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SoftCAT Free Changelog

What's new in SoftCAT Free 5.23

Oct 6, 2012
  • Export: HTML: Compact: Added a 'Cell spacing' property for the menu page to set the spacing between menu items.
  • Export: HTML: Compact: "All" link can now be displayed either after the last letter, or on a separate row at the bottom of the menu (as in the previous version).
  • Export: HTML: Compact: You can now specify which font to use for the overview list (both for the page title, and the list contents). In addition, you can set the text alignment, and vertical padding (space between the items in the list).
  • Export: HTML: Compact: Overview list now displays the menu selection as the page title.

New in SoftCAT Free 5.22 (Sep 29, 2012)

  • Export: HTML: Added support for a compact and frameless layout better suited for exports you intend to use on mobile devices. This will create a simple overview menu (based on the first letter of the selected data field) on the index page. Clicking one of the menu letters will open a new page with an overview list based on your menu selection. When you make a selection in the overview list, another page is opened that will show the records according to your selection. Click the back link to go back to the previous page, or the home link to go back to the index/home page.
  • Export: HTML: Updated the default setups to reflect the new explorer layout.
  • Export: HTML: All formatting now controlled by Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
  • Export: HTML: 'External CSS files' option now selected by default for new setups.
  • Report: Width of left pane in the 'Print Preview' window now saved.
  • FIXED: Data Entry: Problem entering/displaying dates on some systems.
  • FIXED: Import: Problem importing data to Category table.
  • Various other fixes and enhancements

New in SoftCAT Free 5.21 (Aug 7, 2012)

  • Report: Better quality output when printing memo fields to PDF files.
  • FIXED: Problem with 'View Image' window position/size if Windows taskbar was displayed along the left edge of the screen.
  • FIXED: Some issues with creating custom browse views.
  • FIXED: Report: Text labels: Multiline text not displayed correctly in the 'Report Designer' window.
  • FIXED: Report: Problem printing labels on some systems (rightmost label column not printed).
  • FIXED: Report: Formatted memo text not printed to PDF files.
  • FIXED: Problem printing chart from Statistics window.
  • FIXED: Fixed some issues with the explorer templates.
  • FIXED: Problem searching/filtering on multivalue fields (for example Keywords) with "Is not equal to" operator.
  • Various other minor fixes.

New in SoftCAT Free 5.20 (Jun 21, 2012)

  • Updated the layout of all explorer templates.
  • Updated and fine-tuned all standard reports.
  • Print List: Various enhancements to layout of generated report.
  • Updated to latest version of the report engine.
  • Report: Added a 'Prevent orphans' setting for groups. When this setting is activated, group headers that would appear at the bottom of a page without corresponding detail, will be moved to the top of the next page. Group footers that would print alone at the top of a page, will have the last detail of the prior page moved to the top of the page, followed by the group footer.
  • Report: Added an outline list in the 'Print Preview' window. This list shows the values of the first report group, and allows you to quickly go to a specific page.
  • Report: Printing to PDF creates smaller PDF files (better image compression).
  • Report: Better quality output when printing to HTML. All report pages are now generated in one single HTML file.
  • Report: More accurate positioning of report objects when printing to MS Word file.
  • Report: Print to File: Better support for printing to Excel files. No longer "Excel found unreadable content" error when opening file in Excel 2007/10.
  • Report: Added a "If empty" property for memo fields.
  • Quick Search: Now searches image filename, image notes, file links and web links.
  • Lookup View: Show Programs command will now show programs linked to *all* selected lookup records.
  • Pressing F1 will open help file in Report Designer and Form Designer.
  • FIXED: Error when sorting on the New Program field.
  • FIXED: Print List: Width of last column not set correctly when 'Adjust columns to fit page width' was selected.
  • FIXED: Report: Problem setting width of text labels from Properties window.
  • FIXED: Report: Selected font not always used when printing a DBXsl field ("Times Roman" used instead).
  • FIXED: Search: Show Previous/Next commands did not work if quick search was active.
  • FIXED: Problem with dates if date separator was set to space in Windows Control Panel.
  • FIXED: Problem with TWAIN image scanning if more than 3 scanner devices installed.
  • FIXED: The system tray launcher app was unable to find the database if database was located outside the default database folder.
  • Fixed a couple of typos in the sample database.
  • Various other fixes and enhancements.

New in SoftCAT Free 5.13 (Mar 22, 2012)

  • Implemented a new registration key/license file format. If you purchase the program after April 2, you must update to this version before you activate your registration key.
  • NOTE: Existing licenses will continue to work as before!
  • Form Designer: Right-clicking and choosing Paste will now paste control(s) on clipboard where you right-clicked.
  • Report Designer: Right-clicking and choosing Paste will now paste report object(s) on clipboard where you right-clicked.
  • Explorer: Added Keyword field to Program View explore pane template.
  • Export: HTML: Possible to create index based setup without a detail page.
  • Data Server: Info on lookup tables now included in XML data file for lookup fields.
  • FIXED: Data Entry: Error when deleting entry in Publisher lookup table.
  • FIXED: Explorer: Strings with Unicode characters not displayed correctly on some systems.
  • FIXED: Search/Replace: Problem with empty fields and 'Match any part of field' & 'Match whole words only' settings.
  • FIXED: Export: HTML: Problem creating code based setup if setup name contained a space.
  • Various other fixes and enhancements.

New in SoftCAT Free 5.12 (Feb 24, 2012)

  • Added support for Windows 8
  • Added a 'Copy Serial Number to Clipboard' button in the About window
  • Sites menu: Added a new field code: "%SEARCH%". This is used by, for example, the "Search Google" menu entry. The field value to search by is set according to the active view (for example, if the Program View is active the search is by title, if the Publisher Lookup View is active the search is by the publisher name, and so on)
  • Explorer: Updated "list" templates (CategoryList.xsl, KeywordList.xsl, and PublisherList.xsl)
  • Export: "Auto-organize images" filename setup used when exporting internal images
  • FIXED: Edit Sort Order: Name of selected field not displayed if the first field in the drop-down list was selected
  • FIXED: Print List: Stretch property not set for image fields
  • FIXED: Report: Stretch property always set when printing to the screen, or to a file
  • FIXED: Export: Fixed some issues with image fields
  • FIXED: Internet.dll file date/time reset when downloading update
  • Various other fixes and enhancements

New in SoftCAT Free 5.11 (Jan 9, 2012)

  • Auto-organize image files: Added support to use only the first value of a multivalue field (add "_f" after the field code).
  • Image: Link to file: Image file no longer renamed when dragging file from Windows Explorer to image field.
  • Various enhancements to the auto-capitalize feature.
  • FIXED: Vertical scrollbar in browse list sometimes hidden after backing up database.
  • FIXED: Auto-organize image files: Generated filename sometimes too long ("The field is too small to accept the amount of data" error).
  • FIXED: Data Server: Error when opening database after creating new instance.
  • Various other minor fixes.

New in SoftCAT Free 5.10 (Dec 12, 2011)

  • Added a new "Welcome" panel that will appear the first time the program is run (also displayed when you close the open database).
  • You can now automatically organize external image files into a folder structure and filename format of your choice based on information in the database. To use this feature, choose 'Auto-Organize Image Files' from the Tools menu.
  • The folder and filename setup used by the 'Auto-Organize Image Files' function is also automatically used if you have chosen to link to external image files: When you when you paste an image into the image field or drag an image from the web browser, and when you use the 'Extract images' feature. To edit this setup, choose
  • Tools=>Options=>Multimedia, then click the 'Images/Filename setup' button.
  • If SoftCAT is unable to locate external image files because you have moved the files, you can use the new 'Locate Missing Image Files' function available on the Tools menu. This will scan the specified drive/folder and attempt to locate the missing image files.
  • Updated the 'Extract images', 'Load external images' and 'Cleanup image folder' functions to support the new features.
  • Data Entry: Image: Removed the two separate "Load Image" and "Link to Image" buttons. Instead there is now one button that will use the 'Store images in database/Link to image files" setting (you can now also right-click the image control to change this setting).
  • Data Entry: Image: Now possible to manually rename the external image file from the data entry window.
  • Data Entry: Image: Added Paste and Resize buttons below the field.
  • Data Entry: Image: Added a Center property (changeable from the Form Designer). When this is checked, the image is centered within the control (this is now the default behavior).
  • Data Entry: Image: You can now change the background color.
  • Data Entry: Use Default Layout: Will now automatically remove fields that are hidden.
  • Data Entry: The Clone command is now available on the browse list right-click popup menu.
  • Edit Memo: Insert hyperlink: You can now add links to files and folders.
  • Explorer: Index: On the statistics page, removed the labels to the right of the chart.
  • Report: Added a new book report grouped by Primary Category.
  • Export XML: The "auto-organize" filename pattern is now used when exporting images.
  • Export XML: External images now copied to the export folder.
  • Database Maintenance: Update Path: A progress dialog with a Cancel button is now displayed.
  • Database Maintenance: Status information displayed on the statusbar when using the 'Extract images', 'Load external images' and 'Cleanup image folder' commands.
  • Export: Added a 'Open file' button in all export windows. This will open the last file you exported data to.
  • HTML Export: Index based setup: The name of the entry selected in the left pane is now displayed at the top of the list page.
  • HTML Export: Index based setup: The height of the top pane is now automatically increased when specifying an export title.
  • HTML Export: Removed some space after the list page title.
  • HTML Export: All temporary .xsl and .css files are now always deleted when the Export window closes.
  • HTML Export: Added a 'External CSS files' option. Activate this to store CSS formatting in external files, and share the same CSS file by all generated html files (one file for each page type: index, overview list, list and detail). If this option is not activated, all CSS formatting is stored in the HTML files.
  • Import: When importing links to files (file links and image files), SoftCAT will now look for the file in the import folder if folder is not specified.
  • XML: Memo fields: The unformatted plain text is now always included in the xml data file (for example "").
  • Updated the internal XML engine resulting in better performance.
  • Updated the "Working with reports" section in help file. Various other changes.
  • FIXED: Grid: Row not selected when right-clicking in browse list.
  • FIXED: Password: Problem turning off 'Login without password' setting.
  • FIXED: Explorer: Error in preview pane if a memo field contained a control character.
  • FIXED: Explorer: Images pasted from a Word document into a memo field would sometimes not display in the explorer.
  • FIXED: Search: Problem searching for "#" when using the "Begins with" and "Contains" operators.
  • FIXED: Import Excel: "Access Violation" error when trying to import from file open in Excel.
  • FIXED: HTML Export: Not possible to change the export title of a code based setup.
  • FIXED: HTML Export: Problem with upper and lower case characters mixed up in top menu in an index based setup.
  • FIXED: HTML Export: Program sometimes listed multiple times if filtering on two (or more) fields with the OR operator in an index based setup.
  • FIXED: Removed a resource leak when converting old database.
  • Various other fixes and enhancements.

New in SoftCAT Free 5.01 (Dec 12, 2011)

  • Auto-Catalog: Added "Program Files folder" as a new scan option.
  • Icons: Better quality when resizing large icons.
  • Use default form layout: Will now automatically remove fields that are hidden (Use property unchecked).
  • Image field: Added Paste and Resize buttons below the field.
  • Image field: Added a Center property (which you can change from the Form Designer). When this is checked, the image is centered within the control.
  • Statistics: Added support for GDI+ which provides better anti-aliasing (edge smoothing) based on ClearType technology.
  • HTML Export: Added a "Create virtual image" property for image fields on the list page.
  • Updated the internal XML engine resulting in better performance.
  • FIXED: Problem resizing left pane in import/export windows.
  • FIXED: System Tray Launcher: Problem opening database if full path was not specified.
  • Various other fixes and enhancements.

New in SoftCAT Free 5.00.01 (Dec 12, 2011)

  • FIXED: Password window shown behind the splash window at startup. This made
  • it impossible to enter password.
  • FIXED: Export: HTML: Problem with upper/lower case characters in top menu

New in SoftCAT Free 4.10.02 (May 7, 2010)

  • HTML Export: Now uses UTF-8 encoding (fixes problems with some extended characters).
  • FIXED: Import: Text: Had problems with some files.
  • FIXED: Sometimes access violation error when using auto-backup.
  • FIXED: Database Properties: Record count numbers not right-justified if using Windows 7 or Vista, or XP if "large fonts" were enabled.
  • FIXED: Removed flickering in the blue progress status window on Vista and Windows 7.
  • FIXED: Explorer: Problem with COUNT and SUM commands if value > 9999 and thousand separator = space.
  • FIXED: Data Server: XSLT processing instructions not read when generating HTML pages.
  • Various minor fixes and enhancements.

New in SoftCAT Free 4.10.01 (Jan 8, 2010)

  • Data Entry: Memo: You can now set up a default text color (Tools=>Options=>Memo).
  • Explorer: Now always possible to change the personal rating even when no rating was previously set.
  • Data Server: Fixed some issues with connecting to a running instance of SoftCAT.
  • Explorer window opens faster.
  • The main window opens faster.
  • FIXED: Export: XML: Error if output folder did not exist.
  • Various minor fixes and enhancements.

New in SoftCAT Free 4.10 (Dec 3, 2009)

  • The setup program now asks if you want to install the updated explorer templates (if you click Yes, the old templates are automatically backed up).
  • Database: Added 7 new data fields: Order ID, 2 custom numeric field, 2 custom date fields and 3 custom checkbox fields.
  • Data Entry: Memo: You can now set up a default font for all memo fields under Tools => Options => Memo. This font is used when adding new records, both during manual entry, when auto-cataloging programs, and importing data.
  • Data Entry: Add file link: The installation/program folder (if specified) is now automatically opened in the 'Select File' window.
  • Added shortcuts for OK and Cancel buttons (Alt+O and Alt+C) in all data entry windows (new databases only). To update existing databases you can use this little utility: SetBtnShortcuts.exe.
  • Data Entry: Add Record Link: You can now select search operator (Is equal to, Contains, or Begins with).
  • Data Entry: Add Record Link: The last selected program is automatically selected the next time you open the window.
  • Data Entry: Added a Delete button on the toolbar in the main window.
  • Browse List: Thumbnails quality is now better if the thumbnail is scaled.
  • Browse List: You can display the File and Web Link fields in the list.
  • Explorer: Setting the personal rating from the explorer is now faster since the page no longer needs to be regenerated.
  • Explorer: Added a Ctrl+E shortcut in the Explorer window to edit the current record.
  • Images: Default screenshot thumbnail size has been increased from 80x60 to 160x120 pixels (new databases only). If you would like to update the thumbnail size in an existing database, change the size from the 'Database Setup' window, then choose Tools => Database Maintenance => Regenerate Thumbnails.
  • Report: When setting up report groupings you can now force each new group to begin on an odd page. This can be helpful for duplex reports where groups need to be started on the front side of the next page.
  • Report: Quality of printed images is now better if the image has been scaled down.
  • Report: Archive File: Default file extension changed from "rar" to "crar".
  • Report: Changed the default code font in the 'Edit XSL Code' window to "Consolas".
  • Views: Added a Reset button in the 'List Layouts' window. Click this button to delete all existing layouts, and add the default layouts.
  • Views: Added a Reset button in the 'Sort Orders' window.
  • Views: Added a Reset button in the 'Filters' window.
  • Views: Added a Reset button in the 'Grouping Definitions' window.
  • Views: Added a Reset button in the 'Views Setup' window.
  • Export: HTML: You can use the code "�te%" to insert the current date into the title.
  • Export: HTML: You can define a margin below the heading row and the first row on list pages.
  • Export: HTML: You can set up a background color for field data (both list and detail pages).
  • Export: HTML: You can now add a custom page footer.
  • Export: Text: You can now export the cover filename (external images).
  • Database Setup: You can now use the standard navigation keys (F5-F8) to navigate in the table/field list.
  • Data Server: You can now choose to either connect to a running instance, or start a new instance.
  • Data Server: New method: GotoRecord: Pass a record id of -1 to only activate a specific view without changing the active record.
  • Data Server: New method: Explore. Call this method to explore data in the Explorer window. See the FAQ for more info.
  • Data Server: New method: EditRecord. Call this with the table name and record id to edit the record in the standard data entry window.
  • Data Server: New method: ActiveRecord. This returns the record id of the active record in the browse list according to the table you specify.
  • Data Server: New method: CloseEditWindow. This will close the open data entry window. Any changes are automatically saved.
  • Data Server: New method: RefreshView. This refreshes the specified view.
  • Data Server: New property: EditWindowOpen. Returns True if a data entry window is open.
  • FIXED: Close button in 'Database Properties' and 'Report Properties' windows not visisble on Vista and Windows 7.
  • FIXED: Data Entry: Sometimes error when trying to set the default value of numeric fields from the data entry window.
  • FIXED: Shortcuts for Search => Show Previous/Next did not work.
  • FIXED: Search: "Access Violation" when closing the 'Select Value' window.
  • FIXED: Export: HTML: Memo: Error if memo text contained control characters.
  • FIXED: Thumbnail cleared when regenerating thumbnails if link to image file was not valid.
  • FIXED: Problem with web links if url contained spaces.
  • FIXED: Data Server: Problem with parameters passed by reference.
  • More than 50 other smaller enhancements and fixes.

New in SoftCAT Free 4.01.02 (Jun 30, 2009)

  • Added a Search section on the toolbar (Search, Show Previous, Show Next and Show Result buttons).
  • Changed shortcuts for Search=>Show Previous/Next to Shift+F6 and F7.
  • FIXED: On some systems a "No Disk" error message was displayed when
  • opening the sample database.
  • Various minor fixes.

New in SoftCAT Free 4.01.01 (Jun 19, 2009)

  • Updated menu bitmaps.
  • FIXED: HTML Export: Problem with lists spanning multiple pages.
  • FIXED: HTML Export: Problem with top menu if 'Sort by' was not checked on the Index tab.
  • FIXED: Data Entry: Changes not automatically saved when choosing File=>Use Default Layout.
  • FIXED: Fixed a couple of problems with the global search.