Group Replica Bug

[RnDMonkey]

The group replica feature is a very useful one, but I think I’ve found a break in it. When the groups are created with the Ultiboard group editor, all works well. However, if the groups have been created in Multisim, this function does not work correctly. For some reason Ultiboard acts as it would if the groups were composed of different parts (i.e. totally falls apart).

[RnDMonkey]

Oh, I forgot some important info. 😮

I'm using Multisim and Ultiboard Power Pro version 10.1

[Tien_P]

Hi Ryan,

It seems to work for me, attached is my test file.  After placing D1, D2 on the work area in Ultiboard I was able to use the group replicate function to place D3 and D4 in the same orientation as D1, D2.  If it's possible please attach your file with the section that's not working or go to the support page to create a service request to keep your file confidential.

 

http://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niae_asc.main

[RnDMonkey]

It seems to be fine with something as simple as 2 diodes, but make it 3 of them with a common point, and they get all rearranged. Make it a mixture of parts, and you can forget about it. See modified file.

[Tien_P]

Hi Ryan,

Your modified file worked for me as well and here is what I did:

1.  Import the netlist generated by Multisim

2.  Place all components from group 3 on the work area

3.  Design>>Group Replica

4.  Primary Group select Group 3

5.  Secondary Group select Group 4

6.  Make sure corresponding components from group 3 and 4 are on the same line, in this example D6 and D5 need to be on the same line and also check the other two transistors.

I think your problem is at step 6.

[Tien_P]

I just want to add that the component order in the replicate table should have defaulted to the same order that is shown in the Group editor (Tools>>Group Editor>>Part Groups), if this was the case I don't think you would have had any problem.

[RnDMonkey]

Could you please clarify? What do you mean by "on the same line" ? If it is that easy to mess this up, and there is no warning about that in the help files, doesn't that seem like a little bit of a problem?

[RnDMonkey]

Ok, I figured out what you meant. Why does the group order get swiss-cheesed when you transfer from Multisim? Given that you are making groups of parts that are the same, Multisim should be dumb enough to order them the same.

Oh, and if this information was in the help file, I would have found it, since I did look through the help before submitting this. 🙂

Message Edited by morgol on 07-14-2008 11:38 AM

[Tien_P]

Sorry for being vague with the instructions.  I created a defect for this issue because if you copy/paste a schematic in Multisim and then export the netlist to UB, the component order should be correctly setup for replication.  For a larger schematic or multiple sections, rearranging the component table is tedious.

[RnDMonkey]

Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking. What would be extra nice is a "Paste as new component group" command, so you could assign everything to a component group as you paste it. Right now, you would select all the parts and use the spreadsheet editor to reassign them to a new group.