Release Notes

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Latest Release

15/08/04

version 1.4.35 is a defect fixing release

1. Fixed: deletion of Entities, instances and hierarchies in non-incremental update mode
2. Fixed: deletion of cross-references on entity instances
3. Fixed: xref of instances to hierarchy root
4. Fixed: Report menu fixes
5. Added 2 export size options on client side image map export
6. Fixed: Model already loaded error message after closing and trying to reopen a model
7. Added form position persistence to main form and tree menu form

Check the readme for more details 1_4_35.htm

ReadMe Files

1. Latest Release 1_4_35.htm
2. 1_4_29.htm
3. 1_4_8.htm
4. 1_3_46.htm
5. 1_3_43.htm
6. 1_3_32.htm
7. 1_2_5.htm
8. 1_1_30.htm
9. 1_1_25.htm
10. 1_1_22.htm
11. 1_1_8.htm
12. 1_1.htm
13. 0_41.htm
14. 0_1_40.htm
15. 0_1_39.htm
16. 0_1_38.htm
17. 0_1_37.htm
18. 0_1_36.htm
19. 0_1_35.htm
20. 0_1_34.htm
21. 0_1_33.htm
22. 0_1_32.htm
23. 0_1_31.htm
24. 0_1_30.htm
25. 0_1_29.htm
26. 0_1_28.htm
27. 0_1_27.htm
28. 0_1_26.htm
29. 0_1_25.htm
30. 0_1_24.htm
31. 0_1_23.htm
32. 0_1_22.htm
33. 0_1_21.htm
34. 0_1_20.txt
35. 0_1_19.txt
36. 0_1_18.txt
37. 0_1_17.txt
38. 0_1_16.txt
39. 0_1_15.txt
40. 0_1_14.txt
41. 0_1_13.txt
42. 0_1_12.txt

Changes

15/08/04

version 1.4.35 is a defect fixing release

1. Fixed: deletion of Entities, instances and hierarchies in non-incremental update mode
2. Fixed: deletion of cross-references on entity instances
3. Fixed: xref of instances to hierarchy root
4. Fixed: Report menu fixes
5. Added 2 export size options on client side image map export
6. Fixed: Model already loaded error message after closing and trying to reopen a model
7. Added form position persistence to main form and tree menu form

Check the readme for more details 1_4_35.htm

18/07/04

version 1.4.29 is a functional enhancement/defect fixing release

1. Users can now create user defined icons for the entities by saving an icon in the icons folder (see the full release notes for instructions).
2. CTA used to use the clipboard to store temporary versions of pics when exporting to html image map. It now uses temporary files.
3. Added case sensitivity to the search dialog
4. Fixed: Client side image map node name template selection
5. Fixed: Graphical Node Style list population

Check the readme for more details 1_4_29.htm

08/06/04

version 1.4.8 is a functional enhancement release

1. Fixed: Incremental update database backups
2. Added: Application Control Panel. This is a new side panel which has a hierarchy of all the loaded models. You can create shortcuts to windows in the model, organise them into folders. You have 2 scratchpads which can be used to temporarily store model data. The scratchpad under the model is savedto to the database. The Scratchpad at the application level is not persisted. Check out the release notes for more information, but this really makes a difference to the usability of Compendium-TA when the MDI child windows are maximised.

Check the readme for more details 1_4_8.htm

31/05/04

version 1.3.46 is mainly a cosmetic bug fix release

1. Fixed: Changed a lot of minor GUI errors
2. Added: drag and drop hierarchy branches and entity instances between models. Test Analyst Edition only. If an entity exists in both models then you can drag entity instances between models.If the entity instances are on hierarchy branches then they will be copied across. Only entity instances and hierarchy branches can be copied between models.
3. Added: holding down shift key when dropping hierarchy branches within the same hierarchy will display the [copy *] context menu

Check the readme for more details 1_3_46.htm

27/05/04

version 1.3.43 is mainly a bug fix release

1. Fixed: list windows would not reopen after being closed
2. Fixed: entity instances were not saved to disk on incremental update if only a weighting was changed
3. Fixed: the system would close if [Enter] was repeatedly pressed when editing entity definition attributes
4. Weightings Types now include Date, Time and DateTime, the database will be updated and all existing Date weightings will be converted to DateTime

Check the readme for more details 1_3_43.htm

10/05/04

version 1.3.32 has major GUI changes

1. The description/Attributes/Weightings edit are now done on a single properties list type edit
2. Positionable text edit pane for the editing of string values in the properties list
3. Drag and drop of urls as attachments
4. Drag and drop of urls into url fields
5. Date weightings have two icons, one for calender edit and one for time edit
6. Drag and drop files into file weightings
7. Drag and drop to create GOTO relationship
8. GUI optimisations to remove flicker
9. Database persistence optimisation for node/link amendment
10. Removed insitu relationship list creator - relationships now created by drag and drop or xref matrix
11. Fixed a critical error where the system would freeze when editing graphs
12. Updated help file
13. Changed installer to allow for online downloading
14. 12/05/2004 patched to version 1.3.34 to remove warning about missing set values on weighting instances

Check the readme for more details 1_3_32.htm

22/03/04

version 1.2.5 is a big release. Hence the version jump:

1. Incremental updating to the database so when you change it, it gets saved. Switch it on in the application properties. Test Analyst Edition only
2. Updated Application Properties Dialog
3. Added 'Find' functionality to search the model using regular expressions.Test Analyst Edition Only
4. Added a dialog to edit the tools file (Tools Menu)
5. Added a dialog to edit the text box templates (cntrl+ins in a description edit)
6. Internally a lot of changes have been made to the obserer that should make screen updates faster
7. Merged the two hierarchy views into one so now you can expand hierarchies in the main model browser, and can 'explore' hierarchies, graphs, and sub hierarchies in their own windows.
8. Added a wizard type interface to help create new models
9. Update online checks. The system can check for newer versions on line and let you know when one appears, this may be slightly faster than waiting for the newsletter.
10. View graphs as trees, done by setting a node as a node tree or selecting the option to display all nodes as node trees in the application properties. Test Analyst Edition only
11. Move branches from one hierarchy to another, just drag them and you will see a context menu to help complete the move
12. In situ node/link properties editing in the graph edit dialog
13. In situ node/link graphical properties editing in the graph edit dialog
14. Optionally use WinGraphviz dll instead of external .exe
15. Support for GraphViz dot, neato and twopi
16. Support for the full range of GraphViz output formats
17. Simple 'export to visio' option on the editable graph view context menu
18. Zoom buttons on editable graph view
19. Various defect fixes
20. Updated help file, although it still needs to be updated more and refined

This version has been patched to version 1.2.9 to fix a number of small errors: Editing nodes in node trees, API hierarchy.eldestChild command, relationships drop down, hierarchyNode.URL when representing an entity.

This version has been patched to version 1.2.10 to fix an error during conversion of databases created before version 1.2.5 where the genericHierarchyNode level guids were not set to allow nulls - this prevented the rootnodes from being saved into the database. Newly created databases do not suffer from this problem.

Check the readme for more info 1_2_5.htm

21/12/03

version 1.1.30 Have added filtering to lists as the main feature addition. With a fair few defects fixed. Entity Instances can be switched off from being displayed in the main browser with a toggle of an app property. Check the readme for more info 1_1_30.htm

22/11/03

version 1.1.25 Have added .zip archiving as part of the database update, and there is now an autobackup facility so your database can be archived to zip automatically - handy for us paranoid testers. Fixed a defect with the hierarchy browser showing the Expand Now marker branches. Added a url label to the attribute edit so you can launch the url in the url field - very handy. See the release notes for more details.

11/11/03

version 1.1.22 Changed the save to database mechanism (as a precaution, back up your existing databases). Made the hierarchy displays on model view and hierarchy view much faster. Added delete Entity Definition Functionality. Added an XML export for the model. Fixed some defects with forms being left open after an item was deleted.

12/08/03

v1.1.8 Fixed a minor defect relating to the model not being marked dirty when an entity attribute definition was deleted. New Features: changed the information dialogs at startup (mdac,jet, and dot) to use the tips dialog and added a clickable link to the relevant web sites rather than buttons. Changed the sys so the progress of a save is always visible, added the hourglass on intensive processing operations. And you can now delete entity attribute definitions.

2/08/03

v1.1 Biggest change was to the xref matrix which no longer uses an editable flexgrid, the new listview approach is faster and easier to use.

29/07/03

v 0.1.41 A few display updating defects fixed. Save now saves directly when there is only one model loaded rather than showing the model drop down list, and a defect with showing weightings in templates has been fixed.

03/07/03

Version 0.1.39 has been released. This is mainly a bug fix release, you can see the read me for changes that have been made. I've also released an up to date version of the example database and there is an application patch for those of you that have already downloaded the system.

14/05/03

A new expiry date and a global save option from the main File menu so that you don't have to hunt around for the model browser window in order to save a browser. Enjoy. I have only managed to upload the patch at the moment so you need to have a full install of 0.1.37 done first - you can find that in the files list below

27/04/03

OK, and way before the time out period (how efficient is that!) I have released a new version 0.1.37. Two minor defects have been fixed and the timeout period has been extended till June. I thought I would do that before it got too close to the conference date and I suddenly discovered that I didn't have time.

For those of you have have already downloaded a version I have an executable only patch.

And the example database has been updated to be the current v0.1.37 database

17/03/03

Aaargh, sorry about that. I missed the timeout period again. I haven't changed the program in any way, I have been too busy writing up my paper for StarEast 2003 and doing various ISEB stuff. But I have extended the timeout till 15/5/03, which, now that I think about it is slap in the middle of StarEast so check back here around then and there will be a new version here. For those of you that already downloaded the install, you can get the new compendiumTA.exe and just overwrite the old one.

22/01/03

And now, slightly later than planned, just 5 days after the old version timed out, we proudly present 0.1.36, I have extended the beta time limit to 15/3/03.

One major new feature has been added in the form of attachments. Everything can have attachments. So now you don't have to define user defined fields if you just want generic attachments

I've also changed the relative path code so that you can display paths as absolute or relative no matter what they are stored as in the database

 

03/12/02

Again, there isn't much changed in this to make it version 0.1.35, I have extended the beta time limit.

Some minor defects have been fixed, no new features have been added.

I will be sneakily releasing this for public beta now.

I have removed the upgrade install as there really wasn't enough difference in the size to make it worthwhile maintaining two install setups.

20/10/02

There isn't much changed in this to make it version 0.1.34, I have extended the beta time limit.

I have started changing the splitter bars in some of the forms to a more industry standard effect which is also easier to maintain.

Some minor defects have been fixed, no new features have been added.

 

2/9/02

Version 0_1_33 released. Very minor changes this time. There is a new button control that allows me to get rid of those nasty simulated buttons I had coded. Also there is a minor defect associated with links in hierarchies which has been fixed.

I've also uploaded a new version of the example database.

 

29/8/02

Version 0_1_32 released. 

After a long slog pouring over the dlls installed and the microsoft web site trying to figure out what dll does what, I eventually pared the setup down to the minimum I feel comfortable paring it down to. As a result it doesn't have MDAC or JET, you probably have these installed, and if you don't the app will detect this and point you in the correct direction to download them (its friendly like that).

The install routine has been tested on win98, win98SE, NT4.0 sp3, NT4.0 sp4, XP & 2000 and because it doesn't overwrite any critical system files it should be safe on every machine. 

Main changes are:

1. recent files list
2. safe install file.
3. tidied up popups on graph edit
4. minor cosmetic changes and bug fixes

15/8/02

Version 0_1_31 released. 

I'm obviously a little over my self imposed deadline of late July for this tool, but I keep finding bugs so it can't go out just yet I want to explore the rest of the system a bit more first.

1. Main Changes:
2. extends the timeout period to 15/9/02
3. reinstates the topmost node/link styles form using a different mechanism
4. extend goto tab to show structural references
   what hierarchy is it in, what path, what graph, inlinks, outlinks, fromnode, tonode, entity
5. standardised tree browser popup menu new > functionality
6. bug fixes (for all the details see 0_1_31)

 

27/7/02

A quick patch before my holiday - fixes a bug in the help file (broken links), and a few other misc bugs that I hadn't noticed, but thought I'd better squeeze in. see the read me (0_1_30) for more details. This is just a self extracting zip so you need to have version 0.1.29 installed to patch over.

 

19/7/02

Version 0_1_29 released. This updates the exe with a critical bug fix and a few minor features.

Minor features are: relative paths as FILE attributes, explore & print FILE attributes. Integrate with word spell check (really just a quick hack), email support option. Graphical Styles dialog look'n'feel changes.

The critical bug fix was on the Graphical Styles dialog, it sometimes caused the app to crash when it closed. I've had to make it so that it is no longer always on top :[

I've uploaded a new up to date example database (exampleDatabase.exe) (300kb)

 

11/7/02

Version 0_1_28 released. This updates the exe with a few bug fixes and MORE features.

Also updated is the faqReports.exe as I didn't build the .exe for this correctly to allow templates to be chosen.

New Features - tools menu (user defined tools), OLE for linked document previews, GOTO tab to show and jump to the related entities, better colour picker on the graph edit, enhanced dot functionality so that the dot diagrams look as close to the user defined ones as possible.

As promised is the checklist.exe add on for generating checklist reports - VERY useful for testers.

I've also uploaded a new up to date example database (exampleDatabase.exe) (300kb)

 

6/7/02

Version 0_1_27 released. This updates the exe with a few bug fixes. Also updated is the faqReports.exe add on to allow templates to be chosen, and versionTrackingReports.exe for a minor display defect.

I've also uploaded an up to date example database (exampleDatabase.exe) (300kb)

 

2/7/02

The app should now be time limited until 30/7/02 - but still don't tell anyone. I've added a templating system as well as a macro system. The documentation has been updated. There are now some examples of templating and macro programming. The files are now hosted on a different server and the links should be redirecting.

19/6/02

After unit testing the API, I have fixed a few bugs and added some functionality. The help file is now integrated with the app now so you can call it up from the help menu - like a normal app!.

I have also setup the initial marketing page at www.compendium-ta.com

And changed the license agreement. see the readme for more info 0_1_25.htm

17/6/02

I've added a lot of error trapping code, fixed a fair few bugs, changed the install program and I've changed the mailing list program.

6/6/2002

A Quick release to fix some bugs. see the readme for more details betatest/0_1_23.htm. This is a patch release so is fairly small (750K) download it, unpack it, and overwrite your existing .exe

5/6/2002

Another release, lots of bugs have been fixed - check out the readme (betatest/0_1_22.htm.htm). The download has increased in size - which I didn't expect but the example database has increased in size and the help file is in there now and it is quite big.

I have been doing quick tests on it when documenting and am just about to start on a thorough bug hunt.

Some late last minute bugs were fixed after the Coleman walkthrough (thanks phil) - warning - I did an install on XP and it worked fine - I tried it on 2000 and it wouldn't install - you may have to extract some of the files manually - the setup.lst should tell you where they go. I will be building a new install using innosetup but haven't got that set up yet! This is a quick release for those of you who have requested a new version to beta test.

13/5/2002

Quick Patch - the dbdefns in the archive has some bugs so you will not be able to create a new database unless you download the correct definitions dbdefn.zip

8/5/2002 v0.1.21

This is a very exciting release as the app now has the ability to have user written macros in any application that supports active scripting - currently this is vbscript, jscript, python, perl and I think PHP can to if you get the active state one.

The system comes out the box with vbscript support, and all the reports are written in vbscript. These can be found in the scripts directory of the application. 

I was faced with the choice of writing a templating report system or adding the script control and documenting the API. Templating would have taken as long as the scripts but the scripts are enormously more flexible. It just means I have to document it - currently not done but there is enough information there to customise it if you want to.

The main purpose of this release was to:

1. add reporting, via scripting
2. custom reports for defect reporting and version tracking
3. to change the load entity defn from database mechanism and interface
4. remove the window less controls and rtf control from the project and various other unused controls

 

26/4/2002 v0.1.20

1. reinstated this page as the php one was not working as I had hoped
2. download.php will not be maintained

 

19/3/2002 v 0.1.17

1. a new installer has been used so you will have to download the new msi file (If you don't have the new windows installation program on your system which allows you to run these then let me know and I'll figure out how to get it to you)
2. the release notes are here
3. although the documentation has not been updated, the system is becoming self documenting so download the new example database
4. I'm also removing all the old install files and patches off the server so you really have to start from scratch.

 

8/3/2002

1. There have been a few bug fixes and GUI changes - check the readme for details - I think that the main ones are the graphical styles on the graphs, and the generic hierarchies being the other. I say that casually but the generic hierarchies are the foundation for something big.
2. I am uploading a full install this time as I was starting to get confused about which dlls are used and which aren't so I haven't patched it like I normally do - sadly that means a 3.7 meg download but from here on out I will track the dlls more closely.
3. the example database has been updated because of the new structure

1/3/2002

1. OK there have been a few GUI changes but the main change is the addition of a database. The database is still used as a file system so you have to hit save to save to the database like you did with the file but it means that the data is more open and I can now start looking at reporting options. It will also make it easier to test and tweak data.
2. bug fix release of testtool.exe (zipped) can be downloaded without reinstall, overwrite existing testtool5.exe file (requires setup.zip already installed). This requires manually moving 2 contained dlls into your system folder if they are not there already. (dao360.dll, richtx32.ocx)
3. release notes for the above exe also contained in the download zip
4. example database  

 

11/2/2002

1. Moved this into frontpage like the rest of the site. Added the Bazooka Board so feel free to leave messages

28/1/2002

1. bug fix release of testtool.exe (zipped) can be downloaded without reinstall, overwrite existing testtool5.exe file (requires setup.zip already installed).
2. release notes for the above exe also contained in the download zip

14/1/2002

1. bug fix release of testtool.exe (zipped) can be downloaded without reinstall, overwrite existing testtool5.exe file (requires setup.zip already installed).
2. release notes for the above exe also contained in the download zip

11/1/2002

1. bug fix release of testtool.exe (zipped) this can be downloaded without having to reinstall, just unzip and overwrite the existing testtool5.exe file (assuming that setup.zip has already been downloaded).
2. release notes for the above exe also contained in the download zip

10/1/2002

1. bug fix release of testtool.exe this can be downloaded without having to reinstall, just unzip and overwrite the existing testtool5.exe file (assuming that setup.zip has already been downloaded).
2. release notes for the above exe
3. I forgot to post the example test model

7/1/2002

1. initial release: testtool.chm (html help file), gv1716b1.exe (the dot distribution), setup.zip (the main vb setup prog)