If you are running Print Console 2.x and upgrade from Service Shell 2.4xx to Service Shell 2.5xx, you may receive a message that Print Console cannot communicate with the device. If this happens, see this new troubleshooting item on the Troubleshooting page for details.

When you try to run any of the Quantum series scripts (focus, power, slope, curve, and so on) on a Lotem 800 II using Service Shell 2.5, the error message Error reading head media on the master may display. This happens because one or more of the defined media names is using an illegal character, such as a period (.) or underscore (_). To correct the problem, follow the procedure in the troubleshooting item Error when running scripts on Lotem 800 II with Service Shell 2.5.

This has also been posted to the Troubleshooting page of this site.

Service Shell 2.5 SP 2 Host and Client installation files and release notes are posted on the Downloads page.

Updated MCE Trendsetter Series Test Plot script is available on the Downloads page.

Service Shell 2.5 SP 1 Host and Client installation files and release notes are posted on the Downloads page.

This script checks vacuum roller (VR) alignment. The script automatically determines the range of VR positions that will pick media. See the Downloads page for details.

When installing Service Shell (Client or Host) a dialog box may appear that prompts for a file called Layout.bin. See the troubleshooting item on the Troubleshooting page for details.

There are separate SPlot scripts for Windows95 and non-Windows95. See the Firmware section on the Downloads page for details.

This document has been revised to include procedures for replacing Lionel Boards in UDRC-L, ThermoFlex Wide II, and Magnus VLF. Firmware Upgrades: Backing up and restoring MCE, MPE, PDB, LIONEL, and GENINE boards is posted on the Procedures page.

A procedure for Using Test Plot Applet(TPA) is available on the Procedures page For more detailed information on TPA, see the Service Shell online help.

Service Shell 2.3 SP2 for Lotem Quantum installers have been added to the Downloads page. Release Notes plus Installation and Verification procedures for Lotem Quantum are also available.

When you download Service Shell 2.5 you must also download the Firmware Upgrade and Common Utilities from the Downloads page, Firmware Downloads section, otherwise some elements in Service Shell will not work correctly.

You can now access more related sites from the Service Shell side menu for faster navigation and information retrieval. If there are other sites you would like to see added to this list please contact Output Device Service Tools Support.

An error in the Service Shell 2.5 online help describing the Host configuration for two head MCE devices has been discovered. The correct procedure is now contained in the Installation document found on the Installation page. There is also an additional section for configuring Service Host for Think devices.

Previous scripts wouldn't set the proper decimal values for laser power in API1. This affects all devices that use API1 when communicating with the head, essentially all MCE devices. The updated script, MCE Trendsetter Series Update Script, is now available on the Downloads page and should be installed with all Service Shell 2.5 installations. The next Service Shell release will incorporate this fix into the program.

After extensive testing Service Shell version 2.5 has now been released and is available on Trendsetter/Proofsetter Spectrum Controlled Release version 3.0 for MCE devices. This release has improved stability for connection and scripting, new features for device set up, improved performance on the original Service Shell applications, multiple monitor view, and an improved GUI. For more information contact Output Device Service Tools Support

Service Shell TechPlanet Troubleshooting page now active. Current postings are for Service Shell 2.4 SP1 problems. If there are other issues that you are aware of that have not been posted please email Output Device Service Tools Support

The installer file for Service Shell v2.4 SP1 is generating an error message when NVS parameters are backed up. The message will read:

• Timeout waiting for:
• OK
• From this command
• stg verify flash

To avoid this problem, download the updated Service Shell v2.4 SP1 Firmware Upgrade Script from the Service Shell Downloads page and install it on any machine where the Firmware installer file release date is prior to 15 Aug 2003.

Service Shell 2.5 is now in internal Beta testing. This next release adresses some performance and connectivity concerns from Service Shell 2.4 and introduces some new views and functionality.

The Service Shell installers for 2.4SP1 are now available from the Downloads page. There are now 3 installers; the "host", "client", and "client internal". Please see the release notes on the Reference page. It's recommended that this version of Service Shell be installed on Trendsetter workstations running Windows NT/2000. If Service Shell is already installed, upgrade to version 2.4SP1. Please note that Service Shell is not yet qualified for Windows XP.

The BugZipper User Guide has been posted on the Reference page

This site has been restructured to fit TechPlanet’s common navigation. If you have any questions or comments about the navigation, please contact TechPlanet feedback. For information about content in this site, please contact Brian Holness.

The RSSDaemon download has been posted on the Downloads page, along with detailed instructions on using this tool.

Service Shell version 2.4 is released under ECO CA00035. New features include an applet for checking CTP version, connection to RCTP/RCMD servers, access to Print Console logs from Log Viewer, and the ability to run Service Shell under a Power User account. See the release notes for details.

Note:  Service Shell v2.4 will only ship as a component of a device Controlled Release.

The Win2K and RSS Quick Start Guide has been posted on the Reference page

Release 2.3SP1 of Service Shell has now been posted. This solves some installation issues with older NT4 machines. See the release notes for more info.

This guide lists the current status of all the key platforms: which are supported by Service Shell, which are not, and key issues to be aware of on different platforms.

Service Shell 2.4 will be released to beta in mid-to-late June. If you are interested in Alpha or Beta testing this release, please contact Michael Joy. Release 2.4 includes the following highlights:

• RCTP connectivity (Service Shell client can now connect to RCTP server)
• RCMD connectivity
• new version checker applet which can detect and validate device software and firmware versions
• ability to run under a Power User account
• ability to BugZip and view Print Console logs
• a number of new scripts: MCE/MPE upgrade and NVS backup; flexo series; MCE series
• various bug fixes and stability enhancements

This new guide shows how to use Service Shell to download firmware to a Lotem Quantum with a Thermal II head.

This new guide is designed to get you up and running with Service Shell in the shortest possible time.

Several User Guides and Reference documents added to the Reference page.