Announcing Px Compiler

A standalone program that adds enhanced graphic editing features to Alerton’s Compass software. The following features will allow users to build their graphics faster and with fewer mistakes along the way:

  • Nest a display (or template) within another display.
  • Directly link text fields to data in the Bactalk Device Database.
  • Automatically rebuild graphics when device properties change in the database.

 

Px Compiler is easy to learn and use because it runs in the background and requires little user interaction.

Details

Announcing Px Compiler

Variable Injection Feature:

You no longer have to type VAV box names or locations on quick views or floorplans. Variable Injection allows you to link a plain text item to a device property, the text will be filled in automatically.

Variable Injection allows device properties from the Bactalk Device Database (e.g. Device Manager Table) to be linked to text fields in the graphics. Optionally, the track database feature can be enabled which will detect when a linked property has changed in the database. At this point, Px Compiler will automatically rebuild the graphic so your text is always up to date.

Details

Welcome to the ddcToolbox

A site dedicated to tools and utilities that support the creation and maintenance of programs and graphics for Alerton DDC systems.
Supporting EBT, ABS and Compass development environments.

ddcBar Release v21.8.28 for Subscription and Timed License Holders

Aug 29, 2021 |

A new release of ddcBar version 21.8.28 is available for subscription and timed license users. The following list describes the updates and improvements.

  • Fixed issue where ddcBar was using the gen-4 naming convention for the objnames in VLC-E controllers.
  • Fixed design of default minibar file to support all I/O-Tab colors.
  • Fixed issue in Compare where previous Sequence-Range settings would be used when reopening the Compare dialog.
  • Added support for none and null in Search-and-Replace.
  • Added 3 replaceable parameters to the Point Editor Fill column with user data command.
  • Added additional sections to DefaultFieldValue.ini to support more database configurations.
  • Changed ddc+database+controller name displayed in various ddcBar dialogs to include the ddc type (bd3,bd4,bd6,bd9).

Quickview Creator Update

Jul 25, 2021 | ,

A new release of the ddcTooset for perpetual and subscription licenses is available. This release addresses an issue where text objects used in the main display objects could be repeated as summary area objects. Additional features have been added to support the use of text objects in the summary area as well as auto-populating the text of button and text objects in the summary area. The auto-populate can insert the device-id or the incrementing number.

See the downloads page for details.

 

Timed Licenses for Offline Activation

Jun 14, 2021 |

Timed licenses for offline activation are now available for ddcbar and ddcToolset. This type of license will allow you to use the latest versions of ddcBar and ddcToolset in those areas that do not have regular access to the internet for license validation purposes. They are available in 5 and 25 seat multi-user levels and come with a 2 year time period. At the end of the time period the software is disabled from further use. At that time you can purchase a 2-year refresher pack to extend the license further.

Important

To use a timed license you must use software versions 21.6.13 and later.

 

Announcing Px Compiler

Apr 25, 2021 |

Announcing the Px Compiler – a utility program which adds enhanced graphic editing features to Alerton’s Compass software. Px Compiler allows one to embed 1 or more graphic displays inside of another graphic display. This simple, yet powerful, feature makes it possible to “nest” a display (or template) onto many other displays without relying on copy/paste. Read more on the Px Compiler page.

 

New ddcbar and ddcToolset Releases

Apr 25, 2021 | ,

Both ddcbar and ddcToolset have available on the downloads page new releases. Please note that these new releases no longer offer a perpetual license but are sold in software subscription form. The following list summarizes some of the new features.

  • ddcbar adds auto In/Out-Tabs coloring based on BACnet point type as well as 2 additional colors to select from.
  • Viewpoint has been updated to include device-manager database along with tabbed windows. Viewpoint now hosts the ddcBar Project Point Reference database tool which has also been improved.
  • The subscription license now allows the account administrator to remove seats using the management portal.
  • Upgrades may be available for existing customers who are covered by a current support coverage plan. Contact sales@ddctoolbox.com with your activation code to see if you qualify.
  •  Multi-user accounts who migrating to subscription are eligible for a free 1 year license for the Px Compiler program. See the Special Offer page for details.

Announcing Software Subscriptions for ddcBar and ddcToolset

Apr 25, 2021 | ,

ddcBar and ddcToolset have now converted to a subscription based licensing. The new license system allows multi-user/multi-computer support using a single code with end-user seat management now accessible using the account portal. Seat counts follow the perpetual license increments with an additional 2-seat level.

Multi-User

Multi-user licenses are available and can be purchased in the same seat levels as the perpetual products. Using the subscription licensing method now allows the license administrator to remove seats (users) using the management portal web site.

Single User

Single users can purchase a 1 or 2 seat license for work with multiple computers. Using a 1-seat license the user can deactivate the seat on one computer and activate it on another. Or they can purchase the new 2-seat license to work with multiple computers simultaneously..

Timed Licenses for Server Rooms

For those uses who need a license for offline installations (no internet access) there is a timed license available in the same seats counts as the subscription plans. These licenses allow you to purchase a 1-year and higher (in 1 year increments) timed access to use the software. You will still need to perform a 1-time offline activation for each seat which requires the end user to copy a file to a computer with internet access. Timed licenses do not allows the administrator to remove seats using the management portal.

Perpetual licenses will no longer be offered

Older perpetual license will no longer be offered but are fully supported with technical support. No new releases are planned although critical patches will still be applied as needed. To help migrate existing perpetual license holders who are still covered by a support plan there is available a upgrade path.

Updated Viewpoint and ddcbar Project Point Reference

Apr 25, 2021 |

Both Viewpoint and ddcBar’s Project Point Reference have been updated to improve their functionality. Viewpoint has been modernized to allow multiple open tabbed windows in 4 available pane layouts. Each windows can display a point database, a bactalk.mdb device manager file or a ddcBar Project Point Reference. The ddcBar ribbon command to open the project point reference now opens the Viewpoint program which in turn can load the project point database. If you are a licensed ddcBar user the Viewpoint program allows you to access a right-click menu to write point data to shapes in a Visio drawing window much like ddcbar’s Point Editor.

 

ddcBar Adds Auto Tab Coloring

Apr 25, 2021 |

ddcBar version 21.4.25 adds automatic In/Out-Tab coloring based on point type. Each BACnet point types can be assigned any of the 10 available colors (the 10 colors can also be user customized). A new ribbon command allows you to update all the drawings In/Out-Tabs with a single click.ddcBar monitors and changes the colors as you edit tabs or when a ddcBar process is applied to drawing tabs.

 

February 2021 Software Updates

Feb 25, 2021 |

New software updates for ddcBar and the ddcToolset are available on the downloads page.

ddcBar

  • Corrected issues in the ddc script engine where the sequence-devices and substitute-points options were being skipped.
  • Changed the minibar window settings to correct issue with visibility on some Visio installations. Also corrected issue with window sizing in Visio 2013.
  • Fixed issue where ddcBar could cause Visio to prompt to Save drawing when no edits were made.
  • Added support in Point Editor for larger point data sets imported from the Device Settings shape.
  • Html context help has been superseded by PDF manuals.

 

ddcToolset

  • Minor maintenance release. No new features.

ddcBar Update Available

Dec 13, 2020 |

Version 20.12.10 of ddcBar is available on the Downloads page. This update includes the following items.

  • Corrected issues with the import and export of the COV point data to remote Access and Excel point database files.
  • Improved ddcBar load times when Visio starts.
  • Improved support for loading multiple drawings from Windows file explorer or command line.
  • Added ability to use a range of sequences in DDC Compare.
  • Added support for Visio lines and rectangle shapes in DDC Script (some limitations on theme properties support).

Maintenance Release for ddcBar and ddcToolset Available

Oct 15, 2020 |

Maintenance releases for ddcBar and ddcToolset are available on the downloads page.

ddcBar v20.10.13

  • This release contains the official support for the latest Alerton VIP-363-HOA_Builder.xlsm workbook (version 2.2).
  • This release contains the official support for the latest Alerton VIP-363-VAV_Builder.xlsm workbook (version 2.1).
  • Updated the user interface in the Building Controller Configurator for saving point descriptors. Fixed issue where the DEL key in any cell would always delete the descriptor text.
  • Fixed issue in writing to Excel workbooks where No-Units was specified.
  • Fixed issue where opening multiple files using the Visio file-open dialog would cause point editor to all use a single database.
  • Added additional support for office theme colors.

ddcToolset v20.10.13

  • Fixed issue in QDC where clicking on the Static-Objects tab would cause an exception error if the grid was empty.
  • Fixed issue in DFC where an incorrect message about a missing license file would appear when the product was in fact licensed.