Manual Datafox Evo 4.6 FleKey
Page 13
Date: 14.09.2021 V 04.03.17.XX
4.4.3. Device Firmware and Device Setup
The firmware (operating system) of the device and the device setup (*.aes data file = application
program) form a unit. By the device setup, the runtime behavior of the device (the firmware) is deter-
mined. This means the response of the device to input events by the user or the environment (e.g.
digital inputs). In principle, only those functions of the device are executed that are supported by the
firmware and defined via the setup. Prior to the productive commencement, you should therefore
test each setup with the corresponding device or on a device with the same hardware options and
firmware.
4.4.4. Device Firmware and Communications DLL
A firmware supports certain functions, dependent on the hardware options. The communication DLL
is the interface between the firmware and the DatafoxStudioIV or your processing software. There-
fore, the firmware must always have the same or a lower version number as the communication
DLL.
Note:
If your application uses a newer version of the DLL than the firmware does, you can
only use functions that are supported by the firmware.
Otherwise, you will receive an error message (e.g. function not supported) which has
to be analyzed.
4.4.5. Communications DLL and DatafoxStudioIV
Note:
The DatafoxStudioIV and the communication DLL are developed and released as a
bundle. Therefore, they have to be used as a bundle.
A newer version of DatafoxStudioIV does not work with an older DLL.
4.4.6. DatafoxStudioIV and Device Setup
With the DatafoxStudioIV, you create a device setup (application program) for the Datafox device.
That means that in the setup only those functions were defined which were available in the Datafox-
StudioIV version at the time of the setup creation. The DatafoxStudioIV you use for opening a de-
vice setup may thus only be newer but never older than the DatafoxStudioIV version you used to
create the device setup.
Note:
The updates are always available for download on our homepage
!
Caution:
When new devices are delivered, the latest firmware is loaded on the devices. If you
wish to work with an older firmware version, please perform a downgrade. Please ob-
serve the compatibility notes in the release notes of the respective firmware version.
The data file <Device name>, Software version <version number>.pdf shows which func-
tions are supported by which software release.
You will find the file on the product CD. Please also follow the instructions given in the chapters
of the manual.