BridgeLab Files

BridgeLab 2.0.0

BridgeLab 2.0 is a big step for everyday work with large HL7 v2 and FHIR messages. It is lighter and faster with many messages open, and it adds new tools for test cases and samples. It also brings a long list of refinements across editing, validation, communication and anonymization.

Highlights

• Lighter and faster. With ten messages open, three of them 2–5 MB, BridgeLab uses about half the memory of 1.8. A restored session opens in under three seconds, and very large messages scroll and switch smoothly.
• Undo and redo per tab. Each tab keeps its own history, caret and scroll position when you switch.
• Long fields folded, never cut. Base64 attachments and long notes show as compact chips that expand on click. The editor always holds, and saves, the whole message.
• Test case packs. Export and import test cases as a .bltests.json file, with a preview of what is new or different.
• Sample messages and segment grid. Thirteen realistic HL7 v2 samples in your language, and a table view of every OBX (or any repeating segment).
• CLI. New test (with JUnit output for CI), fhirpath, send and xsd commands, and standard input everywhere.
• Editor settings. Word suggestions, occurrence highlighting, clickable links and sticky scroll are in Settings → Editor.
• Character sets. Latin-1, Windows-1252, Big5, GB 18030 and KS X 1001 files open, validate, anonymize and send in their own charset. MLLP defaults to an automatic mode that follows MSH-18.

What changes for you

A few behaviours are different in 2.0. Most make results more accurate; some can change what a check or a script reports.

• Validation is more precise. HL7 v2 dates, timestamps, times and numbers are now checked, as warnings, so no valid message changes verdict. FHIR now reports dates that do not exist, malformed resource ids and empty values. FHIRPath type tests on choice elements (ofType, is, as) and resolve() follow the specification more closely. If you run the CLI in a pipeline, a few files may report differently.
• The CLI exits non-zero when a pattern matches no file, when a resource could not be fully checked (reported as skipped in JUnit), when a charset cannot be decoded, or when send would have to alter characters. Before, these cases could pass silently.
• Anonymization covers more fields. The catalogue now follows the HL7 v2.5 definitions of the segments it covers (89 fields). Anonymized output differs from 1.x and masks more. See the note in the 2.0.0 fix list.
• Batch anonymize and "Save all to folder" never overwrite a file. A name already taken is reported and left as it is.
• Plugin packs. Two packs with the same id in one folder: the second is refused and listed with the reason.
• HTTP in Community. Any request that carries credentials (API keys, tokens, signed URLs) needs Pro.
• History keeps the full request and response of the latest 100 entries, received messages included.
• Licences activated online are re-checked with the licence server about once a week. A code that has been revoked, for example after a refund, returns the app to Community. If the server cannot be reached, nothing changes.
• macOS 11 or later is required.

Full list of changes

The complete list of fixes and improvements, grouped by area, is in docs/releases/2.0.0.md. Every detail is in the CHANGELOG.

Known limitations

• FHIRPath shows decimals without trailing zeros (72.50 appears as 72.5); comparisons are not affected. Exact decimal precision is planned for 2.1.
• On macOS, quitting from the Dock or by logging out still closes the app without the unsaved-changes prompt. With session restore on, the autosave keeps your tabs.

Downloads

See the assets below for Windows (installer and MSI), macOS (DMG), Linux (.deb, .rpm, AppImage) and the command-line tool.

BridgeLab is built by TECHEMV SRL · info@techemv.it