ANY-maze legacy policy

Section 1

Introduction

ANY-maze version 7 is only available as a 64-bit program. This differs to version 6 of ANY-maze, which was available as both a 32-bit and a 64-bit program.

Some older image capture and input/output devices that ANY-maze has previously supported are incompatible with the 64-bit version, or have been removed for other technical reasons, and we are therefore designating them as ‘legacy’ devices. This means that they will only work with the 32-bit version 6 of ANY-maze; they won’t work with version 7 or above.

We are also designating Windows XP and Windows Vista as legacy operating systems, and these too will only work with the 32-bit version 6 of ANY-maze.

We have now stopped producing maintenance releases of the 32-bit version 6 of ANY-maze, and new features will only be added to version 7 and above.

The rest of this document describes this legacy policy in more detail and explains how it may affect you.

Section 2

What does 32-bit and 64-bit actually mean?

32-bit and 64-bit simply define the amount of information that can be processed by a computer in one go. More bits means that data can be processed in larger chunks, and that a program can access more of the computer’s memory. In general: the more bits, the better the performance of your computer and its software.

Most modern computers are now 64-bit, and recent versions of Microsoft Windows have all been 64-bit operating systems. A 32-bit program can run on a 64-bit version of Windows, but it’s not as efficient as it could be.

Section 3

What’s this got to do with ANY-maze?

We have changed ANY-maze so it now runs as a 64-bit program. This should mean long-term compatibility with Windows, better performance, and the ability to use more of your computer’s memory.

However, ANY-maze relies on third-party software (called ‘drivers’) to talk to a number of the image capture and input/output devices that it uses. If a device is particularly old, the manufacturer may not have produced a 64-bit driver, and so the 64-bit version of ANY-maze won’t be able to communicate with it.

If you’re using any of these older, ‘legacy’ devices with ANY-maze, then you won’t be able to use the 64-bit version of ANY-maze and you’ll need to stick with the 32-bit version (version 6). However, bear in mind that this 32-bit version is no longer being maintained.

Section 4

Other legacy devices

We are also classifying some older image capture and input/output devices as legacy, even though they do have 64-bit drivers available. This applies to devices that have been discontinued by their manufacturers, are simply out-of-date, or are little used by ANY-maze customers. These devices will not be supported by the 64-bit version of ANY-maze.

Section 5

Legacy versions of Windows

Microsoft ended support for Windows XP in 2014 and for Windows Vista in 2017. Despite this, we have ensured that the 32-bit version of ANY-maze continues to work with them. However, the 64-bit version will only work with Windows 7 and above.

Section 6

End of 32-bit development

Development and maintenance of the 32-bit version of ANY-maze has now ceased, and ANY-maze version 7 and above will only be produced as a 64-bit version.

This means that if you do use a legacy device or a legacy version of Windows, you will need to exchange it for a more modern alternative in order to use version 7 or above of ANY-maze.

Section 7

Which devices are affected?

The information below tells you about the various devices that are not supported by the 64-bit version of ANY-maze (version 7 and above), together with recommendations for devices you can use in their place.

National Instruments IMAQ digitizers

IMAQ digitizers are used to connect analogue cameras to a computer. Currently ANY-maze supports the following devices:

• PCI-1405 (discontinued model)
• PCI-1407 (discontinued model)
• PCI-1408 (discontinued model)
• PCI-1409 (discontinued model)
• PCI-1410 (discontinued model)
• PCI-1411 (discontinued model)

All of these are classified as obsolete by National Instruments, and they are all now considered to be legacy devices by ANY-maze.

Recommended replacement: Picolo Alert PCIe digitizer

Data Translation digitizers

Data Translation digitizers are used to connect analogue cameras to a computer. Currently ANY-maze supports the following devices:

• DT3120 (discontinued model)
• DT3153 (discontinued model)
• DT3131 (discontinued model)
• DT3132 (discontinued model)
• DT3133 (discontinued model)
• DT3155 (discontinued model)

None of these devices are available any more, and they are all now considered to be legacy devices by ANY-maze.

Recommended replacement: Picolo Alert PCIe digitizer

Euresys digitizers

Euresys digitizer boards are used to connect analogue cameras to a computer. Currently ANY-maze works with a wide range of these devices, and it will continue to support many of them. However, the following devices will now be considered to be legacy devices by ANY-maze:

• Picolo (serial numbers below 6321) (discontinued model)
• Picolo Pro (discontinued model)
• Picolo Pro 2 (serial numbers below 7145) (discontinued model)
• Picolo Pro 3I (discontinued model)
• Picolo Pro 3E (discontinued model)
• Picolo Tetra-X (discontinued model)
• Picolo Tetra-X-RC (discontinued model)
• Picolo Jet X (discontinued model)
• Picolo Diligent (discontinued model)

Recommended replacement: Picolo Alert PCIe digitizer

For the avoidance of doubt, the following Euresys digitizer boards will continue to be supported in the 64-bit version of ANY-maze:

• Picolo (serial numbers above 6321) (discontinued model)
• Picolo Pro2 (serial numbers above 7145) (discontinued model)
• Picolo Tetra (discontinued model)
• Picolo Junior4 (discontinued model)
• Picolo Alert (discontinued model)
• Picolo Alert PCIe

FireWire cameras

All firewire cameras are now considered to be legacy devices by ANY-maze.  Models affected:

• Unibrain Fire-i (discontinued model)

Recommended replacement: ANY-maze USB camera

Axis network cameras

The Axis network cameras are now considered to be legacy devices by ANY-maze.  Models affected:

• Axis 210 camera (discontinued model)

Recommended replacement: ANY-maze USB camera

The Switch & Sense 8/8

The Switch and Sense 8/8 is an I/O device with 8 opto-isolated inputs and 8 relay outputs, which connects to a USB port on your computer. Models affected:

• Switch and Sense 8/8 (discontinued model)

Recommended replacement: The ANY-maze Digital Interface and/or the ANY-maze Relay Interface

The computer’s Parallel port

ANY-maze can use a parallel port as a simple I/O device – providing 4 TTL level inputs and 8 TTL level outputs.  However, very few computers include a parallel (printer) port nowadays, and this is now considered to be a legacy device in ANY-maze.

Models affected:

• Parallel (printer) ports built into PCs
• Parallel (printer) ports on expansion cards

Recommended replacement: The ANY-maze Digital Interface

Input/output ports on Euresys Picolo digitizer cards

Some Euresys digitizer boards include general purpose input/output lines. Currently ANY-maze works with a wide range of these devices, and it will continue to support some of them. However, the following will now be considered to be legacy devices by ANY-maze.

• Picolo (serial numbers below 6321) (discontinued model)
• Picolo Pro (discontinued model)
• Picolo Pro 2 (serial numbers below 7145) (discontinued model)
• Picolo Pro 3I (discontinued model)
• Picolo Pro 3E (discontinued model)
• Picolo Tetra-X (discontinued model)
• Picolo Tetra-X-RC (discontinued model)
• Picolo Jet X (discontinued model)
• Picolo Diligent (discontinued model)

Recommended replacement: The ANY-maze Digital Interface

Input/output ports on Axis network cameras

Some Axis network cameras include general purpose input/output lines. These cameras are now considered to be legacy devices by ANY-maze. Models affected:

• Axis 210 camera (discontinued model)

Recommended replacement: The ANY-maze Digital Interface

The Griffin AirClick remote control

This remote control device is no longer manufactured.

Recommended replacement: The ANY-maze Radio remote control

The Ugo Basile Sound Generator

This sound generator has been discontinued.

Recommended replacement: The ANY-maze Audio interface, or a sound card on your computer. If you are also using the sound generator’s trigger outputs, these can be replaced with the ANY-maze USB TTL cable or the ANY-maze Digital Interface.

The Ugo Basile Atlantis Platform

Direct support for the Ugo Basile Atlantis Platform has been removed from ANY-maze, although it can still be controlled through its TTL interface.

Recommended replacement: The ANY-maze USB TTL cable (for a single platform) or the ANY-maze Digital Interface (for multiple platforms).

Section 8

Conclusion

To recap, the legacy devices listed above are not supported in the 64-bit version of ANY-maze (version 7 and above), but they are still supported in the 32-bit version (version 6).

We stopped providing maintenance releases of the 32-bit version (version 6) of ANY-maze at the end of June 2022, so you should aim to transition to version 7 as soon as you are able to (note that updates to the ANY-maze software are always free of charge). You will still be able to use the 32-bit version 6 after this date, but we would advise against it, as we will no longer be maintaining it.