I think it would be useful to be able to take the description text from the CAN bus, VRef, etc or add free text to the List view of a master module:

This would allow for clearer definition when sending to a wire harness builder or for troubleshooting.

We just posted the first video in a series of IQANdesign tutorials to

https://vimeo.com/iqan/channels

Part 1

IQANdesign tutorial part 1, adding modules and channels from IQAN on Vimeo.

Part 2

IQANdesign tutorial part 2, simulation from IQAN on Vimeo.

Part 3

IQANdesign tutorial part 3, Object List, from IQAN on Vimeo.

Version 5.02 of IQANdesign, IQANsimulate, IQANrun and IQANscript are now released on check for updates. These are the highlights: 

DBC -file import

On the tools menu, there is a new CAN database feature for  .DBC file import. After importing a DBC it is easy to automatically generate JFIN/JPIN, JFOUT//JPOUT, GFIN/GPIN and GFOUT/GPOUT channels from the database.

J1939 features

J1939 library 

A  J1939 library is included in the  CAN database menu in IQANdesign. It gives easy access to creating channels with the standardized PGN and SPN numbers and names. Note that timeouts and transmit rates needs to be set manually. 

DM1 out
There is now a built-in function for generating outgoing DM1 messages based on channel status. Drag the channels to the DM1 out container and set a unique SPN number for each. 
The length of the outgoing message is determined by number of channels with a warning or error status. FMI is set based on the channel status.

New channel type: JTOUT
The J1939 text output channel is used to send text to an external system. It supports multi-packet when text length > 8 bytes.

Support for J1939 address claim
Forces IQAN master modules to claim their J1939 address before starting other J1939 communication. Enabled by a property on the J1939 bus.
Support for J1939 Time/Date
External systems can now set the date and time in a master module using J1939 TDA. Enabled with property on master module.

IQANrun 

Connect button
A Connect button with a drop-down for selecting the communication interface has been added to the IQANrun start page. 

Multimeter
The IQANrun multimeter button brings up a free floating window where it is possible to make a new measure group on the fly. 

Channels can be added from the existing measure groups, and also the module block diagrams and application view if this is visible. 

More IQANdesign features

IQAN expansion bus
The use of IQAN expansions in systems with short cycle times is improved by two small changes. Property 'Sample rate divider' is clarified by changing it into "Polling cycle time", and an estimated CAN bus utilization project check is added for expansion buses. 

MC4x: 

Property to disable undercurrent detect on Digital out HS+LS added.

Zoom support in page editor
Makes it possible to zoom in and out in the display page editor.

For more details see release notes and IQANdesign 5.02 user manual. 

We had an issue with a customer where we were expecting to have pull-down on digital inputs on an MC41.   (we were always true on the digital input)  We identified the problem and moved to some other pins that were pull-down.  It would be very helpful if the pictorial in IQAN design would identify this on the pictorial.  (Similar to how the MC2 shows low side outputs).

Highlighted features

New programming method: Qcode

Qcode is a text-based programming method available on all channels with function. For each function, it is possible to select whether to use Qcode or the classic method Object List.

Qcode makes it easier to implement more complex operations in fewer channels.

New channel type - Finite state machine

Improved state machine with transition conditions, this makes it easier to implement functions like sequence controls.

New component type - Comment

Comments can be placed anywhere in function groups.

New channel type - Array Channel

The array channel is used to store multiple values in a single channel. The stored values can be accessed in other functions by indexing the array. There are also special array functions that perform operations on all values in the array such as finding min, max or average.

Multiple instances open at the same time

Now possible to have multiple instances of IQANdesign open at the same time. Copy and paste works between instances.

Graphic measure on display

Line and bar graph display controls for IQAN-MD4. Used to draw a graph of a channel value over time.

When using an array channel the complete array is drawn as a graph:

Channel scope

Channels can now be made visible in other function groups than its own, either in sub function groups (protected) or the entire application (public). This reduces the need to create FGI's to access channels in other function groups. To make a channel available throughout the application, make it public. When using these as inputs, they will show up with a dashed line.

PDF viewer

It is now possible to add PDF files to project files for viewing on IQAN-MD4.

New module type - IQAN-SV

The IQAN-SV is an Ethernet camera which requires minimal configuration. More information will follow.

Improved decoding of J1939 PDU1 (DA)

Added property "Destination address (DA)" to JFIN/JFOUT. The new property is enabled when PGN is in PDU1 range. In previous version, this had to be calculated as part of the "PGN" property.

Resizable object group windows in function inspector

Resize the object groups to make Object List more visible.

New connection type: IQANconnect

A new way to connect remotely via Internet where you pay per connection. The IQANconnect service is available for beta testing, more information on this will follow.

For more details on the IQANdesign 4.00 news, see release notes.

Compatibility

IQANdesign 4.00 is fully compatible with project files created in version 3.

Upgrade

Use check for updates in IQANdesign 3 to download IQANdesign 4.00

A hint is to look through the examples and solution library files that install with version 4, you find them under:

C:\Users\<username>\Documents\IQAN Files\

these files have been updated to give examples of the new functionality.

When IQANdesign 6.00 was released about a year ago, only modern modules recommend for new designs were included. 

Looking back, I think that the focus on focus on MD4- and MC4-series as the master modules on the platform has really helped in keeping up the pace on new developments. 

On the other hand, there has been some debate about this decision. 

While the older master modules like MD3 have reached their limits in terms of functionality growth, it is more feasible to keep software support for XA2/XS2 expansions in the modern master modules. 

I see two main cases for having XA2/XS2 in version 6: 

-Upgrade the many MD4 + XA2/XS2 systems that exists to benefit from version 6 features. 

-Adding  XC4x modules to existing MD4 systems without having to remove all XA2/XS2:s at once, for example to avoid having to rewire a complete machine when prototyping. 

It won't change the fact that the XA2/XS2 are mature products no longer recommended for new designs, but we are now planning on having them on a legacy tab in version 6.

IQANdesign 6 released

For an introduction to IQANdesign 6, see: http://solutions.parker.com/IQAN.

Main features

Integration of Matlab/Simulink blocks

IQANdesign 6 introduces a feature for integrating Simulink models; With the IQAN toolbox for the Mathworks software Simulink, a designer can generate blocks from a Simulink model of a controller, and integrate this in an IQAN-MC4x 
application.

More information about the IQAN Simulink toolbox is found on the IQAN store, here. 

Implemented for IQAN-MC41, -MC42 and -MC43, the feature is not yet implemented in MC4xFS.

J1939 improvements

Multi-packet and text support on JFIN/JFOUT

It is now possible to use JFIN/JFOUT for handling both incoming and outgoing J1939 messages where the PG data length is longer than 8 bytes, multi-packet messages.

Text is supported by new channels TPIN/TPOUT, removing the need for the previous JTOUT channel:

Add Blinking Lamp status to MDGN:s for J1939 DM1 decoding, controlled by property Enable lamp flash on DM1 in a channel.

Improved support for J1939 Component ID and Software ID, can now be controlled by properties on a master module.

New expansion modules: XC41/XC42/XC43/XC44

The IQAN-XC4x is a new series of expansion modules based on the MC4x hardware.

The modules have similar I/O capability as the corresponding MC4x, and support both classic CAN and CAN FD. 

It is planned to certify the XC4x-series for functional safety, however, this is not yet done in 6.00.

New expansion bus type for higher speeds

New expansion modules XC4x have support for higher speeds, both classic CAN up to 500 kbit/s and CAN FD,  with 500 kbps as nominal bit rate and 2000 kbps as bit rate for the data field. 

Speed is selected on the bus and automatically detected by the XC4x. 

CAN FD is supported on MC4x and MC4xFS, on buses A to C

When this bus type is combined with classic expansion modules such as XC21, classic CAN with the lower speed 250 kbit/s must be used.

Remove modules no longer recommended for new design

IQANdesign 6 only includes the most modern target products. Following modules are no longer recommended for new designs, and are not carried over to IQANdesign 6:

IQAN-MC2

IQAN-MC3, IQAN-MC31

IQAN-MD3

IQAN-XA2. IQAN-XS2

IQAN-XC10

IQAN-G2/G3

XR radio

These modules will instead continue to be supported in the 5.x branch.

Other features

Measure function group utilization

When measuring, the function group header now shows utilization for that group. The value includes all channels and lower level function groups of the group.

COUT: Control "bidirectional" property with channel

Implemented

SV camera mirror in run-time

Moved properties for flip/mirror/bitrate/HDR from the camera to video control. This means that individual video controls can have different settings. Useful e.g. for setting a lower bitrate on display pages showing multiple camera images.

Move property "Connect to IQANconnect" to master

As this property only applies for connection to the IQANconnect server via the Ethernet port (not to G11/GT), moved from group property "Connectivity" on Security node to master module. Renamed group property "IP address" to "Ethernet".

Some 6.00 updates that will also come in the 5.05 release:

• Implement full circle mode on the gauge control
• Support external ESC key in PDF reader
• Various bug fixes.

Version 6.00 is available on check for updates and on IQAN store (https://www.iqan.se/store/downloads.html).

Also, see

Release notes IQANdesign

Release notes IQANrun

Release notes IQANsimulate

Release notes IQANanalyze

Release notes IQANscript