Serial Monitor Lite (DMS) History and Updates

Fixed Bugs
· Several bugs in Serial Terminal
Several bugs in the Serial Terminal module were fixed.
· Performance counters calculation bug for Serial Monitor module
There was an error in calculation of some counters for the Statistics visualizer in Serial Monitor module. Fixed.
· Several UI bugs
Several user interface bugs were fixed.
· Several bugs in MODBUS View visualizer
Several bugs in MODBUS View visualizer were fixed.
New Features
· Automatic Data Policy Management
There has always been a feature in the Device Monitoring Studio, called "Data Processing". It could be and still can be used to control the data processing policy. You can trade disk space usage for a session history length. More disk space you allow Device Monitoring Studio to use, more older session packets are available for you.

Version 5.22 introduces an automatic data policy management for monitoring sessions. If only Logging and/or Statistics visualizer are configured for the monitoring session, it is forced to low disk space usage policy. If any other visualizer is configured for the monitoring session, it falls back to the setting, defined by the user.

· Serial PPP View Visualizer
Device Monitoring Studio version 5.22 introduces new data visualizer – Serial PPP View. It can be used to decode Point-to-Point Protocol packets, as well as a number of packets that can be encapsulated in PPP packets. The current version of the visualizer supports the following protocols:
1. Novell IPX
2. OSI Network Layer Control Protocol
3. DECnet Phase IV Control Protocol
4. Appletalk Control Protocol
5. Link Control Protocol
6. Password Authentication Protocol
7. Link Quality Report
8. Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol
9. Multilink Protocol
10. Compression Control Protocol
11. Extensible Authentication Protocol
12. NETBIOS Protocol
· High-Speed operation mode
The High-Speed mode is automatically enabled for a session, for which only the Statistics visualizer is configured. In this mode the amount of data analyzed by the application is reduced significantly, leading to more accurate performance measurements. This mode is useful if you have a device with extremely high transfer rate (more than 16 MB/s) and want to measure its performance.

Fixed Bugs
· Several GPFs
Several application crashes were fixed.
· GPF in Serial Bridge
Program crash in Serial Bridge module was fixed.
New Features
· Keyboard Map printing
Keyboard Map can be printed or copied to the Clipboard.
· Generic open feature
Device Monitoring Studio is now capable of opening log files and tool window configuration files in addition to workspaces. They can be opened through the File|Open menu option, dropped from Windows Explorer, or specified in the command line.

Fixed Bugs
· Several streams in log file
You were unable to create multiple streams in a single log file - fixed.
· Playback bugs
Several bugs in Playback tree and playback module were fixed.
· MODBUS View and MODBUS Send bugs
Several bugs in MODBUS View visualizer and MODBUS Send were fixed.
· Serial Terminal Send File bug
Several bugs with a Serial Terminal Send File feature were fixed.
New Features
· Generic Filtering feature
Generic filtering feature allows you to configure filtering for different visualizers and create filtering schemes, which then can be quickly applied to different visualizer windows. This feature is utilized by MODBUS View and Request View visualizers.
Updated Features
· MODBUS View "Concatenate packets" option
MODBUS View visualizer can be configured to join divided packets.
· Serial Terminal "Convert tabs to spaces" option
Serial Terminal can be configured to replace tabulation characters with spaces for a typed or sent text.
· New options in Playback context menu
Playback context menu now has two additional options: “Collapse All” and “Expand All”, which can be used to collapse/expand log file names and log streams in the tree.
· Serial Terminal "Data block size" option
The size of internal block size used by the Serial Terminal to send data can be configured.
· Application loading time improved
Device Monitoring Studio loading time is improved in case there are a lot of log files in the log file folder.

Fixed Bugs
· Program Crash
The program may crash on some computers on startup or device selection. Fixed.
· Export works incorrectly
Export to text file feature produces incorrect results. Fixed.

Fixed Bugs
· Serial devices inactive after program uninstallation
On some machines serial devices may become inactive after uninstalling the Device Monitoring Studio. Fixed.

Fixed Bugs
· Installation bug on Windows XP x64 and Windows Server 2003 x64
On some machines running Windows XP x64 and Windows Server 2003 x64 the product refuses to install. Fixed.

Fixed Bugs
· Console View
Several bugs in the Console View visualizer have been fixed. It now also displays sent data in addition to received data.
· Log Files Sharing
Log files can now be shared among several running copies of the Device Monitoring Studio (either locally or over the network). Log files can be shared only for playback.
· Access weakened
The Device Monitoring Studio incorrectly tried to open resources with high privileges resulting in inability of less privileged user to use some of the program features (it still worked, although). The access mode was weakened for all such cases, resulting in Administrative rights being required only during application install.
New Features
· MODBUS Protocol Responses
The MODBUS Send module is now capable of sending MODBUS protocol responses to the connected hardware.
· MODBUS RTU Mode
Both MODBUS Send module and MODBUS View visualizer are now capable of working in RTU mode (in addition to previousely supported ASCII mode).
· 64-bit Platform Support
Device Monitoring Studio now fully supports 64-bit operating systems, including Windows XP x64 Edition, Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition and Windows Vista x64 Edition.

All Device Monitoring Studio binaries were ported to 64-bit (not only filter drivers), resulting in much better performance and scalability. The single installation package is used to install application on 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.

Please see the included release notes for previous version compatibility issues.
Updated Features
· Scripting
Scripting now offers new methods for sending MODBUS protocol responses as well as several new utility methods (mainly for Serial Terminal module).

Fixed Bugs
· Windows 2000 compatibility isues
Windows 2000 compatibility issues fixed.
· Known bugs
All known bugs of the previous version have been fixed.
New Features
· Overall performance and stability improvements
The application now requires less RAM and disk space and supports high speed communications without affecting computer performance.
· New User Interface
The product is now a part of the Device Monitoring Studio.
· Serial Terminal
The Serial Terminal module allows you to open an interactive terminal session with for a serial device. The terminal session is fully scriptable as well.
· Multiple monitoring sessions support
The application now allows you to create as many monitoring sessions as you need. You can have as many different serial, usb, bridging or log playback sessions as you need.
· MODBUS protocol support
MODBUS protocol support is offered via MODBUS View visualizer and MODBUS Send module.
· Statistics visualizer
Analyzes the device throughput and displays linear graphics for a number of variables.
· Customization
The built-in scripting support offers a great freedom in customization of the Device Monitoring Studio.
· Auto Start/Stop Recording
Auto Start/Stop Recording feature can be used to immediately start recording data for newly created monitoring sessions.
· Windows Vista support
The Serial Monitor is now compatible with Windows Vista (32-bit only). 64-bit support is coming.
· Save to Log
Use "Save to Log" feature to save the monitoring session data to the log file.
Updated Features
· Improved support for serial bridging
This version offers improved support for serial bridging (former Protocol Analyzer monitoring session type).
· Visualizers support
All existing Serial Monitor visualizers are supported. The upper limit on the amount of data the visualizers can display is removed.
· Improved support for data logging and log file play back
Improved support for data logging and log file play back - no upper limit on log file sizes, improved performance, stability and management.
· Console View visualizer
Improved Console View visualizer - added support for line numbering and improved performance.

Fixed Bugs
· Bug with playing back recorded Protocol Analzer sessions
Sessions recorded with Protocol Analyzer sometimes fail to play back.
New Features
· Computer Restart Eliminated
The installer now does not require you to restart the computer on installation and uninstallation of the product.
Updated Features
· Better Compatibility
The compatibility with various hardware devices has been extended.
· Performance Tuning
The performance of the filtering driver has been increased.

Fixed Bugs
· Bug in the installer
The product sometime fails to install on Windows 2K machines (without msvcr71.dll)

Fixed Bugs
· Activation bug for Unlimited Site License
Activation bug for Unlimited Site License

New Features
· New Installer
New Serial Monitor installer now gives you better flexibility to control the way the product installed.

Fixed Bugs
· On some machines the installation fails
Launch the installation. It may finish with an error.

Fixed Bugs
· Some multiport serial adapters are not supported
If you have such adapter you may not see its serial ports when creating new monitoring session. In Serial Devices those ports are displayed under "Non-Active" tab.
· GPF when configuring logging for Protocol Analyzer
Create a new Protocol Analyzer monitoring session and select Logging on visualizers page. The crash will occur.
· Console View does not automatically update in Protocol Analyzer mode.
Create a new Protocol Analyzer monitoring session and select Console View visualizer. You will notice that the visualizer is not automatically updated when new data is monitored.
New Features
· Advanced Settings
Serial Monitor now allows you to tweak internal filter driver settings to achieve better performance.

Fixed Bugs
· You cannot use the Log File Playback monitoring session type
Start new monitoring session. In Wizard, select the "Log File Playback" session type and click the Next button. Nothing happens.

New Features
· Seriously improved performance
New version offers completely redesigned internal structures and algorithms, boosting performance of both kernel mode and user mode components.
· Simplified monitoring session creation/closing
Now you can connect to the serial device even if it is already used and disconnect from it at any time.
· PnP and virtual serial devices support
The Serial Monitor now completely supports PnP and virtual serial devices with hot-plug and hot-unplug functionality.
Updated Features
· Serial Port Information dialog changes
The dialog has been renamed into “Serial Devices” dialog and now displays more information about active serial devices and also allows you to remove registry entries for unused serial devices.

Fixed Bugs
· Wizards and property sheets are incorrectly sized when using non-standard font size
Set Windows standard font size to higher value and run the Serial Monitor. You will see that program's wizards and property sheets are partly visible.
· The product cannot be successfully registered on Windows NT 4.0 machine.
If you try to use the Registration Name/Unlock Code pair to register the software on Windows NT 4.0 machine, you will fail.

Fixed Bugs
· Crash in Settings|Format
Create a monitoring session and go to the Tools|Settings menu option, then open the Format tab. The Serial Monitor will cause GPF.

Fixed Bugs
· Minor bug fixes
Some small or rare bugs have been fixed.
Updated Features
· Performance
Rendering performance has been enhanced

Fixed Bugs
· The Serial Monitor main window can be made too small.
You can reduce the Serial Monitor main window size to the minimum.
· You are unable to launch the application under different user.
The Serial Monitor program group is installed under the current user profile.
· GPF with overflow in Console View
If the long line is displayed in the Console View, the Serial Monitor may cause the General Protection Fault
Updated Features
· New baud rates in Protocol Analyzer
Protocol Analyzer now allows you to specify two additional baud rates: 76800 and 230400

New Features
· New language packs.
Italian, Spanish and Russian languages added.

Fixed Bugs
· Moving the Start Menu group to another location.
Install the Serial Monitor and then move the program group to another location. The Serial Monitor will launch the Windows Installer in an attempt to find the modules.
· Log files with gaps
Write the log file with gaps (no data) more than an hour long. When you close the monitoring session, the program will GPF. The same will occur when you try to open this log file for playback.
New Features
· Hex Data display
You can now change the way the hex data displayed in Request View and Data View. Select the View|Hex Data Display… command for more information.
· Find feature.
You can now search for a text in a Data View, Request View and Console View.
· Always on top feature.
The Serial Monitor can now be forced to stay on top of all other windows. See the View menu for the command.

Fixed Bugs
· GPF while playing back log file.
Start the "Log File Playback" session. The Serial Monitor may sometimes fail to display correct data or cause a general protection fault.

Fixed Bugs
· Buffer overrun error
Start the Serial Port Monitor monitoring session and launch a CPU-intensive process in background. Sooner or later, the Serial Monitor's filter driver runs out of buffers and an error message or a system shut down occurs.
Updated Features
· Logging
The Logging module was completely overwritten to be more robust, fast and to produce smaller log files. CPU-intensive Zlib compression was replaced by the NTFS-compression.

Fixed Bugs
· BSOD after the trial period is over
When the Serial Monitor's trial period is over, it brings the system down when trying to create a monitoring session.
· BSOD during monitoring
Start the Serial Port Monitor monitoring session. Sometimes the Serial Monitor will immediately bug check the system
· The session containing Line View will not save.
The attempt to save the session with Line View visualizer will fail.

Fixed Bugs
· Status bar panes overlap
Start the Log File Playback monitoring session and select the Line View visualizer. The status bar panes will overlap
· Skip button does not work
Start the Log File Playback monitoring session. Skip button (displayed during long pauses) will not work.

Fixed Bugs
· No Window Menu
Configure the monitoring session without visualizers (with only Logging enabled). Then choose Tools|Add New Visualizer and select some visualizers. The Window menu will not appear, instead part of it will be present in pop-up menus.
· Session Error "Not enough storage is avaiable…" at high port rates
Configure the monitoring session and start an application performing high baud-rate transmissions. The Serial Monitor will most likely stop processing and/or display the "Not enough storage is available…" error.
· Missing monitored data or Serial Monitor GPF after Port Open request.
Configure the monitoring session. Start the monitored application. After the application opens the port, the Serial Monitor will most likely miss some subsequent requests.
· Multiple selected visualizers
Start the New Session Wizard. Select the monitoring session type, configure it and go to visualizers select page. Check some visualizers and then return back to selecting the monitoring session type. Select another session type and complete the wizard. You'll get several copies of selected visualizers.
· BSOD on Serial Monitor process termination
Start the Serial Port Monitor monitoring session. If the Serial Monitor process is terminated during monitoring (by causing GPF or manually), the computer will most likely bugcheck when the port is closed by the monitored application.
· BSOD on trying to open invalid (or locked) device
Start the Serial Port Monitor monitoring session. Enter the invalid device name or select the device which is already being used. The Serial Monitor will bugcheck your computer when the session is created.
New Features
· Line View visualizer appended.
The Serial Monitor now contains the new visualizer called Line View which shows the state of all serial and modem lines.
· IOCTL_SERIAL_GETMODEMSTATUS serial input/output control code implemented.
The Serial Monitor now correctly intercepts and decodes the IOCTL_SERIAL_GETMODEMSTATUS input/output request.
Updated Features
· Some corrections in French version.
French version of the Serial Monitor was slightly changed.

Fixed Bugs
· Session serialization bug
Create the Serial Port Monitor session and configure logging. Save the session to the disk and try to open it again. The attempt can fail.
· Incorrect Date in Log Configuration Dialog
Create the Log File Playback session type. Select the log file and the stream. The times displayed are incorrect.
New Features
· Multi-language support added
The Serial Monitor now supports multiple languages. The user interface, documentation and supporting resources are all available on multiple languages.
· French language pack
This version of the Serial Monitor contains English (US) and French (France) language packs.
Updated Features
· Redesigned driver
The Serial Monitor filter driver has been completely rewritten to be faster and more robust.

New Features
· Serial Monitor Converter SDK support
We have released the Serial Monitor Converter SDK. Version 2.30 or later is required for the SDK.

New Features
· Log File Extended Playback
During playback you can now set the time scale multiplier from 1:16 to 16:1 of the original time. There are also two options - Stepped (for step by step confirmation and Continuous for playing back the whole log stream immediately)
· Log File Compression Level Setup
Now you can setup one of three different compression levels for the log files the Serial Monitor produces. There are No compression, Optimize for speed and Optimize for Size levels, which let you to trade performance for the size of the log file

New Features
· Windows NT 4.0 support
The Serial Monitor version 2.25 now supports Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and Windows XP

Fixed Bugs
· HHD Software USB Monitor compliance
The Serial Monitor was changed to work with HHD Software USB Monitor when installed on single machine.

Fixed Bugs
· Incorrect Long Date format
On systems with old msvcrt.dll long date format is displayed incorrectly. 3903 is displayed instead of 2003 year.

Fixed Bugs
· Buttons on toolbar are grayed incorrectly.
Grayed buttons on toolbar are not the same as in menu.
· Serial Monitor does not list COM ports starting with COM5 in Serial Port Monitor configuration page.
Start new monitoring session. If your computer is equipped with COM5 or more, the Serial Monitor will not list them.
· Serial Monitor brings the system to the Blue Screen of Death while detaching from the serial port when monitoring some applications.
Start monitoring the application that makes heavy transfers through the serial device. Close the monitoring session and then close the monitored application. The system will bugcheck.
New Features
· Toolbar Customization
Now you have an ability to customize the Serial Monitor toolbars. Go to the Tools|Customize menu option and click the Toolbars tab. See on-line documentation for more information

Fixed Bugs
· Program hangs on some configurations when trying to display Open/Save File common dialog.
On some computers running Windows 2000 select File|Open Session menu option and the Serial Monitor hangs while trying to display the Open File common dialog.
New Features
· Keyboard Customization.
Select Tools|Customize to customize the keyboard shortcuts for any command in the Serial Monitor.
· Serial Port Information.
Select Tools|Serial Port Information to display the complete information about any serial device.
· Protocol Analyzer monitoring session type.
There is new monitoring session type available: Protocol Analyzer. It allows you to monitor the serial protocol between two different serial devices, connected by null-modem cables to your computer. See on-line documentation or product description for more information.
· Windows XP themes support.
Serial Monitor now fully supports Windows XP themes.
Updated Features
· User Interface.
Some user interface items have been updated. This includes splash screen, wizards and icons.

Fixed Bugs
· Incorrect month number in Request View.
Create monitoring session with Request View visualizer. Monitor some data. You will see that the month number, displayed by the Request View is incorrect.
· Stack overflow in Console View.
Create monitoring session with Console View visualizer. Monitor large binary transfers. The Serial Monitor may disappear without any notification when Console View tries to display the long line of binary data.
· Memory leaks in Console View and Logging Module.
Create monitoring session with Console View visualizer and/or configure Logging. Monitor data for a while. Run Task Manager to view increased Virtual and Physical Memory usage for "Device Monitor.exe" process.
New Features
· Add New Visualizer.
Create monitoring session. Select the Tools|Add New Visualizer… menu option and select any additional data visualizers to use in the current session.

Product Versions for Serial Monitor Lite (DMS)