Release Notes

Platforms

Release 6.3 of AVS/Express is available for the following platforms:

Windows 98/NT 4.0/2000/XP (VC++ 6.0)
Windows 2000/XP (.NET 2003)
Macintosh Darwin 6.8 (Mac OS X 10.2.8)
Compaq Tru64 UNIX 5.1
HP HP-UX 11
HP HP-UX 11 64-bit
IBM/AIX 5.1
Red Hat Linux 8.0, 9 for x86/Pentium
Red Hat Linux 7.0 for x86/Pentium
Red Hat Linux 7.1 for Itanium
SGI IRIX 6.5 (n32 MIPS3)
SGI IRIX 6.5 (n64 MIPS4)
Solaris 8
Solaris 8 64-bit

For more details, see System Prerequisites.

The documentation search feature requires a Java-enabled web browser. Note that Netscape users should have Netscape version 7.0 or greater to view the AVS/Express documentation. Linux users should note that we have found the Mozilla browser to provide font rendering superior to that of Netscape on Linux.

Support for Darwin, .NET 2003, and HP-UX 11 64-bit is new for this release.

Important Licensing information for Linux, Darwin, HP-UX 11 64-bit and Solaris 8 64-bit.

AVS/Express for Darwin, HP-UX 64-bit, Solaris 8 64-bit and Linux Itanium use the simplified licensing scheme that was first used for Linux Intel x86. This system does not use FLEXlm. Existing licenses using FLEXlm from other platforms will not work on Linux (both x86 and Itanium) and 64-bit Solaris and HP-UX11.

In particular note that the FLEXlm based licenses for the Solaris 8 32-bit and HP-UX11 32-bit version of AVS/Express will not work with the Solaris or HP-UX 64-bit versions.

Please contact AVS Customer Support for license keys for these new platforms.

Development Notes

All Platforms

Properties Ignored

In situations where changes to the default settings of DataObject.Props seem to be ignored, setting Props.inherit = 0 should solve the problem.

In the On-line documentation, Netscape 6/7 and Mozilla users will notice a new JS menu. Netscape 4 and IE users will see the original non-JS menu.

Windows

User interface layout code may need to be adjusted

On Windows, the variable UIdata.UIfonts[0].lineHeight has a more accurate value - usually smaller than before. Some UI layout code may need to be adjusted. A related change is that the heights and vertical layouts of UIoptionBox and UIradioBox are now more consistent.

AVS/Express 6.3 and Toolmaster 7.2

It should be noted that when installing AVS/Express 6.3 and Toolmaster 7.2 on the same PC, there could be conflict with UNIDIR setting. agX reads any UNIDIR value in the registry and, if one is found, ignores the UNIDIR environment variable. Therefore, if UNIDIR is set in the registry, it will always override the parameter being passed by AVS/Express. If you experience runtime errors using agX, make sure that there are no erroneous UNIDIR values set in the registry.

Workaround for COM/ActiveX Control Generation problem

The following represents a work around to prevent AVS/Express-based ATL/COM components from crashing. The problem is that AVS/Express, within the ATL/COM control, is trying to initialize certain components of the AVS/Express UI kit. To prevent AVS/Express from doing this, simply comment out the call to UIinit in xexpress.cxx which would be a part of the control's project files.

An AVS/Express-based COM or ActiveX control should not be using any AVS/Express UI widgets. (The reason for making a control in the first place is so that you can put the AVS/Express visualization into a true PC-based application environment.)

void UI_Init(int *argc,char **argv
   #ifdef MSDOS
   , HINSTANCE *hInst, HINSTANCE *hPrevInst
   #endif
)
{
   // FIND THE FOLLOWING CALL AND COMMENT IT OUT
   //UIinit(argc,argv);
}

Solaris 9

Licensing workaround

On Solaris 9 the default ulimit reported is unlimited; avs_lmd/lmgrd communication fails because of this. This can be fixed by ulimit -H -n 1024.

Visit this site for more information: http://www.csa.ru/CSA/CADS/docs/msc/pat8i/install_problems.5.html

Resolution 11: FLEXlm has a problem when the file descriptor limit is configured above the default of 1024. Execute lmgrd from a script that first sets the file descriptor using the ulimit command:

#!/bin/sh

ulimit -H -n 1024

<install_dir>/flexlm/solaris/lmgrd -c <license.dat> etc.\

Call this script from the /etc/inittab file instead of calling the lmgrd command directly.

Solaris 8

Warning message when running an imaging application

If you use examples from the Imaging section of the Examples library or other imaging application that uses the IP kit on Solaris 8, expect a warning message about the use of the XIL interface ("WARNING: XIL OBSOLESCENCE"). We are aware that the interface has been declared obsolete.

SGI fortran

Work around for SGI machines compiling FORTRAN

The following represents a work around for creating a module using the FLD function by FORTRAN on a SGI Machine. The workaround is to compile the test program wile overriding the G variable.

%make -f express.mk G=-01

Editing the file include/stdinc.mk on the computer the default optimization level used can be changed. The -01 compile flag simply selects a lower level of optimization.

.NET VC++7 version

When compiling a project with the PC version of AVS/Express, it automatically creates Microsoft Develop Studio project (.dsp) and workspace (.dsw) files for loading into Developer Studio. AVS/Express 6.3 for VC++6 (Dev Studio 6) continues to create project and workspace files for version 6.

For Developer Studio .NET (VC++7), however, Microsoft has updated and changed both the format and process by which these files are created and loaded. These changes have not been updated in AVS/Express 6.3 for VC++7 (.NET). This version of Express still produces the older VC++6 style project file. Developer Studio .NET can recognize and and convert the old format into a new "Solution". To load in a .dsp file in Developer Studio .NET, go to File->Open->Project and select the file you want to load/convert. Developer Studio will ask you if you want to convert the file. Choose yes. All compiler and link flags as well the the appropriate source files will be loaded into the solution. It should build without modifications.

Quick Porting Guide

Quick Porting Guide for AVS/Express from 5.X to 6.X

The following AVS/Express modules have had name or parameter changes in AVS/Express 6.0. This does not apply when moving from an earlier version of AVS/Express 6 to 6.3.

AVS/Express 5 Name	AVS/Express 6 Name	Notes
DV.DVcopy_mesh	DV.DVcopy_cells	Old name now has different meaning.
DV.DVread_net_cdf	NETCDF.NCread_object	Old name kept for backward compatibility.
DV.DVwrite_net_cdf	NETCDF.NCwrite_object	Old name kept for backward compatibility.
DV.DVread_PLOT3D_mb	CFD.CFDread_PLOT3D	Old name kept, but parameters have changed.
MODS.Read_netCDF	NETCDF.Read_Object	Old name kept for backward compatibility.
MODS.Write_netCDF	NETCDF.Write_Object	Old name kept for backward compatibility.
MODS.Plot3d_Multi_Block	CFD.Read_PLOT3D	Old name kept, but parameters have changed.
MODS.volume_render	same	Internally reorganized

Issues addressed in AVS/Express 6.3

Optimization flags for compiling Fortran code on PC (26506)

Problems with thresh_nul module on Windows 2000 (28599)

Wizards produce errors about fields being too big (28679)

Request to add scientific notation when data has smal min/max in ColormapEdit (28790)

Increase the maximum cache size in the UI for Single/Multi win app (28851)

If EOT isn't written by time step data in Read_Field, fatal error occurs (28891)

Bug displaying background color of UIoptionBox (28956)

ag_omx.hxx, AGPrimitive::ret_class_ptr & dataSurfRed.h C4244 warnings (29060)

x.DataObject.Props.Inherit setting to 1, is transparent; and shouldn't be (29062)

Black outline on DVwrite_Image output. (27034)

UIshell behaviour(29134)

A bug in the AG kit C++ code that prevented correct handling of font names fixed (29232)

OutputVPS processing time for postscript file depends on RCN buttons(29321)

Bug in UItext widget and using multiLine(29411)

UIoptionBox.selectedItems not working properly(29410)

UItemplateDialog isModal behaviour with UIApp(29422)

Module stack is not invisible as set in the v code(29449)

Rendering large images using framebuffer (29530)

Remove unneeded warning from PC compilation(21680)

Updating cell_set definition(29545)

Colormap editor, adding control point, max value (2.55e+002) changes (29541)

Redrawing UIslider moves to the left instead of to the right (29575)

Solid contour: [GDdraw_tri_cells]: cell connectivity values out of range (29573)

AVI file size and warning dialogs (29627)

UIradioBox and UIoptionBox option limits (29647)

Setting last line of field header file as comment, XP goes endless loop (29705)

Problems with DVcut objects (17796)

UIscrolledWindow vertical movement (29776)

NE code writes a temp file to c:\ when using Library Workspaces (29782)

Speed of streamlines, isosurfaces is slower on windows than linux (28163)

Number of trigger is Loop_count +1 (29878)

Read_Field crashes when reading in multi-time step and non-step data (29889)

Sliders of Output Image size parameter is not displayed on sg6 (29888)

Request for one more digit in Image file (Image12345.x) (29902)

No surface created in isosurface for a 1D element (line) error (29900)

table_to_scatter_field field type param missing link in cell type (30055)

Can not create a module using FLD function by Fortran (30046)

Express crashes when using OutputImage to write full floppy disk (30193)

isModal behaviour of UItemplateDialog, UItemplateDialog always at the front of all windows. Set isModal=2 inorder to have the dialog not be always in front. (30276)

UIlist behaviour - slider resets position on list change (30326)

When UIslider is instanced with its active parameter set to 0 it does not
display itself as inactive (30389)

Issues addressed in AVS/Express 6.2

Image capture replaying images pb with a 2D Viewer software renderer. (25500)

DVgeo_glyph and FUNCgeo_glyph now include error checking to make sure the module doesn't crash. (27085)

Text objects cannot modify font size on Unix. (27213)

IPfexp module just performs another flog instead of fexp. (27220)

Upgrade CGNS from 2.0 to 2.1(27284)

GISGridGenerate error for lon min < 0 and lon max > 0. (27410)

UIlist bug, where the list of strings shrinks and selectedItem is now too large. (27423)

Setting visible on UIdialogs and closing the visible parameters crashes XP.(27443)

When ReadField has multiple close=0, it uses first data of step2.(27644)

yacc stack overflow when reading an application.(27652)

Express has garbled characters on WinXP.(27692)

Geom Flipbook enhancement to save object properties per frame. (27709)

Problem with the GUI on Read_netCDF_fld mod. when data has >64 variables. (27716)

AVS/Express 6.1: CGNS reading causes segmentation fault. (27775)

Bug in OutputField module. (27993)

Name of LegendHoriz/Vert can not be changed it is hardcoded. (28180)

When read_img2vol reads in >250 images, Express crashes. (28250)

The scat_to_tri module does not issue an error message if it fails.(28254)

Memory leak in hdf5 reader.(28377)

Express crashes in data_math using log10 (not log) (28440)

Cell data isn't updated when Read_UCD & cell_center has multiple steps.(28461)

Issues addressed in AVS/Express 6.1

Illuminated lines sets its Xform to Identity. (26203)
compilation warnings on HP-UX (26000,26172)
Set_Null does not work with a 2D viewer(25697)
link error when making user module with -nocxx-(25578)
Playback of image capture does not work with Unix SW renderer (26474)
Image points of origin are different between AVS/Express 5.1and 6.0 (26954)
Linux license file needs new line character at the end. (26916)
Icon colors are wrong when host endian is different from the display endian. (26701)
GL_EXT_rescale_normal extension disabled on PC (26685)
Crash writing TIFF imaged CCITT Group 3 compressed (26681)
Using streamlines in XP 6.0 with nspace = 2 not functioning properly(26655)
Labels scale Type = log10 in AGGraphWorld will not show (25331)
Text Title offset not handled correctly when using SW renderer. (25662)
When FLT_MAX is used in AGGraphField Obj, Express goes in an infinite loop (25700)
Transform angle jumps erratically(26986)
The pixmap subobjects of the UIbutton do not behave the same under UNIX and Windows (26702)
OutputVRML produces the wrong file if culling mode is not "None" (26682)
When running Express 6.0 with -viz with a Developers Edition license, errors are shown when clicking on any kind of Read modules. (26385)
64-bit AVS/Express crashes when reading a 3.7 GB data file. (25936)