Alcon
About
Alcon (ActionScript Logging Console) is a lightweight debugging tool for ActionScript 2.0/3.0 developers that provide a way to output debugging information (traces) from the debugged application to an external output panel.
It uses ActionScript’s LocalConnection to send the debugging information from the included Debug class to the Alcon Console. This way the developer doesn’t need to rely on the Flash/Flex IDE for debugging. Additionally Alcon offers some helpful features that make debugging easier.
New Features
- Completely rewritten using ActionScript 3 and Flex 2.
- Can now output up to four log files, for example the flashlog.txt file that is used by the Flash Debug Player.
- Objects can be inspected on the Inspect tab using Debug.inspect(obj, depth).
- It is now possible to output a hexadecimal dump of an object by using Debug.hexDump(obj).
- A stopwatch can now be used to measure passed time by using the included timer methods, e.g. timerStart(), timerStopToString() etc.
- The application’s framerate and memory usage can be monitored by using Debug.fpsStart(stage).
- Preferences can easily be changed in the config XML file.
- Now uses a local shared object to output data that is larger than 40KB.
- Several Bugfixes.
Screenshots
Download
| alcon_2.0.0.1735.zip | (Zip File 3.05MB) |
| alcon_2.0.0.1735_setup.exe | (Windows Installer 3.15MB) |
| alcon_1.0.8.9.zip | (Zip File 2.58MB) |
Changelist
v2.0.0.1735
- Added Installer for Windows Platforms.
- Added Constants for Filter Levels in Debug Class.
- Added forceGC() method in Debug Class.
- Optional title argument in timerStart()method.
- Optional reset argument in timerStopToString() method.
v2.0.0.1727
- First public 2.0 release.
- Complete rewrite.
v1.0.8.9
- Minor service update. Made Windows Vista compatible.
v1.0.8
- Added Debug Class for ActionScript 3.0 (in com.hexagonstar.util.debug package).
v1.0.7.4
- A minor build update which is republished with the lastest Zinc version that fixes some bugs with the Window stay-on-top behavior.
v1.0.7
- Added full support for MTASC trace facility (works now with additional arguments).
- Added option to console to turn on/off displaying the debug origin (class name, line nr.), this only works when using the MTASC trace facility!
- Added [%LVx%] console signal. Used to send severity level (x) inside the string without using additional arguments.
- Fixed some minor bugs.
v1.0.6
- Added save log buffer option.
- Added print log buffer option.
- Added screen dump to printer option.
- Added stay on top option.
- Added menu bar.
- Added functionality to trace data blocks which are larger than 40Kb by splitting them.
- Added pause console signal.
- Added keyword names now editable in console settings file.
- Moved show keywords option from debug class to console settings.
- Reduced color text overhead by using short stylesheet tags for color output.
- Removed BUFFER_INFO from settings (not necessary).
- Fixed bug that caused exception when using clear buffer/reset.
- Fixed bug that would prevent showing html special chars (& etc.) in color text mode.
- Changed Debug class to have its own sole package for easier use with MTASC trace.\\
- Many other internal improvements and bug fixes.
30 Aug 2007 Sascha
I had a chance to download and test the tool. It’s really promising.
If you need a hand I wouldn’t mind throwing some code.
Great tool, thanks again!
This is great! I would love to see it as an AIR app.
Also, would love for it to have transparency ability—when it is kept in front.
Whenever I start alcon.exe I receive
–Alcon: ArgumentError: Error #2082: Connect failed because the connection with name ‘_alcon_lc’ is already connected.
I am on Vista, I used the installer, and I moved the com folder to
[drive]:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS3\en\Configuration\ActionScript 3.0\Classes
What am I doing wrong? Thanks!
Hi Janh, that error would normally show up if another local connection with the name _alcon_lc already exists. Are you sure you don’t have another instance of Alcon running (maybe the old version)? This can also happen if you had Alcon running before and it crashed for some reason and is still hanging in memory. Otherwise I can’t say what the problem is since I had no troubles installing it on Vista with the installer, even with UAC on.
It says ActionScript 2.0 is supported but only the package for ActionScript 3.0 is included in the alcon_2.0.0.1735.zip file? Or have I missed something?
Looks great though.
Nope, you haven’t missed something. It was planned to write an AS2 class for Alcon 2.0 (and even a haXe class) but wasn’t realized so far. However thats why the 1.0.8.9 is still downloadable because it supports AS2. If I get the time I’ll make Alcon an AIR application with both AS2/AS3 support but currently I’m too busy.
Excellent tool!
Just started switching from the FLash IDE to the FCSH compiler sdk and missed good old trace.
Alcon fixes that and adds so much more. Thanks a bunch.
[...] Alcon [...]