DATAFLOW Software - Release Notes Version 1.5

by Marco Wuelser

 

New Features in DATAFLOW Version 1.5

The following new features have been added for the Release 1.5 of the DATAFLOW Software:

DATAFLOW Studio

Document Export

The complete System and Software Architecture can be exported for documentation purposes to a PDF file.
The generated document contains:

  • Table of Contents
  • Page for each Component
  • Detailed Page for each Component

Access Document Export

Open the Home Ribbon to access this feature.

Home Ribbon -> Export > As a Document


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Figure 1 - Export System as PDF Document

 

Document Export Settings

Open the Settings Menu from Home > Export

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Figure 2 - Document Export Settings

 


Exported Document

The navigation possibilities inside the exported document are similar to the navigation in the DATAFLOW Studio diagram editor. Click the system or any other component (System-Component, Active Container, Active Part) to navigate through the system documentation document.

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Figure 3 - Exported PDF Document

 

You can find more information about this feature in this article.

 

 

 

Source Code Editor


DATAFLOW Studio version 1.5 introduces a new internal Source Code Editor. This Source Code Editor allows you to implement the logic for Active Parts without the need to leave the DATAFLOW Studio. This comes in very handy when you just want to have a quick look at the code behind an Active Part or if you want to implement the logic or simply add some lines of code.

Access the Source Code Editor

CTRL + Right-Click an Active Part to open the Source Code Editor for the selected Active Part.

  • Select the source code file you would like to edit from the dropdown in the top left corner of the editor


mceclip1.png

Figure 1 - Code Editor Window

 

 

Setup Default Source Code Editor

You can choose to either use the internal or external Source Code Editor. This set up the can be adjusted in the Application Options.
File Ribbon -> Options > Editor

 

Toggle the "Use External Editor" to change this setting.

 

mceclip0.png
Figure 2- Internal Source Code Editor Setup

 

 

Machine generated alternative text:Application Options Environment General Editor Update Path macros Account Account License SDK Package Editor options General Build Complete Notificatian: Double Click Action. Ctrl + Click Action: Editor Double Click Action. Ctrl + Click Action: Source Code Editor Use External Editor: External Editor. Arguments: Show Read Only Files: None Edit Inline (Rename) C:lWindowsXnotepad.exe

Figure 3 - External Source Code Editor Setup

 

 

Simulator Controls


DATAFLOW Simulator Control Elements

The newest DATAFLOW Studio version includes new Simulation controls to make it easier to set up and communicate between the executable application code and the DATAFLOW Simulator.

Simulations can now be linked to DATAFLOW Studio Projects. This can be set up in the settings dialog "Run Configurations". You can access this dialog from the Build Ribbon > Configure Run.

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Figure 1 - Run Configurations

 

Simulations can be run and stopped within the DATAFLOW Studio.

Machine generated alternative text:Home Generate Configure Generator Generate Format Layo ut Build Compil onfigure Run Stop HelioWorldRC1 •

Figure 2 - Run / Stop Simulations 

 

 

 

 

Usability Improvements

DATAFLOW Studio Version 1.5 contains several improvements regarding the usability. Here is a list of the most valuable ones for the program user.

Solution File

The Project Solution File for DATAFLOW Studio and DATAFLOW Simulator is introduced in this version and allows an easier and familiar way to open a solution. Double-Click to open a solution with the DATAFLOW Studio or the DATAFLOW Simulator.

C:\Users\walser\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image013.png

Figure 1 - DATAFLOW Solution File

 

 

Visually Represent Unassigned Elements

Sometimes it can happen that an element is not properly assigned to a component. This can happen if a component is moved to an interface or the drop-now-indicator is not displayed before dropping an item. We now visualize this sczenario with a dashed border around the item that is not assigned to a component.

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Figure 2 - Unassigned Item Highlighting

 

 

Tooltips for Ribbon Items

All Ribbon items now show a tooltip when hovering a button. This tooltip explains the functionality of the corresponding button in a few words.

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Figure 3 - Tooltip Info

 

 

Additional Keyboard Shortcuts

Many additional Keyboard Shortcuts are now available in the DATAFLOW Studio. The list of all available shortcuts can be found in here.

 


Copy Text in About Dialog

We have enabled the select and copy text functionality in the "About Dialog". This comes in very handy when you need to submit the version number you are working with to contact forms or tickets.

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Figure 4 - Copy Text from About Dialog

 

Grid Visibility

When toggling on/off the grid visibility, it is now triggered for all diagrams in the solution.

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Figure 5 - Trigger Grid Visibility for all Diagrams

 

 

Solution Path

The solution name is and solution path is now displayed in the "File -> Info Ribbon"

Machine generated alternative text:Info HelloWorld-Studio Open C.ILlsersXwalseflDocumentsXDF ProjectsX+elloWorld-Studic Dates Last Modified Created Close Related People Author Last Modified By Options Help 11/25/2020 walseradata-flcw_ch walseradata-flcw_ch

Figure 6 - Name and Path Info for Solution

 

 

DATAFLOW Environment

DATAFLOW Studio Version 1.5 offers the possibility to change the DATAFLOW Server environment. This makes it for example possible to try out new features or bug fixes that can be accessed from the "Preview" environment.

mceclip1.png

Figure 7 - Select Dataflow Server Environment

 


Auto-Scroll Message List

The user can toggle to automatically scroll to the end of the "Message List" after starting the code generation step. A pressed arrow down symbol indicates that the message list is automatically scrolled to the end.

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Figure 8 - Auto-Scroll Message List

 


Auto Naming Functionality

When adding new components and elements (System Components, Active Parts, Active Containers, Interrupts, Interrupt Handlers, ... ) to the Diagram Editor a unique name for the generated Item is generated. This avoids errors when generating code from the designed architecture.

 

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Figure 9 - Unique Naming when Adding Components and ELEMENTS


Copy from Message List

The user can now copy one or multiple messages from the Message List. This is very helpful to discuss issues with team members or when filing a bug report.

 

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Figure 10 - Copy Messages from the Message List

 

DATALFOW Code

 

Integrated GNU Toolchain

 

Build Toolchain Integration

The newly integrated GNU Toolchain allows to create a binary from the desingned system, without the need to install any expensive IDE on your computer.  


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Figure 1 - GNU Toolchain available in Toolchain Configuration Templates

 

All the required settings and files for a successful build are generated in the background when pressing the compile button.
 

Machine generated alternative text:Home Generate Configure Generator Generate Form at HelioWorldRC1 • Build Compile Configure Run Stop
Figure 2 - Compile the Application Code from the Build Ribbon

 

 

Code Generator Improvements

Startup Controller

The newest Code Generator allows to define a "Startup Controller" for projects without Board Support Package. Generate Startup Code can be turned on (default)/off in the project settings dialog. This way you can still use your own Startup files if required.



Figure 1 - Generate Startup Controller Setting


Additional C++ Code Language Support

The following Code Languages were added to the newest Code Generator:

  • C++ 11 (ISO/IEC 14882-2011)
  • C++ 14 (ISO/IEC 14882-2014)

C:\Users\walser\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image005.png

Figure 2 - Code Language Selection

 

Auto-Start Timer

The new version includes a property setting to toggle the auto-start of a Timer. Turning auto-start on will automatically start the timer when running the application.

 

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Figure 3 - Auto-Start Property Setting

 

Suppress Warning

Warning messages can be suppressed for element specific elements. All suppressed warning IDs for an element can be seen in the element property "DisabledValidationMessages".  

 

 


Figure 4 - Suppress Warning Message in Message List

 

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Figure 5 - Disable Warning Messages - Element Properties and Global Settings


Enum and Protocol Array


Arrays of Enum and Protocols are now available in the newest version.

 

 

Bug Fixes

The following known issues have been fixed for the Release 1.5 of the DATAFLOW Software:

 

 


DATAFLOW Software V1.5.4

The following bugs have been resolved in DATAFLOW Software V1.5.4:  

Topic Description
Document Export When exporting the system to a PDF file, it happened in rare cases that a diagram view was incomplete for certain pages.
Save Solution
When a solution is saved to a new location with "Save As ..." it was possible that an 'External Changes' error is shown when opening the solution from the new location.
Installation There was an issue with user rights when installing the DATAFLOW Designer on certain Windows configurations.
Channel Routing Line routing style "Bezier" did not always save the correct attachment side when loading the project – the arrows were attached on the wrong side in some cases.
Licensing
The License Dialog displayed "Trial Period Exceeded" instead of "PC already activated" message.
Installation Not all installation files where removed when uninstalling the software. This caused the application to stay in the list of installed programs.
Installation The public packages for the code generation feature were not included to the installer package.
Ribbon Button The "compile" button in the DATAFLOW Designer Ribbon "build" is now disabled when the simulation is running.
File Path In some cases the path to files within a solution was stored as absolute path. This is now a relative path for all files used in the solution.
Toolchain The GNU Toolchain was not installed properly for some computers. This is now fixed.

 

 


DATAFLOW Software V1.5.3

The following bugs have been resolved in DATAFLOW Software V1.5.3:

Topic Description
Document Export Out of Memory issue that occurred for some large Projects is now resolved.
Save Solution
Wrong configuration project/solution path caused "Wrong Project Type" message. This configuration is not possible anymore.  
Installation There was an issue when installing the DATAFLOW Designer in case the username contained special characters like "ä,ü,ö,...".
Channel Routing It is now possible to enable/disable a setting to generate/overwrite "Include Directories".
Naming
It was possible to get inconsistent identifier naming in the generated source code when using special character combinations.

 

 


DATAFLOW Software V1.5.2

The following bugs have been resolved in DATAFLOW Software V1.5.2:

Topic Description
ID-TFS1902 DbImporter doesn't work with Release configuration
ID-TFS3792 Channel 'Shadow' not removed after drag
ID-TFS4125 Unable to move elements after search
ID-TFS4703 Configuration change must result in 'Save changes' dialog at closing of the solution
ID-TFS4749 Tree expand arrows on enumerators in protocol errors
ID-TFS4767 Adjust image bounding box to image size
ID-TFS4792 Source Code Editor collapse all behaviour
ID-TFS4793 UnDo / ReDo in Code Editor
ID-TFS4803 Context Menu of tree element
ID-TFS4823 Check if application is running in installer
ID-TFS4834 Info messages should have Accept in Element disabled
ID-TFS4837 Show Grid button toggles grid state in diagram<
ID-TFS4845 Keyboard Accelerator CTRL-T not working
ID-TFS4847 Paths outside solution folder are stored absolute
ID-TFS4848 Preset ElementWidth has no effect
ID-TFS4950 Change the State of a aready for other Trial used PC
ID-TFS4953 Sign in with wrong password Error on API Server Log
ID-TFS5058 CI builds often fail due to generator license
ID-TFS5087 Delete a Group item that contains elements and press CTRL+Z afterwards.
ID-TFS5176 Export/Import SDK
ID-TFS5233 Driver with same name as AP causes generator error
ID-TFS5234 Internal toolchain clean step generates errors
ID-TFS5245 Starting Simulation from Studio does not Work
ID-TFS5246 Big diagrams in generated PDF are not readable
ID-TFS5247 Source Code Builder fails because of write failure to .dff file
ID-TFS5248 DFF generator fails if a sink is connected to an external port (APC output port)
ID-TFS5249 DFF generator fails if OneToAny element is not exclusively connected to an external port (APC output port)
ID-TFS5250 Dataflow Studio files remain after uninstalling
ID-TFS5255 Channels from unsupported sources are connected
ID-TFS5271 Solution Tree cannot expand when no SDK
ID-TFS5276 Run Simulation Button Disabled after Compile
ID-TFS5281 Limit Timer Interval setting in Timer element
ID-TFS5282 Abort element draging for right click
ID-TFS5283 Channel connection lost after deletion and redo
ID-TFS5286 Improve PDF Document Size
ID-TFS5306 Property editor for multiple selected elements allow no changes
ID-TFS5316 Add logLevel to protected keyword list
ID-TFS5317 IAR Toolchain is missing after migration.
ID-TFS5318 Renaming protocol fields or Active Parts takes up to 3 minutes
ID-TFS5319 Empty path during code generation when writing to the file system
ID-TFS5326 SysTick_Handler linking in IAR

 

 


DATAFLOW Software V1.5.1

The following bugs have been resolved in DATAFLOW Software V1.5.1:  

Topic Description
ID-TFS4134 Wrong DSL generation for PortOutJoin
ID-TFS4179 Default names of certain toolbox elements are reserved keywords
ID-TFS4227 Usability: Active Part w/o Input Port
ID-TFS4252 Protocols use relative includes
ID-TFS4327 Name with floating numbers are not normalized properly
ID-TFS4368 Crash on remove channel
ID-TFS4446 Order of input split asserts in APC unit test
ID-TFS4505 Validation of Protocol ID field
ID-TFS4539 update of the license only if cache expired.
ID-TFS4568 Add an Api Server Version check in Simulation, Studio ans Admin
ID-TFS4586 PortInputSplit on nested APC generates incorrect code
ID-TFS4603 Wrong hits in the search function
ID-TFS4604 Search Result displays only Fieldtypes and not the Field name
ID-TFS4615 GUI changes in the Gauge elements
ID-TFS4616 GUI changes in the Slider elements
ID-TFS4617 GUI changes in the button
ID-TFS4618 Add a Value Display
ID-TFS4619 GUI changes in the Value Edito
ID-TFS4620 Start and Stop Simulation Grid lines

 

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