This section outlines some of the key features you will have access to when you upgrade to Chameleon 4.1:

Import Unrecognized Segments Window

• A new window, called Import Unrecognized Segments, has been added to Chameleon. This window can be accessed by copying and pasting an HL7 message into the top pane of the Message Browser. When parsing, any unrecognized segments can be immediately imported from Chameleon's built-in library or from an existing VMD. For more details, also see Quick Start Guide For Creating Messages.

Create Message Wizard

• A Create Message Wizard has been added to Chameleon, which allows you to automatically define a message and its identity directly from the Message Browser. The wizard will automatically create a new message, add an MSH segment to the segment grammar and define basic identity matching rules for your message. For more details, also see Quick Start Guide For Creating Messages.

Message Matching Order Window

• A Message Matching Order window has been added to Chameleon, which allows you to define the order in which messages are identified. This is useful for determining which messages you want matched first in the event that two messages share the same identity and matching rules. To define the order in which messages are identified, you must use Chameleon version 4.1 or above.

• The matching order of messages can be different for each configuration in the same VMD file which gives greater control for site specific customizations.

• In addition, while older versions will be able to load VMD files created with 4.1, the message matching order will be lost. The order will instead default to a sequential order, meaning that messages are matched in the order they were created.

Escaping Standard and Extended ASCII Characters

• The Characters tab in the Option window has been slightly redesigned and now includes two additional features, making it easier to escape standard ASCII characters and extended ASCII characters.

Print Python Scripts

• A Print button has been added to all Python Script and Python Summary windows. This allows you to print a hard copy of your Python scripts for any script associated with your VMD file.

VMD File Description

• A VMD File Description field has been added to the Misc tab in the Options window. It allows you to enter a short description of the VMD or enter a quick note, which will get saved as a property of the file. This allows you to easily distinguish between different versions of the file.

Localized Diffs for VMDs Saved in XML

• Adding or deleting a configuration now results in localized "diffs". When a VMD.xml file is diffed with a previously saved VMD.xml file, a single change will now show up as one change instead of several. This is very useful for comparing changes between two VMD.xml files within a source control system like CVS. VMD.xml files saved with previous versions of Chameleon are not compatible with version 4.1. The VMD.xml file format is still considered an experimental feature. Customers should continue to use the normal binary VMD file format for all production purposes.