DataLoad Feature History

This section lists the new features and fixes included in each version of DataLoad.

Version 5.2.1.0 (1 June 2010)

New Features

• Improved viewing and editing of spreadsheet cells that contain multiple lines
• Multi line cell data can now be copied/pasted between Excel and DataLoad
• Browser Control's handling of blank cells is now configurable (skip vs clearing corresponding browser field)
• Load Control performance & reliability further improved, especially for pasted data
• DataLoad updated to avoid Oracle bug which can cause the Oracle client to crash when data is rapidly pasted
• Row heights can be made to automatically fit row data by double clicking the row divider or by using menus
• Find/Replace can use special non-printing characters (carriage return, tab, etc)
• Row heights are now saved in DataLoad files (Macro & Forms Playback)
• Validation rules now automatically cause upper/lower case to be set as the user types
• Forms Playback default file character set can be set at anytime, not just when a FLD file is open
• Small updates to look & feel
• Text boxes intended for numbers in Delay & Options now restricted to numbers (prev any text could be entered and an error was shown when window OK'ed)
• Target window could become visible but not active on Windows Vista
• Macro loads can now still be cancelled with Esc even if keyboard hook fails to start
• Added directory path information to About window
• Default log file location moved to user's application data directory instead of the location where DataLoad is installed (which many users can't write to)
• Warning message now displayed if the Forms Playback character set does not support all the load's data
• Changes in Windows OS meant DataLoad is not always activated at end of a Macro load. Changes made to ensure DataLoad is activated.
• Documentation updates

Bug Fixes

• UTF8 encoded Forms Playback files could fail to playback after V5.1
• Title grid in Column Setup window didn't anchor to the window's right side
• File character set was not always correctly identified when opening Forms Playback files
• Column widths didn't get moved along with the data when columns were inserted or deleted
• Load Control & Browser Control settings were not populated if file was opened at same time as DataLoad, e.g. by double clicking .dld file in Explorer
• Load Control & Browser Control were not activated when -AUTO was used
• Row heights were not correctly moved when rows were inserted or deleted
• Browser Control *ml not treated as a command for cell colouring or column title creation
• If a scripting load was opened, closed and then a macro load opened the progress window was placed in the middle of the screen
• Scrolling the Titles grid in Column Setup window did not cause the Browser Control & Validation rows to scroll in sync
• Tab order between fields on Advanced delays tab was wrong
• The cell colour dialogue on the Options window opened behind the Options window
• When the Find/Replace form was cancelled the DataLoad window minimized
• Couldn't copy/paste/cut, etc, in to Find/replace window using standard shortcut keys

Version 5.2.0.0 (1 March 2010)

New Features

• Load Control added for high performance Macro loads
  • Integrates DataLoad with target application to monitor and control macro load progress
  • Significantly improves performance and reliability of Macro loads
  • Supports Java and native Windows applications
• Alt + PgUp / PgDn moves the focus between the 3 DataLoad spreadsheets
• Option for Professional users to turn off the startup screen
• Improved handling of missing commands.dat file
• Reduce display time of startup screen
• Changed keystroke delays to be after the key and not between key down & key up
• Checkbox added to the Run Load form to control whether Browser Control is enabled
• Siebel support added to Macro loads

Bug Fixes

• Internet Explorer OnChange event handlers were not always executed when fields updated via Browser Control
• *SB didn't toggle checkboxes, etc, with new keystroke engine introduced in V5.1
• DataLoad could fail to start and displayed the error "HRCHECK: this->get_HWND((long*)&pHWND): Unspecified error"
• Startup form could show previous version as the latest version.
• Macro recorder incorrectly added '\' before *ml, *mr & *dl
• Mouse click coordinates capture didn't work for *DL()
• Current cell coordinates did not always fit in space available
• Cursor remained as hourglass when user requested news if no news available

Version 5.1.0.0 (1 February 2010)

New Features

• Full Unicode support
  • All languages now supported, including Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, Cyrillic, etc
  • Any mix of languages supported within the spreadsheet
  • Full language support across all DataLoad functions, e.g. entering data, copy/paste, importing data, Macro loads, Forms Playback, PHP Scripting, etc
  • Forms Playback encoding options expanded to include all characters sets supported in Oracle E-Business Suite
• Browser Control
  • Internet Explorer no longer needs to be opened by DataLoad & DataLoad integrates with any open IE window
  • Loads are recorded while the user works in Internet Explorer
  • Drop list values are now set according to the visible value rather than any internal values, as was previously required
  • Checkboxes can be explicitly set to be checked or unchecked (previously could only toggle status)
  • Blank DataLoad fields now clear the target browser field rather than being skipped
  • Browser FRAMEs now supported, including recursively to any depth of recursion
  • Data & clicks now injected in to the active IE field even if no HTML tag details specified
  • New load option: send to active window or send to named IE window(s)
  • New load option: stop if window isn't IE or continue without using Browser Control
• Macro load Keystroke sending engine re-written
  • New engine supports all languages and characters
  • New engine uses latest Windows technology
  • Fixed issue where some characters were not sent correctly with old engine
  • Old engine available for legacy compatibility if required
• OS Support
  • Vista and Windows 7 compatibility issues fixed
  • Support added for 64 bit Vista
• Excel-style navigation added when Ctrl key pressed, i.e. Ctrl + arrow keys + (optionally) Shift
• Behaviour of mouse wheel changed so it scrolls the spreadsheet rather than changing the selected row(s)
• User interface and look & feel updated
• Improved handling if regkey.dat missing during Professional registration
• Message prompts for loading default PHP script made more helpful

Bug Fixes

• Keystroke recording could cause a \ to appear mid-way through data
• Internet Explorer OnChange event handlers were not executed when fields updated via Browser Control
• The -AUTO command line parameter caused an access violation after the load finished
• A single Alt + Tab within DataLoad didn't switch to the next window
• The Unregister menu entry sometimes appeared in DataLoad Classic
• Buttons could temporarily disappear when Alt pressed in Vista

Version 5.0.0.0 (1 December 2009)

Version 5.0.0.0 is the most significant update yet to DataLoad and contains major enhancements and new features. Please click here for full details.

Version 4.3.9.0 (21 August 2007)

New Features

• Oracle E-Business R12 compatibility.

Bug Fixes

• When a StepMode load was canceled no further StepMode loads ran beyond the first cell.
• AutoTab didn't send a TAB when the DataLoad data cell was blank.

Version 4.3.8.0 (13 Jan 2007)

New Features

• Users can select row numbers X to Y to load in macro loads.
• Macro load progress window now includes current command plus row & column counters.
• Forms Playback WINDOW numbers can now be incremented by different amounts for different forms in the same load. This is required for certain Oracle E-Business Suite Forms.

Bug Fixes

• Macro load progress bar was not always updated during loads.
• HTML message window didn't always appear when DataLoad opened.
• Exceptions could be raised when opening DataLoad if the user did not have appropriate permissions to read/write registry.
• Username/password in FLD file could still be lower case after changes made in V4.3.7.0. Now always uppercase.

Version 4.3.7.0 (11 Feb 2006)

New Features

• {PRNTSCRN} command added to control Print Screen key in macro loads.
• HTML message panel added to main DataLoad form.

Bug Fixes

• Pasting more columns than exist in DataLoad caused the paste to fail rather than the spreadsheet to expand.
• Sorting data didn't cause the Save button to become enabled.
• When a cell containing a comment was copied to the clipboard the comment would remain on the clipboard and could be pasted with later copy & paste actions.
• Radio buttons & check boxes selected as editable in forms playback loads would not appear after the first record in DataLoad.
• Buttons & list fields with names containing spaces would not be handled correctly in forms playback loads.
• An issue writing to droplists.dat when opening a forms playback file caused a generic error to be displayed. The problem is not handled properly.
• If a username/password is contained in an FLD file it must be in uppercase but DataLoad did not enforce this.
• A user reported MS Office's multi-clipboard functionality could interfere with DataLoad's macro loads. This could not be replicated but clipboard handling has been updated to avoid any such issue.

Version 4.3.6.0 (1 March 2005)

New Features

• Added \{NUMLOCK} keystroke to support pressing the NUMLOCK key in macro loads.
• AutoStart macro loads no longer display a DataLoad window in DL Prof.

Version 4.3.5.0 (3 Nov 2004)

New Features

• Support added for Forms Playback extensions in Inventory Master Items load and other forms that exhibit the same sub-form behaviour.
• Made the file type options in the File Open dialog more intuitive.

Version 4.3.4.0 (2 Oct 2004)

New Features

• Support added for forms to be closed and re-opened multiple times within a DataLoad record rather than just between records. Increases flexibility of DataLoad loads and resolves an issue with Date Track in Oracle HR. (Forms Playback).
• Support added for closing Oracle by closing the Navigator with a keystroke. (Forms Playback).

Bug Fixes

• An erroneous error could occur when opening Forms 4.5 fld files.

Version 4.3.3.1 (9 July 2004)

New Features

• DataLoad Professional users will be warned when their support period is due to expire.
• The installer prevents users from attempting to install a version of DataLoad Professional not covered by their DataLoad Professional license. (This previously could happen and DataLoad reverted to Classic. Users can still install Classic but cannot unwittingly revert to Classic by selecting a version of Professional for which they are not licensed.)

Bug Fixes

• Thai, Arabic, Greek and other characters would not always paste correctly into Oracle, and other target applications, in Macro loads.
• The automatic download mechanism didn't always initiate the install when the download was complete.
• "Failed to get data for ProxyEnable" could occur at startup.

Version 4.3.3.0 (4 May 2004)

New Features

• Improved language support and Unicode UTF-8 compatibility:
  • Increased range of languages supported without changes to PC setup required
  • EG Japanese & other multi byte languages
  • Read & write Unicode UTF-8 files for compatibility with UTF-8 databases
• Font type and size can now be changed.
• New installer:
  • Smaller distribution file
  • DataLoad Professional registration possible during the install
  • Fixes an issue where non-admin users may not be able to access DataLoad if it was installed by an admin user
• Sort function added to allow grid data to be sorted (Professional Only)

Bug Fixes

• Forms playback loads could fail where a sub window is repeatedly opened and closed.
• When the "Wait while hourglass" option was used data may not be sent to the target.
• Loads couldn't be terminated if "Wait while hourglass" option was used and DataLoad was waiting for the hourglass to disappear.
• Data imported into a forms playback load could cause a "Grid index out of range" error.
• Forms playback loads where data contained new lines would not work on playback.
• The '%' in macro loads may not activate the Alt key or could cause the Alt Gr (right Alt) to be used.
• If a click field, e.g. check box or radio button, in forms playback was editable and used multiple times in each record then the data would not display correctly.
• If the form was closed at the end of a forms playback recording and the user clicked on a Navigator item the load may not work when edited and played back.

Version 4.3.2.1 (15 Dec 2003)

• DataLoad can now open incomplete forms playback files, which is useful for opening recorded logs of playbacks.
• After V4.3.2.0 there could be a "shadow" to some text in cells.
• A number of changes were made to help with usability.

Version 4.3.2.0 (5 Dec 2003)

New Features

• New Macro commands (Professional only):
  • PROMPT() - Prompts the user and pauses the load waiting for user action.
  • *DL() - Issue a double click with the left mouse button at the location specified.
• Progress Bar is now always visible during a load if it is activated.
• Improved support for mouse wheels.

Bug Fixes

• Forms Playback - A load containing editable "Clicks" would become corrupt if such a click was blank in the first record.
• Double clicking on the header row didn't open the Titles window.
• The Command Group drop list was not always populated in the Run Load window.
• Sending ESC from a DataLoad Macro load stopped the load.
• When data was pasted into row 1 in a Macro load the column titles were not updated.
• When the contents of a cell were accepted using the ENTER key the contents may not be visible until the user moved into another cell.
• More error handling and meaningful error messages added to the Excel Import functionality.
• AutoInsert no longer inserts data after the last row of data in the grid.
• "Select All" would always select everything in the main grid even if another control had focus.

Version 4.3.1.1 (6 Oct 2003)

• Opening Forms 4.5 forms recordings could result in an error.

Version 4.3.1.0

• The Installer could crash on Windows NT after V4.3.0.
• DataLoad could create forms playback files with incorrect record numbers on button clicks.
• Sub forms can now be closed and re-opened in forms playback records (previously forms had to be left open).
• Where 'clicks' were marked as editable the load could stop working (Forms Playback).
• Some Forms Playback loads wouldn't work when the user clicked into the next record in multi line blocks during recording.
• On some versions of Applications the Responsibility name wasn't picked up in the Forms Playback section of the Options form.
• The installer now adds DataLoad to the Windows Add/Remove Programs list.
• In V4.3.0.0 the Options form had the wrong tab page active when first opened
• Changed the "Forms Event" tab in Options form to be called "Forms Playback".

Version 4.3.0.0

Version 4.3.0.0 contains a large number of enhancements and new features. Please click here for a full list.

Version 4.2.5.6

• The DataLoad grid was restricted to 200 rows after V4.2.5.5.

Version 4.2.5.5

• Some "basic" PC users wouldn't have enough security to open the registry key containing the DataLoad Professional license key. Therefore, Professional reverted to Classic for such users.

Version 4.2.5.4

• Various issues with Lists of Values in Forms Playback are fixed.
• Double clicking on the right edge of the final column in the header row didn't always cause the column to resize.
• When the target window is activated in Copy & Paste loads the DataLoad window could stay on top. The data was sent to the target window, since that is now active, but the user couldn’t see this because the DL window is on top. Fixed by hiding the DL window during loads.
• Target windows that were already maximised could have their size and position changed when DataLoad activated the window.
• When DataLoad automatically downloaded updates it did not always overwrite the previous update.
• Forms playback documentation updated.

Version 4.2.5.3

• The News form was updated to support extra functionality that will be used at a later date.
• Changes were made to the Installer to ensure install errors are better handled and reported.

Version 4.2.5.2

• DataLoad Professional registration could fail on PCs where the decimal character is a ',' rather than a '.'.
• Load Control not working correctly after a previous update.

Version 4.2.5.1

• " and \ characters weren't properly handled in forms playback files.
• A proper solution rather than a workaround was put in place for issues with the *PB, *NB and *ST commands.
• Selecting Edit->Titles from the popup menu would cause an exception.

Version 4.2.5.0

New Features

• Text data can be imported into existing DataLoad spreadsheets.
• Text data with any delimiter can be imported into, or opened in, DataLoad. Previously only tab delimited data was supported.
• Data can be pasted into the target application using Shift+Insert instead of Ctrl+V.

Bug Fixes

• Opening the Edit Titles form could cause an exception.
• The command group list on the Selection form wasn't populated if the command group drop list on the main form hadn't been used.
• If no command group had been selected from the main drop list and 11i was selected from the Selections drop list the NCA command group was used.
• *PB, *NB and *ST may not work on Windows 2000 and above. A workaround has been put in place.

Version 4.2.4.1

• Num Lock could be incorrectly turned off, meaning some numeric keystrokes would not be sent correctly.

Version 4.2.4.0

New Features

• Column heading and width information is now saved for the header grid.
• Comments are supported in header grid cells.
• The status of the Caps Lock & Num Lock keys no longer affects keystrokes sent by Copy & Paste loads.

Bug Fixes

• The shift key may not have always been pressed when required when keystrokes are sent in Copy & Paste loads.
• Cell comments would sometimes be displayed when forms playback source code was being viewed.

Version 4.2.3.3

New Features

• DataLoad Installer added to make installing and maintaining DataLoad easier.

Bug Fixes

• LOV commands used in the header section of forms playback loads could cause errors.
• Proxy Enable error could occur when starting DataLoad.

Version 4.2.3.2

USER_EXIT commands could cause an error when a file is saved.

Version 4.2.3.1

• Fixes compatibility issues with registry data types in some versions of Windows.
• The DataLoad News information could be downloaded more often than necessary.

Version 4.2.3.0

Version 4.2.3 contains a large number of enhancements and new features. Please click here for a full list.

Version 4.2.2.0

New Features

• List of value commands are supported and not converted to value commands.
• Validation for List of value commands added.
• Improved error checking and handling in forms playback files.
• Unlimited number of command groups now supported.
• Description field added to command definitions.
• Playback equivalent information added to command records (required for future functionality).

Bug Fixes

• '&' couldn't be sent using Copy & Paste if it is the first character in a cell.
• Forms playback detail blocks were not always correctly identified.

Version 4.2.1.0

• Registration functionality for DataLoad Professional added.

Version 4.2

Version 4.2 contains a large number of enhancements and new features. Please click here for a full list.

Version 4.1.0.1

• Delays failed when used with decimal values.
• *SB command was incorrectly defined.

Version 4.1

Version 4.1 contains a large number of enhancements and new features. Please click here for a full list.

Version 4.0.2

New Features

• Automatically colour grid cells according to their contents:
  • Data Cells
  • Keystroke Cells
  • Command Cells
• New load commands
  • *FI Find
  • *FA Find all
  • *CW(window) Change active window to window
  • *QE Query enter
  • *QR Query run
  • *CL Clear field
  • *IR Insert record
• Fill command (right, left, up, down), like Excel.
• Columns can be automatically sized to fit the cell text.
• Column widths are now saved in the .dld file.

Bug Fixes

• DataLoad failed to open .dld files which used a decimal point separator different to the current system default.
• TprogressBar property out of range error occasionally occurred at the start of a load.
• Couldn’t copy & Paste to Window Name box.
• There were a number of problems when selecting cells using the keyboard, especially when adjusting a selection made using the mouse.
• Deleting, inserting or clearing rows or columns didn't always turn on saving.

Version 4.0.1.1

• A file name passed on the command line to DataLoad didn't open and caused an error.
• Hourglass option wasn't saved in the .dld file.
• The "NEW" command didn't reset any changes in the Delays and Options forms.
• The "NEW" command didn't reset columns & rows to their default sizes.

Version 4.0.1

New Features

• Mobile progress bar indicates load progress.
• Title form changed to allow editing of all titles in one go.
• Double clicking on header row opens title editing.
• DataLoad can wait for a user defined duration while the cursor is hourglass.
• File save icon & menu item greyed out when there is nothing to save.
• DataLoad prompts to save spreadsheet if it has changed and you are closing the spreadsheet.
• Function to clear single, multiple or all titles.
• Full Windows 98 compatibility.

Bug Fixes

• Paste sometimes caused divide by zero errors.
• Double clicking on the fixed row or column caused problems.
• On NT the grid selection was lost after the load completed.
• The load duration did not display correctly on all PCs.
• Security rules demo spreadsheet failed to set include/exclude properly.
• Multiple line pastes occasionally lost the final line.
• Copy added an extraneous carriage return to the end of text copied to clipboard.

Version 4.0

• DataLoad implemented as a standalone Windows 32 bit application.
  • Improved performance, reliability and stability.
  • Dedicated DataLoad interface.
  • No dependency on Excel.
  • Vastly increased scope of potential future functionality.
• Control of delays increased and improved, including access to low level delays.
• DataLoad file format introduced to save setup information as well as data.
• Documentation re-written as Windows help file.
• Control of keystrokes made easier and the keys available to the user increased.

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DataLoad versions prior to V4.0 were all Excel macros.