version 4.2.10 to 4.2.11

Fixes and improvements:

• fixed crash when saving circuit with symbol-only parts.
• fixed problem with turning circuit with user-defined parameters being turned into parameterized subcircuit parts. Only the first parameter was being listed in the parameterized subcircuit part - now fixed.

Known Problems:

• save an imported Eagle circuit and then reopen immediatly - can crash Workshop randomly. WORKAROUND: restart Workshop before reopening saved circuit.
• using the two-port device can give error message 'ivalid token ...' but does not affect the simulation
• the SHOW and SHOWMOD commands don't show all the parameters of a device when rshunt is turned on.
• adding plots from a file to an existing graph with a diffferent x-axis scale can result in incorrectly displyaed plots. WORKAROUND: add plots to a new blank graph.
• the pulsed voltage source always starts at 0 when you specify “use initial conditions”, even if you specify that the initial voltage start at –1. NO WORKAROUND
• digital graphing does not resolve below .1ns, where the analog graph does. NO WORKAROUND yet.

 

version 4.2.9a to 4.2.10

Fixes and improvements:

• fixed Monte Carlo problem with incorrectly handled % distribution settings.
• fixed a related problem in the xspice engine that could cause a crash if either uniform or gaussian wasn't selected for distribution type.
• Fixed memory leak that could cause a shortage in resources and could lead to a crash.

version 4.2.8 to 4.2.9a

Fixes and improvements:

• right-click on wire and "rename wire..." crashes workshop.
• tables that are saved as text files now use the "number of digits after decimal" specified in the table settings instead of defaulting the graph's digit setting.
• meters show values regardless of State Display Options - you no longer need to turn on the State Display to get meters to display values.
• voltmeters, when connected to ground and run in DUAL dc sweep produce error message “illegal type of token…”.
• workshop crashes if you try opening a non-*.bdf file (like a *.brd file) when trying to import an Eagle schematic.
• 'edit->edit device part or model->select alternate symbol' should be removed and replaced with 'select alternate model'.
• resistors and capacitors don’t get the LOT number passed to the netlist.
• monte carlo – if the circuit is blank or new and you edit the monte carlo simulation, program crashes.
• monte carlo – if you set up monte carlo simulation on a circuit that’s never been simulated and saved and click the “pre-specify meta plots” button, workshop crashes.
• signals that are generated by the difference between two nodes crash workshop if you multiply that signal by itself. For instance : if v(neg) is actually v(2) – v(1), and you try v(neg) * v(neg), Workshop crashes.
• editing a plot that was added from another graph is problematic since there’s nothing in the “plot expression” box, which the program won’t allow. This means that you can’t change the plot’s colors, etc…
• typing junk into the “plot expression” box of the edit plot dialog box crashes the program.
• amp_NOISE.ckt – workshop crashes when simulation is run from netlist.
• parts created from a mixed mode circuit can sometimes can be assigned the wrong 'direction', which is a problem if they are insterted into a circuit since implicit A/D and D/A converters depend on the type and direction of the pin.
• Error message “illegal expression syntax” when in DUAL DC sweeps, and ONLY if the positive pin of a voltmeter is connected to ground.
• circuits containing a subcircuit part made from a mixed-mode circuit and having node names displayed could cause crash.

 

version 4.2.7 to 4.2.8

Fixes and improvements:

• Updated the ULP, used to translate Eagle schematics into B2 Spice format, to work with new Eagle v4.1
• Updated Workshop to export to new Eagle v4.1 format.
• Fixed a bug where if you use "linearize" in the Transient simulations, Workshop would crash.
• Fixed small rotation problem with symbols. Now symbols that are rotated before being placed will keep correct text orientation.
• Made the VALUE fields of resistors, capacitors and inductors the default edit field instead of having to TAB to them.
• Fixed problem with Eagle import where parts with same pin names can sometimes cause crashes after being opened in B2 Spice.

version 4.2.6 to 4.2.7

Fixes and improvements:

• Improved simulation speed even more by reducing the number of calls the graphing part of the program made.
• Fixed problem with simulations not being able to run if the install directory did not have write-permissions.
• Fixed problem where an error message would be popped up if a C:/temp directory did not exist. This was a debug routine that was never removed from the code.
• Fixed mixed mode graphing problem that didn't graph the digital portion correctly.
• Fixed some issues with resistors, capacitors, and inductors and their monte carlo tolerances. In some instances, setting a tolerance and then copying the part makes the part effectively "shared" so that all their values if you change one. Also fixed the netlist portion of this so that there are no more multiple .model lines when you tie tolerances together in the monte carlo setup.

version 4.2.5a to 4.2.6

Fixes and improvements:

• Improved simulation speed, especially circuits that use ammeters and voltmeters.
• Fixed problem with switches where the first time a simulation is run, the controlling source can't be found and a simulation error occurs.
• Fixed problem with 74x74 flip flops where pins were misconnected, resulting in incorrect results. (Requires download of the latest database)
• Markers that are named with a number followed by a letter, which could cause simulation problems, now pops up a warning message.
• non-linear sources (B) that use i(Meter Name) in its equation, which could cause simulation problems, now pops up a warning message.
• combining plots from saved simulation results now work.
• combined plots now use interpolation when plots have different indexes.
• Fixed problem with voltage/current sources where entering data and then switching tabs can cause incorrect data to be entered.
• New arc tool in Symbol Editor.

 

version 4.2.4a to 4.2.5a

Fixes and improvements:

• subcircuits with B elements (non-linear dependent sources) that use the "+" sign for positive numbers can result in simulation run errors. WORKAROUND: remove the "+" signs.
• Fixed problem where copying wires or parts would also copy their node numbers. Now copied wires and parts are assigned unique node numbers.
• Fixed problem with Digital Subcircuit part probing where clicking on "open for probing" would crash Workshop.
• The "fit to view" button in the digital graph mode now works on timing diagrams.
• Operating Point Monte Carlo now saves table/graph settings instead of always defaulting to table.
• Fixed problem with pole-zero simulation where sometimes duplicate poles and zeros would be listed. Now a warning is displayed in the log and duplicate poles/zeros are listed as invalid.
• Fixed a major problem with unique/shared parts. Sometimes, using the "unique" setting would cause misnamed subcircuits and non-working simulations.
• Fixed several problems with "Edit Part Display". Now all the functions should work.
• Fixed problem where in some cases, adding/deleting plots in the graph could crash Workshop.
• Fixed problem in interactive mode that could result in some signals being listed twice in the plot list.
• Fixed problem where new custom plots aren't displayed correctly until simulation is rerun.
• Fixed a problem with some of the bsim 3 parts in the database due to faulty models.
• Spaces in digital inputs no longer cause problems when turning the circuit into a part.

version 4.2.4 to 4.2.4a

Fixes and improvements:

• Fixed batch mode simulation problem where sometimes a simulation will not run or produce a "can't open file" error.
• Fixed a problem with subcircuit MOSFET parts that do not have a "level=" parameter. This used to throw off the XSPICE engine but is now treated as a level 1 MOSFET.
• Fixed problem where users of v4.2.4 would receive "failed to produce bin" error messages when browsing the v4.2.3a database.
• The graph's border now appears. Before, nothing would appear, no matter what color the border was set to.
• Fixed problem with circuits containing controlled sources that claim that their controlling source was not found even though they're in there.

 

version 4.2.3a to 4.2.4

Fixes and improvements:

• Distortion's F2/F1 function no longer crashes Workshop or XSpice.
• Fixed a problem with custom plots in the graph where in some cases, editing the custom plot could crash workshop.
• Copying and pasting wires no longer keeps the node names, which could cause problems because Workshop takes all wires with the same name as being connected.
• Added support for BSIM3SOI and BSIM4 devices, though they haven't been thoroughly tested yet.
• Copy graph/circuit picture sometimes only copied part of the graph and circuit. This is now fixed.
• Fixed a problem with the Title Box where the Title text was controlled by the "show/hide part titles" option.

version 4.2.1 to 4.2.3a

Fixes and improvements:

• Part naming is improved so that parts may start with any letter. If you have references to these parts in other places, the names will be adjusted everywhere it’s necessary for a valid spice netlist to be created.
• Circuit state fields (i.e. voltage text, current text ) and node name placement is now persistent even after running new simulations.
• Magnitude/ phase plots. Now you can specify ahead of time to display just the magnitude (no phase).
• In 4.2.1 and 4.2.2, Show Power was initially on for all simulations after re-loading the circuit. This is now fixed.
• "match model pins with symbol pins" now works.
• Robustness in the face of buggy printer drivers. This has been enhanced by avoiding printer queries during sensitive times when the printer driver is one that we know has problems.
• For some parts that came over from Eagle, the symbol text was illegible because its size was unspecified. This was especially true on Windows 98.
• Improved part naming when there are multiple parts per package.
• Escape now ends wire drawing.
• Arrows can now be used for scrolling the window.
• Alt-key in combination with arrows moves circuit selection.
• Improvements to the graph, especially when the y-axis is in log scale. Now, scrolling and zooming-in and zooming to a rectangle work without a hitch.
• Additional options:
  Show device title, and device title font customization.
  Show page boundaries (separate from title box).
  # significant digits for graph axes is now separate from the # significant digits for the legend and internal values.
• Separate border color from the grid color in graphs.
• Devices can now have their part displays (text fields, etc...) controlled individually.
• Store Device to Database now works.
• Improved Eagle import and export so that rotated parts are now placed mostly correctly.  Also fixed other Eagle problems like multiple sheet import/export,
• Fixed BOM so that parts that don't have packages and models don't crash it.

version 4.2.0 to 4.2.1

Fixes and improvements:

• table printing is now fixed.
• Exporting to Eagle PCB is also fixed.  This had to do with the way our database parts were set up.  This also necessitates that the database must be updated.  Please see our tech support page for updates.
• double clicking on subcircuit parts will now bring up the subcircuit window instead of not doing anything.
• running a simulation in a maximized window will not result in weird window behaviors.
• digital subcircuit probing now works (again).

version 4.1.3 to 4.2.0

Fixes and improvements:

• Workshop can now import and export Eagle PCB schematic files.  Eagle users can import schematics into Workshop to simulate.
• Database is now at 25,000 parts with the addition of Eagle's parts libraries.
• Graphical animation of circuit states.  Wires can now display voltage and currents with colors and symbols.
• Wire states can also be shown as moveable text fields.
• No more separate Analog and digital versions of a part.  Now you can pull up refer to one part instead of one for digital and one for mixed mode.
• Node names/numbers are now shown in the middle of the wire segment and can be relocated.
• Fixed problem where graphs are messed up when existing graph is shown as not overlapped and then simulation is rerun.

version 4.1.2.0 to 4.1.3.0

Fixes and improvements:

• Previously, certain combinations of editing and undo-ing could remove wire connections from part pins.
• Fixed DIN/ANSI symbol setting persistence.
• Fixed various Monte Carlo analysis so that the tolerances are correctly implemented. Also added capability for tolerances of a certain type to be tied together or distinct.
• Fixed problem with Monte Carlo analysis not working after a save.
• Fixed more problems with Projects, especially saving and reopening projects and their files.
• Fixed problems with digital timing diagrams and tables. Various things weren't working correctly, like add/remove traces using the tree-view, and saving and reloading graphs and tables.
• Running simulations from netlist, particularly stepped-ac analyses, is now fixed.
• Editing circuits with off-grid elements has been improved.

version 4.1.1.0 to 4.1.2.0

Fixes and improvements:

• Addressed the print driver crashing problems.  Now workshop should warn users if there are problems instead of crashing.
• Fixed the workspace and improved some of its functions.
• Fixed plot, font, and color persistence in graphs.
• Stabilized histogram and meta graphs.
• Cases where graph foreground and background color are the same are now caught and fixed automatically.
• Separate graph types from the same simulation are now treated as individual documents, which allows for better saving and handling of graphs.
• Fixed problems with print preview and printing borders and title boxes.

version 4.1.0.0 to 4.1.1.0

Fixes and improvements:

• Fixed print-to-fit.
• Fixed zoom-to-fit.
• Fixed a problem in which zooming in on a graph will mess up the y axis range.
• Fixed problem with certain parts, such as BJT and Mosfets, in which inactive pins would cause a crash if placed on the circuit.