Introduction
This article complements the Official release newsletter and focuses on graphically representing features that were briefly mentioned in the newsletter under the "What else is new?" section.
The most notable features in the 2024.4 release are fully presented in the Official release newsletter and are listed in the following list:
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A simplified interface for adding math modules
The User Interface for adding math modules has been redesigned to be more similar to the User Interface for adding widgets. Previously, we already had the option to view all the available Math modules under the Add math tab and to Manage favorites, which added the module to the Math toolbar. The new version of the software removed the Add math tab in favor of the Favorites and All tabs and added the Manage toolbar tab alongside the Manage favorites tab.
The Favorites tab will now only display the modules that we have marked with an orange star in the Manage favorites tab, while the All tab will give us an overview of all the available modules.
The Manage toolbar tab will now take over the function of the Manage favorites tab from the previous versions of the software. In other words, we will add a module to the toolbar if we enable it in the Manage toolbar tab.
Allow entering custom channel name when predefined channels are enabled
Previously, enabling predefined channel names meant that we could only use the names we predefined. This was, however, not optimal for the many users that often make one-time measurements alongside permanent channels. Due to this, users will now be able to give channels custom names, despite the fact that they have predefined channels enabled.
Data presentation status now available for widgets
We noticed that users sometimes have a hard time determining exactly which Display type and Complex presentation of the channel they are displaying on a widget. This software update eliminates this issue by supporting advanced statuses on certain widgets. These statuses are visible on:
- All types of the Recorder widget,
- Scope widget,
- Digital meter,
- Analog meter,
- Vertical and Horizontal Bar meter,
- 2D graph,
- 3D graph.
Once we click on the Display type tab on the widget, we get an additional pop-up explaining exactly which type of data is displayed on the widget.
As always, the Display type can be changed from the widget's settings:
The 2D and 3D graphs additionally got a complex presentation status, highlighting which component of the complex data is currently being displayed.
Option to lock white cursor through sequencer action block
In Sequencer, a brand new action block was added that will allow the user to lock the Measurement (white) cursors in place, which is especially useful if we would like to automate SRS calculation in data files.
The new block allows us to either set the Start and End position by entering the values of StartPos and EndPos, or set custom cursor positions within the datafile itself by setting the StartPos and EndPos to -1.
Select all channels shortcut and channel filter is now available in C++ script
When we were working with the C++ script in the previous versions of the software, we had to manually select each input channel we wanted to choose. Due to a feature request, additional selection options are now available by right-clicking into the Channels tab. The available options are:
- Check all - this option will check (select) all the available channels
- Uncheck all - this option will uncheck (deselect) all the available channels
- Check selected - this option will check all the channels that we have selected (all the channels whose names are outlined in blue)
- Uncheck selected - this option will uncheck all the channels that we have selected (all the channels whose names are outlined in blue)
- Invert selection - this option will check all the unchecked channels and uncheck all the checked channels.
In the previous version, it was not possible to filter channels when working with the C++ script. In 2024.4, filtering in the published tab was supported, allowing us to filter the channels exactly like we can filter them in other maths, the Export tab, the Channels module, and the Channel selector.
Modal test module now supports channels with sample rate divider as an input for excitation and response channels (excitation and response channels must have the same sample rate).
When working with the Modal Test module, many users wanted their excitation and response channels to have a lower sample rate than the set Dynamic acquisition rate, which previously wasn't possible.
DewesoftX 2024.4 now supports assigning channels with sample rate divider as excitation and response channels—as long as these channels have the same sample rate.
Authentication with username and password now available with OPC-UA client module
As per popular request, the OPC-UA client plugin now supports an authentication mechanism with a defined username/password or anonymous authentication, exactly like OPC-UA server.
To add a username and password, open the software's Settings, then Extensions, and open the OPC UA Client's advanced settings. After the Server has been added, press one of the column names in the Table, which should open the Endpoint and Authentication configuration. Then, change the Authentication Type to Username and password and set up your security parameters.
Ability to write into input or data-header channels in OPC-UA server from any OPC-UA client
From DewesoftX 2024.4, we can use any OPC-UA client to write information into the input or data-header channels from the OPC-UA server.
When writing to channels, we should pay attention to the channel's range, as it is set in the OPC-UA Server. If we enter a value that exceeds the limits, the value will by default be overwritten by the minimum or maximum allowed value of the channel's range.
New FW package that unlocks PTPv2 synchronization for OBSIDIAN devices
With the release of a new software version, Dewesoft has also prepared a firmware package that will unlock PTP synchronization for OBSIDIAN devices.
Option to adjust the Wifi through DewesoftX for OBSIDIAN-R8w device
It is now possible to adjust the Wifi settings for OBSIDIAN-R8w devices directly through DewesoftX. This can be done in Settings, under the Devices tab, by pressing the name of the OBSIDIAN-R8w device. The settings can then be found under the WIFI settings drop-down menu.
We can choose between two modes: Access point and Client
After that, all that is left to do is set up the Network name and Network password.
Text-box widget now offers an option to select expressions directly from toolbar
DewesoftX users often use the software for the purpose of making reports. This is where the Text-box widget, specifically its expressions, comes in handy, allowing us to note specific channel names, descriptions, units, and values, as well as the display names, sample rates, and more.
The previous versions of the widget had a rather unfortunate flaw: there was no way to select the expressions directly in DewesoftX; the users had to copy them from our F1 manual into the widget and then modify them to their needs.
From DewesoftX 2024.4 onward, the user will be able to add these expressions directly from the Text-box widget's toolbar.
To access the toolbar, add the Text-box widget to the display, exit the design mode, and then double-click on the widget. The expressions button (marked as { }) will be positioned in the right corner of the toolbar. By pressing the button, the user will get access to the drop-down menu with all the available expressions.
Changed default synchronization settings for all RT devices to prefer PTP over IRIG-B-DC synchronization
With the new version of DewesoftX, the default synchronization settings of all RT devices have been changed so that they will prefer PTP synchronization over IRIG-B-DC.
Changelog
All the changes this release brings are summed up in the changelog. To access it, please open our Downloads webpage, then look for the Changelog under the latest release Offline installer in the DewesoftX software latest release section. There, you can also find the direct link to our full Official release newsletter.
