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blocks:release-notes [2022-12-21 16:08]
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admin [PIXILAB Blocks 7]
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 ====== Release Notes ====== ====== Release Notes ======
  
-These release notes list notable changes in each version of Blocks.+These release notes list notable changes in each version of Blocks. The latest version can be [[blocks:downloads|downloaded here]]. See the [[http://pixilab.se/outgoing/blocks/PIXILAB-Blocks.pdf|Blocks Manual]] for more details. 
 + 
 + 
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 7.1===== 
 + 
 +Released on March 11, 2025, this version brings major enhancements to the Timeline block and many other new and enhanced functions 
 + 
 +====Timeline==== 
 +  * Block Track can override the block's display dimensions for mixed display formats on the same timeline. 
 +  * Do and Property tracks can be disabled, causing their cues to be ignored. 
 +  * Added "Loop" option for looping the entire timeline. 
 +  * Added "Play Automatically" to start timeline playback when assigned to a Spot. 
 +  * New "Desired Duration" setting added to block cues. 
 +  * Cue duration (inherent or desired) indicated by a horizontal bar in the cue. Following cue snaps to end of this duration, minus its transition time. 
 +  * Keyboard shortcuts; Home, End, PageUp, PageDown scroll. Press Shift to also jump time there. 
 +  * Pressing a function key now jumps to a marker named likewise (e.g. "F8") 
 +  * The //gotoMarker// function now finds next marker in the specified direction, regardless of its name, if the name specified is empty string. 
 + 
 +===Minor Timeline improvements and bug fixes=== 
 +  * Content of block cues now auto-scaled like in Slideshow. 
 +  * Editing while Stopped mode doesn't activate timeline. 
 +  * Accurate positioning of cues when snap-dragged. 
 +  * Spot now considered "playing" while showing a playing timeline. 
 +  * Auto-start timeline playback when any enclosing Attractor becomes active. 
 +  * DO cues with digits/spaces in the path now work as expected. 
 +  * Select to End command can now be used with multiple tracks selected. 
 +  * Alt-clicking a cue selects that cue and following ones on that track. 
 +  * Now possible to apply custom CSS class per track. 
 + 
 + 
 +===Other New Features=== 
 +  * **Spot**: Adds volume fade rate setting. 
 +  * **Manage**: Status adds live log view and log file download. 
 +  * **Perspective Behavior**: New behavior for projection perspective correction. 
 +  * **Live Video**: Adds "Internal Video Block" source, duplicating the video frame accurately. 
 +  * **Speed Behavior**: Adds Factor, Offset and Minimum Fade Rate 
 +  * **3D Block**: Adds support for Draco compression. 
 +  * **Joystick and Slider**: Adds "Spring Back to Center" option. 
 +  * **Display Spot**: Initial Volume setting added. 
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Remote updating of player (player version 7 and later). 
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Screenshot showing what's displayed in Spot Settings (player 7.1 and later). 
 + 
 +===Other Minor Improvements and Bug Fixes=== 
 +  * **Behaviors**: To trigger on "falsey" property value, set "at value" to //falsey//. 
 +  * **Volume Behavior**: Can now also be applied to enclosing block(s). 
 +  * **Attractor**: Adds "Transition Delay" setting. 
 +  * **Scroller/Grid**: Indexed property Child Replication Scope updated when list changes. 
 +  * **Panorama**: Made Appears/Disappears behaviors work for buttons. 
 +  * **Custom CSS Transition**: Applies 'custom-transition-reverse' class in reverse. 
 +  * **Display Spot**: "Numeric Keys as Inputs" now also work with keys on numeric keypad. 
 +  * **Mirror**: New 'interface' setting specifies the name of NIC to use for link local backdoor 
 +  * **Mirror**: New 'subnet' setting with explicit backdoor subnet in CIDR notation 
 +  * **Subtitle**: Defaults to Roboto font also on Spot. 
 +  * **Subtitle**: Faster language switching while playing inside Tag Selector. 
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleWebsocket now fires //finished// event if socket closed by peer. 
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleDB  adds support for custom JDBC driver 
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleDB  reconnects to db server automatically if connection dropped unexpectedly. 
 +  
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 7===== 
 + 
 +This major version of Blocks was released on October 22, 2024 
 + 
 +NEW FEATURES 
 +  * **Timeline**: New block type (see chapter 10 in the [[http://pixilab.se/outgoing/blocks/PIXILAB-Blocks.pdf|Blocks 7 manual]]). 
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Supports PIXILAB Player version 7, providing improved performance. 
 +  * **Panorama**: Video can be used as the background (see Panorama in the manual). 
 +  * **Panorama**: Allows use of most child block types – not just Button. 
 +  * **Panorama**: Buttons and chile blocks can be placed "flat on the ground". 
 +  * **Transition**: New Wipe transition. 
 + 
 +===Minor Improvements and Bug Fixes=== 
 +  * **Spot**: Avoid scaling jump when transitioning between blocks with different size. 
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleHTTP adds HEAD request and file download functionality. 
 +  * **Feed**: Reloading a Spot now always reloads any Feed data as well. 
 + 
 + 
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 6.3.3===== 
 + 
 +Released on Sep 4, 2024, this version contains some minor new features and improvements/bug fixes. 
 + 
 + 
 +===New Features=== 
 +  * **Live Video**: Now supports "Dynamic URL" property binding. 
 +  * **Live Video**: Adds "Source Stream Timeout" setting for RTSP stream. 
 +  * **Slideshow**: Adds "Pause without Stopping" option. 
 +  * **Text Input**: New  "autofocus" checkbox to enable immediate text entry. 
 + 
 + 
 +===Improvements and Bug Fixes=== 
 +  * **Block Caching**: Indication of caching errors in Editor. 
 +  * **Block Caching**: Fixed "stuck" caching (arrow spinning indefinitely). 
 +  * **CSS**: Adds 'class' query parameter also to the editor (similar to Spot's). 
 +  * **Configuration**: defaultSpotCSS now applies in Editor also when not editing a block. 
 +  * **Visitor Spot**: Diacriticals (umlauts) in spot path now work as expected. 
 +  * **Book**: Fixed a touch-to-swipe problem in Book nested inside other Book. 
 +  * **Config**: Starting without config file works as expected, using all defaults. 
 +  * **Status pages**: Report disk/memory space with decimal. 
 +  * **Serial Port**: The connected property now becomes false if the USB device is unplugged. 
 +  * **Live Video**: Bumped stream timeout from 20 seconds to 3 minutes to handle slow sources. 
 +  * **Display Spot**: Indicate "preferred sync master" in Spot list details view mode. 
 +  * **Scroller**: Maximum time to scroll to target increased from 60 to 500 seconds. 
 +  * **Scroller**: Nested perpendicular scrollers didn't work as expected. 
 + 
 + 
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 6.3.2===== 
 + 
 +Released on May 10, 2024, this version contains important bug fixes and some minor enhancements. 
 + 
 +===New Features=== 
 +  * **ArtNet Recording**: Adds 'time' property, usable as a sync source during playback 
 + 
 +===Improvements and Bug Fixes=== 
 +  * **ArtNet**: Fixes a rare deadlock (introduced in version 6.3) that could cause Blocks to become unresponsive. 
 +  * **Media URL**: Video and Audio media work again. 
 +  * **Attractor**: Passive child can now be paused by Spot's //playing// property. 
 +  * **Manage, Server Status**: Shows maximum free memory rather than currently free. 
 + 
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 6.3.1===== 
 + 
 +Released on April 17, 2024, this version contains minor enhancements and bug fixes. 
 + 
 +===New Features=== 
 +  * **Behavior**: New Navigate behavior, for child navigation inside Book or similar. 
 +  * **Modbus**: Channels can now be named, then replacing the default "chXX" name. 
 +  * **Modbus**: New setting for maximum number of outstanding transactions. 
 +  * **Dynamic Text**: New 'freq' parameter controls time update frequency, in Hz. 
 +  * **Scripting**: Spot API adds fixedTagSet getter for statically assigned tags. 
 + 
 +===Improvements and Bug Fixes=== 
 +  * **Spot**: Spot requiring authentication failed to connect. 
 +  * **Property**: Enum properties now work as expected with Button and Indicator. 
 +  * **Controls**: Visual indication if a control fails due to insufficient user role. 
 +  * **Dynamic Text**: The 'fixed' parameter can be applied also to time value. 
 +  * **Media URL**: Apply any custom CSS class to wrapper only – not to inner element. 
 +  * **WATCHOUT**: getControlCues now always fetch data anew, bypassing current show cache. 
 +  * **CSS**: The 'pressed' class now also applied to Slider & Joystick (like Button). 
 +  * **Book**: Swipe to flip page now works also inside vertical Scroller. 
 + 
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 6.3===== 
 + 
 +Released on February 20, 2024, this version brings numerous new features, enhancements and bug fixes. 
 + 
 +===New Features=== 
 +  * **Art-Net**: Art-net Recording and Playback, including synchronization. Requires license. 
 +  * **Display Spot**: Supports Samsung Smart Signage based on Tizen version 7. 
 +  * **WATCHOUT**: Can now control Dataton WATCHOUT version 7 production software. 
 +  * **Behaviors**: New behaviors; Blur, Brightness, Contrast, Grayscale, Hue, Saturation, Sepia. 
 +  * **Behaviors**: Fixed value applied for most behaviors if no property binding. 
 +  * **Integrations**: LTC Timecode (EBU/SMPTE) synchronization (driver + linux software). 
 +  * **Transition**: Adds "Custom CSS" transition type. 
 +  * **Tag Selector**: Block transition can be applied when switching tags. 
 +  * **Realm Variable**: Can now be set from the UI. 
 +  * **Block Caching**: Spot's own keyPress, keyCode and scannerInput properties now usable offline. 
 + 
 +===Minor Improvements and Bug Fixes=== 
 +  * **Behaviors**: Categorized into Appearance, Detection, Function and Transform. 
 +  * **Attractor**: Checkbox controlling whether Attractor activates when Spot becomes active. 
 +  * **Integrations**: RSS Feed support (feed script). 
 +  * **Offline**: Message shown briefly when about to start offline playback. 
 +  * **Scripting**: Properties support Enumerated data type. 
 +  * **Task**: An error in the first statement of a Task running on interval could cause a crash. 
 +  * **Indicator**: Incorrect state when bound to text with a blank match value. 
 +  * **WebBlock**: Allow direct Blocks API access also cross-origin. 
 +  * **Live Video**: Selects corresponding audio source if specifying USB capture index. 
 +  * **Live Video**: Better sound quality for USB capture on recent Chrome versions. 
 +  * **SimpleImage**: Fixed incorrect rotation for images taken with some Samsung phones. 
 +  * **Scripting**: The address and addressString Serial driver properties now work as expected. 
 +  * **Scripting**: Improved reliability of hot reloading (config watchFiles: true). 
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleHTTP relax response mediatype detection to recognize rss+xml as xml. 
 + 
 + 
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 6.2===== 
 + 
 +Released on November 24, 2023, this version brings numerous new features, enhancements and bug fixes. 
 + 
 +===New Features=== 
 +  * **Slideshow, Book**: Graphical "current position" indicators can now be enabled. 
 +  * **Behavior**: Set of classes applied by Classify can be dynamic, specified by property. 
 +  * **Locator**: Can now also be closed by explicit Button Action. 
 +  * **Live Video**: Added setting for favoring either fast or temporally accurate start. 
 +  * **Display Spot**: Added Transition Delay setting for switching blocks. 
 +  * **Display Spot**: New tagSet property (read-only), listing all applied tags. 
 +  * **Display Settings**: Added Note field for user comments. 
 +  * **Device Drivers**: New driver for controlling and synchronizing to AvStumpfl PIXERA. 
 + 
 +===Minor Improvements, Changes and Bug Fixes=== 
 +  * **Behavior**: Multiple Classify behaviors on same block now work additively. 
 +  * **Video**: Don't flash Pause symbol in Auto mode when used in slideshow or similar. 
 +  * **CSS Editor**: APPLY button restored. 
 +  * **Scripting**: New Spot setDefaultBlock() function specifying which block to cache. 
 +  * **Block Scheduler**: Copy/Paste now supported for layers and block entries. 
 +  * **Web Block**: Changing URL dynamically no longer affects browser history. 
 +  * **ArtNet**: Use config's defaultNetwork if nothing specified for artnet.bindToAddress. 
 +  * **ArtNet**: Made fixture Duplicate command work again. 
 +  * **Network Device**: Allow UDP receive-only drivers (without send-to address/port). 
 +  * **Synchronizer**: Fixed a time glitch when switching Synchronizers with a transition. 
 +  * **Synchronizer**: Expedite start of synchronization targets and improve accuracy. 
 +  * **MQTT Network Devices**: Now supports "retained" outgoing messages. 
 +  * **Child Replication**: Fixed missing data when returning from deeply nested content. 
 +  * **Tags**: CSS classes tag-XXX (matching current tag set) hoisted to #theDisplay element. 
 +  * **Tag Selector**: Editor background checkerboard brightness now configurable. 
 +  * **Serial drivers**: Could fail to send data after a Display Spot power cycle. 
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Identity based on first NIC's rather than live NIC's MAC addr. 
 +  * **Spot power**: Property feedback now indicates current state if wanted state never set. 
 +  * **Audio Media**: Incorrect placement of play button, making it hard to access. 
 +  * **Audio Media**: Failure to start synchronized playback from camera QR code on iOS. 
 +  * **SimpleImage**: Fixed a JPEG exif-rotated image cropping problem. 
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Improved reliability in configuring display/touch settings. 
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleHTTP 401 error resolves with status and headers instead of rejection. 
 + 
 +:!: **NOTE**: The identity of PIXILAB Player is now based on the primary network interface's MAC address rather than the active interface's MAC address. The advantage of this method is that the identity of the player will remain the same even if you switch network interface (e.g., using both wired and wifi). However, if you previously used another network interface than the primary one, the player's identity may change when you update to Blocks 6.2, and you will then need to re-assign it. Players using a wired connection (with a single Ethernet jack) shouldn't see any need to re-assign their identity. Nor players that aren't based on our PIXILAB Player software, or where other means are used to identify the player. 
 + 
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 6.1===== 
 + 
 +Released on August 25, 2023, this version brings numerous new features, enhancements and bug fixes. 
 + 
 +===New Features=== 
 +  * **Media Block**: Adds "Pause without Stopping" with associated "Auto-stop after" delay. 
 +  * **Attractor**: Adds "Auto-play on Active" checkbox (default is true, as before). 
 +  * **Attractor**: Now usable with single child, which remains visible when spot becomes passive. 
 +  * **Locator**: Adds "Linger after Play" setting. 
 +  * **Video**: Adds "Show Poster Image" checkbox, allowing the poster to be hidden. 
 +  * **Synchronizer**: Adds auto-play mode setting and configurable start-to-play delay. 
 +  * **Synchronizer**: Adds the ability to specify an explicit sync source property path. 
 +  * **Schedule**: Spot can inherit block from outer group if schedule is blank (enabled in Display Spot and Spot Group settings). 
 +  * **Schedule**: Copy/Paste supported by layers and entries. 
 +  * **Modbus**: Initial state of output channel can be specified. 
 +  * **Display Spot**: Adds a //keyCode// property, indicating pressed key (if enabled). 
 +  * **Drivers**: Added support for the the [[blocks:server:advanced_server_configuration:mqtt|MQTT]] IoT standard. 
 +  * **Drivers**: Added support for USB Serial port devices connected through PIXILAB Player. 
 +  * **Drivers**: Added name, fullName, driverName and deviceType getters to device drivers. 
 +  * **Parameters**: Can be defined (not just overridden) also on the Spot. 
 +  * **Parameters**: Contributed also by Referenced or Located blocks.  
 +  * **Parameters**: Can define multiple levels in Property Paths. 
 +  * **Parameters**: Built-in //ThisSpotPath//, holding the path to the current Spot. 
 +  * **Parameters**: Built-in //LocatedSpotPath//, holding path to Spot located by Locator. 
 +  * **WATCHOUT**: Added an "Enabled" checkbox, controlling whether Blocks will connect. 
 +  * **Scripting**: WATCHOUT adds //getControlCues// function, providing control cue data. 
 +  * **Scripting**: Added support for //named aggregates// (similar to //indexed properties// but named). 
 +  * **Custom Property Path**: Allows mix of literal, parameter and Relative.xxx in Child Replication. 
 + 
 + 
 +===Minor Improvements and Bug Fixes=== 
 +  * **Composition**: Auto-hide delay is now customizable. 
 +  * **CSS**: Improved built-in CSS editor. 
 +  * **Live Video**: Additional latency option favoring reliability over low latency. 
 +  * **Live Video**: Improved audio/video synchronization for long running streams.  
 +  * **QR Code**: Renders correctly on PIXILAB Player also when video is visible. 
 +  * **Configuration**: New "apiKeys" entry, specifying key name/value to validate requests. 
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleHTTP can now also make DELETE requests.. 
 +  * **Scripting**: User script @resource methods can be protected using @apiKey decorator. 
 +  * **Scripting**: MobileSpot //getVisitor// function returns a Visitor given its ID. 
 +  * **Scripting**: MobileSpot //getAllVisitorIds// function returning all current Visitor IDs. 
 +  * **Scripting**: MobileSpot //hashedIdentityToPuid// function decoding hashed visitor ID. 
 +  * **Custom File Uploads**: Can be protected using api key named "upload". 
 +  * **Camera**: Don't remove any custom CSS classes applied when taking photo. 
 +  * **Behavior**: Classify sometimes failed to apply class the second time a block appeared. 
 +  * **Editor**: Added "Server Connection Lost" information message. 
 +  * **Editor**: Clearer distinction of leaf vs trunk properties (now bolded) in property pickers. 
 +  * **Editor**: Editor preview of an Attractor was always black. 
 +  * **Task**: Triggering on "Becomes True" could trigger also on other changes (e.g., from 15 to 16 – potentially a breaking change). 
 +  * **Button**: Back button didn't work after navigating using button in Stack Block panel. 
 +  * **Spot Settings**: Color of "Fade through Color" transition wasn't preserved. 
 +  * **Display Spot**: Separate per-window ID if using the display=XXX URL query parameter (potentially a breaking change). 
 +  * **Spot**: Improved reconnection reliability after network/wifi connection loss. 
 +  * **WATCHOUT Spot**: Obeys block assigned through enclosing group/scheduler. 
 +  * **Scripting**: An @id-decorated Record field's value can now be changed. 
 +  * **Scripting**: Subscribing to not-yet-existing indexed item didn't update once available. 
 +  * **Scripting**: Reading a non-existing Record field now returns undefined instead of NPE. 
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleFile, et al, may also access /auth directory (like /public, but requires login). 
 +  * **Scripting**: Fixed a rare Promise leak. 
 +  * **Licensing**: Cloud license auto-updated once every night. 
 +  * **Visitor Spot**: Actively disconnect/connect when web page or device enters/exists standby. 
 +  * **Parameters**: Now work properly also in partial binding for block replication. 
 + 
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 6.0.3===== 
 + 
 +Released on May 3, 2023, this version contains minor bug fixes only. 
 + 
 +  * **Synchronizer**: Improved reliability/performance when starting to play long video files. 
 +  * **Offline**: Apply custom display and audio settings also when offline. 
 + 
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 6.0.2===== 
 + 
 +Released on April 6, 2023, this version brings various bug fixes and minor enhancements. 
 + 
 +===New Features=== 
 +  * **Volume Behavior**: Adds Scale Factor setting (defaults to 1). 
 +  * **Volume Behavior**: If no property path then apply just the Scale Factor. 
 + 
 +===Minor Improvements and Bug Fixes=== 
 +  * **Buttons/Controls**: Position text correctly once all fonts are loaded. 
 +  * **3D**: Spin animation no longer interferes with object manipulation. 
 +  * **Appears/Disappears Behavior**: Fixed a rare bug.  
 +  * **MediaURL**: Remove any loading indicator once audio starts playing 
 +  * **Thumbnails**: Could fail to update JPEG thumbnails under Windows. 
 +  * **Synchronizer**: Synchronized audio could occasionally fail to start on iOS. 
 + 
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 6.0.1===== 
 + 
 +Released on March 3, 2023, this version brings various bug fixes and minor enhancements. 
 + 
 +===New Features=== 
 +  * **Scripting**: The 'image' event also published by MobileSpot. 
 +  * **Block Scheduler**: Added checkbox to show/hide layers below the selected layer. 
 +  * **Media Block**: Option to never show play/progress UI, not even while paused. 
 + 
 + 
 +===Minor Improvements and Bug Fixes=== 
 +  * **Block Caching**: Various reliability improvements. 
 +  * **Block Scheduler**: UI and bug fixes. 
 +  * **Synchronizer**: Slave tracks master also while paused. 
 +  * **Locator**: Button to locate other Spot didn't work from inside a located block. 
 +  * **Spot volume**: Property didn't work in some complex cases. 
 +  * **Reveal behavior**: Fixed a bug that could cause this behavior to fail, 
 +  * **Spot playing**: Property now works also when using video with native controls. 
 +  * **Book with Feed**: First page didn't render once feed was loaded. 
 +  * **Reliability**: Spot properties didn't always re-connect after network connection drop. 
 +  * **Performance**: Allow for more general and longer browser caching of media files. 
 +  * **Scripting**: Fixed insert/delete bug in dynamic lists causing incorrect display 
 +  * **Scripting**: Fixed exception if missing size or cropping for SimpleImage.derive(). 
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleImage.info() width & height account for EXIF rotation. 
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleImage consider EXIF flipping when cropping an image. 
 +  * **Scripting**: Made rest/script/invoke/xxx requests with no extra URL data work again. 
  
  
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 === New features === === New features ===
-  * **[[blocks:app-note:3d|3D Block]]** New block type for displaying 3D models you can spin and click.+  * **[[blocks:app-note:3d_block|3D Block]]** New block type for displaying 3D models you can spin and click.
   * **[[https://vimeo.com/517031971|Locator]]** Adds GPS (geolocation) and QR scanning support.   * **[[https://vimeo.com/517031971|Locator]]** Adds GPS (geolocation) and QR scanning support.
   * **Spot Geo-zones** Latitude, longitude and radius added to Display and Location Spots.   * **Spot Geo-zones** Latitude, longitude and radius added to Display and Location Spots.