TN2007 - Winter Newsletter


Revised:   10 December 2007


This newsletter will be direct mailed during mid-December to all TN customers who have registered for activation codes since January 2005.  Receipt depends on spam traps, internet security systems and your e-mail address remaining unchanged since last registered for a TN activation code.


Subject:  Upgrades, Updates and some minor TN issues on Windows Vista
 
 
The widespread use of aggressive internet security software killed off the old TN newsletters which in any event were infrequent and were increasingly unsuccessful at getting to intended destinations because the TN address lists were rarely up-to-date due to the very high churn rate of user e-mail IDs.  
 
The purpose of this newsletter is to appraise you of TN updates status, to encourage everyone to move to Tn2007, and to discuss two compatibility issues with TN on Windows Vista.
 
 
TN2007 UPDATES and UPGRADES
 
If you are still running TN2005, please note that upgrades to TN2007 are available *free of charge* for existing TN2005 users.   Please make use of the TN2007 "CD image" downloads on the TN web site - downloads page.
 
It's unlikely that anyone on this abbreviated address list is still running TN2003 (or older), but where this applies, the upgrade to TN2007 is still available for only £20..   This offer won't last forever.
  
 
WINDOWS VISTA TN2007 ISSUES...
 
Issue 1.               TN LogMaster
IMPACT:              Low,  EW Windows Uploader doesn't launch
FIX AVAILABLE:   Yes,  set a Windows option; see below
 
When running on Windows Vista, the EW Windows Uploader, a user selected option - version 0330A for serial COM ports, or 0523X for USB connect - doesn't launch unless TN is running in Windows Vista 'Administrator' mode.     This is probably due to the Windows API calls (special software functions) used by TN to launch the EW program as offered by the TN Logmaster EWA options.   
 
The FIX...
(a)  Right mouse click on the TN program icon on the Windows Vista desktop
(b)  From the popup menu, select properties
(c)  In the tabbed properties dialog (see below), select the "Compatibility" tab
(d)  In the tab section, "Privilege Level", tick "Run this program as an administrator", and..
(e)  Click the "Apply" button, bottom right
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Issue 2.   IGC 3D Viewer (freeware)  O.G.I.E "Full Screen" window is temporarily not visible when the OGIE popup menu is on display
IMPACT:               Low,  but visually unsatisfactory
FIX AVAILABLE:    Yes,  by circumvention .. see below.
 
If you use the openGL_IGCexplorer (OGIE) freeware 3D viewer, there's a small glitch if it is launched using the "Full Screen" tick-box option in the TN 3D Control Panel. 
 
After launch and during the 3D IGC display, if you use the mouse "right click" to get the 3D viewer pop-up menu, the 3D View full screen display disappears until you make your selection from the pop-up menu and then it's visible again until the next mouse "right click".   

The FIX...
This problem can be avoided - before the 3D Viewer is launched - if you un-tick the "Full Screen" option in the TN 3D Control Panel.    OGIE then launches in a standard window which can be resized and/or maximised, and in which mouse click and popup-menu behaviour are normal.  The standard window display has a title bar at the top of the screen, but in all other respects is the same as the full screen 3D display.

 
This problem may be due to a Vista/graphics driver issue which may or may not affect your machine(s), or it may be associated with the special .DLL files that allow a Linux program to run on Windows.  Anyway, as it isn't a TN problem, there isn't anything that can be done except - if you find it irritating - to apply the circumvention described above.  

 

OTHER PROBLEMS ?
If you run TN on Windows Vista and are aware of other problems, please let me know asap.
 
 
RECOMMENDATION
*Always* run TN in 'Administrator' mode when the OS is Windows Vista
 
 
NEXT UPDATE
There will be a program update in 2008, which, amongst other things, will change the TN UI button style from normal Win/2000 rectangles to the rounded rectangle shape and colours of Windows XP themes.   This will work on XP and Vista - see example below.   Vista also allows you to revert to the "Windows Classic" steel grey look and buttons as per Win2000 - if that is what you prefer.  
 


 

 
 
RSVP
I don't know if this newsletter will get through the minefield of internet security systems, so if you receive it, a simple acknowledgement of message receipt would be very much appreciated.   Many Thanks.
 

Future news items will be distributed via the TN web site - news page.
 
 
Best wishes for Christmas and 2008
David Robertson