Unable to determine nodes

[PaddyCymru]

I have just started using Multisim 2001 on Windows XP Professional.  Have drawn a simple circuit, but it will not "Simulate" - Run".

Error Messages:
Netlist error: Unable to correctly determine nodes for the current circuit due to the following reasons:
Error: C:\(path)\Temp\02.CIR: No such file or directory.  Do you wish to continue anyway?

Click OK brings up:

Unable to determine the simulation timestep automatically.
Please set the timestep in the "Default Instrument Settings" to continue with the instrument simulation.

I have checked previous questions - it seems it may be a problem running on XP???

Attached is simple circuit - just a 12V battery supplying a series diode & resistor with ammeter and voltmeter across diode.  Apart from a possible XP Prof problem, I'd like to know if I'm missing something??

Thanks

Paddycymru

[lacy]

I have Multisim 2001 plus Windows XP Home and it runs fine for me with no errors. I do not have any ideas, unfortunately, on what may be causing this. I will let NI Address this further from here in case they have run into this before.

[digitalguy]

It runs OK on my system too. I have XP Pro.

Howard

[PaddyCymru]

Hmmmm ..... Thanks for that - and also to "lacy".  To check the Multisim with XP Prof "incompatibility" possibility, I downloaded and installed a 30-day trial of Multisim 10.0.343 and installed it another PC with XP Prof (one that I used for checking things).  The circuit that I attached to my initial query went fine on that, as did a couple others I played with.  That seemed to point to 2001 & XP.

Any idea what the error messages refer to?

(As I said - this is my first ½-hour foray into Multisim)

Thanks again

Paddy

[lacy]

I have never personally had this error happen to me, so I can't say exactly what could be causing it. I do seem to recall that somewhere on the forum I have read about a simular situation. You might want to try and search the forum for that specific error and that might give an idea as to what is occurring. If memeory serves me right, it had to do with files being corrupted when doing the install, but I am not really certain.

One other option is to uninstall and reinstall Multisim 2001. You have to be careful doing this because of the relase codes. If you follow all the unistall procedures you will retain your release code. If not then you will have to get a new release code. This is a pain in the butt and I would recommend trying everything else before doing this.

Maybe one of the NI Support Team can read this and hopefully have some better suggestions for you. I just don't know and I would be guessing with any answer I would give.

Sorry I couldn't be of much help.

[PaddyCymru]

It seems it might be the installation on the first XP Prof PC, not Multisim on XP per se.

I uninstalled it from the first XP PC (#1), and installed it on another XP Prof PC (#2) - worked fine, also on to a Laptop to check it on Vista (Home Basic).

It works fine on those two.   Remember, it was my first foray into Multisim, and so when it glitched, I jumped to incorrect conclusions!

Having uninstalled Multisim from XP PC #1, I shall with trepidation (in light of your comments regarding the Release Code) try to reinstall on the original (preferred) XP Prof desktop (#1).  If OK, I'll remove from the XP PC #2.  If not OK, I'll remove again from #1 and use Multisim on that 2nd XP Prof PC.

Of course, I'll have to explain to She Who Must Be Obeyed why I'll be spending lots of time on her PC!!!!

Thanks for help - great forum.  I'll be back!

Paddy

[PaddyCymru]

More progress with my first-time user apparent glitch.  Multisim 2001 WILL run simulations happily on the first XP PC - but not under the "normal" (Administrator) log-on (my original problem); it runs under a different (Administrator) account.   I created a new Admin identity and it runs fine on that also, but not as non-Admin user.  Evidently there is something odd about the "normal" log-on; yet curiously Multisim was installed under that log-on.  Go figure!

Meanwhile, I've been familiarising myself with the software, creating different (power electronics) circuit - I love it!

Another two queries:
(a)   Is there any way of converting or copying or transferring the circuits I did in the 30-day "Trial" of Multisim 10.1 to be compatible with Multisim 2001????
(b) Can one create a totally new component from scratch - ie, draw the symbol and add the required parameters??

Thanks for the help to a "newbie"

Paddy

[lacy]

Yes. I believe you are correct about the admistator rights. I remember reading about that on the forum. You myst have admistrator rights on the PC otherwise strange things happen (at least this is what i read. Since i have this on my 'puter I have never run into this situation)

To anwer your other questions:

1) No. Unfortunaley backward compatiblitly only means that 10 can open 2001 circuits and not vice versa. You could always print your circuit on paper and re-enter it manually into 2001 (if printing is available in the trial). I know that isn't what you would like to do, but it is the only option to get Version 10 circuits into Version 2001. Believe me, I have both versions and I tried everyway known to accomplish this and manually re-entering it was the only way I could do it. I was doing a test on a Version 10 circuit and wanted to know if I got the same results in my older version since I was new to Version 10 and more ciomfortable with the older version at that time.

2). In both versions 2001 and Version 10 you can create your own components. It can sometimes be a butt pain, but is doable. I would strongly recommend that you refer to the users manual for both versions in order to become familiar with the procedures necessary in order to create components. The one drawback to the component creation is the fact that spice models that are truely compatible with Multisim are few and far between. There are some that will work and some that won't. The only way to know right now is to try a model and see. If you get the results you were expecting with no errors then you have a good working model. If not then you have to search for others on the web and keep trying until you find one that works as expected. Not all Spice programs are created equal so what works for one may not work in another.

I hope this helps.

[PaddyCymru]

Thanks, Lacy.  I thought there would be backward compatibility issues.  You're right, the Trial doesn't permit printing, but I have already copy/paste the circuits into Word and printed from there.  Can't win 'em all!

And the Admin rights issue - the XP log-on account that I installed Multisim 2001 under, but it won't run simulator, is Administrator.

Thanks for pointer to creating components.  I shall play with it more, and see what (if any!) components I need that are not there.

FYI I will be teaching electronic power control next College term using Multisim 2001, hence I am necessarily familiarising myself with it.  Being on term holidays, I have no colleagues off whom to bounce queries - hence I found you blokes (or guys if you are in US - I'm Australian).

I had a great time finding components and making extended output 3-term regulator circuits - with a couple of surprises regarding quiescent current.  Today I'll look at polyphase rectifiers and filters.  Love that Multisim!

Thanks

Paddy





 

[lacy]

I am glad you are enjoying Multisim and I hope you continue enjoying it. That is what it is all about. Enjoying what your doing at the time your doing it. I have been using Multisim on and off since Version 3. I have Version 3,4,5 2001 and 10. I am by no means an expert with it (and I don't think nobody is maybe with the exception of NI Engineers) but I am here to answer any question that you may have as well as my fellow forum mates. We will try our best to come up with an answer for questions posted here within our knowledge base. Each person here has their own area of experise from power supplies, RF circuits and computer circuits. My experitse is in Industrial Applications from Power Control, Communications, Alarm Systems, and Motion Control. So you have a wealth of knowledge to draw on. And if we can't answer your question because it is out of our realm of expertise, then you have the NI Technical Support Team Members and other NI Staff that monitor the forum and can come in and add thier experience to the discussion.

Good luck in your teaching and I hope you find Multisim a wonderful teaching platform.