Monday, March 26, 2018
NCS Dummy 0 6 0 0 User Guide
NCS Dummy 0 6 0 0 User Guide
As usual months overdue but the new version is finally here: NCS Dummy 0.6.0.0!
Refer to the first post of this topic for a download link and updated user manual. As you might gather from the screenshot below there have been considerable changes so I would strongly recommend to at least have a quick peek at the updated user manual to get familiar with new and changed functionality in NCS Dummy 0.6.0.0.
0.6.0.0 (2013-02-03)
The original idea for the next version was to only improve the user interface but in the process several exciting new features were added that should make NCS Dummy even more powerful...
The redesigned user interface is of course the most obvious change. In NCS Dummy 0.5.0.0 the graphical trace editor was added as an afterthought, but it turned out to be hugely popular for viewing and modifying trace files. In NCS Dummy 0.6.0.0 the graphical trace editor was upgraded from an afterthought to the primary way of working with NCS Dummy. It moved to the "Modules and Traces" tab and can now be used to view module functions and trace differences as well. The graphical trace editor is no longer sorted alphabetically, but respects the order used in the module description file. Colored groups help keeping overview in large modules.
One of the most requested features was to be able to resize the trace editor. Youll be happy to learn that NCS Dummy now has a resizable and maximizable window, and remembers the window size and location between sessions. After the first start the application uses its minimum window size but you can resize it to your liking. Note that resizing only works on the "Modules and Traces" tab but the application can be maximized from any tab. The DPI awareness was further improved and the application now follows the operating system font. The latter has an impact on Windows Vista/2008/7/8 which use a slightly larger font than previous Windows versions. The effect of this is that NCS Dummy scales larger - the application needs more screen space to display the same information. In order to maximize the number of visible rows in the graphical trace editor for users of smaller displays, command line argument /smalldisplay was added:
NcsDummy.exe /smalldisplay
This will slightly decrease the font size (on Windows Vista/2008/7/8) and reduce the log height. Its not a huge difference but can really make a difference on small displays. If you like the result create a shortcut to the NCS Dummy executable that appends this argument.
Another feature that was requested frequently is the ability to search on keywords in all modules of a chassis - not just in the graphical trace editor. You can now filter all modules of a chassis by keyword or order option (see chapter 3.5. Filter Modules by Keyword).
But it doesnt stop there... NCS Dummy can now determine which module matches the currently loaded FSW/PSW or nettodata trace file! Thats very useful if you dont know the correct module for a trace file (see chapter 3.6. Filter Modules by Trace File).
Perhaps even more exciting is the ability to add new parameters to modules from within the graphical trace editor and update the NCS Expert DATEN files with the changes (see chapter 3.1.4. Adding New Parameters). This provides an easy to use and idiot proof alternative to disassembly and assembly. Some functionality still requires manual disassembly and assembly, but in most cases you can use the graphical trace editor instead.
NCS Dummy 0.6.0.0 can update checksums in ZST DATEN files (<chassis>ZST.000 and <chassis>ZST.M00), as well as in NFS data files (*.0DA), NFS program files (*.0PA) and NFS NAAB boot update description files (*.0BA).
In NCS Dummy 0.5.0.0 order options were introduced as optional information. Because many people did not realize the order options can be useful in identifying seemingly meaningless parameters like "wert_01" and "wert_02", they are enabled by default in NCS Dummy 0.6.0.0. However, loading order options has a severe impact on the loading times of large chassis (like E60 and E89). If you think this is unacceptable disable "Load order options" on the "Options" tab but keep in mind you miss out on a lot of information.
One complaint about previous versions was the lack of translations for many keywords. For the new version I single-handedly added over 10000 new translations bringing the total to over 14700 translations! Despite this huge increase there are still almost 12000 keywords not yet translated. Older chassis up to the E53 should be covered quite well, the E60 has a fair amount of modules translated but anything newer did not get many new translations. Sorry for that, but Id like to remind everyone that each of you can help expanding the translations by sending me corrections and new translations. The translations are a community effort.
There have been many other minor changes that should make NCS Dummy better and easier to use, but Ill leave those up to you to discover... Enjoy!
Refer to the first post of this topic for a download link and updated user manual. As you might gather from the screenshot below there have been considerable changes so I would strongly recommend to at least have a quick peek at the updated user manual to get familiar with new and changed functionality in NCS Dummy 0.6.0.0.
Whats new since the last release?
0.6.0.0 (2013-02-03)
- Completely redesigned user interface. All user interface changes would make a list larger than the combined change logs of all previous versions. Listed below are just the highlights.
- Resizable and maximizable application window. Window size and location are saved between sessions.
- Moved the graphical trace editor to the "Modules and Traces" tab and removed the "Trace Editor" tab.
- The graphical trace editor is now also used to display module contents or changes between trace files.
- The graphical trace editor is no longer sorted alphabetically but exactly as defined by the module description files. Together with the addition of groups this should make the trace editor contents much more logical.
- The graphical trace editor now shows the complete module contents for nettodata trace files or all functions in the module for FSW/PSW trace files. Items that do not occur in the loaded trace file are shown in a disabled state, but can be enabled and included in exported trace files.
- Many "Browse..." buttons have now dropdown menus with shortcuts to useful functions.
- "Path to NCS Expert DATEN folder" moved to "Options" tab.
- Second trace file input field hidden by default to save space for the graphical trace editor. To compare trace files either use the trace file 1 "Browse..." button dropdown menu or unhide the second trace file input field on the "Options" tab.
- Checkboxes to export translations, control unit data and order options moved to the dropdown menus of the "Chassis Functions", "Module Functions" and "Trace Differences" buttons. The settings are saved individually for each button.
- Usage of order options is now enabled by default. This has a severe impact on the loading times of large chassis (like E60 and E89). If you think this is unacceptable disable "Load order options" on the "Options" tab but keep in mind you miss out on a lot of information.
- Removed functionality to export function, parameter and option keyword lists. For those who used this to find the highest keyword identifier, the disassembly tool will now automatically add a commented entry with the next highest identifier at the end of disassembled keyword lists.
- NCS Dummy now follows the system font and has improved DPI awareness. Since Windows Vista/2008/7/8 use a slightly larger font than Windows XP/2003 the application is scaled larger on these operating systems. This has a negative effect on the available space for the graphical trace editor. For users of small displays command line argument /smalldisplay was added which decreases the font and log size to maximize the available space for the graphical trace editor.
- The registry path where NCS Dummy stores its settings has been changed to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware evtorNCS Dummy.
- Remember last loaded chassis between sessions (can be disabled on the "Options" tab).
- Filter modules by keyword or order option.
- Filter modules by FSW/PSW or nettodata trace file.
- Add parameters to functions from within the graphical trace editor and update the actual NCS Expert data files with the changes. This should greatly reduce the need for manual disassembly and assembly. Backups are created on the first change and can be restored from within NCS Dummy.
- Multiword functions are now linked. All changes to a multiword function are duplicated in its counterpart.
- Ability to search backwards in the graphical trace editor by holding the SHIFT key while searching.
- Ask to empty FSW_PSW.MAN trace manipulation file on application exit (can be disabled on the "Options" tab).
- 10000+ new translations.
- Small changes to the output of disassembled DATEN files (formerly called Ediabas files). Files disassembled with previous versions are not compatible with this version.
- Checksum updater for ZST files.
- Checksum updater for WinKFP/NFS files.
The redesigned user interface is of course the most obvious change. In NCS Dummy 0.5.0.0 the graphical trace editor was added as an afterthought, but it turned out to be hugely popular for viewing and modifying trace files. In NCS Dummy 0.6.0.0 the graphical trace editor was upgraded from an afterthought to the primary way of working with NCS Dummy. It moved to the "Modules and Traces" tab and can now be used to view module functions and trace differences as well. The graphical trace editor is no longer sorted alphabetically, but respects the order used in the module description file. Colored groups help keeping overview in large modules.
One of the most requested features was to be able to resize the trace editor. Youll be happy to learn that NCS Dummy now has a resizable and maximizable window, and remembers the window size and location between sessions. After the first start the application uses its minimum window size but you can resize it to your liking. Note that resizing only works on the "Modules and Traces" tab but the application can be maximized from any tab. The DPI awareness was further improved and the application now follows the operating system font. The latter has an impact on Windows Vista/2008/7/8 which use a slightly larger font than previous Windows versions. The effect of this is that NCS Dummy scales larger - the application needs more screen space to display the same information. In order to maximize the number of visible rows in the graphical trace editor for users of smaller displays, command line argument /smalldisplay was added:
NcsDummy.exe /smalldisplay
This will slightly decrease the font size (on Windows Vista/2008/7/8) and reduce the log height. Its not a huge difference but can really make a difference on small displays. If you like the result create a shortcut to the NCS Dummy executable that appends this argument.
Another feature that was requested frequently is the ability to search on keywords in all modules of a chassis - not just in the graphical trace editor. You can now filter all modules of a chassis by keyword or order option (see chapter 3.5. Filter Modules by Keyword).
But it doesnt stop there... NCS Dummy can now determine which module matches the currently loaded FSW/PSW or nettodata trace file! Thats very useful if you dont know the correct module for a trace file (see chapter 3.6. Filter Modules by Trace File).
Perhaps even more exciting is the ability to add new parameters to modules from within the graphical trace editor and update the NCS Expert DATEN files with the changes (see chapter 3.1.4. Adding New Parameters). This provides an easy to use and idiot proof alternative to disassembly and assembly. Some functionality still requires manual disassembly and assembly, but in most cases you can use the graphical trace editor instead.
NCS Dummy 0.6.0.0 can update checksums in ZST DATEN files (<chassis>ZST.000 and <chassis>ZST.M00), as well as in NFS data files (*.0DA), NFS program files (*.0PA) and NFS NAAB boot update description files (*.0BA).
In NCS Dummy 0.5.0.0 order options were introduced as optional information. Because many people did not realize the order options can be useful in identifying seemingly meaningless parameters like "wert_01" and "wert_02", they are enabled by default in NCS Dummy 0.6.0.0. However, loading order options has a severe impact on the loading times of large chassis (like E60 and E89). If you think this is unacceptable disable "Load order options" on the "Options" tab but keep in mind you miss out on a lot of information.
One complaint about previous versions was the lack of translations for many keywords. For the new version I single-handedly added over 10000 new translations bringing the total to over 14700 translations! Despite this huge increase there are still almost 12000 keywords not yet translated. Older chassis up to the E53 should be covered quite well, the E60 has a fair amount of modules translated but anything newer did not get many new translations. Sorry for that, but Id like to remind everyone that each of you can help expanding the translations by sending me corrections and new translations. The translations are a community effort.
There have been many other minor changes that should make NCS Dummy better and easier to use, but Ill leave those up to you to discover... Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.