DBDOC 11.0 is a major release, incorporating fundamental changes to the DBDOC system internals. DBDOC was originally built on the scaffolding of the Microsoft MediaView library. Although this was a powerful framework for its day, and has served DBDOC well, over time limitations became increasingly apparent. DBDOC 11.0
If you are upgrading from DBDOC 10.7 or earlier, some system-level changes you will notice include the following:
- M14 project files have been replaced by dbdoc project files, which are about 30% smaller.
- Builds are up to 30% faster than in 10.7.
- There is no longer a 2G size limitation on project files.
- CrypKey has been removed from BuildPlus, Hyperlink and CIUMon and replaced with new dongle protection.
Farewell M14 file!
When you update your installation to DBDOC 11.0, you will notice that DBDOC's faithful M14 file has retured, and been replaced by a "dbdoc" file. This project file is usually considerably smaller than the M14 for the same system, and does not have a two gigabyte size limitation as the M14 file did.
Welcome hyperview.exe!
The Hyperview executable is now called hyperview.exe, instead of hyperview_winsock.exe. You will notice that a modified version of hyperview_winsock.exe is also in your 11.0 installation, however. Both are set up so that they seamlessly interoperate.
If you attempt to open an M14 file with hyperview.exe (11.0 Hyperview), hyperview_winsock.exe (i.e. 10.7 Hyperview, basically), will be automatically started up to view it. Similarly, if you attempt to open a dbdoc file with the 11.0 version of hyperview_winsock.exe, the new version of Hyperview will be automatically launched to display it.
Project file wildcards (*, *.M14) are both interpreted to include dbdoc files as well as M14 files. In most cases, this should allow shortcuts and scripts for launching Hyperview to remain unchanged.
Powerful access to the DBDOC snapshot.
In DBDOC 11.0 you can explicitly export much of the configuration information found in the DBDOC system snapshot into a standard, non-encrypted SQLite database. This exported database has similar contents to the "master.db" database produced during builds of earlier versions of DBDOC.
This database contains information about specifications, wiring, blocks, tags, and errors, all of which can be accessed by your own tools for your own purposes. Please contact us for help making use of this valuable resource.
Everything looks better.
All text documents in Hyperview are now HTML, which opens up many improved formatting
possibilities as well as routine Unicode support. The toolbar icons have received a facelift. Error markers no longer obscure block numbers, and live data no longer obscures function codes
on CAD/CLDs.
There are important improvements to the Watch Window, Audit
Window and searching.
You can now have large font labeling in the Watch Window, with configurable text size. Tags have been added to Watch Window plot labels, as well as better selection highlighting to
make plots easier to read. You can now set a start time for the plot display, allowing you to focus easily on the most
recently taken data for a group. Watch Window groups of block can now be exported and imported.
The Audit Window has been reworked and is now easier to interpret. Audit entries that were
effectively errors (e.g. unconfigured graphics) have been removed, but can still be seen in the
Error Browser.
Searching has been fully reimplemented in this release, but there should be no substantial
behavior changes.
Builds are faster, friendlier, safer, and can be larger.
Builds are typically 30% faster than in 10.7, and project files about 30% smaller. The 2G project file size limitation is gone – test projects of close to 10G have been built. This
allows a single build in cases where splitting the system would previously have been needed, and
also facilitates the inclusion of more documentation types into the build.
A new Wizard Configuration Tool lets you change Wizard settings without processing files – the
new settings will be applied to the next build.
Chapter titles generated for a build are now as short as reasonably possible, so that they can be better
seen in Hyperview – only path subsets required for distinguishing paths are included.
Improved support for SPlus and 800xA graphics.
Presentation of dynamic bars, hotspot locations, and links to target graphics on buttons have been
fixed or improved. Support for control stations tagatoms improved on 800xA graphics. S+ horizontal dynamic bars are now properly displayed.
Improved support for PDF, AutoCAD, MicroStation and text
documentation.
Links are now automatically made on pseudotags on these document types, very large dimension PDF files now display properly, and search results on PDF files are more accurately placed.
Iproved error and CAD support.
New AOLDB and REDAI errors are detected. New FC 69 S1 error detected.
CIUMon live data is more robust.
A new monitor process tracks whether live data is being actively transmitted by CIUMon. It will
disappear if CIUMon is unable to get data, freezes, or crashes.
See the full
Release Notes for further information on DBDOC 11.0 and prior
versions.
