When is SX-Key IDE updated to include latest SX/B complier?

southernbob

At what point will the SX-Key Software v3.1 download (on the SX download page) include
the latest changes to the SX/B complier? This download has the SX/B complier @ V1.21.
According to the SX Forum header the latest version is V1.42.

I have tried downloading the version 1.42 ,shown in the header, at least 10 times and
installing it according to the brief description shown. When I click on the SX-Key icon
on the desktop the·software opens but when I click on SX/B HELP I get a Windows
message 'Do I want to open SXB.CHM? '. When saying yes I get a message saying
Windows could not find it or something to that effect. If then click on SX/B HELP
I get a BLANK screen.· I have given up on this so that is why my question in the
first paragraph.

Bob

Jon Williams

SX/B changes far more frequently than the SX-Key software and in *most* cases the SX/B update is a simple matter of copying over the old files. The issue you're seeing with the help file is an MS security issue that seems to come and go; I've seen it on my machine and I generate our help files. We have not been able to pin this down because, as I stated, the problem seems to go away as quickly as it shows up. According to MS, any help (.CHM) file in the Program Files folder structure should open without issue, and our install puts it into tha path.

I have sent a note to the engineer who does our install package, but I really don't think that will cure your problem. Still I will ask him to freshen the installer to include SX/B version 1.42.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax

southernbob

Further info on problem;
If I click on the SXB_1x42..Zip file, Windows shows the 4 files in the ZIP file here;

C:\Program Files\Parallax Inc\SX-Key v3.1\Compilers\SXB\SXB_1x42.ZIP

·I mark the 4 files on that screen and cut/paste/replace the 4 files to here;

C:\Program Files\Parallax Inc\SX-Key v3.1\Compilers\SXB

Click on SX-Key icon on the desktop and the program loads, then click on·HELP
the HELP file loads and the first screen displayed shows the version as being
1.42.
It seems like the problem I was having occurs when UNZIPPING and replacing
the files. Using this method without using the Windows XP UNZIPPING function·
seems to work OK, at least for me.


However, the HELP screen· on the left side is different. There is no INDEX header
only CONTENTS and SEARCH. The original version had all 3 headers.
Clicking on the EXAMPLE PROJECTS shows the old projects not the updated
projects, I think.Looking at the new zip file for PROJECTS show a Serial LCD Test
with a BS2 extension. What is this?

Are the sample programs supposed to be downloaded to a different folder than
the SXB_1x42.ZIP file?

Bob

Jon Williams

We should have an updated install within a week or so -- maybe you'll want to wait for that since the manual method seems to be giving you fits.· If you want to try again, here's the folder structure on my system:

Compiler files:
-- C:\Program Files\Parallax Inc\SX-Key v3.1\Compilers\SXB

Examples:
-- C:\Program Files\Parallax Inc\SX-Key v3.1\Examples\SXB

Projects:
-- C:\Program Files\Parallax Inc\SX-Key v3.1\Projects\SXB


The .BS2 file you found is a BASIC Stamp program for testing the Serial LCD project -- many SX/B users (including me) come from the ranks of BASIC Stamp users so it made sense to include that demo for the Serial LCD project.

Again, some of the help file problems you're seeing we think are related to Microsoft security issues, which are very frustrating for all of us.· As I indicated in an earlier post, that happened to a bunch of us a Paralla right after an XP security update.· Not fun.· Drove me nutty for several days and then seemed to clear itself.· Perhaps the reinstallation of the SX-Key software will eliminate that problem, but I'm not confident that it will.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax

southernbob

Thanks Jon, just getting started on the SX so will wait for the new version.

I have tried unistalling/reinstalling the SX-Key software many times all with

the same results.

Bob