xx 2016.13. New features in the TEST tab.

[sean]

Release 2016.13
New functionality with the TEST tab now being moved. Thanks Keith.
Copy/Paste fixed. My wife loves this fix!
Ctl-z connected for undo. Thanks Gil!

Latest releases are found at http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/releases/
Issue Tracker is found here: https://github.com/smeighan/xLights/issues

XLIGHTS/NUTCRACKER RELEASE NOTES:
--------------------------------
2016.13  Mar 15, 2016
    -- enh (keithsw) Add a colour aware test mode ... RGBW.
    -- enh (dkulp)   Optimize the redraws on timer events a bit.   
                      Drops CPU usage from 95% to about 60% on my machine.
    -- bug (gil)     Send render event for effects pasted to multiple cells.  Fixes #497.
   -- enh (keithsw) Move test tab to a separate dialog ... add new ways of selecting channels for testing.
                  Access new TEST tab by going "Tools,Test" from main menu. We removed the TEST tab.
                  Side effect of this change is that switching show directories is now 1000% faster
    -- bug (gil)     Restore the audacity style operation of the Play button and fix animation play/pause.  Fixes #493.
    -- enh (gil)     Connect ctrl-Z to Undo function.
    -- bug (gil)     Fix paste/keyboard placement of effects in partial cells.  Was broken by 2/11 checkin.
    -- bug (dkulp)   When using keyboard shortcuts, don't apply defaults for the panels, use any settings they contain


Here is 11 minute video describing the last three releases.
https://vimeo.com/159105883

[pixelpuppy]

Love the new channel hierarchy tree with models/groups in the new test window.  Thanks Keith! 

[dkulp]

MAC users:   I uploaded two different builds.   One is the normal 2016.13 release. If you aren't the adventurous type, use that one.    The other, the 2016.13-NewLayout file, contains a highly experimental, no-where-near finished, likely crash prone, replacement for the Layout panel.   I mostly just want to get a few folks looking at it to see if it's heading in a good direction.   Right now, creating/deleting models and managing the "Part of my display" setting needs to be done the "old way"  (Model dialogs).  However, once created, there are settings right on the panel for everything else.   Plus, there are some new settings for the arches and trees.  (see if you can find them.. ;-) )

[sean]

Man Dan, I want to try the new LAYOUT screen functionality. It almost makes we want to own a MAC!
7 PC's in the house, only have iphones and ipads from Apple.

[kevinp]

MAC users:   I uploaded two different builds.   One is the normal 2016.13 release. If you aren't the adventurous type, use that one.    The other, the 2016.13-NewLayout file, contains a highly experimental, no-where-near finished, likely crash prone, replacement for the Layout panel.   I mostly just want to get a few folks looking at it to see if it's heading in a good direction.   Right now, creating/deleting models and managing the "Part of my display" setting needs to be done the "old way"  (Model dialogs).  However, once created, there are settings right on the panel for everything else.   Plus, there are some new settings for the arches and trees.  (see if you can find them.. ;-) )

I saw that you had two versions, and is the one I downloaded.  Now to play with this new feature and see what it does, or doesn't do.   

[pixelpuppy]

I noticed this release also includes the GRADIENT option inside the BARS effect.  Thanks Gil! 
(its not mentioned in the release notes)

[sean]

I noticed this release also includes the GRADIENT option inside the BARS effect.  Thanks Gil! 
(its not mentioned in the release notes)

I will add that to the release notes.
We make teh changes so fast , we forget what we have added.

[Dazzled]

Hi Dan I must be the adventurous type as I noticed the the new layout build in release 12 and downloaded it and it seemed to work okay. Didn't want to mention it as I didn't want those poor Windows users to feel left out.
I do like the way the new layout works

Stuart

[gerry]

I have not been able to try out all the stuff as frantically rolling the boulder up the hill (ie trying to catch up on the doco before the next wave).

however , the test changes are great and will make testing specific models really simple. the RGBW change is very nice . As per Keith- When it cycles to red it detects from your models the color order of the pixels and will turn on the red pixel correctly .. not just assume that is channel 1.

This will hopefully prevent one of the most common questions when people start testing their lights - ie why is my red coming out as blue. Perhaps it should be the default option when you enter that screen.

Gil - the Cntrl Z is also the bees knees !
 
Oh and Dan - take your time with releasing that functionality

[Gilrock]

Man Dan, I want to try the new LAYOUT screen functionality. It almost makes we want to own a MAC!
7 PC's in the house, only have iphones and ipads from Apple.

Sean you know how to build the code so you can run the layout changes on Windows.  Just pull the right branch.

[bravado67]

I've been playing around with 2016.13 and must say it is really nice. I love the Crtl Z function. The Copy/Cut & Paste is perfect. I noticed, by accident, when I push my mouse wheel left or right it moves the timeline. This keeps me from having to go to the scroll bar at the bottom of the screen. Nice work!

Ron

[bowhunter3125]

Ok so fired up the E682 tonight, hooked up a couple strings of lights to try out the new tester, for some reason when i turn on the lights, they flash very fast. I stopped the test, opened up the E682 interface and tested from there, it is not my controller or my computer, is this a bug of some sorts?

[algerdes]

Flashing fast is usually a sign that there are more than one control programs trying to send at the same time.  This could be FPP and your computer (running any sequencer), or perhaps two computers loaded with a sequencer.  It could also be a hardware controller in "test mode" and your sequencer.

[bowhunter3125]

Flashing fast is usually a sign that there are more than one control programs trying to send at the same time.  This could be FPP and your computer (running any sequencer), or perhaps two computers loaded with a sequencer.  It could also be a hardware controller in "test mode" and your sequencer.

Thats what i though, however i made sure that there were no other programs running, My Fpp is not even on line and when it first happened the web interface was not up.

[gerry]

I have not tried out the new test function , but did you have a seq playing/open at the same time ?

Which option did you use  ? Try the R-G-B-W option on the 3rd tab of the test function. Assume that your definitions are E131 ?