Author: Niklas Thiel

I am pleased to announce that version 3.0.2 of our CATweasel Toolkit is now available.

In this release, we focused primarily on further strengthening our new structure. We therefore made several changes to the file structure and fixed links that were no longer working after the restructuring.

We have deliberately chosen not to include any new features in this release. New features are already in development and will be available in the upcoming update.

As usual, the updated Toolkit is ready for you in the Downloads section.

Since version 3.0.0 of our CATweasel Toolkit, PDFParser has been included as part of the Toolkit and now offers a wide range of new features. If you wish to switch to the CATweasel Toolkit while retaining your settings and custom filters, you will need to be familiar with the new data structure.

We have made a number of improvements to simplify user configuration. For example, all configuration files have been moved from the subdirectories (perl/site/bin) to the top-level etc directory. This provides a clearer separation between the actual program data and the configuration files. This structure makes it easier to maintain an overview, particularly in more complex and distributed configurations.

Before switching to the CATweasel Toolkit, you should make a backup copy of the file perl\site\bin\pdfparser.cfg. The contents of this file may later need to be incorporated into several configuration files in the new structure.

After that, we recommend completely uninstalling all CATweasel tools and manually deleting any leftover files from the installation directory. To do this, delete the entire CATweasel folder after uninstalling the tools. This prevents obsolete settings or libraries that may remain in the file system from causing problems during the Toolkit installation.

The settings for the parser itself are still stored in the pdfparser.cfg file within the new structure. You can transfer your previous settings here.

In the simplest case, without any customizations, you can simply take your existing pdfparser.cfg file and use it to overwrite the installed file in the `etc` folder.

As global settings such as logging are now managed in the central configuration file catweasel.cfg, this section should be removed from the old PDFParser configuration file pdfparser.cfg.

I hope this information helps you transition to our new CATweasel Toolkit and that you enjoy using it.

Cheers, Niklas

P.S.: Please also note that the configuration level for the parser has changed. The additional <ParserList> level has been removed from the configuration!

Another important note for anyone wishing to migrate an existing PDFParser profile to the new Toolkit: the <ParserList> level has been removed from the configuration structure. Parsers are now created directly at the <PDFParser> level. For existing configurations, this means that the parsers must be moved up one level.

See also the comment: https://alx-development.de/?p=397#comment-3

Because installing the interpreter and the application separately failed on current versions of Windows 11, we decided to include the interpreter as a fully integrated component in the patch for version 3.0.1. As a result, there is now just a single installer file that contains everything.

As usual, the updated Toolkit is ready for you in the Downloads section.

CATweasel Toolkit Version 3.0.0 Released

Following an intensive development phase, we are delighted to present the first version of our new CATweasel Toolkit. Version 3.0.0 marks the start of a new era for our software family dedicated to data processing in control panel manufacturing.

The version number 3.0.0 has been chosen deliberately: all previous CATweasel tools were available up to version 2 at most. With this Toolkit, we are bringing the previously separate applications together on a single platform, creating a clear distinction from the older standalone solutions from the start.

Everything brought together in one Toolkit

The CATweasel Toolkit brings together all existing tools under a single, unified interface for the first time. The current version includes the following modules:

• PDFParser – for extracting, analyzing, and filtering PDF documents
• Lagerist – for managing bills of materials, items, and logistics processes
• Terminal – the powerful command-line environment with numerous useful features

This means that, for the first time, a central platform is available that makes workflows in control panel manufacturing more efficient and consistent. Individual components no longer need to be installed and updated separately – everything is integrated into the Toolkit.

Older standalone versions are being phased out

The individual versions of the tools released to date will remain available in the Downloads section for the time being, but will no longer be developed further. All future enhancements and improvements will be made exclusively within the CATweasel Toolkit.

Please note: It is not possible to simply update from the individual versions to the Toolkit. The old programs must first be completely uninstalled before the Toolkit can be installed.

Existing configurations and filter definitions (e.g. from the PDFParser) will continue to work and can continue to be used in the new environment.

Discontinuation of older versions

The individual versions released to date will be fully phased out over time once security-related updates become necessary. These older versions will then be removed from the Downloads section, as all future maintenance and development will be carried out exclusively for the Toolkit.

We therefore recommend that all users switch to the new CATweasel Toolkit 3.0.0 as early as possible so that they can continue to benefit from all improvements and security updates in the future.

Looking ahead

With this Toolkit, we are laying the foundation for the future development of the CATweasel platform. Our plans include new interfaces, improved automation features, and closer integration between the modules.

We would like to thank everyone who has provided feedback and supported the development process over the past few months. The CATweasel Toolkit represents a major step toward a modern, unified, and privacy-friendly software foundation—and provides the basis for many more exciting features in the future.

Download: The new CATweasel Toolkit 3.0.0 is now available in the Downloads section.

Stay informed the privacy-friendly way

We have updated our information channels and will now provide all news and updates about the CATweasel tools and our other projects exclusively through RSS feeds.

Our aim is to offer you a simple, privacy-friendly way to stay up to date without having to sign up – no newsletter, no registration, and no need to disclose any personal data.

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💡 Why no more newsletter?

In the past, we used a mailing list (Majordomo) to facilitate communication between developers, users, and interested individuals. However, a mailing list inevitably requires the processing of email addresses and, in some cases, the storage of communication content on servers.

As privacy and data minimization are particularly important to us, we will no longer use this method. With RSS, you can stay informed without requiring us or any third party to store or process any personal data.

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🔗 How the RSS feed works

RSS is an open standard that has been widely used for decades. Using an RSS reader (e.g. Thunderbird, Feedly, NewsBlur or an RSS app of your choice), you can automatically access our latest posts—much like an email inbox, but for news.

You’re in full control:

• No registration required
• No ads or tracking
• You decide when and how often you want to view our posts.

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📡 Our feeds

📰 Posts: https://alx-development.de/?feed=rss2
💬 Comments: https://alx-development.de/?feed=comments-rss2

You can subscribe to both feeds directly in your reader or simply paste the URLs into your software. Many browsers and email programs even detect RSS feeds automatically when you open them.

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✅ Conclusion

By switching to RSS, we aim to make access to information easier, more transparent, and more secure. You will continue to receive all relevant news – just in a privacy-friendly and anonymous way, without unnecessary emails.

Try it out now and stay up to date – without a subscription or any data sharing.