Global Options

The Global Options allow the user to set display options for Flowcode. You can access these settings by pressing 'Global Options...' in the 'Edit' menu (Edit > Global Options...), the options are split into tabs (sections) which each contain different options to allow you to change different aspects of Flowcode.

These options configure the program itself, from changes to appearance, customization of the program to the ability to personalize the program to your preference.

Other options available also allow control over web access and proxy settings as well as the ability to override the default language to display a different language.

You also have the ability to add directories and locations to search for components and directories to be used in Flowcode, you can also change the default directory of the compiler output location, you can do all this and more from within the Global Options.

Flowchart Tab

Font name

Allows users to set the font used by Flowcode

Icon graphics style

This menu allows users to select a different graphics style for the entire project, selecting a graphics style will alter the look of the flowchart view mode.

Source graphics style

This menu allows users to select a different graphics style for the source view mode.

Indent loop flowlines

Allows the flowchart line to be indented when part of a loop to make it much more obvious what code is placed inside the braces of the loop icon.

Transparent background

Selecting this option will set all backgrounds to be fully transparent when saving any .png or .bmp files from flowcode, this will ignore any colors set as the background.

Bind icon toolbar to programming view

Changes whether the flowchart icons bind to individual flowchart windows or whether they are global throughout the program.

Scheme Tab

Scheme

This menu allows users to select a colour scheme for the flowchart icons. Users can also choose their own colour schemes and save them.

Background

Users can manually select the colour scheme, including foreground pattern, for the flowchart area. Users can also select the selection' and 'execution' colours.

Icon

Here users can manually change the colour of icons to suit their requirements.

Annotations Tab

Show description for icons

Controls whether the descriptions for icons are shown above the icon in the flowchart window.

Show text inside icons

Controls the text inside the flowchart icons allowing it to be displayed or hidden.

Show Annotations

Controls the bubble annotations next to the flowchart icons allowing them to be displayed or hidden.

Limit description size for all icons

Selecting this option will limit the size of the descriptions above the icons to a suitably sensible width.

Limit annotation size for all new icons

This option will limit the annotation size for any newly created icons, retaining any previously resized annotation.

Annotation style

This will set the global default annotation style for newly created icons. Icons can also have their annotation styles changed on an individual basis, selecting this option will not change existing icons annotation styles.

Flowcode - This annotation style shows the Flowcode code behind the icon

C code - This style will show C code behind the icon

Comments - Setting this style will show any custom comments in the annotation.

Tooltip style

This will set the global tooltip style, the tooltip is shown when hovering over any icon in the main flowchart window. This is independent of the annotation style which can be changed on a per-icon basis, the tooltips are changed by this global setting only.

Annotation - By selecting this option the tooltip will recreate the same information as the annotation.

Flowcode - This tooltip style shows the Flowcode code behind the icon

C code - This style will show C code behind the icon

Comments - Setting this style will show any custom comments in the tooltip.

Application Tab

Override Language

Allows the user to override the default Flowcode language settings and to display Flowcode in the specified language. Select the language from those available on the drop down list. Note: The relevant language packs need to be installed for Flowcode to enable that particular language.

Use dashboard as default panel

When checked, components are added to the dashboard panel by default, instead of the system panel.

Disable system panel

Disables the system panel completely, leaving the dashboard panel to handle components and 2D graphics.

Show properties in tabs

Splits the Properties Panel into two tabs called 'Properties' and 'Position'.

Show popup on simulation end

Displays a popup at the end of simulation which displays the duration of the simulation as well as other technical information.

Autosave periodically

Enables the autosave feature of Flowcode. This will create a backup file named the same as your project but with the .fcbx file suffix. You can set how often the autosave will work, the minimum setting is every 60 seconds.

Web Access

Configures the settings to allow Flowcode to connect to the internet. Used for features like online activation and to drive the content in the start page and auto updates.

Graphics Engine

Configures how we display objects on the simulation panels. Software mode is the default setting as it is more reliable for all users at the cost of being fairly slow. Hardware mode obviously is dependent on your specific 3D acceleration hardware meaning it may potentially have problems, if it does work ok with your hardware then it should be faster then the software mode.

Editor Tab

Auto-edit new icons

Automatically opens the Icon Properties when adding a new icon.

Add icons comments to C code

Toggling this option will change whether icons include their associated C-code comments.

Allow errors in flowcharts

Allows you to edit icons without error messages, errors messages still occur when simulating and compiling the program.

Allow unconnected ports and pins

Allows you to change component connection properties to unconnected, error messages still occur when simulating and compiling the program.

Locations Tab

Send compiler output to...

This option decides the default target directory to output to when compiling.

Create a backup file as

Allows a backup project file to be created based on the previous save of the file. If you need to go back then simply rename the file using Windows explorer and change the filetype from .001 to .fcfx.

Look for components in...

This option allows you to include additional directories for Flowcode to search when looking for components.

Clear component cache

Refreshes the current component cache based on the directories provided. Also performed when opening the Flowcode application and loading a project.

Look for dictionaries in...

This option allows you to include additional directories for Flowcode to search when looking for dictionaries to integrate into Flowcode.