate
+lower cpu use
+no cpu use when data not updated
+integrated DDE server and client! See video and download sample clients (c#, vb.net, excel, and python) here: http://mydancebot.com/viewport/clients.php
+new data type: call vp.array(arrayptr,arraylen,arraytype) to register your arrays before calling the "vp.share" method. Arraylen is in longs, type can be 5..8 and is for your use. Arrays don't have to be contiguous to other data. Clients have access to arrays.
+debugger font doesn't get scrambled anymore
+floats can be graphed

Improvements over v4.1.65:
+introduction of varsample object to quickly sample variables with analog and logical triggers
+easier to use dials and sliders
+improved configuration parsing- spaces now allowed
+can break out of animate mode with pause/play/step/stop buttons in debugger
+channel wizard available from configuration menu

Improvements over v4.1.64:
+fixed an install issue related to installing into an existing viewport directory
+fixed some rare crash issues

Improvements over v4.1.63:
+terminal should be more reliable and is focused by default
+updated quicksample and conduit

Improvements over v4.1.62:
+terminal should be more reliable
+help file is updated
+video capture and filter objects renamed to "PropCV" filter and capture. Additional documentation

Improvements over v4.1.61:
+terminal text is wrapped, box is bigger
+terminal input is reliable- previously it stopped working after 256 bytes were entered
+switched horz and vert cursor labels
+horz cursor can measure any channel, click trace to measure that channel
+bottom right pane is scrollable, no graphic problems, no mouse problem
+entering a license key starting with "v" into registration tells users to go to voucher page

Improvements over v4.1.60:
+move trigger mode to far left
+click to set trigger preserves trigger channel
+00-debug cleaned up
+remembers last directory on code view
+debugger more robust
+flush lsa buffer on connect