New Features

New Output File Type

• New PowerVision Binary Output Format (.PV2) – This new file format for firmware extends the existing firmware system by enabling the following features.
  • Encrypted Software Packages: Software Payloads in the PV2 file format are encrypted.
  • Reliability Improvements:  This new file format supports a secondary boot loader architecture for improved reliability.  
• To migrate to the PowerVision 7 & PV2 Format on your existing displays, your system must be updated using a separate upgrade package installation.
• Use the “Create PV2 Support Upgrade Package” option in the firmware dialog.  This will create a special PV1 file you will install first. After this the display can load PowerVision PV2 files.
• If you need to return the display to the previous format, simply use a PV1 from an older version of PowerVision and the display will be returned to the previous state. Note that you will need to run the PV2 upgrade process again if you revert to PowerVision 4 at any time.

Better Bootloader Architecture

• Improved reliability of software installations from the bootloader 
• SBL (Secondary Bootloader Architecture): Software installers can now be added to enable previously un-supported hardware updates minimizing the risk that a new software package will be incompatible with the existing pre-installed bootloader / installer. 
• Partial System Install protection: In versions prior to PowerVision 7, a partial install or failed component could leave the system in an invalid state.    PowerVision 7 systems now revert to a fail-safe state (boots straight into a bootloader) if an invalid firmware is installed or a component fails to complete successfully.  

 

Faster Boot times

• As part of the architecture changes, the systems now boot faster.
• Boot logos now start earlier in the boot sequence. 
• If you need to update the boot logo, call the “Startup->Save Data(Empty)” action instead of “System->Update Logo(Empty)”.  

Scripts can be Source Controlled

• Scripts are saved as resources
• Allows you to save the script files in source control. 
• Any scripts you have in pre-PowerVision 7 versions will automatically be converted to this format when you upgrade to PowerVision 7.0.

 

 

Minor Changes

Page Designer Simulation Variables

• Simulation variables for Visible Conditions, Gauges and Expressions have been combined into a single list located on the “Variables” button on the bottom left. 
• A “Find References” button has been added to quickly locate items connected to the variable.

Calculated Values

• Add @Self as a selectable variable on Calculated Variables

Remote Tool

• Added a Profiler tab to the Remote dialog that shows processor information
• Added event profiling information to the Events tab in the Remote dialog

AngelScript

• void moveFile(string &src, string &dst, int eventId) – New function.  Moves from src to dst, sends an event when done
• int GetDateComponent(int epoch, string& format) – New Function. Returns multiple types of date information. See strftime C++ documentation for input format. Ex: '%w' returns day of the week (0 = Sunday) or '%j' returns day of the year (001-366)
• StringToInt(ref string inputString) – Updated.  Convert the string to an integer value.  Added the option to prefix the string with a base, such as “0x” for hexadecimal.

Firewall Rules Not Needed

• Firewall rules are no longer needed to connect to a display.

 

Bug Fixes

 

General

• Fixed a problem where file association was checked on startup even if the checkbox was unchecked
• Fixed Save As status dialog
• Fixed a problem where Remote in HTTP caused a crash
• Remote Diagnostics not working in the Toolkit and Remote Diagnostics screens on some displays
• Exception occurs when remapping keys during Hardware Switch.
• Fixed a problem where ethernet connection would drop out
• Fix text overlap and text not updating problems when changing languages
• Fix for invalid times when setting different splash animation times per frame.
• Boot logo improvements and bug fixes
• Graphic Library does not update previews in some cases
• Fix for Clipping when using AutoScroll in a Container
• Text shadows with negative values for X/Y offsets now show up on the display
• Text Widgets (and other Widgets) did not display correctly when using Expression Based Visible Conditions.
• Expression Manager improvements and bug fixes
• Improvements and bug fixes for animating widgets with scripts
• Added the UsbDevices List to show connected USB devices
• Other List improvements and bug fixes
• Some customers experienced stability issues related to the new Watchdog services implemented in PowerVision 4.0.    7.0 now allows you to configure the watchdog timeout for the system if your application uses CPU for longer than recommended times.
• Prioritize how Find All References searches for references.  This fixes references that go to Applications.
• Don't crash if certain registry settings are missing.  Just use a default and create the setting on PV exit.

Data Logging

• Fixed problem where Data Logger would sometimes not wrap when the log was full and the wrap flag was true

J1939 Port Manager

• Fixed an issue where CAN traffic would sometimes stop for no reason
• CAN improvements and bug fixes

Media Application

• Fixes to support for Simplified Media which prevented being able to use the media features in public releases of PowerVision.
• Changed volume range from -70 to -120dB
• Audio improvements and bug fixes

Screen Application

• Added watchdog timeout variable

Startup Manager

• Startup improvements and bug fixes
• Bootloader improvements and bug fixes
• Backlight improvements and bug fixes

System Manager

• Add event to be fired when wifi passkey is incorrect
• Add support for selecting wifi country
• Added variable to display the magnet key state
• Added variable to display the manufacture date
• Added actions to stop updates to the wifi server list.  Calling the existing scan action re-enables list updates.

Deprecated Features

PDF Reader Widget 

• PDF reader widget was introduced for a short time in version 5.1280 however has been removed due to licensing constraints and is no longer available in version 7.x and newer. Displays manufactured after September of 2023 do not carry the Adobe license to enable this feature.