With next VisionX Previewer release we'll have a really useful feature. It's an automatic feedback in case of unexpected application errors.

It's entirely possible that the app can't handle all use cases equally well. This can lead to overflows or even unexpected display issues. Usually your users won't report such problems if they don't persist. For such cases, we have implemented an automated feedback handling. Any unexpected issues are reported automatically. The application will send the internal error message and stack trace to the backend and a Screenshot of the current application if possible.

Examples:

Text overflow

Exceptions

This will be reported to the backend e.g.

Overflow feedback

Exceptions feedback

No worries, it's just a demo screen. It doesn't look fancy. Just use VisionX to create your own cool screen.

Our feedback handling is not comparable with commercial products like Sentry.io which is the recommended system in the flutter docs. But it's simple, free and built-in. If you use our flutter client as base of your own application client it's also possible to use other reporting systems like Sentry.io without any limitations.

We always try to keep things simple for you!

We work hard on our VisionX Previewer app and have some really cool new features for you

You know that we use a table for data representation. It looks like following:

Standard table

We know that a table is not really cool on mobile devices. A table on mobile devices often looks like a list, like this one:

Our problem was the layout of the list elements. This is easy for a table but complex for a list. Anyway, we found a super flexible solution for the problem and now it's possible to show a table as list, like following:

Table as List

You don't need to change your application to show a table as list, just add a style information to your existing tables and everything will work. The list supports same features as the table. It's sortable, editable and you can delete records. The list has some additional style options like as Card, with + button, with border, with arrow:

Style options

This is the default layout implementation of the list. If you want another layout, you can use a template mechanism to create your own customized list. The template is a json file which defines the layout. It's not super easy but with a little patience it will work.

The new list feature will be available together with the next VisionX update in some weeks, because the template mechanism is new and not available in older VisionX versions.

Our VisionX Previewer App 3.2.0 is available. PLEASE read this article BEFORE updating the app.

It's a performance and feature release for flutter 3.24.

The new version fully supports table cell formatting (Cell profiles), fixed table cell size calculation, improved image loading and caching (no more flickering), supports full-screen content without safe are (optional), contains new date and time picker components and comes with updated dependencies.

With next version we will use flutter 3.27 and later.

A full changelog is available here and information about 3.2.0.

If you read the article about VisionX 6 update you saw that E-Plug is also updated from 1.2.60 to 3.0.0.

We released E-Plug 3.0.0 already and 1.2.60 is not available via Eclipse Marketplace anymore. However, if you made a mistake and want to stay with 1.2.60 it's still possible. In this case, simply add a custom update site in your Eclipse settings and use following URL: https://eclipse.sibvisions.com/eplug.1.2.60

This location contains latest E-Plug 1.2.60.

The default location for latest E-Plug is: https://eclipse.sibvisions.com/eplug

We're happy to announce that JVx 3.o is available. It's a feature release and fixes some problems.

All changes are documented in our ticketing system. The release contains 138 tickets and much more work behind the scenes. It is full of experience gained from countless projects. This version is the heart of our low-code platform VisionX and it is a rock star.

JVx 3 is the effort of 34 months hard work.
Thank you Martin and René for your tireless work!

It comes with better database independency, Java code parsing and execution, Image metadata (mobile devices), improved Parameter handling and much more. The full list of changes is available in our ticketing system and in the changelog of our code repository.

Start with JVx

We're happy to announce VisionX 6.0.351

The new version is full with updates. It doesn't contain many new features but many new possibilities because of Java 21, JavaFX 23, latest reactUI, flutter UI and an updated Previewer app.

Before starting with VisionX 6, PLEASE read our update guide and also additional information about our Previewer app update.

What's new?

• Disable translation

  It's possible to disable the translation temporary while you design your application, because sometimes it's not good to show translated labels/names immediate. The VisionX button in your application now contains a checkbox. This doesn't change your application, only temporary in VisionX.

• Improved layout drag/drop

  We changed dragging and dropping elements for our layouts a little bit, to show gaps. This is not a big thing, but it just looks right now.

• Java 21
• JVx application framework 3.0
• Apache Tomcat 11 support
• Postgres database 14
• ARM64 support (Apple silicon (M1), linux, windows)
• Version update for all AddOns and Modules

As usual, VisionX 6.0.351 is available in the download area for our customers or as trial.

Have fun!

We'll release VisionX 6 by the end of the year. Some hours later, we'll release VisionX Previewer 3.2.0 for Android and iOS.

You should know that this app is not compatible with applications, created with VisionX 5 and earlier. If you update the Previewer app and try to use your old applications, it will show a version mismatch message.

So be sure to update all your applications with VisionX 6 or just keep VisionX Previewer 3.1.0.

If you update your applications with VisionX 6 and keep VisionX Previewer 3.1.0, the same version mismatch message will appear because VisionX Previewer 3.2.0 is required for VisionX 6 and later.

Why is it incompatible?

The Previewer app now supports features which were not available in VisionX 5 and earlier. Such features are cell styling with fonts, images, colors (Cell Profiles) and readonly cells (Read only checker).

But no hurry, no rush. Take your time to update to VisionX 6, update your installed applications and if you're done, just update the Previewer app.

Our next big VisionX update is just around the corner.

We'll release it by the end of the year and sorry for missing EA versions. We did not release EA versions, as there is no way back to older VisionX versions. So please read update guide carefully!

Before you can work with VisionX 6, you should know some important things about it and also that there is more to do for you than just an installation of an Update!

VisionX 6 comes with updated binaries of Java and Postgresql and many updated open source libraries like JVx, reactUI or flutterUI.

1. Create a backup of all your applications and external databases
   • Create an update export of your application with database, with your current VisionX version
   • If your database is an external database or you use multiple database schemas, create a backup of it because VisionX doesn't backup external databases or multiple schemas
   • If you use a version control system like svn or git - commit everything
2. Keep your current VisionX version and use the zip version of VisionX 6

   Don't uninstall or remove your old VisionX version, keep it until everything is moved to VisionX 6. Simply use VisionX 6 zip archive and unzip it in your home directory. Don't use VisionX 6 installer until everything is working with VisionX 6.

3. Request a new VisionX license

   If you have a subscription license of VisionX, you don't need a new license because everything will work with your credentials. If you don't use our subscription model, please request a new license for VisionX 6. We'll send you a new license. Please be patient with us if it takes a little longer. In the meantime, you can work with your current VisionX version.

4. Request a new E-Plug license

   Please request a new E-Plug license BEFORE updating E-Plug. Please be patient with us if it takes a little longer. In the meantime, you can work with your current E-Plug version.

5. Install AddOns

   Be sure that you install all AddOns which you're using in your current VisionX version.
   This is important and don't do it later because it makes it much easier for you!

6. Update E-Plug (after you got your license)

   Please update your E-Plug version from 1.2.60 to 3.0.0 after all your applications are working in VisionX 6. Just for your safety!

7. Import your application(s) with VisionX 6

   If you don't use an apps.xml with VisionX (usually only development companies will use that), just import your application(s) in VisionX 6 and everything should be fine. If VisionX doesn't show an information, you're one step further.

   If you use an apps.xml, be careful and be sure that you have a backup!
   In this case, it's not possible to use the same application directory with your current VisionX version AND VisionX 6. You should revert all files before using the application with an older VisionX.

   If you copy your apps.xml into your VisionX 6, it should work as well without additional tasks. If VisionX doesn't show an information, you're one step further.

8. Update modules

   It's important to update ALL modules for every single application. Also update the user management module!

9. Known problems / Problems

   If you use custom libraries, created for older VisionX versions, please update all custom libraries! In this case, VisionX will show a warning which will look like following:

   

   Dependency warning

   This is a warning will be shown if you application contains older/incompatible modules - just update the module(s). But it will also be shown if you have custom libraries which are not compatible with VisionX 6.

10. Remove old VisionX
    If VisionX doesn't show any unusual icons or warnings, you application(s) will work with VisionX 6. Simply start your application in VisionX and do a Live Preview. If everything looks fine, it's time to remove your old VisionX installation and install VisionX 6 with an installer or keep the zip version. The only difference is the OS integration.

If you follow above instructions, VisionX 6 will update everything it needs to use the application(s) with VisionX 6. We tried to keep the update procedure as simple and short as possible, but this time it isn't possible without manual interaction because of fundamental changes.

If you have unexpected problems with the update to VisionX 6, please contact our support team. However, you should note that our support team cannot help you with custom libraries or your own AddOns/Modules. In this case, you need help from one of our Consultants or you just update the AddOns and Modules on your own.

Now you just have to be patient until we officially release VisionX

The next version of VisionX will be 6.0. We plan to release it at the end of 2024.

Some big changes will be:

• Java update from 12 to 21 LTS
• JavaFX update from 12 to 23
• Embedded postgres update from 9 to 14
• Support for Silicon Macs and in general, architectures x86_64 (amd64) arm64 (aarch64)

VisionX 6 will include the latest version of our JVx application framework, version 3.0. The development of our application framework is on the home stretch. We have nightly builds in great state.

In VisionX 6 we'll also bundle our latest reactUI with bigger framework updates and our latest flutterUI which is compatible with flutter 3.24. The new UIs won't be backwards compatible because of some bugs and new features which are not available in applications created with VisionX < 6. If you're using reactUI, old apps will still work and if you plan to use our new VisionX Previewer, simply update your application(s).

The OS integration of VisionX 6 will be improved as well, e.g better Dock integration under Ubuntu or improved menu handling under macOS. We did integration tests with CentOS (9) Stream, Fedora (36 to 40), Debian (12), Kali Linux, Ubuntu (20 to 24), macOS (Intel from 10.15, Silicon from 12.0), Windows (from 10).

We will release an Early Access version in the next few weeks.

We're happy to announce VisionX 5.11.615

The new version is fully backwards compatible and contains many improvements. It also fixes some reported problems and brings new features. This version is the last version of series 5 and we didn't change bigger blocks. The 5.11.615 should be a great final version of VisionX 5. We already started development of VisionX 6 and it will bring some bigger changes because we'll update to Java 21. We also will update our embedded postgresql database. We'll update to our latest react based UI and also to latest mobile app. We have some great features in the pipeline for all of you.

... back to VisionX 5.11.615

What's new?

• NEW calculated field
  

  Calculated field

  Use this field for sum, average, min, max calculation or simple record counts. The calculated value can be changed after calculation or you can define custom formulas. It's on you. It's super easy to use and you can access the calculated fields in any action.

• Actions and Functions

  Our new actions are:

  • Perform search

    If you have a "manual" Search button in your screen, automatic search is disable automatically. With this action it's possible to force search)

  • Download URL

    Save data from an URL.

  • Contains (value, search, case_sensitive)

    Checks if a search value is part of a specific value. case_sensitive means (B is not the same as b; but case insensitive means B is the same as b)

  • Starts with (value, search, case_sensitive)

    Checks if a value starts with a specific search value

  • Ends with (value, search, case_sensitive)
  • for loop with fixed number of iterations

  Checks if a value ends with a specific search value

  Changed actions:

  • E-Mail
    It's now possible to set dynamic text as subject instead of fixed text.

  We have some totally useful new functions for you:

  • length (text)

    Counts the number of characters

  • substring (text, start)

    Creates a sub string from start to the end

  • substring (text, start, count)

    Creates a sub string from start and maximum count characters

  • countAll (column)

    Counts all records. Compared to count(column) which counts all records where the value is not empty.

  The description of an action shows possible functions as well:

  

  Detailed description

• Improved field selection
  
  

  Choose field

• Messages now support feedback input
  

  Feedback input

• Changing license is now possible without "invalid license" warning
• Changed some icons in elements area of visual designer
• Creation of XML reports fixed

Starting with VisionX 5.11.615 it will be possible to use updates of following AddOns:

• Embedding 1.8-4
• Audit Log 1.2-11
• REST 1.14-ea10
• Query Editor 1.4.6

As usual, VisionX 5.11.615 is available in the download area for our customers or as trial.

Have fun!