New ComfortClient Release

[juwi_uk]

Dear all,

I\'m pleased to announce the release of version 3.1.1.51 of ComfortClient.

This builds on the previous release and makes the leap into the world of .NET4.  You will need at least .NET 4 Client Profile installed to use this version.  Dont worry though as Windows will install this for you if necessary.

This release is the culmination of 3 months of development, most nights after work, and I can\'t thank Ingo enough for being with me all of the way on this release.  He\'s a real star and a credit to the Comfort Forum community.

In addition to a lot of bug fixes and smaller updates,  the key features of this version include:

 

[*]Linear Gauge floorplan objects
[*]Support all UCM connection types to PC;  UCM/Ethxx, UCM/USB & UCM/232
[*]USB auto detection (plug-and-play)
[*]Feature refresh on all existing floorplan objects
[*]Improved UCM connection management, reliability & recovery
[*]Support features in new UCM & Comfort firmwares
[*]Better handling of alarm states
[*]General UI refresh
[*]Other minor new features

  
Specifically:


Version 3.1.1.51 – (26 Aug 2011)

Architecture:

• Microsoft .NET 4 (Client Framework) console application developed under Visual Studio 2010

 Tested against Comfort version:

• Comfort II Ultra: Firmware – 6.005, File System – 34
  
• UCM05:               Firmware – 6.008

 Bug Fixes/Changes

• Improved object border resolution and colour accuracy.
  
• Connection settings are initially checked (as far as possible) for validity when the Connect button is pressed.
  
• Control menu tree on Home Control tab used to refresh status values every 60 seconds.  Now it also refreshes immediately any of the status values change.
  
• Corrected minor digit version decodes for “U” and “u” commands.  The new UCM firmware for example decoded as 6.02 whereby it should be 6.002 as per Comfigurator.
  
• Last write date (Comfigurator to Comfort) and last update/write date of CCLX file now displayed on “CCLX” status bar icon tooltip.
  
• Key press on main ComfortClient Floorplan area when no window tabs are added cause an “index outside of bounds of array” error.
  
• The “IsPercentage” checkbox for Label Objects was incorrectly available for Modbus Object Types.
  
• An attempt to start a second instance of the ComfortClient now displays a cleaner error message.
  
• Connecting to a target device which was not a UCM could cause the ComfortClient to receive unexpected data resulting in a continual retry loop.  The ComfortClient had to be closed to clear.
  
• Better error reporting when attempting to connect to an unknown target connection.
  
• Extra attributes added to Floorplan Editor Query report plus support for Linear Gauges.
  
• C to F and F to C conversions were not calculating correctly on Counter & Modbus Types.
  
• Modbus plugin queue processing did not stop when connections disconnected prematurely.
  
• Comfort references used in Floorplan and System Conditions were not correctly queried at logon.
  
• Logon Code field now only accepts numeric vales and maximum 6 characters.
  
• Incorrect window could be opened in FloorplanEditor if Window Tab names are the same.
  
• Inserting a new Floorplan object and cancelling out of the properties window did not clear the status bar selection counter in FloorplanEditor.
  
• Labels linked to counter responses did not correctly support visibility filter (condition).
  
• Circular Gauges now support a negative scale number colour property (aligned with Linear Gauges).
  
• Tab Icon tab clear logic has been improved. 
  
• Activity Tab Reset Time did not have any effect but has now been implemented.
  
• Visibility filter on Modus Object Types are now supported.  Sounds Tab for Modbus Object types is now disabled as functionality is not currently implemented.
  
• Gauge background images were not tested for validity when loading Floorplans; ie that the image file is located in the images folder. Missing image placeholders are identified by a red border and cross.
  
• Improved handling of duress conditions; the discrete “Duress LED” and “See LED” alarm state message now replace messages that contain “duress” so as to not alert intruders to this condition.
  
• For Network connections, Auto-Connect incorrectly tried to use the last IP address & Port set in ComfortClient rather than the value from the CCLX file, even though the override was not checked.
  
• CCLX status in status bar did not correctly support the PersistConfigurationMenus option.
  
• Other small UI clean-ups.

 New Features

• Linear Gauges are now introduced.
  
• Selection and Copy to Clipboard now available on the Monitor, Monitor Snapshot and Event Log windows. Selection options include conventional Click, Ctrl-Click and Shift-Click combinations to mark one or more items and also “type-based” quick selections (Copy All System, Outbound and Inbound respectively) and any combination thereof.
  
• Pause button now added to monitor window.
  
• Added links to ComfortClient forum and License Agreement from Main Menu (Information Menu).
  
• Circular Gauges now support Caption Text rotation
  
• GaugePacks now support Caption Text rotation
  
• UCM/USB connectivity is now supported, including pass-through via KT03.
  
• UCM/RS232 connectivity is now supported.
  
• IR Reports are now decoded.
  
• Attempts to Logon on an established connection which does not have a UCM at the other end now display “No Response from UCM” when a logon attempt is tried.
  
• License Agreement is now accessible via the Help Menu as is a link to Comfort Forums, ComfortClient section.
  
• RS response (new in UCM firmware 6.005) now decoded.
  
• Event Log window now shows decoded entries colour coded (similar to Monitor Log window).
  
• Event Log can now be saved in OpenXML (docx) and RTF format as well as plain text.
  
• On attempting to connect to the UCM the ComfortClient now checks the Tibbo module on Eth01/02 daughterboard for any existing connections and warns the user accordingly (Network Connections only).
  
• Added Most Recently Used (MRU) list to FloorplanEditor File menu.
  
• Custom and system (windows) colours are now supported on Floorplan Objects.
  
• Last Alarm State is now shown as a dropdown list (newest first) on the Connection and can be reset via a “Clear” button.
  
• Linear and Circular Gauges now support visibility and sound filters (conditions).

 Known Limitations

• Animated GIF’s are not currently supported in the 2.1.2.x stream.
  
• Circular gauge needle primary colour (colour 1) does not yet support custom colours.

 

You can download from the updated  link at:

http://www.comfortforums.com/forum65/1948.html

or at my website at:

http://www.futurehomesoftware.co.uk

I hope you enjoy.

I plan to release a maintenance release (smaller build) next, followed by a major release later in the year.

Enjoy.  

Regards

Julian

 

 

 

[slychiu]

Thanks Julian
A minor issue I noticed when installng it is that the .NET 4 download pointed to .NET 3.5 SP1.

[juwi_uk]

Thanks Chiu,

You get a bonus point for finding the first minor bug.  

Yep the URL that display during prerequisite checking is to .NET 3.5 SP1.   If directed there then onward click to find the .NET 4 Client Profile and install from there instead.   This only affects the URL posted as the prerequisite checker in the installer still checks for .NET 4.

This will be fixed in 3.1.2.x.

Regards

Julian

p.s How does it look otherwise?

 

[juwi_uk]

Apologies everyone, but a fault has been found in ComfortClient version 3.1.1.51 if you override the connection properties for a \'Network\' UCM connection type. Because it can then error on restarting the ComfortClient then I want to fix ASAP.

I will release a 3.1.1.5x build imminently to replace this release and that includes this fix and a few others found/reported today as well.

Sorry about that if you\'ve already downloaded. 

Julian

[juwi_uk]

OK sorry this follows so quickly on from 3.1.1.51 but the connection bug found spurred me to fix ASAP.

Bug Fixes/Changes in Build 3.1.1.52

• Installer incorrectly directed the user to the .NET 3.5 SP1 download instead of the correct .NET 4.0 Client Profile web installer download.
• Checking the IP Address override for UCM/Eth based connections caused an exception when the override is checked. Restarting ComfortClient then causes the same exception.
• Change of CCLX (in disconnected state) also updates connection properties.
• Change of Smartfit Counter mappings didn’t request a data refresh.
• Corrections/additions in the Help File.

Download from:

http://www.comfortforums.com/forum65/1948.html

Hopefully this release will stabilise now so I can enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend.

Julian