IMG is pleased to announce that a maintenance update for Linux is now available as My-T-Soft for Linux 2.20 R16 (Release 16) for the following platforms: i386 (32-bit) and AMD64 (64-bit). This updates the recent R14 release to add a few key features. Download available here These are an ongoing process to bring improvements, new features, and new platforms to the Build-A-Board run-time targets. The past several updates have been internal, focusing on the Linux version working on a headless server so the web based Build-A-Board (not yet public) can generate KBF files, and create the layout image. This layout image can then be seen as the actual run-time visual representation of the target system layout visible to the user. Because the ability to display the high-resolution images was limited on Linux, full support for the 3D HiRes default key, and the open-ended Key Images is now fully supported for 64-bit targets. The 32-bit Linux target now matches the 64-bit release - the R14 had a few memory issues that affected image operation in the 32-bit build. Several minor memory issues were identified & resolved.

The R16 release includes updates to support the LKBF (Load KBF) command (e.g. [CMD:LKBF=NewLayout.KBF]. The Load KBF option provides an optional positioninfo indicator, which gives new layouts more flexibility in creating a robust user interface, and controlling the visual display of the layouts in use. As a reference, the following outlines the LKBF position information options now available in the Linux run-time targets:

LKBF Notes:

If no [,positioninfo] is provided, the KBF will open based on its embedded top/left position.

The following positioninfo values will exist:

top - the top / center will be the anchor point
bottom - the bottom / center will be the anchor point
left - the left / center will be the anchor point
right - the right / center will be the anchor point
toplft - the top / left corner will be the anchor point
toprgt - the top / right corner will be the anchor point
botlft - the bottom / left corner will be the anchor point
botrgt - the bottom / right corner will be the anchor point

scrntl - will position on the screen top / left
scrntc - will position on the screen top / center
scrntr - will position on the screen top / right
scrnml - will position on the screen middle / left
scrnmc - will position on the screen middle / center
scrnmr - will position on the screen middle / right
scrnbl - will position on the screen bottom / left
scrnbc - will position on the screen bottom / center
scrnbr - will position on the screen bottom / right

overlay - will overlay the existing window (layouts should be same size)

For example, [CMD:LKBF=TEST.KBF,right] will effectively open the new layout with the right-most edge anchored, giving the illusion that it extends the panel outwards to the left (assuming TEST is larger than than the showing layout).

The technical updates of the past 2 releases include better handling for PNG images with scaling and improved speed. All rendered images are held in memory, so once all key aspects are properly rendered, there is no delay in displaying key changes (up/down/shift/Caps/etc.). We also have matched the Android versioning in the sense that all public releases will be even numbers, while odd numbers will be "under development" for internal purposes.

About IMG

Since 1995, Innovation Management Group has been the primary supplier of onscreen keyboard user interfaces and designer utilities to major corporations, manufacturers, integrators, and users worldwide. IMG's products run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on some of the most secure, advanced, and critical systems in the world.

The My-T-Soft® Family along with IMG's My-T-Soft Build-A-Board Keyboard Designer offers a consistent cross-platform onscreen user interface that is fully customizable and programmable for various hardware / software platforms. It allows customers to control user input in any field or any application and maintain a higher level of security than with a traditional physical keyboard or membrane panel. The My-T-Soft product family is ideal for use in environments such as automation, field service, food and beverage, instrumentation, in-vehicle, kiosk, laboratory, logistic, medical, military, mobile, pharmaceutical, point-of-sale, ruggedized, utility, warehousing, whiteboard, or other extremely clean, dirty, or hazardous interactive user environment.