Toolkit requirements.

Serial Ports

Hi,

Just a thought: Are you using a real serial port or some sort of USB to serial adapter?
If it's a USB adapter, what is it and were you using it with your old computer?

Mark.

 

I'm using the same USB to serial adapter for the last 3 years (Equip). I have finished more than 45 projects using it and I used it with several pc's, and work absolutly fine. The comunication between the pc and the network is perfect.

 

Now Darren..... over the Christmas break did you skip some of your anger management classes ???

Remember you can always ring me for a chat if that will help

 

We still haven't established if he is saving to the database and or network..
Or have we ??
As Dunc said, if he is having trouble with PICED as well then this is not a C-Bus issue.

 

I save to both database and network. When I open the GUI from the database the settings are correct and when I open the same GUI from the network the settings are different !!! And I am talking for the same unit.

 

Do you have access to another C-Bus Network so that you can check if its just this Network thats causing issues?

 

It is not just one network. It happens with the networks. The pics I placed before are from the net in my house. The net in my house was created almost 2 years ago, and since then I have changed 3 laptops and never had any problems!!

 

So you have taken this new laptop to a completely different site and the same thing happens?

 

I know what PSC is on about with some of the advanced aspects of Saturn even though I thought this was sorted some time ago. I can remember lots and lots of fun in this area with wireless - oh boy,,,, but output units - sorry they have been rock solid in the tag since day one. There has to be something fundamental going wrong here. Dunc in on the scent...

 

Yes, exactly. Thatswhy I was wondering if Toolkit cannot coop with Core 2 Duo CPUs. I've used the laptop in diferent sites, new and old with the same results.
It just drives my crazy !!!!!

 

Core Duo

Hi Thanos,
I've got 6 techs all running HP Core Duo machines with no problems.
So i'm not sure if this is were the problem lies.
AS PSC, and Phil have also pointed out, on occasion i have also experienced issues relating to writing data to Saturn and Reflection series switches. I cant comment on Neo, as i very rarely use them.
This however does go back a ways, (approx 18 months) and has since been rectified. One thing that has happened to me before is once i have saved data to a unit, the group address has shifted from one group address column to another (usually one to the right). This only occurs in the network view, and does not corrupt the data within the device, it just presents the information incorrectly in the network window.
Sorry i cant e of more help to you.

 

*** WARNING *** Don't try this at home!

If you want to really cause yourself some MAJOR programming issues try this -

Setup your PC with a cordless keyboard and mouse. Whilst having any Toolkit GUI open, click on a GA drop down box.

Then use a two-way radio to communicate with your mate (or black dog with white dots in Duncan's case) in another room and watch the GA's change before your eyes

I know it's not magic, but it's the closest thing to magic that I have seen since Darren Blake worked for the one company for more than 4 weeks

Now, it might not work with the cheap DSE $49 two-ways; we use those high powered 2ch Motorolas. Try it for your yourself, it keep me entertained for minutes

 

I run a Core 2 Duo machine and all the CIS software works a treat. The HP Credential Manager and HP Bluetooth software is crap but that's off the subject.

Have you done an uninstall of Toolkit, C-Gate, PICED then a full install ???

If you do this watch for virus / firewall software popping up with block messages... The engineers will probably say it is not necessary to reinstall your software (and is should not be) but you don't seem to be getting anywhere

 

It wont hurt, and its a necessary step at some point..

 

This happens to me quite often not only with input units but also with output units and it I can see the shifted group addresses in the network window as well !!! Usually the data within the devices is not corrupted.
I think its gonna be a long weekend for me cause I'll reinstall windows etc and then see what happens. The last step will be to sell my new laptop and get another one.

 

I just upgraded to a nicer laptop and saw that I was having issues right away, as I was under a deadline I didn't really pay attention to the problem and went back to my old laptop. Even with it I noticed that some strange things were happening.

Basically it was like Thanos_GR said, I would set all the parameters then save. when I re-opened the device settings would be changed, one of the common and persistent ones were that the LED indicator settings would change (download devices, walk around job, wonder why all the NEO switches have different settings?). Another one was the groups changing in the NEO as well. All the other devices have been stable.

 

It sounds like Duncan will be coming out of retirement

 

There's a very capable team left at CIS

Curious though.. would be nice to get hold of one these laptops.. failing that, an analysis of the Toolkit Log file might render something useful.

Thanos, if you havent solved the problem yet could you

1. Start Toolkit
2. try programming an output unit on the Network.
3. Take a screenshot of the intended programming and then save the unit to the Network
4. Reopen the same unit from the Network
5. observe that the programming doesnt match what you saved to the Unit
6. Take a screenshot of the incorrect programming
7. Close Toolkit
8. Locate the file C:\Clipsal\CBusToolkit\toolkit.ccl
9. Email the file to [email protected] mark it to the Attention of "George in the software group"..

 

Thats ok with me Duncan. I hope George is following up our thread so he with know what the e-mail is about.

 

Here I have some shots of my toolkit. I wish that this will not happen to anybody else.... it is realy crazy.
I'try to explain in a few words how thinks happen.
Open toolkit and scan my network (it is my own apartment). Then open the GUI of a 8g NEO unit. The first 4 pics are before I make any change or save. (before 01 - 03). I make a change at Key 8, the timer was for 18sec and I changed it to 17sec (pic 'before 04'). Save and close the GUI.
Then open the same GUI again.
LET THE PARY BEGIN !!!!
Pic 'after 01' is what I get straight after the save !!! Ok I thought, correct everything save again and close the GUI.
Open the GUI again. Pic 'after 02' is what I get!!! Correct again, save, close.
Open again. Pic 'after 03' comes up !!!! Correct again, save, close.
Open again. Pic 'after 04' comes up !!!! Correct again, save, close.
Opena gain. Pics 'after 05a, 05b, 05c' come up !!! All these differences after the last save I did !!!! There are more pics but no need to post them. Even the Part Name of the unit was changed from'SALONI_2' to something like '+-_%#***--'. It looks cool though....

I stopped trying, its no use, its a dead end !!! I just conected my old laptop and put everything in order in my network.



before01


before02


before03


before04


after01


after02


after03


after04


after05a


after05b


after05c