Promotic

PROMOTIC 8.2 - Release notes

See also: PROMOTIC system news.

Version 8.2.23 (from 19.11.2015) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- PmgLine object: It was not possible to move object if configured vertically or horizontally.
- PmTeco communication driver: Fixed bug: If 8-byte values were trasmitted (data type LREAL and DATE / DATE_AND_TIME) there were errors occuring.
- PmABradleyDF1 communication driver: Fixed bug: The communication did not work if there were variables demanding data from different DataFile numbers in one PmaCommGroup object.

Version 8.2.22 (from 14.5.2015) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- PmaInstance object: Optimalization and faster loading from the PmaPrototype object at application launch.
- Web panels:
- OpenView method: The size and position of the panel opened in a separate window were not evaluated correctly (i.e. if "target:_blank;").
- PmaPanel object: Fixed bug: JavaScript panels were sometimes rendered incorrectly in InternetExplorer9.
- Data binding SP - Data binding to the object Pm property: Fixed bug: did not work in JavaScript panels.
- PmIEC8705 communication driver: Generalization by types ASDU-5 and ASDU-6

Version 8.2.21 (from 22.4.2015) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- PmgTrendViewer object: in JavaScript panels:
- Improved values rendering of trends by clicking the mouse.
- Web panels: Fixed bug: Bugfixes that conflicted with the old InternetExplorer 8 browser.

Version 8.2.20 (from 4.3.2015) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- PmaAlarmGroup object:
- Bugfix of opening alarm/event viewer on the Web. If $vb was used then in the alarm group identifier the expression was evaluated as empty.
- Bugfix of memory data overwrite while writing into DBF (DBF alarms) if the written value size exceded the column size in DBF.
The patch has also been included into the version Pm8.3.3

Version 8.2.19 (from 2.3.2015) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- Web panels:
- Methods Pm.CreateDate and Pm.FormatDate are now functional.
- Editing is now available in Touchpad browsers that do not support mouse - for example Android. These browsers do not support left mouse button double-click that is used for editing in PmgString and PmgWTable objects. Now it is possible to edit the Pmg object content by opening the Pmg object local menu - i.e. for example in Android system, by long touch over the Pmg object.
- Edit mode in the PmgWEdit object fixed - did not work in Chrome and Android.
The patch has also been included into the version Pm8.3.2
- PmaWorkspace object: Now working for the Web as standard HTML page (old concept of frameset was used before). also the scrollbar function has been fixed on the Web.
- PmMBus communication driver:
- Generalization in ItemId the desired Subunit now can be defined.
- New message type (in the PmaCommMsg object) has been created for reading information about which values can be obtained from the meter.
- Sometimes the "recount to basic physics units" did not work correctly (for VIFE extended type)
- PmABradleyCIP communication driver: Fixed bug: Sometimes the "Reading names of all available variables from the PLC device" message type transmission did not work correctly.

Version 8.2.18 (from 5.11.2014) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- PmgRasterImage object: Fixed bug: The transparency defined of the "Opacity level" configurator was sometimes rendered incorrectly.
- PmaPanel object: Fixed bug: JavaScript panels sometimes caused memory shortages.
The patch has also been included into the version Pm8.3.1
- Web panels:
- Open the panel sometimes failed if characters with diacritics (i.e. national dependent characters) were used in panel parameters.
- The PmgTrendViewer object in JavaScript panels: Optimization of requests for large quantities or high frequency of queries.
- Pmg object rendering improved for old Web browser InternetExplorer 8.
- The patch has also been included into the version Pm8.2.18.
The patch has also been included into the version Pm8.3.1
- PmSNMP communication driver: Fixed bug: Request identifier used wrong format in transmitted data. Only the first 128 messages were trasmitted.
- PmModbusMr communication driver: Fixed bug: Reading and writing bit in the registry (i.e. reading and writing area RoB) did not work correctly.

Version 8.2.17 (from 15.8.2014) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- Web panels: In PmgString and PmgWEdit objects the focus behavior has been improved after the application is closed.
- Panel editor: In the configuration of the "E - Data binding to the general expression" data binding, it was not possible to add another variable.
- PmS7 communication driver: Fixed bug: While reading or writing value of the S5Time type.

Version 8.2.16 (from 12.6.2014) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- PmaAlarmGroup object: Fixed bug: on the "Items" tab, there are new buttons for import/export of items.
- PmaTrendGroup object: Fixed bug: For "Database Oracle cyclic" saving type - deleting old records did not work.
- PmgRasterImage object: Support for WMF format added.
- Pm.GetDateOf method: Available for Web panels.
- PmaWeb object: Fixed bug: Under high load the Web server stopped working (especially with setting of the http service type).
- PmgTrendViewer object: Bugfixes and improvements in JavaScript panels.
- PmBACnet communication driver: Generalization of writing into the device:
- U present-value can now be entered with priority for writing.
- When writing value null for JavaScript or Empty for VBScript, the BACnet value NULL is sent - causing the device to delete the data.
- PmABradleyCIP communication driver: Fixed bug:
- Two PROMOTIC applications were unable to connect to a single PLC.
- "Reading names of all available variables from the PLC device" message type transmission did not work.

Version 8.2.15 (from 24.4.2014) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- Web panels:
- PmgTrendViewer object:
- The printing in the table mode used incorrect formatting.
- Trend printing from Web browser is now functional by methods SaveToHtm and Pm.PrintHtmlPage. The print button in the preconfiguration of the trend viewer is now configured correctly.
- Several rendering bugfixes.
- Web panels:
- If the unsupported data binding VB - Data binding to the script expression or S - Data binding to the text file content were used in the panel, then the Web panel did not open at all. Now it opens, but the bindings are not functional.
- The onMousePress event: (in Firefox or Chrome) worked even if the control was disabled.
- PmMBus communication driver: The option to read meter address (MeterAddr) in ItemId.
- Pm.ScanDate method: Fixed bug: sometimes milliseconds were evaluated incorrectly.
- Pm.NetTestPC method: Fixed bug: the nType=3 (Ping 2) parameter caused memory loss.
- PmaObject.GetOwnedByType method: Fixed bug: The method returned also the object over which the method was called.

Version 8.2.14 (from 4.2.2014) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- Web panels:
- PmaPanel.OpenViewModal method: Method was not able to return the value of the Date type.
- PmgNumber object: The data bindings did not work for Lower limit and Upper limit configurators.
- PmgTrendViewer object: In JavaScript panels:
- The scale background color is now functional (the "Background color" configurator).
- The CursorTime and CursorValue properties are now functional.
- The onCursorTimeChange event is now functional.
- PmaAlarmGroup object: Fixed bug: (alarm history viewer):
- Fixed bug: while the filter was on and with remote alarms (if Storage type = Remote connection via the Web) the scrollbar did not work correctly.
- Optimalization of search and reading of data from history files.
- Pm.StringOper method: New method. Allows to delete starting/ending spaces (trim) and conversion to capital/normal letters. This method for JavaScript replaces the VBScript methods: Trim, LTrim, RTrim, LCase, UCase.
- PmaData.WriteToWeb method: Fixed bug: While writing text value the 0 character was added to the end of the text.
- PmaDataTable.SetArray method: Fixed bug: While writing into a cell the value was not converted to the desired data type of the column.
- PmgTrendViewer object: In JavaScript panels:
- The scale background color is now functional (the "Background color" configurator).
- The CursorTime and CursorValue properties are now functional.
- The onCursorTimeChange event is now functional.
- PmgWTable object: was optimized and is no longer flickering while being rendered.

Version 8.2.13 (from 17.12.2013) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- Web panels:
- Update of automatically generated HTML panels for InternetExporer 11 (in this version, Microsoft again removed support for some previously used technologies).
- PmgRasterImage object: If the "Size" configurator was set to "Over parent", then the PNG format image did not display correctly on the Web.
- PmgTrendViewer object: emulated in HTML (i.e. in JavaScript panels):
- The time is now displayed on mouse cursor.
- Bugfix in the AddTrend method.
- Panel editor: Multiple copying of the "Pmg object parameters" configurator now works.
- PmgWCombo object: the object size did not adapt to font size in runtime.
- PmaAlarmGroup object: Fixed bug: If the "Delete inactive acknowledged (green) (valid only for dynamically created items)" configurator was set in the alarm state viewer, then the alarms were not displayed in the alarm history viewer.
- PmaComm.ClosePort method: This method now does not close the port while the port is being opened.
- Pm.FileCsvWrite method:
- Input value matrix aValues was locked by method calling and then it was not possible to call for example ReDim over the array.
- If the "fileselect:yes;" was set and the file selection window was not confirmed, then the method was written into the file anyway.
- Pm.SetBit method: Sometimes the bit range was not tested correctly causing some writing outside the range.
- Pm.ControlSound method: in the INFO system, an error was generated into /Errors/Global even if the method worked correctly.

Version 8.2.12 (from 5.11.2013) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- Web panels:
- Pm.WndLogon method: Is now functional for alternative Web browsers (other than InternetExplorer).
- PmgTrendViewer object: emulated in HTML (i.e. in JavaScript panels):
- The TimeMin and TimeMax properties are now functional
- Table view of trends is now functional
- PmaAlarmGroup object: Fixed bug: The filtration text is now also transferred when switching between history viewer and status viewer.
- Pm.NetTestPC method: Fixed bug: Returned true randomly even for unaccessible computer.

Version 8.2.11 (from 28.8.2013) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- PmaPrototype object: Important optimalizations that speed up the application start and reduce the size of used memory (e.g. common scripts in instances are initialized only once).
- PmaAlarmGroup.GetStateData method: if the direction is not defined (the parameter from or to is not set) then the records are returned from newest to oldest as described in the documentation. The direction can be entered using the scanstart parameter.
- PmModbusMr communication driver: in the message of the XX-User defined opened function type the number of bytes of received data was not saved into the variable on the "Data-received" tab. The total message length was saved instead.
- Bugfix in communication drivers - sometimes the communication locked under high load.
- PmgCanvas object: new preconfigurations for intelligent valves and pumps.

Version 8.2.10 (from 24.7.2013) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- Fixed bug: In Windows OS XP some data bindings were not evaluated. (this fix is also in version Pm8.1.13).
- Panel editor: It was not possible to edit simultaneously multiple the "PmgObject > Box > Contrast (-100 to 100%)" configurator.
- Web panels: For InternetExplorer 8 (and lower): PmgTrendViewer and PmgWTable objects in JavaScript are not emulated in graphic panels (because this old browser does not observe some important standards) but the browser switches to full ActiveX object view (these ActiveX objects must be installed on client) - similar situation as for VBScript panels.

Version 8.2.9 (from 9.7.2013) - stable version

BUG FIXES:
- Web panels:
- Improved emulation of PmgTrendViewer and PmgWTable object for JavaScript panels.
- Corrected technological and device limits in PmgBarBox and PmgSliderBox objects.
- The Pm.GetBit and Pm.SetBit methods are now functional also for the Web.
- PmgInstance object: Fixed bug: Compilation error ocurred if one PmgInstance object was inserted into another PmgInstance object.
- Alarm and Event system:
- When switching from status viewer to history viewer the view settings and filtering did reset.
- The state browser on the Web was fixed in order to display larger number of alarms.
- PmIEC8705 communication driver: If a value is received with flag of wrong qualifier state, then the Quality property of such value is set to the "0=Bad:NonSpecific" value.
- PmaCommGroup object: Fixed bug: Sometimes the import/export to CSV file did not work correctly.

Version 8.2.8 (from 29.5.2013) - stable version

Since this version, the Promotic8.2 is considered stable. Only necessary bugfixes and new features not affecting system stability will be added to this version.

NEW FEATURES AND BUG FIXES:
- PmSNMP communication driver: Created
- PmRtManager: New utility PmRtManager. It is used for managing runtime of the PROMOTIC application. It allows two basic functions:
- Watching the runtime of the application and restart it if needed (so-called WatchDog). See PmRtManager as WatchDog. This function replaces the original single-purpose tool PmWatchDog.
- Launch an application as Windows service. See PmRtManager as Windows service.
- PmaData.WriteToWeb method: Has been generalized: it is possible to enter which variables are to be transmitted.
- PmgInstance object: Fixed bug: Position was not drawn correctly in the panel editor if the object was embedded into another object.
- Pm.TransformValue method: Generalization of transformation of the of the Double type number (transformation types 200-203, 225).

Version 8.2.7 (from 29.4.2013) - developmental version

NEW FEATURES AND BUG FIXES:
- PmgCanvas new object: Allows free drawing (using JavaScript) into the are of this object.
This object is "revolutionary" in the sense that it gives the application designer a free tool for creation of own graphic. The drawing algorithm may be dependant on item variables and this way change colors, shapes, etc. based on the variables in the application.
There are also some handy preconfigurations prepared for this object, that demonstrate its capabilities.
- PmIEC62056 communication driver: New driver for communication with electricity meters by the IEC62056-21 or IEC1107:1996 standard protocol.
- Localized texts manager: New tool for management of localized texts. It can be launched in the development environment from the > Localized texts manager menu.
- Web panels:
- Improved emulation of the PmgTrendViewer object for JavaScript panels.
- The new PmgFrame.OpenView method.
- PmaTrendGroup object: In configurators Unit and Displayed name of the trend it is now possible to use Macro expression $.text.
- PmaAlarmGroup object: Fixed bug: The GetStateData method did not return data if the type was set to "Remote connection via the Web".
- Pm.ColorOper method: New transfomation type 2 can darken or lighten defined color.

Version 8.2.6 (from 18.3.2013) - developmental version

NEW FEATURES AND BUG FIXES:
- PmgString object: Direct editing is now available (similar as in the PmgWEdit object). Before, it was possible to edit the value only by opening an extra window. See the "Type of editing" configurator.
- Pm.StringJoin method: Returns a string created by merging the substrings contained in 1-dimensional array.
- Pm.StringCmp method: Returns a result of a comparison of the two strings.
- PmElgas2 communication driver: Created
- PmIEC8705 communication driver: Fixed bug: Generalization for the ASDU-103 type.
- Communication drivers: Fixed bug: For virtual serial port (for USB-serial link converter) the methods OpenPort and ClosePort did not work.
- PmaTrendGroup object: In the trend variable in the "Additional parameters" configurator, there is a new item Additional parameters, that allows to enter different column name in the database.

Version 8.2.5 (from 25.2.2013) - developmental version

NEW FEATURES AND BUG FIXES:
- Web panels:
- The "Pattern" configurator is now functional for object PmgRectangle and PmgEllipse.
- The "X corner rounding" configurator is now functional for the PmgRectangle object.
- The Pm.StringScan method is now functional.
- Emulation of the PmgTrendViewer object has been improved for JavaScript panels.
- Alarm and Event system: If the "Storage type" configurator in the PmaAlarmGroup object was set to "Remote connection via the Web" value, then:
- sometimes the GetHistoryData method malfunctioned.
- the status viewer displayed the alarms in wrong colors shortly after opened. The patch has also been included into the version Pm8.1.11.
- the history viewer sometimes caused the system crash. The patch has also been included into the version Pm8.1.11.
- if the alarm is acknowledged by a remote user then more information is available concerning the user. The patch has also been included into the version Pm8.1.11.
- the status viewer did not display the AckerId and UserNote columns on the client side. The patch has also been included into the version Pm8.1.11.
- $.expr macro expression: The pDE variable (object of the Data extensions type) can be used in the expression.
- INFO system: Fixed bug: in the INFO system, sometimes the content of the "/Errors/Script" tab was deleted in runtime (bug since Pm8.2.3 version)

Version 8.2.4 (from 8.2.2013) - developmental version

NEW FEATURES AND BUG FIXES:
- Pm object: New constants were added that are used for mathematic calculations: PI, E, SQRT2, LN10, LN2, LOG10E and LOG2E.
- PmaPanel object: Fixed bug: If the values of panel parameters were entered in the "sViewPars default value" configurator, then the incorrect evaluation occured (bug since Pm8.2.3 version).
- Web panels: Optimalization of trends vieweing by the PmgTrendViewer object on the Web with slow HTTP connection.

Version 8.2.3 (from 28.1.2013) - developmental version

NEW FEATURES AND BUG FIXES:
- Communication drivers:
- PmBACnet communication driver: Created
- PmABradleyCIP communication driver: Fixed bug: Message of the Reading names of all available variables from the PLC device type sometimes generated invalid name list.
- PmModbusMr communication driver: Fixed bug: Bugfix transmission of the message of the XX-User defined opened function type.
- PmMelsecQA communication driver: Fixed bug: When writing a variable into the PLC device the writing sometimes failed
- Web panels: Improved emulation of objects PmgTrendViewer and PmgWTable for JavaScript panels.
- How to create an application using different national languages: Added new supported runtime national languages: Lithuanian (lt).
- PmgObject.GetPar method: by the GetPar method; only the first parameter was accessible.

Version 8.2.2 (from 20.12.2012) - developmental version

NEW FEATURES AND BUG FIXES:
- How to create an application using different national languages: Added new supported runtime national languages: Serbian (latin).
- The "Application" tab of the PmaRoot object: The password protected application (see the "Editing the application with password verification" configurator) was not available for editing (bug since Pm8.2.1 version).

Version 8.2.1 (from 11.12.2012) - developmental version

NEW FEATURES AND BUG FIXES:
- Web panels: Improved emulation of ActiveX objects PmgTrendViewer and PmgWTable for JavaScript panels.
- Pm object: Many new methods were added that replace the original VBScript methods. These new methods are functional also in Web panels (JavaScript and VBScript). The new methods are:
- Pm object: Many new methods were added that replace the original VBScript methods. These new methods are functional also in Web panels (JavaScript and VBScript). The new methods are:
- The "Application" tab of the PmaRoot object: The "Run on start" configurator has been removed. It means that with the development key, the application always starts in development mode. For PmFree applications, it is possible to define in the "Runtime licence type" configurator, whether the application starts in the development environment or in runtime.
- PmaCommGroup object: GetSpecParam and SetSpecParam new methods. These methods allow to read/modify the preset PLC address in some communication drivers ("SlaveAddr").

Version 8.2.0 (from 24.10.2012) - developmental version

NEW FEATURES AND BUG FIXES:
- Panel editor:
- Prototypes and instances: New objects PmgPrototype and PmgInstance have been created.
These objects allow to create a set of common items (instances) based on a common template (prototype). The instances may differ only by position, parameters and variables - everything else is defined in the prototype.
The basic advantage is that by modifying the prototype all its instances are also modified. The comcept is similar as for the objects PmaInstance and PmaPrototype.
- Editor of Pmg objects: The design of configuration window for Pmg objects editing has been modified. The windows now contain tabs used for editing groups of properties. The editing of Pmg objects is now simpler and more effective because additional sub-windows are no longer used.
- PmgAnimImage new object: Displays animated GIF files.
This object is better for animations than the PmgVideo object that is used for avi files playback.
- PmgObject.Vars method: (Changed to object.) of the Pmg object now does not return the value of the object variable, but returns an object representing such variable. Only the Vars.Value property returns the variable value. This modification allows to write into variables also in the Web panel.
- Web panels: The automatically generated HTML pages are now improved in order to work properly in additional Web browsers Firefox, Chrome, Opera .... For full functionality, the panel must be modified:
- the Pmg object events must be written in the JavaScript language. This language has been introduced into the PROMOTIC system and is currently used only for Web panels.
The JavaScript language is more advanced and general, and for the purposes of the PROMOTIC system even simpler than the VBScript language. See Comparison of the VBScript and JavaScript languages.
- PmgTrendViewer and PmgWTable objects are now HTML emulated (i.e. the ActiveX object no longer runs in the Web browser and all works as standard HTML). These objects are not yet fully function in this version - only the basic functions are working now.
Other ActiveX objects are not functional.
- The automated generation of HTML code during panel compilation is now faster and the created HTML pages are smaller.
- PmaWeb object: "Web server type=http internal" now supports persistent connection according to HTTP/1.1. It means that after each request, the connection is NOT terminated and therefore the communication is faster.
- Communication drivers:
- PmABradleyCIP communication driver: New driver for communication with higher series of Allen-Bradley PLCs by the EtherNet/IP-CIP protocol.
- PmABradleyDF1 communication driver: Generalization for EtherNet/IP.
The driver and the licence itself has been renamed (the original name was PmDF1).
- PmModbusMr communication driver:
- Now it is possible to transmit messages for user-defined functions. In the PmaCommMsg object parameters, it is now possible to set the function: XX-User defined opened function.
- Now it is possible to write individual bits (in the PmaCommGroup and PmaCommMsg objects) by the 22-Mask Write Register (Modify Register Using both AND & OR Masks) Modbus function.
- PmMelsecFXS communication driver:
- Generalization in order to be used with the PmaCommGroup object.
- Generalization for larger device ranges, supported by PLC devices since the FX2N type.
- PmFatek communication driver: New driver for communication with FATEK PLC devices.
- Alarm and Event system:
- Now it is possible to save the history also into dBase DBF files, see the "Storage type" configurator and "Parameters for type: dBase III file (*.dbf)".
- When saving the text files, the *.alc/*.evc type files are no longer created. The backup list is now created automatically.
- Data extensions:
- ExtEvent object: new data extension that allows to create an event for the PmaEventGroup object when writing into the variable. It is similar as for ExtAlarmBinary.
- The "Data" tab of the PmaData object: ExtWriteAction: New data extension that defines when the events onItemBeforeWrite and onItemAfterWrite are triggered. Before, this has been set directly in configurators of the variable, but this setting is now converted automatically into a data extension.
- CSV files:
- Export-Import of the PmaData object variables: now it is possible to read and write the configuration of data extensions. All data extensions are in this case saved into a single system text.
- Pm.FileCsvWrite new method: for writing into the CSV file. It it the reversed Pm.FileCsvRead method.
- Macro expression:
- The syntax of macro expressions has been generalized in order to allow creation of "macros in macros", i.e. so the value in macro expression can be a macro expression. The macro expression now it is possible to enter in simple form ("the old way" that does not allow more complex constructions) and in complex form (with brackets that allow to create macros in macros).
- New Macro expression $.expr for very general evaluation.
- Development environment: Development environment PROMOTIC now remebers (in the Promotic.ini file) 10 last edited projects. If you run the Promotic.exe program, then the last edited projects will be listed at launch for selection.
- PROMOTIC licence carrier types: - PmLicServer licence server New type licence carrier that allows to manage multiple PROMOTIC licences on a single server.
If this licencing method is used then the PROMOTIC applications do not need to use the standard HW Keys, but they can obtain the licence by means of Ethernet communication with the "PmLicServer" server.
This is very handy if the application are running on a virtual computer, or if there is a large number of licences used in the enterprise.
- PmaTrendGroup object: The string value of the "Displayed name of the trend" configurator is now localized on the Web also if the local application is switched to another language.
- Users and permissions: The onUserLogonBegin event is naw called also for the network users and therefore it is possible to disable login of a specific user by script.
- The "Application" tab of the PmaRoot object: System datafiles (e.g. the Application.log file) are by default saved in the application folder.
Now it can be changed in the "PmaRoot > Application > To system data files" configurator.
- PmgFrame object: In the PmgFrame object, there is a new method OpenView that allows to open the viewer with parameter.
- Pm.GetSystemInfo method:
- New option "screensaver.active" specifies whether the screen saver is currently active.
- New option "app.zoom" allows to read the application zoom (i.e. the value of the "Application appearance zoom" configurator).
PROMOTIC 9.0.27 SCADA system documentation MICROSYS, spol. s r.o.

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