NI Circuit Design Suite 12.0 Beta Readme for Windows
October 2011
This file contains important last-minute information about Circuit Design Suite 12.0 Beta for Windows, including installation issues, compatibility issues and bugs fixed.
Refer to the Getting Started with NI Circuit Design Suite manual for information about getting started with Circuit Design Suite. You can access this PDF from Start»All Programs»National Instruments»Circuit Design Suite 12.0»Documentation»Getting Started.
Supported Platforms
Installing Circuit Design Suite 12.0 Beta
Known Issues
Bug Fixes
Supported Platforms
Circuit Design Suite 12.0 Beta supports Windows Vista/XP 32-bit editions, Windows Vista 64-bit edition, Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit editions, Windows Server 2003 R2 (32-bit) and Windows Server 2008 R2 (64-bit). Circuit Design Suite 12.0 Beta does not support Windows NT/Me/98/95/2000, Windows XP x64, or the Windows Server non-R2 editions.
Installing Circuit Design Suite 12.0 BetaInstalling Multiple Versions
Circuit Design Suite 12.0 Beta installs side-by-side with previous versions of Circuit Design Suite.
Installing Circuit Design Suite Silently
You can install Circuit Design Suite without viewing any installation dialog boxes. Refer to the silent_install.txt file in the Supportfiles directory in the Circuit Design Suite distribution for more information about installing Circuit Design Suite silently.
Archiving Circuit Design Suite databases
National Instruments recommends that you regularly back up the files created within the Multisim and Ultiboard components of NI Circuit Design Suite. Additionally, you should back up internal files that store user-created data, such as database components. For more information about which files to backup and where to find them, refer to the Help.
Uninstalling
Uninstalling Circuit Design Suite will not remove user data. For more information about the locations of user database and configuration files, refer to the Archiving Data Help topic.
Known IssuesLabVIEW
LabVIEW functionality (LabVIEW instruments and grapher interpolation) will not work if the installation path uses characters that are not native to the "Language for non-Unicode programs" setting, available by selecting Start»Control Panel»Regional and Language Options and selecting the Advanced tab. In the Vista OS, use the "Current language for non-Unicode programs:" setting in the Administrative tab. LabVIEW functionality works for Unicode characters that are native to this setting.
Windows Vista
You cannot install Circuit Design Suite 12.0 Beta on Windows Vista Starter edition.
Circuit Design Suite
Multisim and Ultiboard leak GDI resource handles when used over extended periods of time, eventually leading to unpredictable user interface behavior and crashes. This is an issue with MFC applications running on Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003. For more information and workarounds, refer to KB 4JREGSXL:Multisim or Ultiboard Leaking GDI Resource Handles.
Bug Fixes
The following is a subset of the issues fixed between Circuit Design Suite 11.0.2 and Circuit Design Suite 12.0 Beta
Multisim ( 41 )
Bug ID
Description
265284
Breadboard wire color dialog not initialized properly after saving a file.
265615
When an MCU within a Hierarchical Block is replaced by a subcircuit, the circuit cannot be simulated.
265831
Multi section component model mapping does not copy to the other sections in some cases.
265950
Schematic read-only option allows modifying the schematic in some cases.
268734
TRIAC Models do not simulate as expected.
269201
PZT2907A and PZT2907A should be PNP components.
271671
.IC and .NODESET commands malfunction if used within .subckt.
272323
Creating a MCU project using external hex does not enable finish until the radio is explicitly clicked.
273706
Naming two or more nodes of a subcircuit with the same name should generate an error.
273796
Unable to rename a RefDes' second character to a capital letter if it is small caps.
273824
Local refdes of connector is not allowed to be used by a component as an "instance" refdes.
273957
The default prefix for a switch should be S instead of J.
274023
Gate optimizer does not work for components with custom section names.
274179
Changing case of refdes can cause trouble with placing multi-section components.
274359
Deleting wire segment clears perferred net name in some cases.
274388
User database template should have more intuitive name.
274418
A part with a family name that has a space causes simulation errors.
274472
Clicking the mouse wheel should pan the document in Multisim.
274501
Replace by subcircuit action on multisection components can change their Refdes in some cases.
274508
Replace by subcircuit of existing subcircuit causes invalid refdes entries to be added for new subcircuit in some cases.
274656
Updating Circuit Components resets RefDes across subcircuits.
274869
Unable to hide the SC symbol name for a bus connector via sheet properties.
275479
X is not placed on common pin of multisection component that is connected to a net after running a gate optimize operation.
275491
Shorting Bus Lines causes crash in some cases.
275519
MCU source file in hierarchical block removed in Design Toolbox does not get removed in different instance and causes crash.
275616
Bus Vector Connect dialog not filled in when first opened.
275691
Potentiometer Not Displaying Increment Precision Digits.
283843
BOM Report to Text is incorrect if the order of the columns is modified.
285414
PWL source with Unicode characters in the path fails to simulate.
287439
1N5619GP diode uses the incorrect simulation model.
289548
JK flip flop in a PLD design does not work as expected.
291144
Duplicate pages show up in a multi-page design when you add it to a project.
291724
Multisim Crashed when non convergent analyses are swept in some cases.
306485
Naming and modifying nets across different instances of a subcircuit can cause Multisim to crash.
307199
Using the digital state machine with a very long file name will cause a crash.
307472
Undo does not undo the bus color change.
310422
A Hierarchical block connector on a multi-page design is not renamed correctly in some cases.
310826
Cancelling the placement of a HB from file will affect the netlist for the opened design.
311328
Multisim crashes when copying a HB that contains a missing HB.
312095
Transfer to Ultiboard of Large Design causes Ultiboard to become unresponsive.
315461
AD8694* components have incorrect footprint pin mappings.
Ultiboard ( 25 )
263374
Importing an Orcad max file will make the component refdes a part of the footprint's name.
263473
Clearance for elliptical arc drawn improperly.
263501
Active layer should determines which component are selected when components are on both side.
268476
Two vias on top of each other does not cause a DRC error.
268559
Gerber import doesn't draw lines with square arperture definitions correctly.
269497
Unable to export a real circle to DXF.
269525
Save All menu option does not work in Footprint Edit mode.
270367
Elliptical Arc clearance isn't displayed until arc is completed.
270512
Copper area outside the board outline is not removed.
270534
Coordinates doesn't appear after exiting from the 3D viewer.
271327
"Convert Closed Objects To Filled" Is Not Working in some cases.
271508
Change shape command can cause DRC errors and broken boards.
273482
Keep in/Keep out polygons should have polygon list accessible to user.
273492
Keep in/Keep out areas abutting two sides of a board outline causes nonexistant DRC error with power plane.
273785
Unable to change the clearance of a net bridge.
274247
Searching does not find results when in in-place part edit.
274312
A locked rectangle does not show the locked orange border.
274324
Placed net bridge has a value of ?.
274325
Replace part is replacing a netbridge with a normal PCB part.
274378
Saving default layers for a design that has imported layers saves custom layers that cannot be later removed.
274609
Moving land patterns from one database to another doesn't actually delete the data from the source database.
287628
The netbridge trace shorts with copper area in some cases.
291652
Passwords do not protect user/coorporate databases in Ultiboard.
299398
Undoing an action that added layers does not remove the layers.
308758
Switching trace layers causes Ultiboard to crash in some cases.
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The EKV MOST model used in this software was developed, implemented and tested by the Electronics Laboratory (LEG) of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL).
Patents
For patents covering the National Instruments products, refer to the appropriate location: Help» Patents in your software, the patents.txt file on your media, or ni.com/patents.