1    Release Notes for Graphical Program Analysis (GPA) Version 3.0

1.1    Restrictions That Apply to Startup

This section provides information that you need before starting GPA for the first time.

1.1.1    Operating System Requirements

GPA Version 3.0 runs on Compaq Tru64 UNIX Version 4.0D and higher.

1.1.2    Motif Window Manager or CDE Window Manager Recommended

GPA operations are generally most reliable when windows are displayed through a Motif-based window manager such as mwm or dtwm -- the CDE window manager.

When using the mwm window manager, OSF/Motif Version 1.2 is required for running GPA Version 3.0. See the OSF/Motif documentation set for information about installing and using OSF/Motif.

1.2    Display Problems

1.2.1    Color Problems when Running GPA and Applications Using Many Colors

GPA may experience color mapping problems when run along with one or more applications that use many colors and that run on an eight-plane graphics system, for example, Netscape. This is particularly noticeable if you start GPA when an application such as Netscape is already running. Symptoms include partial loss of colors in GPA tool displays.

The simplest solution to GPA color loss is to stop the additional application. In the case of Netscape, you can also invoke it with the -install option, which allows Netscape to make more efficient use of colors.

1.3    Printer Problems

1.3.1    The DXmPrint Widget Needs /etc/printcap File

The DXmPrint widget widget uses the file /etc/printcap to populate its list of printers. If this file does not exist or is incorrect and you try to print, GPA issues either of two possible warning message on the command line:

Printer name too long. Cannot access printer
description file

If you see this message, you need to set up your /etc/printcap file.

1.4    Dialog Box Problems

1.4.1    Dialog Box Problems when System is Heavily Loaded

When the system running GPA is heavily loaded, some X Toolkit resource requests might be inadvertently ignored. The height settings of some dialog boxes might be incorrect as a result. If the dialog box has a scroll bar, the following messages may be displayed in the terminal emulator window from which you started GPA:

GPA: `gpa-tool-name': warning/error : 
Name: hbar
Class: XmScrollBar
The specified slider size is less than 1

To correct this problem, manually resize the dialog box.

1.5    Heap Analyzer

1.5.1    Restrictions on Application Running in I/O Window

Your application will not work correctly if it does I/O to /dev/tty. Use of Ctrl/C, Ctrl/Z and similar job control characters in the I/O window do not work. Try running your application outside the Heap Analyzer.

To run your application outside the Heap Analyzer:

  1. Set your LD_LIBRARY_PATH to start with your data directory (which is your working directory if you haven't explicitly set the data directory).

  2. Run this file with any command-line options your application needs: data-directory-name/executable-name.third

    See the man page third(5) for information about setting Third Degree options.

1.5.2    Error on First Switch to Generate Mode

There are occasional problems when switching to Generate mode for the first time. It can cause a message Out of ptys to be displayed. If this happens, exit the tool and restart. Usually that is enough, although sometimes you need to do this several times.

1.6    Performance Profiler

1.6.1    Restrictions on Application Running in I/O Window

Your application will not work correctly if it does I/O to /dev/tty. Use of Ctrl/C, Ctrl/Z and similar job control characters in the I/O window do not work. Try running your application outside the Performance Profiler.

To do this for the hiprof tool, run this file with any command-line options your application needs: data-directory-name/executable-name.hiprof

To do this for pixie, run this file with any command-line options your application needs: data-directory-name/executable-name.pixie

To do this for prof or gprof, run this file with any command-line options your application needs: data-directory-name/executable-name

See the relevant man pages for information about the options.

1.6.2    Error on First Switch to Generate Mode

There are occasional problems when switching to Generate mode for the first time. It can cause a message Out of ptys to be displayed. If this happens, exit the tool and restart. Usually that is enough, although sometimes you need to do this several times.

1.7    Process Viewer

1.7.1    Stopping pinfo

Do not stop pinfo using kill -9 because this can cause processes to hang (and there is no way to keep this from happening). A simple kill should be sufficient, because pinfo catches SIGINT and SIGTERM and uses them to force a clean exit.

1.7.2    Using an IP Address to Connect

You cannot use an IP address to specify a host when you connect to a host to run Process Viewer. Instead, you must use the host name.

1.8    Man Page Browser

1.8.1    False Hits on Search

The Man Page Browser searches using a regular expression. However, in the case of ^ (beginning of line) and $ (end of line), the Man Page Browser may make false positive hits. This should only happen around hotspots.

1.9    HyperHelp Viewer

1.9.1    Multiple Viewers

Hitting the Help button rapidly when there are no HyperHelp Viewers running may invoke multiple viewers. Only one responds to your tool's control.

1.10    Documentation

1.10.1    Help on the Print and Color Dialog Boxes

When you request help on the Print dialog box (which appears when you choose File: Print) or the Color dialog box (which appears when you choose Options: Colors and click on an entry in the Options - Colors dialog box), the Tru64 UNIX Bookreader is invoked. The Bookreader may be unable to locate the file containing the requested help.

1.10.2    Setting Up a Printer for Printing HyperHelp Topics

To set up a printer for use by the HyperHelp Viewer, choose Help: How to Use Help from the HyperHelp Viewer and follow the instructions on Installing a New Printer.

1.11    Running the GPA Tools After Installation

To run the Memory Profiler, Process Viewer, Performance Profiler, or Heap Analyzer from the command line after installation, use the following commands, respectively: mview, pview, dxprof, or dxheap. To view the man pages, use the following commands: man mview, man pview, man dxprof, and man dxheap.

1.12    Sending Us Your Comments

We appreciate your comments, suggestions, and general feedback on the GPA tools and documentation.

To reach us, send email to the following adress:

application-development@compaq.com

Optionally, include your name, email address, and telephone number.