What's new in Multisim/Ultiboard 13.0

[Chon.Mech]

Hi 

I just upgraded to Multisim/Ultiboard 13.0, from 12.0.  What's new?  What should I be looking for?

[_user32]

Over_Nyquest,

Thanks for noticing!

Here are some of my personal favorites for some of the "what's new" in v13 - the entire new feature list and specific use cases on how to use these features will be rolled out over the next several weeks... 

1. Circuit Parameters - For modeling, you can set 'global' style variables and have component and model values be expressions that are dependent on these values.  There is a circuit parameters dialog for adjusting the values and they can be used in the SPICE analyses (such as parameter sweep).

2. More components - Maxim has been added as a supported manufacturer (+1300 parts) and many updates to our other supported manufacturers (+1500 new parts/updates from various mfrs).   We've added several new power models for thermal analysis (also included are some new eGAN FETs from EPC - these are new, small, highly efficient FETs).

3. Updated the Component Wizard - makes it easier to do the symbol pin mapping for models.

4. The LabVIEW API is now part of the installer (so if you have LabVIEW, it will automatically install for use in automating your simulations).

5. PCB templates for reusing designs.   Also new/better dialog for multisection parts in heirarchical designs (which helps to better ensure synchronized hierarchical schematics/layouts).

...various others...  you can open the Examples folder for some good examples some of the newest features...and you can look at the documentation for some additional details (All Programs -> National Instruments -> Circuit Design Suite 13.0 -> Documentation -> Circuit Design Suite 13.0 Readme).

- Pat Noonan

National Instruments

[_user32 · Accepted solution]

Over_Nyquest,

Thanks for noticing!

Here are some of my personal favorites for some of the "what's new" in v13 - the entire new feature list and specific use cases on how to use these features will be rolled out over the next several weeks... 

1. Circuit Parameters - For modeling, you can set 'global' style variables and have component and model values be expressions that are dependent on these values.  There is a circuit parameters dialog for adjusting the values and they can be used in the SPICE analyses (such as parameter sweep).

2. More components - Maxim has been added as a supported manufacturer (+1300 parts) and many updates to our other supported manufacturers (+1500 new parts/updates from various mfrs).   We've added several new power models for thermal analysis (also included are some new eGAN FETs from EPC - these are new, small, highly efficient FETs).

3. Updated the Component Wizard - makes it easier to do the symbol pin mapping for models.

4. The LabVIEW API is now part of the installer (so if you have LabVIEW, it will automatically install for use in automating your simulations).

5. PCB templates for reusing designs.   Also new/better dialog for multisection parts in heirarchical designs (which helps to better ensure synchronized hierarchical schematics/layouts).

...various others...  you can open the Examples folder for some good examples some of the newest features...and you can look at the documentation for some additional details (All Programs -> National Instruments -> Circuit Design Suite 13.0 -> Documentation -> Circuit Design Suite 13.0 Readme).

- Pat Noonan

National Instruments

[Chon.Mech]

Thanks, this looks like good stuff 

I look forward to reading the comprehensive list.  

[_user32]

Over_Nyquest,

Also just as a reminder, to reuse your existing custom parts you may have created in a user or corporate DB in a previous version, you'll need to migrate/convert your DB:

1) Locate your v12 databae (from Multisim v12 or vXX) 

...Options -> Global preferences (find the DB files under the 'Database Files' section)

2) Make a copy of the DB file (i.e. backup the database to a separate location) - this is not required (as it only copies the parts over) but I always do this as a best practice

3) (from Multsim v13) Use the Migrate/Convert DB tool in the new version

...  Tools -> Database -> Convert Database...

...this will convert all your parts in the old database and copy them into the databases you have set in v13 .... and then you should be good.

Note: These steps will copy both the symbol/models for Multisim and also any of the footprint shapes you've created for Ultiboard into the newest version...

Pat Noonan

National Instruments

[Chon.Mech]

*Facepalm*  I spent all morning trying to figure out where my databace went.  

Well... at least I know now.  

Thank's for the heads up.

[_user32]

Over_Nyquest,

Yes, sorry I should have mentioned it earlier ... I think this is actually a good thing - NI typically does what is called a parallel 'install' - which allows you to install and keep 2 or more versions running at the same time.  

This is for a simple reason - if you 'upgrade' software but your in the middle of a project - or if you have older projects, you may not want to "upgrade" all the files to the newest file format or database standards... 

So in general NI does/encourages parallel installs - so you may have v11, v12 and v13 all on the same machine.   Use the 'convert' method to get your database up to speed with all the old parts you've created...

- Pat Noonan

National Instruments