Global Settings

The Global Settings allow the user to set display options for Flowcode. You can access these settings by pressing 'File' then 'Global Settings...' at the bottom.

The options are split into tabs (sections) which each contain different options to allow you to change different aspects of Flowcode.

These options configure the program itself, from changes to appearance, customization of the program to the ability to personalize the program to your preference.

Other options available also allow control over web access and proxy settings as well as the ability to override the default language to display a different language.

You also have the ability to add directories and locations to search for components and directories to be used in Flowcode, you can also change the default directory of the compiler output location, you can do all this and more from within the Global Settings.

Application

Override Language

Allows the user to override the default Flowcode language settings and to display Flowcode in the specified language. Select the language from those available on the drop down list. Note: The relevant language packs need to be installed for Flowcode to enable that particular language.

Use dashboard as default panel

When checked, components are added to the dashboard panel by default, instead of the system panel.

Disable system panel

Disables the system panel completely, leaving the 2D panel to handle components and 2D graphics.

Show popup on simulation end

Displays a popup at the end of simulation which displays the duration of the simulation as well as other technical information.

Auto-edit new icons

Automatically opens the Icon Properties when adding a new icon.

Autosave periodically

Enables the autosave feature of Flowcode. This will create a backup file named the same as your project but with the .fcbx file suffix. You can set how often the autosave will work, the minimum setting is every 60 seconds.

Add icons comments to C code

Toggling this option will change whether icons include their associated C-code comments.

Allow errors in flowcharts

Allows you to edit icons without error messages, errors messages still occur when simulating and compiling the program.

Allow unconnected ports and pins

Allows you to change component connection properties to unconnected, error messages still occur when simulating and compiling the program.

Create separate .c and .h files

C code files are optionally saved as separate c/h files for incorporation into external projects

Web Access

Configures the settings to allow Flowcode to connect to the internet. Used for features like online activation and to drive the content in the start page and auto updates.

Show help in external browser

Opens wiki help pages in your default external browser

Show forums in external browser

Opens the forums main page in your default external browser

Check for core updates on launch

Checks for any new versions of Flowcode and shows

for a few seconds if any are found.

You will need to click on the Core update available text for the upgrade to start.

Enable background checking for library updates

When you add a component that has a later version available a pop-up will show

for a few seconds.

You will need to click on the Updates Available text for the upgrade to start.

Graphics Engine

Configures how we display objects on the simulation panels. Software mode is the default setting as it is more reliable for all users at the cost of being fairly slow. Hardware mode obviously is dependent on your specific 3D acceleration hardware meaning it may potentially have problems, if it does work ok with your hardware then it should be faster then the software mode.

Flowchart

Font name

Allows users to set the font used by Flowcode

Font size

Allows users to set the default font size used by Flowcode

Indent loop flowlines

Allows the flowchart line to be indented when part of a loop to make it much more obvious what code is placed inside the braces of the loop icon.

Transparent background

Selecting this option will set all backgrounds to be fully transparent when saving any .png or .bmp files from flowcode, this will ignore any colors set as the background.

Show descriptions for icons

Shows the description at the top of each icon. E.g. Delay, Calculation & Component Macro, etc.

Show text inside icons

Shows the text inside the icons

Show annotations

Shows the text to the right of the icons

Limit description size for all icons

Limits the description text to 18 characters.

Limit annotation size for new icons

Limits the text to the right of all new icons to 19 characters.

Anotation style

allows the look of the annotation to the right of each new icon to be changed. E.g. C Code will add // at the start etc.

Icon graphics style

This menu allows users to select a different graphics style for the entire project, selecting a graphics style will alter the look of the flowchart view mode.

Source graphics style

This menu allows users to select a different graphics style for the source view mode.

Scheme

Scheme

This menu allows users to select a colour scheme for the flowchart icons. Users can also choose their own colour schemes and save them.

Background

Users can manually select the colour scheme, including foreground pattern, for the flowchart area. Users can also select the selection' and 'execution' colours.

Icon

Here users can manually change the colour of icons to suit their requirements.

Locations

Send compiler output to

This option decides the default target directory to output to when compiling.

Create an embedded project backup file as

Allows a backup embedded project file to be created based on the previous save of the file. If you need to go back then simply rename the file using Windows explorer and change the filetype from .001 to .fcfx.

Create an App Developer project backup file as

Allows a backup App developer project file to be created based on the previous save of the file. If you need to go back then simply rename the file using Windows explorer and change the filetype from .001 to .fcsx.

Override toolchain locations

The toolchain locations Flowcode will use. All except ESP and PICO will be entered automatically after installing the appropriate toolchain

Look for components in

This option allows you to include additional directories for Flowcode to search when looking for components. If you have more than one different directory with the same component. The component with the latest date/time will be loaded

UI Trees

This allows you to completely customise Project Explorer and Icon Lists with any of the available tabs.

User Tools

User Tools allows a user to run external programs or batch files from Flowcode. They will appear on the Build menu:

Typical uses will be to execute common external tools that you use during development, for example to integrate with version control software

To create a tool, click the Build >> “Customise…” button or open Global Settings and select the “User Tools” menu.

Select New (Insert) button

Enter the required name for the new tool.

If at a later stage, the name requires editing, just double-click on it.

Click on the tool name you just added so you can select the three dots to allow you to choose a file or a folder.

For the Arguments, select the down arrow and chose from the list of arguments.

If $(outdir) is selected and there is a space within the directory, then it will need to be enclosed within speech marks. For example "$(outdir)"

Before selecting the next Argument, a space must be added after the last Argument.

To run the tools, select Build ribbon then the name of the tool.

Here’s an example of running a batch file accessing some substitution arguments: