CTSoft Release Notes

Control Techniques Ltd.

CTSoft V1.8.2 Release Notes

This README file contains the latest information regarding CTSoft.

Features
Installing CTSoft
Uninstalling CTSoft
Block Diagrams
Changes in this version
Notes on upgrading from V1.0.x
Known Issues

Changes between Versions 1.7.1 and 1.8.2

Added Support for the Unidrive ES.
The software now allows for support of the new Unidrive ES. All features of CTSoft except the Drive Setup Wizard are supported for this Drive.

Added Support for Smartcard Readers.
The software now allows for support for Smartcard Readers. Default from difference parameter sets can now be saved-to, and loaded-from smartcards.

Drive Menu listings now show read-only Parameters in Normal text and writable parameters in Bold.
This feature is designed to make viewing menu listings easier to tell at-a-glance which parameters can be edited. The feature may be turned off in ‘File->Preferences’

Added Support for Regen Mode on the Unidrive SP.
The software now allows setting the drive to Regen mode, menu listings and monitoring screens are available in this mode.

Minor code fixes and improvements.
A number of resolved issues and minor improvements have been added. These include:

User modified parameter descriptions for Menus 18, 19 and 20 now load correctly.

Parameter file properties now shows more details of the file contents.

When loading a parameter file offline, there is the option to overwrite option modules even if they do not match the settings in CTSoft.

Features

CTSoft is the drive configuration software from Control Techniques.

Drive Supported:

Unidrive 'Classic' in open-loop, closed-loop vector and servo modes (firmware version V03.01.12)
Unidrive SP open-loop, closed-loop vector servo modes and Regen Mode for drives with V01.11.00 firmware or earlier.
Commander SK drives with V01.08.00 firmware or earlier.
Commander GP20 Drive in open-loop, closed-loop vector with V01.02.00 firmware or earlier.
Unidrive ES open-loop, closed-loop vector and servo modes for drives with V01.11.00 firmware or earlier.

The main features available are:

Parameter listings for each drive menu
Menu block diagrams
Terminal configuration
A setup wizard for Unidrive SP, Unidrive ES, Commander GP20 and Commander SK
Parameter compare (against default and against file)
Various monitoring screens
Custom lists for storing frequently used parameters
Parameter files (saving and loading complete parameter sets)
Conversion of SE Soft Parameter files for Commander SK
Control panel view for Commander SK drive with similar functionality to remote keypad

Installing CTSoft

System Requirements:

Pentium III 500MHz or better recommended (see known issues below if running on a low-spec PC)
Windows 2000/XP. NOTE: Windows NT4/95/98/98SE/ME/VISTA and Windows 2003 Server are NOT supported.
Internet Explorer V5 or later should also be installed
Microsoft .Net Frameworks 2.0 should also be installed.
Absolute minimum of 800x600 screen resolution. 1024x768 is recommended as a minimum.
Adobe Acrobat 5.05 or later (for parameter help)
128MB RAM

Note that you must have administrator rights under Windows 2000/XP to install and Run CTSoft.

To install CTSoft please insert the CD and the auto-run facility should start up the front-end screen from which you can select CTSoft. Otherwise run the SETUP.EXE in the CTSoft folder.

If you have a previous copy of CTSoft installed it is highly recommended that you uninstall it first (you will not lose any existing projects).

Product Registration
This version of CTSoft now requires the product to be registered with Control Techniques after installation. Unregistered copies have full functionality for a period of 30 days, after which the product must be registered before any further use is permitted. To register, go to the registration website (www.controltechniques.com/ctsoft/) and carry out the instructions detailed on the site. You will then be emailed a special Key Code which must be entered in the relevant window in the registration dialog. Clicking the 'Unlock' button with a correct Key Code will release all the CTSoft features.

N.B. An unlocked version of CTSoft cannot be copied to another PC without repeating this registration process.

Uninstalling CTSoft

CTSoft is uninstalled in the usual way: Go to Control Panel, select "Add and Remove Programs". Scroll down the list and find "CTSoft" and click on "Change/Remove". Uninstalling will not lose any user project or data files.

Block Diagrams

CTSoft has block diagrams of all relevant menus for the three drives supported. There are a few differences in the presentation of the block diagrams compared to those in the drive user guides or older software such as Unisoft and SE Soft.

Sub-Menus
Certain diagrams may show an overview of the menu with certain parts put into a "sub-diagram". These parts can be seen as having a green border around them in the diagram view. Clicking within the box will zoom into that section of the diagram.

Inter-Menu Links
Links to other menus are typically shown with a red outline box. Clicking within this box will open a new diagram window with that menu in it. You can right-click within the box if you want to open within the existing window.

Navigation
When you navigate (zoom into) to a sub-diagram a small back arrow button will appear at the top left of the diagram. Use this icon to go back to the previous diagram (alternatively you can right click any empty space on the diagram and select Back).

Parameter Pointer Representation
Parameter pointers (source and destination parameters) are represented in a different way to the diagrams in the drive's user guide. Rather than just show the parameter that selects the source or destination parameter, it now shows the actual parameter number being pointed to and the value of that parameter. This is much more useful in on-line view. The format is the pointed to parameter number in square brackets followed by the value preceded by an equals sign (e.g. [03.02]=49.4). Double clicking on this item to edit it will edit the pointer parameter and not the pointed to parameter. Also, hovering the mouse over a parameter pointer will show the actual pointer parameter number.

Diagram Key
A key to all the symbols used on the diagrams can be accessed at any time by clicking on the small key icon in the upper left of the diagram window.

Unidrive SP, Unidrive ES, Commander GP20 and Commander SK Setup Wizards

The setup wizard provides the ability to do basic configuration of Unidrive SP, Unidrive ES, Commander GP20 and Commander SK drives. It is designed to be an on-line only tool so when started it will try to detect the drive. If no drive is connected you can still run through the wizard but be aware that the changes you make will be saved to a file and must be downloaded later.

Notes on Upgrading From V1.0.x

Projects created in V1.0.x versions of CTSoft can be loaded in to this version of CTSoft, however please be aware of the following caveats:

Project Conversion
When this version of CTSoft opens a V1.0.x project it will automatically convert various data files describing the project and its drives into a new format. Once this has been done the project should no longer be opened up in CTSoft V1.0.x otherwise problems will be encountered. The user will be asked which region should be allocated to the newly loaded drives for files saved in all versions earlier than 1.2.0.

Parameter files
This version will create links to any 'parameter library' files from the V1.0.x version. The old version used a special filename, and this is what will be shown in the navigation tree. The format of this name is SXXX_YYMMDDHHMMSS where YYMMDD is the date (year-month-day) and HHMMSS is the time (hours-mins-secs). To see the original title, right-click and choose properties. If you wish to rename these files to a more sensible name, double click to load, choose File->Save Parameters to File, save using a new name and finally delete the old SXXX... file.

Default snapshots
The default snapshot for drives from V1.0.x will NOT be loaded in by this version. If you do wish to load in the saved parameters then expand the Parameter Files branch and load the parameter file called "default". You can then safely delete this "default" file since this version of CTSoft stores the information in a different place. Also note that this version always stores parameters - i.e. there is no longer a preferences option to enable it.

Known Issues

Manual changes to drive configuration are not detected
When online to a drive with CTSoft it is recommended that you don't change the drive configuration (e.g. drive mode) via the keypad of the drive. CTSoft does not monitor for configuration changes on the fly. So if configuration changes are done by methods other than using CTSoft, CTSoft should be taken offline and back online so that it resynchronises with the drive.
Parameter 0.30
When read by CTSoft, this parameter is not scaled by 11.30, unlike the parameter on the drive
Menu zero listing
Various parameters in menu zero within the drive are user-definable via menu 11 and menu 22. However, CTSoft only updates its menu zero mappings when menu 11 and 22 are read, so if the mappings have been altered from the default setting a full upload should be performed.
Regen mode is only supported in the Unidrive SP
Wizard tool
It is possible to use the wizards off-line but CTSoft will not update any parameters, parameters are saved to a file and must be downloaded to a drive later.
Use on older (low specification) PC's can cause freeze
If you use CTSoft on a lower spec PC then it is possible for the program to freeze whilst online under certain circumstances - the worst conditions are: a large number of parameter updates are occurring, more than one block diagram view is open and the "Poll active view only" option is set in preferences.
Unidrive SP Security Mode (#0.49/11.44)
CTSoft's default for this parameter is 0 (Level 1) so if a default is done within CTSoft and then the parameters are downloaded, the parameter will be set to "Level 1". This is slightly different behaviour compared to the drive itself, which upon setting defaults leaves this parameter as it was.
Unidrive Classic UD70 Parameter Help
Calling up parameter help for menus 70+ on a UD70 option will launch the PDF file for the UD70 but will not jump to to the actual parameter. Scroll to the end of the document to view the parameter lists.

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