Hi,
I have sent to Scott the MSM Beta 3 release files for posting on the Machsupport download page. Due to the fact he and I are 3 time zones apart, the files may not be available for download until tomorrow sometime. I’ve also asked that the release notes be avail from the download page so that people can read about the changes before installing the package.
• This release has implemented a major feature: Support for user customization of MachStdMill.
Good news: The feature is now implemented.
Bad News: Implementing the user customization support required massive changes to the entire MachStdMill package. Literally every script file was changed, as well as all the .set files.
This level of change tends to create a decrease in stability. I’m hoping that is not the case for beta 3 – but only you folks will be able to tell me that.
Fortunately, the numerous edits were mostly to change the paths for #Expand statements – so a editing error tends to just not compile, rather than cause subtle runtime differences. I did run thru all the buttons and have been using this change for about a week, so things look OK, but there could be something that was not caught.
A new chapter to the user manual has been added which describes the MSM support for user customizations.
I feel obligated to emphasize this: Customizations are possible – but are entirely your responsibility. CVI will not be supporting user modifications as part of it’s volunteer MSM support effort.
(Blatant commercial: You can always contact me to inquire about the consulting side of Calypso Ventures, Inc. <grin>)
• Beta 3 will require that you uninstall beta 1 and/or beta 2. You do not need to recreate profiles etc. The uninstall is necessary to clean out beta 1-2 files that have moved to new locations in Beta 3.
• All verified Beta bug reports (that can be fixed in MSM) have been fixed – see release notes for details.
• Tightened up tests for use of machine coordinate operations on unreferenced machines.
While this might annoy some users, it was considered as a safety issue and the run time warnings are considered a reasonable trade off. To avoid the warnings, either don’t use these features when unreferenced, or invest in home switches and reference the machine when you start it.
• Programmer’s manual got some corrections, and a new section that has the best list I know for Mach3 V3 “magic numbers”. The list was compiled by people working to assist in creating the revised numbering scheme for V4. The V3 list in the manual is what I’ve used for MSM V3 development and includes updates from as recently as 2 weeks ago.
• MSM Macropump background task:
I’m 95% certain that the cause of the background task stopping has been identified. In beta 3 two things were done re this topic:
1) a watch dog will notice if the MSM Macropump has stopped and alert you.
Good news: you will know if it stopped running.
Bad news: The watch dog will notify you it is not running every 30 seconds.
2) Some changes were made internal to MSM to reduce the probability of the MSM Macropump getting stopped. However, a proper technical fix will require a change inside Mach. So we’ll need a new dev rev to put this one to bed.
• Mach bugs:
Several Mach 3.43.x bugs have been identified and reported to Brian.
Due to the nature of some of the bugs, I am recommending that you stick to 3.43.10 for now and not use 3.43.12 with MSM.
Dave
[Addition 8-2-2010 midnight]
The Programmer ref manual in beta 3 is v0.21 and it had a format issue... the new tables of Button/DRO/LED numbers had the actual numbers off the edge of the page. That made the tables a bit less useful than anticipated.
v0.22 of the manual, with this corrected, can be downloaded form the machsupport documentation page. ]
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