OFT User Interface Updates
 

Hi guys,
So we are in the process of over improving the OFT user interface. It's going to be a gradual process but we will release updates regularly so don't be surprised when you see some changes :)

That said, we released a nice little update this morning. Just connect your OFT to your laptop (with WIFI) and launch OpenFlash Manager. Let it auto update and you will get the new goods.

What's New?

1) Less buttons to press when moving between datalogging screens
We removed the messages that popped up when you exited the realtime data screen or graphical data screen. They required you to press "OK" and that was a waste of time.

2) Persistent channel configurations
The channel configuration set-up file (what recalls your datalog channel selection) is now persistent. So every time you go back into the Channel Configuration menu, you will see your previously selected channels instead of automatically defaulting to the first 12 channels as it used to. This will save quite a bit of time since you don't have to start off from scratch every time you make changes to the your datalog channel selections.

3) Auto recovery in data display mode
Now when you are in any data display window (Realtime data screen, graphical data screen or triple-channel digital gauge mode), an error will not be generated if you turn off the ignition. Before, a communication error message would appear, requiring you go to back into the Diagnostic screen, click on My Car, and then navigate back to your previous viewing mode. I'm glad to say that this all is all unnecessary. With this update, if you turn ignition off while you are in a display screen, the display screen will remain and no error message will be triggered. When you restart your car, the OFT will automatically restart communication and data will start streaming again. This also saves a lot of time and hassle.

4) Data screen sleep Mode when ignition is OFF
When you turn off your car, you can now leave any of the 3 display screens active. Because now, after the OFT detects that the ECU has gone to sleep, it will wait 5 seconds before dimming the screen. The screen will go active again once ignition is turned ON. This will reduce current consumption for those who like to leave the OFT plugged in all the time. Of course, there will still be some current draw with the OFT plugged in (albeit minimal) so if you plan on parking your car for extended periods of time (i.e., long term parking at airport), we recommend that you unplug your OFT so you don't come back to a potentially dead battery :)
NOTE: Currently, the OFT screen doesn't go completely dark. It just drops brightness down to ~10%. In tomorrow's update, we will make it so that it goes completely dark (screen off).

More updates to come soon. And some are going to be pretty damn cool if I do say so myself!

Cheers
Shiv

Shiv, would it be possible to put the OFT in a cpu supported low power mode to assist with any power drain? If you don't mind me asking, is this a custom SOC or is it something that has some documents available?

perhaps there's a better way if a car is off for more than a half hour.

these two are the ones ive been waiting for. you guys are awesome

ILU shiv

TYVM! @Shiv@Openflash

Very useful upgrades.

I <3 MY OFT

Awesome! Can't wait to update. I love the idea of being able to leave my OFT plugged in all the time!

i like new features.

great fixes! number 3 and 4 really should be good.

Love the persistent data channel! No more going into the menu every time to data log a certain channel :)

The next update will be even better. Should be ready to go next week :)

Looks like I gotta reconfigure my cable / mount solution to leave it plugged at all times!

Thanks guys you are the bomb

Can we have different sets of 12 channels to log?

At this stage, I'll need to configure it to log ones specifically for knock, ones for MAF scaling and ones for temps, fuel supplies/pressures/volumes.

It's kind of a pain in the butt to keep configuring channels, would be nice to just configure them once, then just tap which set we want.

The sleep function is one of the greatest things ever.

Glad you like it. There is still a little bug that we are trying to work out. Turns out if you let it sleep for more a long time (several hours or more), it will stay asleep when you restart your engine, requiring you to unplug/plug it in again. We are working on it :)

The next stage of UI updates have me very excited.

Ooooo - I wonder what they could be ? Mind boggles . . . . . .

i can only assume the next updates will include laser eye scan ignition security, as i already saw some of the coding for it in the new update files.

Nice, ignored again.

Sorry, it wasn't intentional. With this next update, we will be economizing space on the realtime data screen which should allow up to 14 channels (instead of the current 12) to be logged at the same time. It is possible to add multiple configuration preference files so you can select and store between different sets of 14 channels. But I don't have an ETA for this as there are other updates that have more priority at this time.

Cheers,
Shiv

Any chance in the future of getting a version of OFM for Mac??

Anything is possible. But we don't see that happening in the near future. At least before the next slew of updates. Being a Mac user myself I would like to see this as well.

Alright thanks. Trying to get VM setup on mine now hopefully it all goes well.

yep :)

Update: This bug has been fixed with yesterday's auto update :)

It is great to see this product continuing to evolve and improve. The one thing I wish it could do is multiple datalogs. I like to log each autox run I take, but obviously can only keep one file. I would love to be able to log each run and review them later.

they've mentioned in the past that is something they are working on. it will be pretty useful when it comes online.

As @troek says they are working on it, one thing that may hold it back is memory space the OFT hardware can only hold about an hour of logs at current sample rate and 12 parameters. although they might be able to run data compression if hardware is up to it.

What revision should we be seeing these changes in? I updated my OFM to 1.11.1 and updated the tablet to FW 1.29 but I don't see the UI changes...

You have to upgrade your template file as well. Here is the link, it's the third item down:

http://openflashtablet.com/Automotiv...ads/index.html

Within OFM the "Upgrade" button will allow you to install the new template file.

Thanks, I did this when I got the 1.11.1 version of OFM and it upgraded to FW 1.29, though at that time the file on the website was FRS Customized 3. I checked again after posting this and saw that #4 is now out so I've updated my tablet, just haven't tested yet.

The screen will go blank. But in the dark, you will still notice some backlight. So it doesn't go completely dark.

Anyone having problem updating the OFT?? I plug it in and loading and i click ok to update and this error came up.

The process cannot access the file :\\Updater.exe' because its is being used by another process.... After i click OK its kick me out and cannot even get into OFM.

I did try to reinstall the OFM and still doing the same thing.


Problem Solved!:Just need to install new java!

Is there a change log for OFM 1.13.0 and firmware 1.31?

Erm, OFM does not use Java. It seems to just have an unreliable update procedure. I got the message but a simple app restart updated it fine.

Hi guys,
If anyone has problems with OF Manager's automatic update process, just download and launch the newest version of OF Manager from the website. You will see the version number in the download link.

It's true that Mac users (such as myself) may run into troubles with the update process since it requires assigning administrative privileges. The programmers are working on ways to make the auto update more seamless :)

Cheers,
Shiv

@Shiv@Openflash, the new UI no longer shows how full the log is. Any way to get this back?

Hey guys. My oft is complaining to update the template file when trying to load realtime data...I updated the template file by downloading whatever was on the oft website and doing a upgrade in the OpenFlash manager but when I connect the tablet I am still getting the error to upgrade template?

Am I missing something here? Download from a different location maybe? The file was a duplicate of what I already downloaded earlier this year it seems??

Thanks

Latest template is V1.29 released 6th of this month. latest OFM on download page is V1.13.0 if page not showing that you may be looking at old page, clear browser cache or do contol refresh on page.

Confirmed i am running the latest 1.13 Manager. When i download the template file 1.26 and up the output file is "FRS Customized 3.SLT"....which is a duplicate file name of one i downloaded in april....i loaded the new one from October 21st 2014 on the openflash manager upgrade function and still get "update template" error when entering realtime data??