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Appendix C: Utility Programs

This appendix documents the utility programs available from Z-World. All of these utilities are easy to use. The file encryption utility may be obtained by calling our technical support staff at (530) 757-3737. The other utilities are bundled with Dynamic C.

C.1 Font and Bitmap Converter Utility

The Font and Bitmap Converter converts Window's fonts and monochrome bitmaps to a library file format compatible with Z-World's Dynamic C applications and graphical displays. Non-Roman characters may also be converted by applying the monochrome bitmap converter to their bitmaps.

Double-click on the fmbcnvtr.exe file in the Dynamic C directory. Select and convert existing fonts or bitmaps. Complete instructions are available by clicking on the Help button within the utility.

When complete, the converted file is displayed in the editing window. Editing may be done, but probably won't be necessary. Save the file as whatever.lib: the name of your choice.

Add the file to applications with the statement:

#use whatever.lib         // remember to add this filename to lib.dir

or by cut and pasting from whatever.lib directly into the application file.

C.2 Library File Encryption Utility

The Library File Encryption Utility allows distribution of sensitive runtime library files. Encrypt.exe may be obtained by calling technical support at Z-World. Complete instructions are available by clicking on the Help button within the utility. Context-sensitive help is accessed by positioning the cursor over the desired subject and hitting <F1>.

The encrypted library files compile normally, but cannot be read with an editor. The files will be automatically decrypted during Dynamic C compilation, but users of Dynamic C will not be able to see any of the decrypted contents except for function descriptions for which a public interface is given. An optional user-defined copyright notice is put at the beginning of an encrypted file.

C.3 Rabbit Field Utility

The Rabbit Field Utility (RFU) will load a .bin file created by Dynamic C to a Rabbit-based controller. It can be used to load a program to a controller without Dynamic C present on the host computer, and without recompiling the program each time it is loaded to a controller.

The Dynamic C installation created a desktop icon for the RFU. The executable file, rfu.exe, can be found in the directory where Dynamic C was installed. Complete instructions are available by clicking on the Help button within the utility. The Help document details setup information, the file menu options and BIOS requirements.

A command line version of the RFU is new for DC 7.20. On the command line specify:

clRFU SourceFilePathName [options]

where SourceFilePathName is the path name of the .bin file to load to the connected target. The options are as follows:

-s port:baudrate

	Description:	Select the comm port and baud rate for the serial connection.
	Default:	COM1 and 115,200 bps
	RFU GUI Equivalent:	From the Setup | Communications dialog box, choose values from the Baud Rate and Comm Port drop-down menus.
	Example:	clRFU myProgram.bin -s 2:115200

-t ipAddress:tcpPort

	Description:	Select the IP address and port.
	Default:	Serial Connection
	RFU GUI Equivalent:	From the Setup | Communications dialog box, click on "Use TCP/IP Connection", then type in the IP address and port for the controller that is receiving the .bin file or use the "Discover" radio button.
	Example:	clRFU myProgram.bin -t 10.10.1.100:4244

-v

	Description:	Causes the RFU version number and additional status information to be displayed.
	Default:	Only error messages are displayed.
	RFU GUI Equivalent:	Status information is displayed by default and there is no option to turn it off.
	Example:	clRFU myProgram.bin -v

-cl ColdLoaderPathName

	Description:	Select a new initial loader.
	Default:	\bios\coldload.bin
	RFU GUI Equivalent:	From the Setup | Boot Strap Loaders dialog box, type in a pathname or click on the ellipses radio button to browse for a file.
	Example:	clRFU myProgram.bin -cl myInitialLoader.c

-pb PilotBiosPathName

	Description:	Select a new secondary loader.
	Default:	\bios\pilot.bin
	RFU GUI Equivalent:	From the Setup | Boot Strap Loaders dialog box, type in a pathname or click on the ellipses radio button to browse for a file.
	Example:	clRFU myProgram.bin -pb mySecondaryLoader.c

-d

	Description:	Run Ethernet discovery. Don't load the .bin file. This option is for information gathering and must appear by itself with no other options and no binary image file name.
	RFU GUI Equivalent:	From the Setup | Communications dialog box, click on the "Use TCP/IP Connection" radio button, then on the "Discover" button.
	Example:	clRFU -d