227a woes

[Rob Manchester]

Hi Martin,
I just updated automatically and it seems OK. I can't remember what you said was going to be in the new version so haven't tested any anything Thanks for managing to get it done.

Rob

 

[Martin Wynne]

Thanks for managing to get it done.

@Guinea_Pig_Tester

Thanks Rob. It's taken the whole of a wet weekend for me to get it finally done. It's been far too long since the last one -- only 3 weeks short of 12 months -- so I was keen to get it finished and released.

At least, I'm hoping it's done. I'm a bit fearful that I've forgotten some unfinished loose end. I forget most things these days.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[stuart1600]

I've downloaded the upgrade, which went OK, as per usual.
However, I am now encountering a problem with creating transition links. The two curved tracks are both to constant radii (6ft and 12ft as it happens) and tangentially very close to each other but definitely not overlapping. When I select the transition link (running lines) I get a small box saying 'calculating' and that's it. Nothing happens, except that the cancel button in the box does work, and then a new control template appears that does not connect the two tracks selected. Can't work out how to do a screenshot, so hope my words make sense.

 

[Martin Wynne]

However, I am now encountering a problem with creating transition links.

@stuart1600

Hi Stuart,

Please can you post your box file?

You say "tangentially very close to each other" -- if they are in fact tangential, a transition curve between them is mathematically impossible.

How long did you wait while Templot was calculating? If you wait long enough, it might eventually give up and explain the problem. If not I obviously need to fix something, but I can't tell what without seeing your box file.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[stuart1600]

@stuart1600

Hi Stuart,

Please can you post your box file?

You say "tangentially very close to each other" -- if they are in fact tangential, a transition curve between them is mathematically impossible.

How long did you wait while Templot was calculating? If you wait long enough, it might eventually give up and explain the problem. If not I obviously need to fix something, but I can't tell what without seeing your box file.

cheers,

Martin.

Firstly, "tangentially" is probably the wrong word; I just meant the two tracks are very close to each other but not overlapping; i.e. the transition would be relatively short.
If I cancel the 'calculating' box then a new template does (sometimes) appear but it is not a transition of the two selected templates -all very puzzling.
I've attached a box file, and the the two tracks are at the top RH corner.
I've also noticed that when I delete a template (or a group of templates) from the trackpad it doesn't (they don't) disappear immediately as used to happen. I've not altered any settings since I upgraded.

 

[Rob Manchester]

Hi Martin,
I just tried Stuart's box file out of curiosity. Making a transition between the two tracks gives 25% CPU use and sits there for over 1 minute. Clicking cancel gives a new template as here and the CPU use drops down to zero :

When deleting a template from the trackplan Templot doesn't remove it straight away but if you click back on it then it goes.

Rob

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Guinea_Pig_Tester

Thanks Rob. Yes, I'm finding the same. Just tried it in 226F and it's fine, so I have obviously left a spanner in the 227A works. Now if I could only find it...

A boiled egg should help.

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@stuart1600 @Guinea_Pig_Tester

Hi Stuart, Rob,

I'm pleased to say I've found the problem. I will get 227B out later tonight if I can, but first I need to check that I haven't left the same spanner anywhere else...

Sorry for the inconvenience.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[stuart1600]

Thanks for looking into this, Martin (and Rob). The boiled egg obviously did the trick!
No real inconvenience, I'm not working on anything desperately urgent.

 

[Rob Manchester]

@stuart1600 @Guinea_Pig_Tester

Hi Stuart, Rob,

I'm pleased to say I've found the problem. I will get 227B out later tonight if I can, but first I need to check that I haven't left the same spanner anywhere else...

Sorry for the inconvenience.

cheers,

Martin.

Hi Martin,
Just like buses......we go nearly 12 months without one and then two come along at once
Rob

 

[Martin Wynne]

Hi Martin,
Just like buses......we go nearly 12 months without one and then two come along at once
Rob

@Guinea_Pig_Tester @stuart1600 @Paratom ,

227b now on the server.

If you are using version 226f or earlier your copy of Templot should update automatically if you restart it and follow the instructions. If you have the Templot Video Player open, please close it first.

• If you are using Templot version 227a , the automatic update will fail due to a program glitch. Sorry about that -- please download and install version 227b manually from:

https://85a.uk/templot/companion/manual_update.php

There is no need to uninstall your existing copy of Templot.

Time for another boiled egg.

After which I will get back to posting details of the new features.

Sorry about the problems.

Martin.

 

[David Higgs]

• If you are using Templot version 227a , the automatic update will fail due to a program glitch. Sorry about that -- please download and install version 227b manually

I am pleased you realised there was an issue, saved me scratching my head in explaining what I am seeing!

 

[stuart1600]

Thanks Martin.
I've just downloaded 227b and used the Transition Link on the two templates, which has worked perfectly, of course.
Looking forward to taking a closer look at the other changes now...
Hope you enjoyed the boiled egg!

 

[John Lewis]

Martin
I have tried four times to download version 227b, twice from 227a and twice directly from <https://85a.uk/templot/companion/installation.php>.So far I have been unsucessful, the downloaad has started but then stopped, I have got a 'network error' message.

Presumably this is something I should try again later? Sorry to be a nuisance, but I thought perhaps you should know. I havenever had this trouble before..

John

 

[Martin Wynne]

@John Lewis

Hi John,

Here we go again. I just don't get it.

This reminds me of this topic:

https://85a.uk/templot/archive/topics/topic_3758.php

which scarred me so much that I have added a function in this update in which Templot itself will get a file for you. Without going anywhere near your browser.

IF you are running 227a (might be a big if), try this:

Click the menu item, enter the code number 227 in the box, and click OK.

Templot will get the file.

You will then see an error message!

Ignore it. I didn't anticipate using this function for executable files, but it will work.

Now navigate to this folder:

C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\internal\got\

You should see the file:

templot_227b_setup.exe

Double-click on it to install Templot 227b.

If that doesn't work, I'm sorry I don't have the faintest idea why you are seeing a network error. When stuff works ok here time and time again, I just assume it will work for everyone else, and mostly it does seem to. I don't know what else I can do.

However, 9 times out of 10 problems are caused by 3rd-party antivirus programs. If you have one, please, please, turn it off while using Templot. Use only Windows Defender -- Microsoft are the only people who properly know what should be in Windows files.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Jim Guthrie]

Martin,

I also had a problem when trying to update automatically with 2.27B. It started to do the download of the update file, then started repeating the download. Well, it displayed the progress bar of the downloading but I don't think it was actually downloading anything since there was no download traffic apparent on my network meter. I got out of the download sequence by cancelling the download box, but was left with the opening flash screen and no way of getting rid of it except by using the task manager. I tried this three times with the same result. I automatically updated yesterday's 2.27A with no problems.

I then did a manual update of 2.27B and that was fine.

Win10 Home on a new PC so it's not had time to get overburdened with crap. And the only antivirus is Defender.

Jim.

 

[John Lewis]

Martin,

Thank you.
I will try your suggestion tommorrow.

John

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Jim Gu7thrie

Thanks Jim.

Did you read the red ink here:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.p...date-version-227b-now-available.180/post-1497

I'm sorry I made such a hash of the 227 update. I was almost ready to go back in December, but then had to abandon it because of the urgent need to switch to a new web server, set up a new forum, followed by the never-ending task of creating an archive of the previous Club content. By the time I got back to 227a I had completely forgotten where I had got to, and where all the unfinished loose ends were. I'm clearly too old for this stuff now, I just can't remember anything for long enough.

The moral of this is to make only small and frequent program updates from now on, one change or new function at a time. Then if it goes wrong it is easy to back-track and try again.

I'm still fearful that there are unfinished bits in 227b, but the only way to find them now is to release it and wait for users to report any problems.



Martin.

 

[Phil O]

Martin,

I have just upgraded to 227b, I thought I'd hit a brick wall when Defender came up with the message DON'T RUN only, without a Run option in the blue box, but when I clicked on the more info line, I then got RUN ANYWAY and all is good.

Many thanks for the upgrade.

 

[Godders]

Hi Martin,

I just thought I would let Templot upgrade automatically, it didn't it hung, with a message, "Contacting Templot". I had to use Task Manager to shut it down.

I went to the Forum and downloaded from there, no problem except as stated by Phil O above.

Thank you for upgrade.

Godders

 

[John S]

Martin,

I have just upgraded to 227b, I thought I'd hit a brick wall when Defender came up with the message DON'T RUN only, without a Run option in the blue box, but when I clicked on the more info line, I then got RUN ANYWAY and all is good.

Many thanks for the upgrade.

Ditto, but I had a light brown box.
John S from 33820 St Ciers sur Gironde

 

[Martin Wynne]

Thanks folks. But there is a note about it in red in the first post in this topic:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.p...date-version-227b-now-available.180/post-1497

and also on the manual update page:

https://85a.uk/templot/companion/manual_update.php

And the security issues are explained on the download page:

https://85a.uk/templot/companion/installation.php

See:

I'm sorry you had problems.

I shall be moving these posts to the 227a woes topic so that this one can be about the actual content of 227b.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Stephen Freeman]

I never got to see/use 227a but 227b installed no problem and I use Norton 360.

 

[Phil O]

Hi Martin,

The messages didn't come up as per your screen shot(s). Sorry I didn't take any myself, as I had managed to crack the problem. It would seem that Windows works slightly differently on each computer.

Looking forward to having some spare time to give it a go.

Many thanks.

 

[Paul Boyd]

Hi Martin

Being away from home just now I’ve not had a proper play yet, but 227b looks really exciting! I couldn’t resist remotely connecting to my home PC to have a quick play! (I skipped 227a).

I had to jump through an additional Microsoft Edge security hoop when downloading, related to SmartScreen (whatever that is). I do believe that it’s up to each of us to understand how our own computers are set up, but maybe it’ll be of use if I did screenshots of the extra security hoops in that scenario. I can’t really do that until I get home tomorrow though. Essentially it was one set of hoops to actually download the file to my chosen location, then the other set of hoops that you’ve already detailed when running the installer.

I’m sure you know my views on any utterly pointless third party antivirus software!

Anyway, thanks very much for this long-awaited update!

Cheers,
Paul

 

[John Lewis]

Martin
Thank you for your instructions. I was using 227a, I havre now 227b installed without problems.
John

 

[Martin Wynne]

@John Lewis

Thanks John for letting me know.

Was that using the 227 code number method, or did your network problems go away?

cheers,

Martin.

 

[John Lewis]

Hi Martin,
That was using the code number method. It worked beautifully.
The network problem may have been something to do with my anti virus (ESet), but I was not too confident about turning that off.
John.

 

[Martin Wynne]

That was using the code number method. It worked beautifully.

@John Lewis

Thanks John. Now that I know that it works ok, I can suggest it for others having problems.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Hayfield]

I am sorry but I am being very thick and confused, I downloaded 227a and it seems to be working fine, I have tried loading version 227b and been following the instructions, when loading it I get an error code 5 and it fails to run

I opened the box within Templot (files section) and typed 227b and nothing happened, but I have not the faintest idea where to find
C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\internal\got\

where do I type this please ?

 

[Martin Wynne]

I opened the box within Templot (files section) and typed 227b and nothing happened, but I have not the faintest idea where to find
C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\internal\got\

@Hayfield

Hi John,

Sorry you are having trouble.

The code number to enter is 227, not 227b.

C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\internal\got\ is a folder on your system. You need to navigate to it in Windows Explorer. C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\ is the same place where you find all your Templot stuff, including your BOX files.

But I suggest first trying again with the normal download from:

https://85a.uk/templot/companion/installation.php

It should be working ok.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Hayfield]

@Hayfield

Hi John,

Sorry you are having trouble.

The code number to enter is 227, not 227b.

C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\internal\got\ is a folder on your system. You need to navigate to it in Windows Explorer. C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\ is the same place where you find all your Templot stuff, including your BOX files.

But I suggest first trying again with the normal download from:

https://85a.uk/templot/companion/installation.php

It should be working ok.

cheers,

Martin.

Martin

Thanks I have found where to go and tried your instructions, still fails, but 227a is working for me, I will run with it as it is and wait till either the next update or when it stops working

Thank you

 

[Hayfield]

The update is not working for me, it hangs on Contacting Templot. I could not download version 227b so perhaps its linked to this.

I have not tried the manual download yet as I could not make the fix for 227b to work. Thought I would ask first before doing anything else

 

[Martin Wynne]

The update is not working for me, it hangs on Contacting Templot. I could not download version 227b so perhaps its linked to this.

I have not tried the manual download yet as I could not make the fix for 227b to work. Thought I would ask first before doing anything else

Hi John,

Please click this link:

https://85a.uk/downloads/templot_227c_setup.exe


When your browser asks what to do with it, click Run or Open (or Save if that is the only option).

If you clicked Save, double-click on it after saving it.

If you see this:

click More info on the left there.

You will then see:

click Run anyway.

If none of that works, I'm sorry I can't help you. It works on every single Windows computer I have ever tried. If not for you, you will need to get help from someone with knowledge of your system.

I'm desperately sorry that I released 227a with the automatic update not working, but there is nothing I can do about it now. The only way to proceed is to download Templot as if a new user, as above. Hundreds of folks manage to do that without any problems.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Hayfield]

Martin

Unlike 227b this worked in seconds, thank you

 

[Paul Boyd]

Hi Martin

John's woes reminded me that I was going to post screenshots of the additional Window 10 painfulness when clicking the link, which some people may see before even getting to run the file and working their way past the screenshots you've posted above. This applies to my 64 bit Windows 10 Home system, running Microsoft Edge, both with all the latest updates.

On clicking the link above, I'm presented with this window, for the purposes of this exercise I clicked Open, although I normally Save as to keep a local copy.

Microsoft then presents me with this rather rude message - click See more

Click the three dots, then Keep

And so it goes on - at this window click Show more.

Finally, click Keep anyway

The file will now start downloading, and because I chose to Open it, when Windows eventually deigns to run it the "Windows protected your PC" sequence above will then kick in to actually install Templot in the usual way.

For anyone else reading this, I must emphasise that this is Microsoft nastiness completely out of Martin's control. It seems as if every Windows 10 installation is different, and I know from professional experience that installing Windows 10 on two identical PC's, one after the other, from the same disc image, will also show differences in the installations once all the updates run!

Anyway, I hope this might further muddy the waters help someone else wondering what to do at all the prompts!

Cheers,
Paul

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Paul Boyd

Thanks Paul.

I don't use Microsoft Edge, and I don't see any of that in my two browsers, Firefox and Opera.

But lots of new users regularly download Templot, and I'm not seeing frequent reports of them having problems.

Of course for the normal program update it is intended to use the automated process, which doesn't use the browser and bypasses all that browser security stuff. Templot gets the file, checks the MD5, and if ok just runs it.

It was my silly mistake leaving some debug code in place in 227a which caused all the present woes, by preventing the automated update. I keep making such mistakes these days, and I do wonder if it's time to call it a day.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Hayfield]

Hi Martin

John's woes reminded me that I was going to post screenshots of the additional Window 10 painfulness when clicking the link, which some people may see before even getting to run the file and working their way past the screenshots you've posted above. This applies to my 64 bit Windows 10 Home system, running Microsoft Edge, both with all the latest updates.

On clicking the link above, I'm presented with this window, for the purposes of this exercise I clicked Open, although I normally Save as to keep a local copy.

View attachment 1232

Microsoft then presents me with this rather rude message - click See more

View attachment 1233

Click the three dots, then Keep

View attachment 1234

And so it goes on - at this window click Show more.

View attachment 1235
Finally, click Keep anyway


View attachment 1236


The file will now start downloading, and because I chose to Open it, when Windows eventually deigns to run it the "Windows protected your PC" sequence above will then kick in to actually install Templot in the usual way.

For anyone else reading this, I must emphasise that this is Microsoft nastiness completely out of Martin's control. It seems as if every Windows 10 installation is different, and I know from professional experience that installing Windows 10 on two identical PC's, one after the other, from the same disc image, will also show differences in the installations once all the updates run!

Anyway, I hope this might further muddy the waters help someone else wondering what to do at all the prompts!

Cheers,
Paul

Paul

I never had any of those, 227b would fail part way through downloading, and 227c just hung on the automatic download. I have some form of glitch on my Windows 10, on every update I loose the sleep facility for a few days. I just live with it

 

[Carl]

Hi Martin

John's woes reminded me that I was going to post screenshots of the additional Window 10 painfulness when clicking the link, which some people may see before even getting to run the file and working their way past the screenshots you've posted above. This applies to my 64 bit Windows 10 Home system, running Microsoft Edge, both with all the latest updates.

On clicking the link above, I'm presented with this window, for the purposes of this exercise I clicked Open, although I normally Save as to keep a local copy.

View attachment 1232

Microsoft then presents me with this rather rude message - click See more

View attachment 1233

Click the three dots, then Keep

View attachment 1234

And so it goes on - at this window click Show more.

View attachment 1235
Finally, click Keep anyway


View attachment 1236


The file will now start downloading, and because I chose to Open it, when Windows eventually deigns to run it the "Windows protected your PC" sequence above will then kick in to actually install Templot in the usual way.

For anyone else reading this, I must emphasise that this is Microsoft nastiness completely out of Martin's control. It seems as if every Windows 10 installation is different, and I know from professional experience that installing Windows 10 on two identical PC's, one after the other, from the same disc image, will also show differences in the installations once all the updates run!

Anyway, I hope this might further muddy the waters help someone else wondering what to do at all the prompts!

Cheers,
Paul

I've been trying for days to download 227c with the same result of having the "blocked" message but in a different window.
I shall now try again.
Thank you
Carl

 

[Paul Boyd]

The worry about all this is that one day Microsoft may just point-blank refuse to download and/or install at all unless they “recognise” the program, i.e., Martin pays them. This is already the case with iOS apps, and where Apple leads, Microsoft follows.

I’ve already had that type of problem with an older version of MERG’s FCU (CBUS configuration utility, MERG love their acronyms!). In that instance, downloading was OK but I needed to make some registry changes to get past the Windows protection - there was no ‘See more’ or ‘Run anyway’ option. The problem was that I was pretty much on my own with various suggestions not working, although my forum post and solution is now linked on the FCU page.