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Version 4.0 (R2008b) xPC Target

This table summarizes what's new in Version 4.0 (R2008b):

New Features and Changes

Version Compatibility Considerations

Fixed Bugs and Known Problems

Related Documentation at Web Site

Yes
Details below

Yes—Details labeled as Compatibility Considerations, below. See also Summary

Bug Reports
Includes fixes

No

New features and changes introduced in this version are

Enhanced Support for Booting Target PCs Within Dedicated Network

The ability to boot target PCs within dedicated networks has been enhanced in this release. These enhancements include:

In the previous release, you manually started the network boot server process, and the capability was limited to one target PC within the dedicated network group. In this release, the xPC Target Explorer environment now fully integrates this feature and supports multiple target PCs.

See Booting Target PCs Within a Dedicated Network in the Installation and Configuration chapter of the xPC Target Getting Started Guide. You can continue to use the manual procedure as described in xPC Target Version 3.4, or use the method integrated into xPC Target Explorer.

Support for Booting from CDs

The xPC Target software now supports target boot CDs. See Booting Target PCs from CD or DVD in the Installation and Configuration chapter of the xPC Target Getting Started Guide.

Changes to xpcbootdisk Function

The xpcbootdisk function has been updated to allow for the creation of CD boot images. As a result, this function can now create 3.5-inch boot disks, CD boot images, and DOSLoader files. In previous releases, this function could create 3.5-inch boot disks and DOSLoader files.

Configuration Parameter Dialog Box Update

The Configuration Parameters dialog box has the following change for xPC Target models. In the Execution options section of the xPC Target options node, the PCI slot/ISA base address parameter has been changed to PCI slot (-1: autosearch) or ISA base address. Its purpose and use remains the same.

Automatic IRQ Selection

The Configuration Parameters dialog box has the following change for xPC Target models. In the Execution options section of the xPC Target options node, the Real-time interrupt source parameter now has an Auto (PCI only) option. This option enables the xPC Target software to automatically determine and use the IRQ number that the BIOS assigned. In previous releases, you had to manually choose an IRQ number for the real-time interrupt source. See xPC Target Options in the Basic Tutorial chapter of the xPC Target Getting Started Guide.

CPU Overload Management

The xPC Target software now supports the management of CPU overloads. See Allow CPU Overloads in the xPC Target User's Guide.

Enhanced Scopes

The following enhancements have been made for scopes.

Note, the number of allowed scopes of type target and the number of signals that scopes of type target can log remain 10. The number of scopes of type file remains eight.

Exporting Data from Scopes of Type File to MATLAB Workspace

From xPC Target Explorer, you can now export data from target PC files to the MATLAB workspace. In previous releases, you had to use the file system objects to transfer data from the target PC to the host PC.

Support for Model-Based Ethernet Communications

Support for model-based Ethernet communications. See Model-Based Ethernet Communications Support in the xPC Target I/O Reference.

Enhancements to xPC Target C API

The following enhancements have been made to the xPC Target C API:

See Functions, Properties, and Arguments Being Removed for additional notes.

Support for Serial ATA (SATA) Drives

Target PCs with serial ATA (SATA) drives are now supported. In previous releases, only IDE or parallel ATA (PATA) drives were supported. Your target PC must have a PATA or SATA drive to log data to the target PC file system. See Working with Target PC Files and File Systems in the xPC Target User's Guide.

I/O Driver Support

Support for the following National Instruments M series data acquisition boards. See National Instruments in the xPC Target I/O Reference.

Changes to xPC Target Library

When you double-click the xPC Target Driver Demos block, the Demos tab in the MATLAB Help Navigator now opens, displaying the xPC Target demos. In previous releases, double-clicking this block opened a sublibrary that displayed a list of xPC Target driver demos.

Target PC Monitor Update

The target PC monitor display has been updated to reflect the PCI bus and slot number of the Ethernet card in the target PC used for host PC-target PC communications. In previous releases, the display showed the memory base address and IRQ of the Ethernet card.

xPC Target Demos

This release contains the following new demos:

Compilers

The xPC Target product now supports the following additional compilers:

Compatibility Considerations

The xPC Target product no longer supports the Open Watcom C/C++ compiler Version 1.3.

Functions, Properties, and Arguments Being Removed

The following changes affect the xPC Target C API.

For more information about the process of removing functions, see "About Functionality Being Removed" in What Is in the Release Notes.

Function NameWhat Happens When you use FunctionUse This InsteadCompatibility Considerations
xPCGetScopesStill runsxPCGetScopeListThe xPCGetScopes function continues to run. However, use xPCGetScopeList instead.
xPCScGetSignalsStill runsxPCScGetSignalListThe xPCScGetSignals function continues to run. However, use xPCScGetSignalList instead.

Recreate Target Boot Disk and Rebuild Applications

Compatibility Considerations

If you upgrade your xPC Target software from a previous version, you must recreate the target boot disk and you must rebuild your xPC Target applications. See Booting Target PCs from Boot Floppy Disk in xPC Target Getting Started Guide.

  


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