Version Updates

Flowcode 11

Licensing changes

Licence model has been changed to Software Assurance

Graphical Display Design Tools

New for version 11 is a full library of components for driving touch screen graphical displays: display drivers for the most popular touch screens, graphics widgets, graph widgets, touch screen components, WYSIWYG graphical display designer and menu control subroutines. These allow you to design touch screen graphical displays based on any 8, 16, or 32 bit microcontroller.

Web Mirror

The Web Mirror features allows you to mirror the functionality of you touch screen system on any browser anywhere in the world. This is only available on the E-Blocks 3 hardware for now. The great benefit is that you can use your mobile phone to control your electronic projects.

No coding is needed. It's just a couple of settings on the Graphical display component. Flowcode takes care of all the details.

New Project Wizard and Auto-detect

Getting started is so hard. So many options, choices, settings in our beautiful complex world. The new project wizard provides a menu system that makes this easier for all users showing options and guiding users through choices.

If you have E-Blocks 3 hardware then it is even easier: Flowcode sees what upstream and downstream boards you have connected and sets up the program for you.

Serial Debugging on Hardware

Serial debugging allows you to pause your program as it runs in hardware and see the status of variables in your project. You can set breakpoints in your code and change the values of variables while program execution is paused.

Serial debugging was only available on Matrix hardware in V10. In V11, Serial debugging now works on third party hardware that has a serial COM port available via USB. This includes many Arduino, ESP32 and PIC boards.

E-Blocks 3 and Auto-id

The goal is simple: create the best environment for developing electronic projects. Its hard to separate the hardware from the software sometimes. The combination of Flowcode and E-Blocks 3 provides an amazing development platform for both educators and industrial engineers.

Each E-blocks downstream board has a small microcontroller on it. These communicate to the upstream board to inform Flowcode what hardware is connected. This allows Flowcode to put the appropriate components on the 2D panel with all the right settings, making project setup much easier!

New Microcontrollers

The world does not stand still. Manufacturers are constantly adding new microcontrollers with more features, smaller silicon areas, faster clock rates and so on.

We constantly add new microcontrollers to the chip lists. A lot of work has been done recently to add the Microchip PIC8 Q range.

Flowcode is now compatible with 1,789 microcontrollers.

2D Panel Updates

The 2D panel has been upgraded so that it is now possible to zoom in and out on all component views.

A new rich text components adds formatted text to components and panels, and all panel objects now can be anchored to the panel sides or even set to display completely in the panel (e.g. for showing charts in a separate window).

New features include:

• 2D Panel zoom
• Richtext primitive
• Component anchoring
• Fill panel window

New Coding Features

A variety of new features have been added to make coding in Flowcode v11 even simpler than before.

Direct string comparisons can now be made in decision icons, the loop command has a "loop forever" option and several new operators (e.g. increment/decrement and assignment) have been added to make Flowcode calculations more representative of C code.

• Direct string comparisons
• Loop forever
• Increment and decrement operators
• Assignment operators (e.g. myval += 10)

Other improvements

• Dynamic menus and web-based windows added
• Anchors and 'fit component' options for panel objects
• Group icon contents can be viewed without needing to ungroup
• User is now warned when openign a project that is already open
• Flowcode now has separate icons for Embedded, Web Developer and PC Developer project files
• Macros can now be shown as a different graphical/text view direct from the macro tab
• Library version log file shows which versions of library files are used in compiled project
• Colour options available on macro descriptions
• Position anchors for components
• New richtext primitive for component panels
• View group icon contents
• Access variables in simulated component code
• Direct access to variable manager
• Warn when opening a project that is already open
• New file extensions for Flowcode project types
• Change macro view types on the fly
• Advanced component profiling and debugging
• Clear All Breakpoints no longer ignores the loop command
• Digital i/o panel now updated correctly when PORT property change iterates through subcomponents
• Digital i/o panel now updated correctly when pane is first opened
• Caption bar now shows project type
• Dropping icons onto overlapped macro views correctly drops onto topmost window
• Non-flowchart macros can now be exported as image
• New state diagram macro menu item added
• Web Developer projects do not show state diagram icons
• List Occurrences check is now case-insensitive
• Improvements to dark colour scheme
• Added ability to show and hide component macros via API command
• Fixed read-only nature of component properties
• Fixed the sim control speed slider
• Fixed 'corrupt macro' error message text that got lost during an exception
• Mouse events now triggered at the dead area at the top of Project Explorer
• Component major/minor versions now 0-999 (was 0-100)
• Hidden option to show '!=' as '<>'
• Fixed MatrixLight/MatrixDark inbuilt colour schemes for charts
• 2d panels now hide toolbar when simulating
• FCDChange event is fired when chip stays the same but clock speed changes
• Fixed longstanding bug with broadcast message parameter corruption
• Moved components on 2d panel now redraw their vacated areas too
• Subcomponents of a group now get unique names when copying/pasting
• Added GetActual2dPosition/GetActual2dPosition API commands
• Context menu for component panels stops renames, deletion, etc, when simulating
• Wndhost comps (button, combobox and textbox) now update when resized on the panel
• Text primitives now redraw their actual text area too
• Improved visual styling for dark mode, and fixed styling issues with combo boxes, etc.
• Removed redundant colour and code-customisation information from saved project files
• Fixed SIGNED/UNSIGNED casting
• Fixed simulation of Decision tail icon
• Search now finds ports/pins
• Added logical AND, OR and NOT (&&, ||, !) to maths functions list
• Improved tooltip help for maths and string functions
• Function lists now categorised
• Call stack view width can be altered using mouse wheel in Simulation Debugger window
• Component panel zoom level now shown on status bar
• Improved component toolbar display on non-100% DPI systems
• New variables are given default initialisers
• Macro parameters can have default values for parameters
• Macro tabs have 'close' and 'close other' menu item
• Added CallMacro in-built functions
• Added in-built functions to manipulate text-based property lists
• Fixed flicker in IOC chip view in interrupt prpoperties dialog
• Components and macros now available to add to expressions in icon dialogs
• List properties can now be auto-sorted
• Flowcode now uses a 'ping' to ensure web-based dialogs retain current information

Update v11.0.1.14

Flowcode 10

Licensing changes

• Flowcode V10 is now free for makers and hobbyists with full functionality for a limited range of devices which include; Arduino Uno & Nano, RPI etc.

Components

• Can now view component code

• Components are now free and open-sourced so you can use existing components and tailor them to your own requirements.

• Dedicated 2D primitive components

2D panels

New 2D panels provide clearer graphics, customisation of all panels with your own drawings, notes and much more printer friendly options available.

Add an unlimited number of 2D panels into your project.

Unlocks a host of new 2D panel only panel options such as graphing tools.

Simulation

• Improved variable values display on simulation – view and edit variable values during simulation and ICD

• Interrupt on Change diagram visual improvements

• View and step through the simulation of component code (Pro Licence only)

• Ghost support for EB0058 ESP board

• Icon lists now show disabled icons in a muted colour

• Show variables on oscilloscope and data recorder

• The text colour of flowchart icons can be altered

Application

• Create separate .c and .h files

• Show help/wiki in separate browser

UI Trees

• New UI Trees tab within Global Settings for customising Project Explorer and Icon Lists

User Tools

• New User Tools tab within Global Settings for setting up User Tools to be used within the Build ribbon

I/O ports

• Connected components lists on analogue/digital windows

• When using Calculation icons (etc), pins can be dragged to the expression

Variables

• Combines global and local variables (which are also available separately)

• Show values during simulation

• Float variables are now shown to a user-defined precision (defaults to “%g”)

Built-in Functions

• Single-dimension arrays show individual elements in Watch and Project Explorer lists

• There are some new built-in functions available

New API calls : GetPanel and GetPanelName, SetSimSpeed and GetBackgroundColour

New String Functions routines : Contains$, SplitString$, ExplodeToIntArray$, ImplodeFromIntArray$, ExplodeToFloatArray$, ImplodeFromFloatArray$, Int2FormattedString$, Float2FormattedString$, InsertString$, RemoveFromString$, SearchAndReplace$

New Mathematical Functions : cosh, sinh, tanh, arraydims, arraysize, GetOriginalScale

Events

• There are some new events available

Miscellaneous

• TODO list - auto generated icon list based on icons containing TODO in the comment. For example. TODO this icon needs work or TODO this will need changing.

• Project Report improvements

Flowcode 9

Here are some of the new features added in Flowcode 9. Please click on a feature to learn more about it.

App Developer

• Flowcode App Developer

A completely new piece of software - based on Flowcode - that allows you to create fantastic distributed control and data gathering systems with intuitive Human Machine interfaces for Windows PCs and tablets.

This comes with a suite of Application Programming Interfaces for low cost hardware including Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ESP32 and PIC which allows you to create powerful smart embedded + PC devices with Windows HMI displays that can be freely distributed.

State Diagrams

• State diagrams

New graphical programming icons allows you to make use of this powerful programming paradigm.

Create new state machine projects or enhance your existing ones and mix and match with flow chart icons, C code, blocks etc.

New ESP32 Toolchain

• ESP32 toolchain

Flowcode now supports a range of new devices for this powerful 80MHz board level device with integrated TCP/IP stack, and Wi-fi.

This allows you to create great web-interconnected projects with this incredibly low cost hardware platform from Espressif semiconductors in China.

Data flow programming

• Data flow programming

Now you can use data flow programming icons in your projects. This is a really great programming technique for projects including communications systems and Digital Signal Processing.

New Components

• New components

New components include new DSP components, new Mechatronics parts, Easy Internet Of Things components, more sensors, and new test injectors. We have updated our forums and now have sections to post your projects for both App Developer and Embedded. There are already a few posted. Why not come and replicate these projects to learn some interesting new things?

New Website

• New website

Flowcode now has its own web site. Here, you can find more information on Flowcode Embedded, Flowcode App Developer, a new Wiki, and a host of new courses on developing advanced communications systems from Mobile phone technology to CAN bus technology in automotive.

Flowcode 8

Features Added

Here are some of the new features added in Flowcode 8. Please click on a feature to learn more about it.

• Code Folding

• Icon Grouping

• Simulating Custom C Code

• Custom C Code to Flowchart Conversion

• Coding Paradigms - Flowchart, Blocks, Pseudocode, C Code

• Tab Tear Off - Multi Monitor Support

• Dynamic Updates

• Raspberry Pi Chip Pack

• E-blocks2 Auto ID

• Matrix SCADA

Component changes and additions

CAL components such as ADC, I2C, PWM, SPI and UART are now free to allow for more user-based component creation and library generation.

High-level components created by Matrix are still licensed under the various component feature packs.

We also have made a large selection of component, CAL and FCD updates.

New components

Some of the new components include:

• FAT Based GLCD Bitmap Drawer
• New sensor components
• Network abstraction component for TCP/IP and WIFI modules
• E-block specific categories
• Scenario simulation components and wiki based curriculum
• Graphical LCD Graph drawer
• Arduino style serial terminal - via the console
• Raspberry Pi specific - Console Text Generation, TCP/IP
• Raspberry Pi HDMI gLCD
• Modbus TCP - Master and Slave
• DAC MCP48x1
• HTS221
• ESP12S
• PCF8575
• SHT31 Humidity Sensor
• WAV Playback and Record
• RealSpeak
• Bluetooth RN4677
• Various new Grove sensors
• HBridge CAL

Component improvements

• CAL components are more usable and stand alone, injector, scope and console functionality is now built in making it much easier to build into your own components
• Bitmap Drawer component - more bitmap file formats (Mono, 16-Colour, 256-Colour, 24-bit) and up to ten bitmaps per component
• Servo motor 16-bit mode
• PWM Frequency based Period and Prescaler calculator

Flowcode 7

Performance improvements

• Code Profiling - See which icons are 'hit' or 'missed', and the frequency of execution, to determine bugs/ redundancy in your code

• New 2 channel integrated oscilloscope, with triggering

• New template files for Microchip devices - get you up and running with your projects faster

Visual enhancments

• New modern UI with a choice of dark/ light themes

• Ability to colour code individual flowchart icons for ease of viewing, or select from pre-made colour schemes

• Create, save and load colour schemes for icons

• Overhaul of user interface

• 3D engine graphical improvements

New Toolchain and Compilers

• Support for 32bit PIC microcontrollers

• Support for Microchip XC8, XC16 and XC32 compilers.

• Significantly faster compilation of 8bit Microchip devices (approximately 10 times faster compilation than previous versions)

Licensing structure

• Flexible licensing structure - build a bespoke license exactly to your requirements

• License upgradable at any point to add new features

• Free version available - for a limited number of microcontrollers and feature set

Mechanical Support Improvements

• Users can now import 3D assemblies, rather than individual parts only.

• Support for industry standard file types; STEP and IGES

Testing

• Access readings and data from external instruments using DLL support. Display data with dashboard HMIs or third party software.

• Use our EB006 multiprogrammer, EB091 or Flowkit v2 to monitor every pin on your PICmicro design, and monitor and interpret serial data I/O using Ghost Technology.

Flowcode 6

Component Creator

• Now you can design your own electronic components and add them to your component library. You can use simulation API calls to define the electrical behaviour and mechanical behaviour in simulation.

• The component library has been expanded considerably to include many new electronic components and simulation components. Components can be designed and shared on our website.

• In addition to PCB style components you now have access to panel mounted switches, meters and displays for industrial control.

• Customise or create Dashboard components like graphs, dials and meters to allow you to monitor how your system is functioning in simulation and In-Circuit Test.

Simulation

• Improvements in simulation speed means that your simulation works close to real time which allows you to verify your design ‘live’.

• The powerful API allows control of simulation events and components providing a wide range of PC-side functions.

• Human Machine Interface components show your system parameters during simulation and In-Circuit-Test using intuitive displays including meters, graphs, oscillograms and tables.

• Use text based consoles to see data passing around your system: perfect for designing systems with digital communications.

Mechanical Support

• Import 3D models and characterise the movement and simulation using API.

• Use the system panel to design your own simple 3D model. View your design from different angles whilst it simulates.

• Create low cost parts with laser cutters and 3D printers and see the parts working with your electronics on-screen.

• Create simulations of your model which move in 3D space under electrical stimulus from a microcontroller and other components in your system. Use 2D dashboard controls to monitor your system in real time.

Testing

• Access readings and data from external instruments using DLL support. Display data with dashboard HMIs or third party software.

• Use our new EB006 multiprogrammer to monitor every pin on your PICmicro design, and monitor and interpret serial data I/O.

• Monitor how your system is functioning in simulation and In-Circuit-Test. Use new components like graphs, meters, consoles and scrolling text boxes to verify your design.

• Use Softscope and Consoles to see data in waveform or textual formats. Use the API to translate incoming data to hex or ASCII equivalent. Link Softscope and consoles to third party hardware using DLLs to create a full SCADA system.