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Version 7.2.0000, Service Pack 1 Release

  • Change to the Add all items to group menu option. It now adds all items in that group plus all items in all its subgroups. To add all available items in address space to a private group at once, select Add all items to group menu option from the root. This functionality is part of browsing data access server address space.
  • OPC Server List dialog allows adding a remote node to the server tree and performs OPC server browsing without the necessity of network browsing.
  • Three (3) new callback scripting function OPC_OnOPCTimer, OPC_OnOPCTimer2, OPC_OnOPCTimer3 allows the client to execute a user-defined scripting code at predefined time intervals.
  • Six (6) new scripting functions to start and stop the three OPCTimers: StartOPCTimer|2|3 and StopOPCTimer|2|3. Used to set and reset the OPCTimer functions from Visual OPCTest Validator.
  • New status scripting functions: GetServerDAStatusPing, GetServerHDAStatusPing, GetServerAEStatusPing, GetServerBCStatusPing, GetServerDXStatusPing. Allows to ping an OPC Server from within a script.
  • Handle Alarm & Events conditions with same cookie but different sources.
  • Manual OPC Server Connection dialog allows to precisely specify the name and location of an OPC server without additional components, such as Category Lists or OPCEnum.
  • Four (4) new scripting functions to store and retrieve string and integer data from within a script. Data is persistent between script executions and between application startup/shutdown. Scripts may store data in external files or use these functions to quickly store up to 10 integers and 10 strings. GetUserInteger, SetUserInteger, GetUserString, SetUserString.
  • Fix memory problem associated with writing item arrays (sync and async).
  • Fix A&E Condition properties display when no attributes are present.
  • Fix handling of historical async "No Data" error codes.
  • Handle two types of custom date-time formats in Historical Data Access processing.
  • New function to clear Historical View after any scripting call to HDAxxx functions that read, update, insert, or annotate a tag: HDAClearHistoricalView.

Version 7.0.2001, New Version Release

  • Changes based on the released OPC Historical Data Access 1.2 specification including new proxy and historical data access structures and enumerations.
  • Workspace View has been moved to upper pane next to Tags View. This view shows all connected servers and their data.
  • Add Complex Data item properties to the list of standard properties in the OPC Data Access 3.0 browse address space display (properties only)
  • Add Complex Data item properties to standard test cases for Data Access servers.
  • Fix Historical Data Access test cases 5.1.7.1 to 5.1.7.19 to clear the variant and correctly display VT_EMPTY data in Test Case detail view.
  • Fix test cases that write to R-only items: SyncIOWrite, AsyncIO2Write, AsyncIO3WriteVQT, ItemIOWriteVQT, SyncIO2WriteVQT, and AsyncIOWrite. Check for VT_EMPTY item value and if server supports a combination of VQT.
  • Add group update count to the Data Access group. Display the update count in Status View.
  • Add connected item count to the Data Access group. Display the item count in Status View.
  • OPC Server List dialog no longer searches for all know OPC server on the local computer on dialog startup. Searching will be done on-demand by double-clicking the OPC Key branch or any other OPC Category branch (DA, DX, A&E, HDA, or Batch). This will speed-up the opening of the OPC Server List dialog.
  • Add test cases to use Complex Data item properties in IOPCBrowse tests.
  • Handle 64-bit signed and unsigned integers and array of integers, VT_I8 and VT_UI8. Process sync and async reads and writes, either of single items or groups of items.
  • Options to sync read items after adding them to private group. Allows to force server to provide item data type. Some servers do not provide data types immediately after they are added to a private group. This may be set in File | Options | DA tab.
  • Tags View display filter. Allow filtering the Tags View display based on ItemID, Access Path, Value, Quality, Access Right, Data Type, Canonical Data Type, and Server Membership. Tags View tab changes caption if filter is active from Tags - All to Tags - Filter.
  • New Status Pane indicator LOG shows if there are any new entries in the Log View. Red color indicates new entries, and resets to gray when log entries are viewed.
  • New command to remove all simple and tracking events from the Alarms View. One-click command to just display the condition type events from all A&E servers.
  • Fix memory leak when creating time structures from string.
  • Display multi-dimensional arrays in Tags View. Provide a popup list of array elements and their indices in parenthesis. Process and display up to 3-dimentional arrays.
  • Correctly handle pftStartTime parameter in a call to GetHistorianStatus(), as this parameter is optional.
  • The CALLBACK processing is now set to On be default, allowing in-script callback processing when the script is run (without turning it on manually). Provides CALLBACK handling when executing scripts in a batch file.
  • Three (3) new script callback handling functions: OnDataChangeGroup, OnReadCompleteGroup, and OnWriteCompleteGroup. Callback issued to the running script for OPC DA 2.0 and higher servers only. These callbacks do not have item information as they are provided in the OnDataChange, OnReadComplete and OnWriteComplete respectively.
  • Use secure SOLO server when activating a license.

Version 6.3.0000, Service Pack 3 Release

New Enhancements

  • NOTICE: Updated license management library to be compatible with new license processing server. Please download version 6.3 as soon as possible and install it on top of your current licensed version 6.x. New license server will be on-line as of the end of February 2004.
  • Each test case computes its memory usage signature for both available physical and virtual memory. This data is displayed graphically along with all the other test case data. It is also included in all reports: final, filtered, text, CSV, and XML.
  • Reports may be filtered on memory usage difference that is greater than 0.
  • Two (2) new scripting functions to obtain test case memory usage programmatically: GetTestCaseUsedPhysMemoryDiff and GetTestCaseUsedVirtualMemoryDiff.
  • New electronic license component to provide strict security when activating DEMO version into full applications. License server has been upgraded, and new license management has been included in this Service Pack release.
  • More released Tech Notes are provided free of charge to all the users.
  • New scripting function to define time stamp locale flag, specified timestamps are considered to be either LOCAL or UTC. Parameter set to TRUE in HDAUseLocalTime function specifies the usage of LOCAL time, otherwise UTC. This may be set manually in File | Options | Historical tab.
  • Four (4) new scripting to get a list of HDA Server supported attributes and their names, descriptions, and data types: HDAGetAttributeIDs, HDAGetAttributeName, HDAGetAttributeDesc, HDAGetAttributeDataType.
  • Three (3) new scripting to get a list of HDA Server supported aggregates and their names, and descriptions: HDAGetAggregateIDs, HDAGetAggregateName, HDAGetAggregateDesc.
  • Five (5) new scripting functions to get HDA server data programmatically via the synchronous read call: HDASyncReadRawData, HDASyncReadProcessedData, HDASyncReadAtTimeData, HDASyncReadModifiedData, HDASyncReadAttributeData.
  • Two (2) new scripting function to query a list of HDA Server supported capabilities: HDASyncUpdateQueryCapabilitiesData, HDASyncAnnotationsQueryCapabilitiesData.
  • Quick Item IO read in Browse View (DA 3.0) for CACHE (MaxAge=0xFFFFFFFF) and DEVICE (MaxAge=0x00000000) functionality.
  • Show Item IO read value in new Item IO Read column for elements and properties while browsing address space.
  • Connection Script generates unique HDAItemID handle for each item..

Version 6.2.1000, Service Pack 2.1 Release

New Enhancements

  • Release Tech Notes for use with version 6.2.1000 of Visual OPCTest Validator. Tech Notes are provided free of charge to all the users.
  • New scripting function to create Historical Data Access browser using filter definition and obtain the resulting creation code (HRESULT) returned by the server. Scripting function: HDACreateBrowseFilter.
  • Show system memory status along with OPC proxy and system information.
  • Better handling of variants passed by reference.
  • Fix Test Cases for IOPCAsyncIO3::ReadMaxAge and IOPCAsyncIO3::RefreshMaxAge to request value from private-connected-active group, not just any group (Test Cases 3.12.1.7 - 3.12.1.41, 3.15.1.7 - 3.15.1.41, 3.12.3.x).
  • Async Group Read using CACHE and DEVICE fix for DA 1.0a servers.
  • Twelve (12) new scripting functions to get the standard test case data and results within a script: GetTestCaseServerName, GetTestCaseFunctionName, GetTestCaseFunctionHRESULT, GetTestCaseOPCVersions, GetTestCaseParamIN, GetTestCaseParamOUT, GetTestCaseParamOUTLOOP, GetTestCaseParamCALLBACK, GetTestCaseExecTime, GetTestCaseExecDuration, GetTestCaseComment, GetTestCaseStatus.
  • New scripting function to check programmatically if standard test case is disabled: IsTestCaseDisabled.
  • Three (3) new scripting functions to save predefined full reports to external files: SaveFullReportTXT, SaveFullReportXML, SaveFullReportCSV.
  • New scripting function, ReadItemData, to read item from device or cache and return value, quality, timestamp, and error as formatted strings.
  • New scripting function, ShutdownOPCTest, to close the Visual OPCTest Validator application from within the running script. Used when a series of script files are executed within a batch file.
  • New IOPCBrowse, GetProperties test cases.
  • New IOPCBrowseServerAddressSpace, BrowseOPCItemIDs test cases.

Version 6.2.0000, Service Pack 2 Release

New Enhancements

  • New scripting function to save Script Output data to text file. User may select to save timestamp with data or just the data itself. Scripting function: ScriptOutputSave.
  • New scripting function to save Log data to text file. User may select to save timestamp with data or just the data itself. Scripting function: LogSave.
  • New scripting function to get system memory status. It may be used to monitor used and available memory while scripting is performing OPC function calls. Scripting function: GetMemoryStatus.
  • Remove the "Server Busy dialog" while COM calls have timed out.
  • Better bounds checking when EUType Info is presented.

Version 6.1.0000, Service Pack 1 Release

New OPC Specifications

  • Full support for OPC Data eXchange Specification 1.00 client configuration. Client-side functionality based on IOPCConfiguration interface.
  • New standard validation test cases based on IOPCConfiguration interface. Custom validation scripting functions will be provided in the future Service Pack release. Please use the client-side DX scripting functions that provide all the functionality to test all of the IOPCConfiguration interface methods.
  • Allow setting Group’s Keep-Alive value when adding private group to an OPC Data Access Server via Add Group dialog.
  • Add and remove user-specified note for Custom Test Cases via menu functions.
  • User Tool in the Tools menu allows the execution of a custom-defined executable file. Define the executable in the Options dialog, General tab.
  • Fix Historical Read Raw via menu and dialog box.
  • Seven (7) new scripting functions to configure source servers: DXSrvGetServers, DXSrvAddServers, DXSrvModifyServers, DXSrvDeleteServers, DXSrvCopyDefaultServerAttributes, DXSrvGetResponseValue, DXSrvResetConfiguration.
  • Six (6) new scripting functions to configure DX connections: DXConQueryDXConnections, DXConAddDXConnections, DXConUpdateDXConnections, DXConModifyDXConnections, DXConDeleteDXConnections, DXConCopyDXConnectionDefaultAttributes.
  • Five (5) new Historical Data Access scripting functions to programmatically browse historical server’s address space: HDABrowseRelease, HDABrowseGetEnum, HDABrowseChangeBrowsePosition, HDABrowseGetItemID, HDABrowseGetBranchPosition.

Version 6.0.0000, New Version Release

New OPC Specifications

  • Add support for Data Access client/server interfaces based on OPC Data Access Specification 3.0.
  • Client-side support for IOPCBrowse, IOPCItemIO, IOPCItemDeadbandMgt, IOPCItemSamplingMgt, IOPCSyncIO2, IOPCAsyncIO3, and IOPCGroupStateMgt2 functionality.
  • Add support for Alarm and Events client/server interfaces based on OPC Alarm & Events Specification 1.1.
  • Client-side support for IOPCEventServer2, IOPCEventSubscriptionMgt2, KeepAlive, and Enable2/Disable2 functionality.
  • Beta support for OPC Data eXchange Specification 1.0. Functionality limited to basic server commands and to query connection commands. Limited support for IOPCConfiguration interface (Beta Mode).

New Test Cases and Custom Validation Scripting Functions

  • Over 17,800 test cases for all released OPC specifications.
  • Over 500 scripting functions to automate and customize your OPC configuration and test harness.
  • New test cases for OPC Data Access 3.0 interface and functions.
    Nineteen (19) new scripting functions to customize the OPC Data Access 3.0 interface testing.
  • New test cases for OPC Alarm & Events 1.1 interface and functions.
    Twenty-eight (28) new scripting functions to customize the OPC Alarm & Events 1.1 interface testing.
  • New test cases for OPC Data exchange 1.0 common interface and functions (Beta Mode).
  • Save individual test case information to an external text file.

EU Type Setup for Enumerated and Discrete Tags

  • EU Type display of items, if server supports and provides EU type information. Display EU types defined by OPC_ENUMERATED and display discrete data defined by item properties 106 and 107. EU Types main display selection is located in the Options dialog, Data Access tab, "Show EU Types when available" check box. When checked and items have been processed to get EU type information from the server, EU type data will be displayed instead of a numeric or Boolean value.
  • Write Item Dialog provides an additional way to write enumerated or discrete values via a drop down selection list. Any item with setup EU or discrete values will display its data in a drop-down list for user-friendly interface.
  • Generated Connection Script now checks if EU types for an item are set and includes an appropriate function call.

New Client-Side Scripting Functions

  • Callback function processing allows to use globally defined variables inside the callback scripting functions. Execution of the Main subroutine and processing of the scripting callback functions is accomplished via the Start Callback Script command.
  • Six (6) new scripting functions to set EU Type information and display: EUTypeSetupGroup, EUTypeResetGroup, EUTypeSetupItem, EUTypeResetItem, EUTypeShow, EUTypeSetupOnAddItems.
  • New scripting functions allow logging all KeepAlive notifications: LogOnEventKeepAlive.
  • LogOnDataChangeKeepAlive scripting function to set logging flag for storing all keep alive group notifications in the system log.
  • Eight (8) new scripting functions to enable and disable area and condition data: EnableConditionByArea2, DisableConditionByArea2, EnableConditionBySource2, DisableConditionBySource2, GetEnableStateByAreaEnabled, GetEnableStateByAreaEffectivelyEnabled, GetEnableStateBySourceEnabled, GetEnableStateBySourceEffectivelyEnabled.
  • Two (2) new scripting functions to set or get subscription KeepAlive time: SubscriptionSetKeepAlive and SubscriptionGetKeepAlive.
  • Six (6) new scripting functions to get event attributes: AttributeIsAvailable, AttributeGetDescription, AttributeGetVarType, AttributeIsReturned, AttributeSelectReturned, AttributeSelectReturnedClear.
  • Two (2) new scripting functions to refresh and set event subscription filter: SubscriptionRefresh, SubscriptionSetFilter.
  • OnDataChangeKeepAlive callback script processing to process group's keep alive callback within a script.
  • Two (2) new scripting functions to set and get group's keep alive time: GroupSetKeepAlive, GroupGetKeepAlive
  • New script callback processing function: OPC_OnEventKeepAlive. A user via the callback scripting function may now process OnEvent-KeepAlive notifications.
  • Four (4) new scripting functions to perform ItemIO operations: ItemIOReadValue, ItemIOReadQuality, ItemIOReadTime, ItemIOWriteVQT
  • Four (4) new scripting functions to process Sync2 calls: Sync2ReadValue, Sync2ReadQuality, Sync2ReadTime, Sync2WriteVQT
  • Three (3) new scripting functions to process Async3 calls: Async3ReadMaxAge, Async3WriteVQT, Async3RefreshMaxAge
  • Three (3) new scripting functions to process item deadband calls: ItemDeadbandSetItemDeadband, ItemDeadbandGetItemDeadband, ItemDeadbandClearItemDeadband
  • Five (5) new scripting functions to process the item sampling calls: ItemSamplingSetItemSamplingRate, ItemSamplingGetItemSamplingRate, ItemSamplingClearItemSamplingRate, ItemSamplingSetItemBufferEnable, ItemSamplingGetItemBufferEnable
  • Activate the Output View with OutputActivateWindow scripting function.
  • Fifteen (15) new Data eXchange scripting functions: ConnectDXServer, DisconnectDXServer, DXSrvGetServers, DXSrvQueryConnections, GetIDServerDX, GetServerDXStatusBandwidth, GetServerDXStatusGroupCount, GetServerDXStatusState, GetServerDXStatusVersionMajor, GetServerDXStatusVersionMinor, GetServerDXStatusVersionBuild, GetServerDXStatusStartTime, GetServerDXStatusLastUpdateTime, GetServerDXStatusCurrentTime, GetServerDXStatusVendorString.

New Multi-Item Graphical Trending Functionality

  • Multi-item trending minimum frequency changed to 10 ms.
  • Multi-item trending has separate scales for each of the 16 available plots. Each scale may be individually set in the Options dialog, Monitor tab. Scale values are integral numbers.
  • Multi-item trending allows for pausing the trend at any time. A Pause button is used to pause and restart trending of up to 16 items. While paused, trend does not update and the incoming values are discarded.

New User Interface

  • New Script Output View (ScriptOut Tab) for exclusive use of running scripts. Only script-entered messages are stored in this view while system and network messages are stored in the Log view. User may elect to store data in the Log while executing a script, as was done prior to version 6.0.0000.
  • Three (3) new scripting functions provide Script Output processing: ScriptOutputEntry, ScriptOutputClear, ScriptOutputActivateWindow.
  • New Browse View to display Data Access 3.0 server's address space information. User may browse address space elements and nodes; add ItemIDs to private groups and process ItemIO read and write operations.
  • New Output View shows various data, alarm, historical, and batch information (old Browse View).
  • Copy one or all items in the Log to the local clipboard.
  • Show large strings in popup box in Item, ScriptOut, Log, and Browse Views.

Updated Dialog Screens

  • Set the KeepAlive millisecond time in the Event Subscription State dialog.
  • Set the KeepAlive millisecond time in the Group State dialog.
  • OPC Server Status Update functions, checks for new server status information.
  • Log all incoming KeepAlive notifications, set in Options dialog, Log tab, "Log all OnEvent-KeepAlive notifications (Alarm Subscriptions)", check box.
  • Log all incoming KeepAlive notifications, set in Options dialog, Log tab, "Log all OnDataChange-KeepAlive notifications (Data Access Groups)", check box.
  • Common Data Access options apply to Data eXchange as well.

version 5.0.1000, Service Pack Release

  • Multi-item trending allows unchanging items to be displayed and updated graphically. Up to 16 items may be displayed at one time with update frequency set by the user.

version 5.0.0000, New Version Release

  • Generate Final Report with CRC value. Final Report contains all server and test statistics, and all the test case details (similar to Full Report validate.txt file). Once the Final Report is generated, a CRC value is computed. This allows you to share your server test data with others, as they may verify your test data using Visual OPCTest Validator or a free application FRVerify. You may provide a Final Report file (for example, “MyOPCServer.txt”) and a CRC file (for example, “MyOPCServer.crc”) so others may verify your server’s test results. Free application FRVerify allows others to check if your Final Report file matches the corresponding CRC file (i.e. it has not been altered).
  • New macro-style scripting capability using the OPC Object Scripting Handle functions. Execute scripts using existing OPC objects in the Workspace View without creating new OPC connections. For example, your script can now read item 10 times without connecting to Data Access server, creating a private group, and adding item to the group first. If item exists in Workspace View, you can get item’s scripting handle, and then call any scripting function that requires an item handle, such as OPC.ReadItem.
  • Eight (8) new scripting functions to get OPC Object Scripting Handles: GetIDServerDA, GetIDGroup, GetIDItem, GetIDServerAE, GetIDEventSub, GetIDServerHD, GetIDHDAItem, and GetIDServerBC.
  • Stop Test Case execution using keyboard Ctrl+Break key combination, allowing you to stop test case execution when testing server, interface, or function test cases.
  • Stop script execution using keyboard Ctrl+Break key combination. The OPC.UpdateMainWindow scripting function now checks if user pressed the Ctrl+Break keys, and stops the script execution. Used if script has an infinite loop, or other abnormality.
  • Quick way to log all OnDataChange notifications (Tags), set in Options, Log tab.
  • Quick way to log all OnEvent notifications (Alarms), set in Options, Log tab.
  • Two (2) new scripting functions to log data and alarm asynchronous notifications: LogOnDataChange, and LogOnEvent .
  • New scripting function allows displaying a message in the status pane while script is executing, giving visual feedback on script progress. User provides the text massage to the scripting function: StatusPaneMsg. Text message is displayed until another message is requested for display, or when script finishes its execution.
  • Monitor Item trending chart displays up to 16 items at the same time. User controls the graph and plot colors of each 16 trends individually.
  • Save Browse View data to CSV (indented or flat) or XML file. Any data displayed in Browse View may now be stored in an external file.
  • Enumerate Item Attributes of a private or public group. Display group’s item attributes in the Browse View. Right-click on a group in Workspace View and select Enum Item Attributes from the popup menu, or select Data, Group Management, Enum Item Attributes from the main menu.

version 4.0.6800, Service Pack Release

  • Generating Connection Script will now include unique tag id per each added item, call to deactivate item if item is inactive, highlight an item, and change item data type if different from item’s canonical type.
  • Twelve (12) new scripting functions to issue Array of Items commands: ItemsAdd, ItemsGetHandle, ItemsValidate, ItemsRemove, ItemsSetActiveState, ItemsSetDatatypes, ItemsSyncRead, ItemsSyncWrite, ItemsAsyncRead, ItemsAsyncWrite, ItemsAsync2Read, ItemsAsync2Write.
  • Eight (8) new scripting functions to programmatically get private or public group state: GetGroupStateName, GetGroupStateRate, GetGroupStateActive, GetGroupStateTimebias, GetGroupStateDeadband, GetGroupStateLcid, GetGroupStateClient, GetGroupStateServer.
  • Ten (10) new scripting functions to programmatically get item state: GetItemStateItemID, GetItemStateAccessPath, GetItemStateVarType, GetItemStateValue, GetItemStateQualityText, GetItemStateActive, GetItemStateServer, GetItemStateTimestamp, GetItemStateAccessRights, GetItemStateCanonical.
  • Four (4) new scripting functions to programmatically get item quality and sub-quality values: GetItemQualQuality, GetItemQualSubstatus, GetItemQualLimit, GetItemQualVendor.
  • Five (5) new scripting functions to programmatically get item properties: ItemPropIsAvailable, ItemPropGetDesc, ItemPropGetDataType, ItemPropGetValue, ItemPropLookupItemID.
  • Ten (10) new scripting functions to programmatically get Data Access Server state information: GetServerDAStatusBandwidth, GetServerDAStatusGroupCount, GetServerDAStatusState, GetServerDAStatusVersionMajor, GetServerDAStatusVersionMinor, GetServerDAStatusVersionBuild, GetServerDAStatusStartTime, GetServerDAStatusLastUpdateTime, GetServerDAStatusCurrentTime, GetServerDAStatusVendorString.
  • Eight (8) new scripting functions to programmatically get Alarm & Events Server state information: GetServerAEStatusStartTime, GetServerAEStatusLastUpdateTime, GetServerAEStatusCurrentTime, GetServerAEStatusVendorString, GetServerAEStatusState, GetServerAEStatusVersionMajor, GetServerAEStatusVersionMinor, GetServerAEStatusVersionBuild.
  • Four (4) new scripting functions to programmatically get Alarm & Events Event Subscription state information: GetEventSubStateActive, GetEventSubStateBufferTime, GetEventSubStateMaxSize, GetEventSubStateClientHandle.
  • Nine (9) new scripting functions to programmatically get Historical Data Access Server state information: GetServerHDAStatusCurrentTime, GetServerHDAStatusStartTime, GetServerHDAStatusString, GetServerHDAStatusVendorString, GetServerHDAStatusFlag, GetServerHDAStatusMaxReturnValues, GetServerHDAStatusVersionMajor, GetServerHDAStatusVersionMinor, GetServerHDAStatusVersionBuild.
  • Ten (10) new scripting functions to programmatically get Batch Server state information: GetServerBCStatusBandwidth , GetServerBCStatusGroupCount, GetServerBCStatusState, GetServerBCStatusVersionMajor, GetServerBCStatusVersionMinor, GetServerBCStatusVersionBuild, GetServerBCStatusStartTime, GetServerBCStatusLastUpdateTime, GetServerBCStatusCurrentTime, GetServerBCStatusVendorString.
  • Two (2) new scripting functions to get the file version of any component residing in a DLL or an EXE: GetDLLVersion, GetEXEVersion. May be used in checking OPC proxy, OpcEnum, and any OPC server file version.
  • Two (2) new scripting functions to get Visual OPCTest application version and serial number: GetAppVersion, GetAppSerial.
  • New scripting function to programmatically activate the Log View: ActivateLogWindow.
  • Highlight Tags and Alarms for easy identification. User defined text and background colors are fully configurable and set in Options dialog. All highlights may be reset at once.
  • New scripting function HighlightItem allows for programmatic item selection and highlight in the Tag View.
  • New accelerator keys used for script load and execute. All accelerator keys are shown in the main menu.
  • Update test cases 1.3.6.1 to 1.3.6.10, Connect to Server X Times.
  • Display array values in a list when user clicks on an item with VT_ARRAY data type. Clicking on the Value column in Tag View will display a vertical list of values if item contains an array of values. Normally, array of values are shown horizontally in the Value column with values separated by semicolon [;].
  • Hot Keys for activating all the views using Alt or Alt+Ctrl, and number, see Accelerator Keys section.
  • Manual license transfers via diskette in drive A. Available from Help menu and Welcome screen.

version 4.0.5200, Service Pack Release

  • Validate Reports additionally contain Server creation info, Server Status, Server Supported Interface List, Test Case Statistics, OPC Specification types and versions, detailed individual Test Case data including user note
  • New display of Test Case Statistics and OPC Specification types and versions
  • Test Case information now contains a User Note and OPC Spec Version, which is shown in all reports and test case views
  • Save and Show Full Validate Report XML file validate.xml
  • Save and Show Full Validate Report CSV file validate.csv
  • Save and Show Full Validate Report TEXT file validate.txt
  • New Scripting Functions: NoteTestCase, DisplayAvailableFitlers, SyncWriteGroup, AsyncWriteGroup, ShowObjectStatus, AddItemArray
  • Additional test case filtering based on non-empty note
  • UTILITY Test Cases have been replaced by LOGICAL Test Cases
  • Scripting function EnableUtilityOnStartup has been replaced by EnableLogicalOnStartup
  • New Logical Test Cases: Read Item Cache, Read Item Device, DA Connect Multi Server
  • Update Test Cases 4.4.3.x (A&E SelectReturnedAttributes)
  • Update Test Cases 5.1.2.x, 5.1.3.x, 5.1.4.x, 8.1.2.x, 8.1.3.x, 8.1.4.x (Historical Sync/AsyncUpdate - Insert/InsertRepleace/Repleace using DA quality)
  • Update Test Cases 5.1.7.x (Historical Create Browser, use correct attribute filter type)
  • Update Test Case 3.1.5.4, will not call Release function on forced group removal to avoid client access violation (even if this behavior is expected)
  • Update Test Cases 3.4.2.6 to 3.4.2.12 (Browse Server Address Space - ChangeBrowsePosition - OPC_BROWSE_UP). Additionally allow to pass if string is non-empty. This is still open to interpretation, since the argument supposed to be "ignored"
  • Update Test Cases 4.1.5.1 and 4.1.5.2. Event Categories for simple or tracking conditions allow to return E_INVALIDARG
  • Check heartbeats of all connected OPC servers
  • Sync and Async Write Group functionality. Write value to all tags in a group
  • Status Bar shows red AUTO ACK, and new UTC, and HEX indicators. If Status Bar indicators are disabled they are grayed out
  • Save all of Log data to Text, CSV, or XML files
  • Show Data Access vendor quality when not 0
  • Show Historical quality with vendor specific quality and data access quality
  • Distribute new Historical Proxy Stub DLL version 1.1.0.0
  • Alarm and Event modifications to comply with OPC A&E Specification 1.03
  • New Status View shows the status of selected OPC object in the Workspace View. It may be updated on-demand manually or automatically
  • Set colors for the plot, grid, and background of the Monitor Item dialog (Options)
  • Signal Generator - Write sync/async signal values based on 9 signal types
  • Accelerator Keys (Hot Keys) for some common commands
  • Select all attributes for a given event category using one-click
  • Modify the Historical Update - Insert/InsertRepleace/Repleace to use DA quality
  • Historical Create Browser dialog has new No Filter option
  • Process hexadecimal values in Write dialog and write scripting functions
  • Display timestamps in Local Time or UTC time (UTC Indicator)
  • Display numeric data in decimal or hexadecimal format (HEX Indicator)
  • Display quality in textual or hexadecimal format
  • Options-General Tab, flags for Textual Quality, Local Timestamps, Hex Value Display
  • GoTo Test Case dialog for quick test case search based on test case number or label
  • Monitor Item now displays changing time scale and last known value along with user defined vertical and horizontal grids
  • Display Event Category name and number in Alarm View.

version 4.0.4000, Service Pack Release

  • Additional Data Access Utility test cases.
  • Automatically run last known script on startup option (Options-General Tab).
  • Historical Data Access browse and GetItemID update fix.
  • Updated heartbeat monitoring to include check of returned parameters.

version 4.0.3500, Service Pack Release

  • Server heartbeat monitoring for all types of OPC Servers.
  • Changed Alarm View display limitation.
  • Update help file information: dialog screen list, heartbeat monitoring, and Excel sample script code.
  • More context sensitive help processing within Visual OPCTest Validator.
  • Array of elements display now ends with a ; to be consistent with the write item dialog processing.

version 4.0.2400, Service Pack Release

  • The Validate Script Wizard for each OPC Server type is designed to quickly generate a script code to setup OPC Server test case execution. It can select the type of test case tree desired (standard or custom), interfaces to be tested, other necessary data for the given OPC Server type, execution test flag settings, and the choice of scripting language to be used.
  • The Server Registry Settings menu option shows the selected OPC Server's registry information in the Browse View
  • Update Test Case 6.2.1.8, IEnumOPCBatchSummary, Filter, OPCBBatchModel
  • Update Test Case 6.2.1.9, IEnumOPCBatchSummary, Filter, OPCBBatchArchiveModel
  • The Activate Now button in the Welcome screen provides quick activation of an unlicensed machine with the License ID and Password. The Activate Now button is used to authorize machines with a License Option, not to be used with the Lease Option
  • OPC Batch Proxy DLL version 2 is now distributed (opcbc_ps.dll)

version 4.0.1000, New Version Release

  • Client support for all optional Historical Data Access interfaces (completes HDA spec implementation)
  • Validation test cases and scripting functions for all optional Historical Data Access Server functions
  • Saving test case results to a file additionally includes company name, full server status, server supported interface list, test case label, and test case execution time
  • One click view of the validation results file validate.out; also available in demo mode
  • An option setting for HDA server now includes maximum output value when async historical callback functions are executed
  • Formatting of HDA quality now lists multiple values in the Historical View
  • Test Case Execution Time is now displayed for each test case (mostly meaningful when test cases are executed over DCOM or with a real device)
  • Additional client scripting functions for HDA optional interfaces
  • Two more scripting timer functions, for the total of three independent timers
  • Ability to stop test case execution on FAIL (set in Options and via scripting function)
  • Ability to stop test case execution on WARNING (set in Options and via scripting function)
  • Additional validation scripting functions to Execute, Enable, or Disable test cases for a given OPC Server
  • Additional validation scripting functions to Execute, Enable, or Disable test cases for a given OPC Server-Interface
  • Additional validation scripting functions to Execute, Enable, or Disable test cases for a given OPC Server-Interface-Function
  • New Lease Option. Lease Visual OPCTest Validator for 30 days and have access to all the client and validation functionality not available in the demo mode, but without the need to purchase a full License Option. Additionally, lease price may be later used to offset the cost of a full license

version 3.0.3200, Service Pack Release

  • UTILITY test cases added for CoCreateInstanceEx
  • Check and display the OpcEnum.exe version in OPC Proxy Info
  • Display textual attribute and aggregate information in Historical View

version 3.0.2062, Service Pack Release

  • Update Test Case 3.4.4.3, Empty GetItemID processing
  • Update Test Case 3.10.2.21, Early vs. late error reporting
  • Update Test Case 3.12.4.8, Dual error handling for returned HRESULT
  • Tag View processing and updating fix for multiple items
  • Additional scripting sample code

version 3.0.1401, New Version Release

  • Full OPC Batch Client functionality
  • Full OPC Batch Server Validation functionality via predefined test cases
  • Eleven Batch validation scripting functions to customize and extend test cases
  • Limit output option in validation test case functions when testing browse server address space and browse OPC alarms
  • Additional browse server address space capability showing full item id for branches
  • OPC.BrowseServer() script function has one additional optional parameter (BOOL FullBranch = FALSE)
  • Item Property processing for branches shown as fully qualified name branches and manually entered item IDs.
  • Connect to the same server multiple times (multiple concurrent client connections to the same server)
  • Graphically monitor change in item value (select Data->Monitor Item... from the main menu)