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Wednesday, February 15, 2023 · 0 min read

Dewesoft X3 SP6 Released

The Dewesoft team is pleased to announce the release of the new Dewesoft X3 SP6.

Another edition of the X3 software is highlighted by the official release of the C++ Script and a redesigned installer, along with a brand new software updater.

In addition, we’ve also added the possibility of reading the LIN bus and a new convenient way for scaling non-linear data. On the licensing side, we have implemented support for new licensing bundles, which are application-oriented and offer you a ton of functionality at attractive prices.

As always, there are also a bunch of other minor improvements across X3 SP6, which are bound to make your everyday data acquisition experience even better than before.

C++ script 

The C++ Script is Dewesoft's new tool for creating custom math modules. It exists as a compromise between the formula's simplicity and the full power of plugins, allowing users to write complex Dewesoft math modules with ease. It can process data from an arbitrary amount of input channels into an arbitrary amount of output channels, enabling you to simplify and generalize your Dewesoft setups.

While some knowledge of the C++ programming language is required for creating custom scripts, we have worked really hard on making the interface to Dewesoft as clean as possible by reducing the number of exposed elements from Dewesoft to a minimum and replacing them with nice, easy-to-use abstractions. Developers can create new C++ Scripts from within Dewesoft with no additional external tooling, just as they would create a Formula module. Compilation of the code is done on the fly as you type, which facilitates a very quick feedback loop: developers can play around with different ideas and test them via measure mode in seconds, making the C++ Script a great tool for quick prototyping.

C++ script in Dewesoft

One of the best things about the C++ Script is that, unlike the Formula modules, custom scripts can be completely general. While the C++ Script can be used in exactly the same way as the Formula module, custom C++ Scripts can also be exported into stand-alone bundles. These bundles can then be added to Dewesoft's addons folder, from which point on they can be used just like any other math module. Creating generic math modules for Dewesoft has never been easier!

While the C++ Script is a powerful module with countless use cases, it is useless if nobody knows how to work with it. That is exactly why we have created some great resources to help you get off the ground. To start, we would recommend checking out the webinar on the topic, which can serve as a great source of motivation for using C++ Script in your setups. We have also created a fantastic PRO training designed specifically for new users which teaches most of the important concepts of C++ scripting from scratch via the creation of a useful math module. For those that would like to know even more, a manual explaining all of the features of the C++ Script in detail is also available.

New Dewesoft installer

With X3 SP6 we have built the entire software installer from scratch with a completely new engine. The first advantage of the new installer is that it allows users to modify the installation, meaning extensions can be added or removed directly from the installer using the "Modify" option.

Dewesoft X3 SP6 also has the option of using an online installation, which enables users to only download a small .exe file for the installer and then the files that Dewesoft requires are downloaded during the installation. As we are fully aware that some users can not access the internet at all times, we will always have an offline version of the installer available on our webpage.

The most exciting feature of the redesigned installer is that users now have the option to check for updates within Dewesoft, view the changelog and then perform the update. Once the user clicks on the “Check for updates...” button, a changelog will appear with all of the new features and bug fixes available in the new version.

Installer DewesoftX

The design of the changelog itself was also greatly improved. Instead of a long list of items, it is now divided into sections. Each section is a component inside Dewesoft (like FFT, Recorder, Settings,...) and has its own list of added features and fixed bugs - making it much more organized and thus easier to read.

Update DewesoftX

LIN bus

The LIN bus plugin allows Dewesoft users to simply connect and listen to communication on multiple LIN networks. Using Vector hardware, we mimic listen-only slaves that listen to all data transmission on the bus. The configuration of Vector hardware couldn’t be any simpler! Dewesoft automatically detects LIN capable Vector devices that are connected to your system and configures them, so that they are ready for use right away.

The graphical user interface is designed to be simple and intuitive. In setup mode, all LIN signals are shown in the grid with a live preview of the decoded data from the bus, allowing users to make sure that the data is being decoded in the right way. The plugin can decode the bus data in three different ways:

  • Analog data with extensive scaling options,

  • Discrete data,

  • A mix of both decoding options.

LIN bus

To make the configuration process even simpler, LIN description files (LDF) can also be imported into Dewesoft, making the process of setting up larger LIN networks just a matter of a few clicks.

Scaling module

The scaling module is a brand new free of charge math module that allows users to scale any scalar channel. The main purpose of the module is to allow users to scale their input data and be able to keep two channels, raw and scaled  While the module is designed to scale data that is not linear, the same interface can also be used to scale linear data. There are three scaling types that you can choose from:

  • From sensor

  • Polynome

  • Table

Polynome and table scaling are pretty self-explanatory as they allow users to enter coefficients that are used to scale the selected input channels. The scaling characteristic of a table or the polynome that the user enters is nicely displayed on the graph on the right side of the setup screen. To make the scaling setup as convenient as possible, we have added copy-and-paste functions that allow users to either import or export the coefficients. Additional information about the scaling module can be found by pressing F1 when using the function which leads to the online manual.

Scaling moduler

Other features and improvements

Convenience/usability

  • Ability to delete an entire display group

  • Show the non-linear scaling table in the channel setup window

  • Ability to create multiple CAN messages out of one pattern

  • Additional context links for the F1 software manual

  • Inclusion of the host PC name on remote measurement unit files

  • Ability to search up/down buttons on the DS grid

  • The 64-bit version of the Rosettes plugin

Devices

  • SW implementation for the watchdog on the IOLiteDIO

  • Support for the IOLiteDIO 32-bit input

  • KryptonLA support

  • Safe mode for signal conditioning

A/D out module

  • Additional scaling options for the channel output

  • Additional column options

  • Shown slice index

  • The selection box replaced by the combo box for the channel property

DSA

  • Fatigue Analysis

    • Damage calculation (Palmgren-Miner rule)

  • Modal Test

    • Store time data shots in triggered mode (analysis recalculation)

    • Support for ODS functionality

  • Power Analyzer

    • Changes according to IEC61000-4-30:2015 (grouping of higher frequencies)

    • Nominal Voltage as a channel

 Dewesoft X3 SP6 is a free upgrade for all existing users. The 64- and 32-bit installers can be downloaded from the download center.

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