Spectrum Software

 

News:

Spectrum Software has released Micro-Cap 9, the ninth generation of our SPICE circuit simulator.

For users of previous Micro-Cap versions, check out the new features available in the latest version. For those of you who are new to Micro-Cap, take our features tour to see what Micro-Cap has to offer.

 

 

 

Micro-Cap 9.0.5

-) Arrays and Macros - An Array variable may now be passed through as a macro parameter.
-) Monte Carlo Histograms and Convergence Errors - If during the course of a Monte Carlo analysis, a run fails to converge, the data from that specific run will be ignored when a histogram is created.
-) Monte Carlo Lot# - The number of available Lot# tracking values has been increased from 10 to 100 random number generators.
-) Histograms - The maximum number of histograms available in an analysis was increased to 20.
-) Histogram Status Bar - When the mouse cursor hovers over a histogram bar, the Y value of the bar along with its X range is displayed in the Status Bar.
-) Print Window Command - A Print Window command was added under the File menu. This command bypasses the Print Preview and sends the active window directly to the printer.
-) Inline Editing and Node Highlight - The Node Highlight capability is now temporarily disabled when inline editing of attribute text is taking place.
-) BSIM3 - The BSIM3 model can now use the Level=7 designation in order to be compatible with PSpice.
-) Node Parsing - Micro-Cap is now able to parse parentheses around node pairs within SPICE netlists.
-) Global Settings Power Defaults - The ITL4 Global Setting parameter now has a default of 50 when the Power Default option is selected.
-) Default Analysis Toolbar - The Autoscale icon was added to the default analysis toolbar.
-) Analysis Text Scaling - For printouts, any text in a plot is now scaled based on both the X and the Y window sizes which provides closer results to how the text is diplayed on the screen.

 

 

Micro-Cap 9.0.4

-) AC Analysis Iteration Limit - The AC analysis now uses the ITL1 value as its iteration limit to provide greater convergence capability when nonlinear equations have been used.
-) HSpice Compatibility - The use of single quotes to delimit equations was added. The R=, L=, and C= syntax was also added to the passive devices.
-) Int Operator - The Int operator was added which returns only the integer portion of a specified number.
-) NInt Operator - The NInt operator was added which rounds to the nearest integer value of a specified number.
-) Diode Level Detection - If any Level 2 diode parameters are specified, and the Level parameter is unspecified, Micro-Cap will automatically set it to the Level 2 model.
-) Infineon MOSFET Models - The convergence routines affecting the equation based Infineon MOSFET models were improved.
-) Text Size - The maximum grid text and analysis text size was increased to 200.
-) Go to X and Go to Y Cursor Functions - The Go to X and Go to Y cursor functions now operate on the waveform that the left or right cursor resides on rather than the selected (underlined) waveform.
-) Slider Movement Edit - The movement of a slider is now detected as an editable event when the Save Circuit Warning is enabled.
-) Find in Files - When component, definition, or shape are selected as the type to search for, any files with the extension .CIR that are not Micro-Cap schematic files has that warning suppressed from the results pane.
-) BMP Image - When using the Copy the Visible Portion of Window to BMP Format command, the crosshair cursor is no longer saved to the image.
-) Installation - The default location for the Micro-Cap installation is now set to the Program Files folder.
-) Model Program Memo Field - The Memo field in the Model Program had its size expanded to match the corresponding Memo field in the Component Editor.

 

 

Micro-Cap 9.0.3

-) Lossy Transmission Line Convergence - The operating point convergence routine for the lossy transmission line was improved when the model was defined with just its L and C parameters.
-) Stepping Memory Optimization - The memory handling during a stepped simulation was optimized to minimize the amount of memory fragmentation.
-) Info Page - If a stepped simulation has more than 100 steps, the Info page only keeps track of the operating point convergence information for the first 100 steps. This minimizes the amount of memory used when stepping produces numerous runs.
-) European Notation - Values such as R22 can now be specified for components such as the resistor to specify the number 0.22. Previously, the value would have needed to be defined as 0R22.
-) Waveform Buffer Retain Command - The Retain command that stores a waveform in the Waveform Buffer and keeps it on the screen can now be used with waveforms that are displayed through the Accumulate Plots option.
-) Default Buttons - Numerous dialog boxes had default buttons specified so that the auto snap to default dialog box button option in Windows would be effective on them.
-) Help File on Top Preference - A Help File on Top option was added to the Preferences. When enabled, the help file will remain on top of the Micro-Cap window.
-) Print Setup Paper Size - The paper size is now saved in the Print Setup so that it will be restored the next time Micro-Cap is loaded.
-) IBIS Translation - The IBIS translation was modified to handle IBIS files that have multiple Rising Waveform or Falling Waveform sections that have been specified at the same voltage level.

 

 

Micro-Cap 9.0.2

-) Analysis Window Locations - The locations of the analysis window is now stored separately for each of the different analyses within the circuit.
-) Grid Text - Text variables such as $Name and $Date can now be used within the grid text on the schematic.
-) Sample and Hold - The data sampling routines for the sample and hold device were improved to increase the simulation speed of the device.
-) Schematic Current Display - The current display routines in the schematic were improved to manage when some of the components may have their display disabled within the same current path.
-) .MC Statement - The .MC statement was added for use in SPICE netlists so that Monte Carlo could be run directly from the netlist.
-) Text Alignment - The scaling and printing routines for text on the schematic were improved to better maintain a precise location. This mainly affects text defined with one of the non-normal orientations.
-) Timer Component - The Timer component now stores the count value through a Retrace analysis.
-) Blank Components - Components defined with the definition Blank now have their Text attribute defaulted as the selected attribute when the Attribute dialog box is invoked.
-) Timer component - The Timer component now stores the count value through a Retrace analysis.
-) Find in Files - Hitting the Enter key when in this dialog box now initiates the find instead of closing the dialog box.
-) Renaming Component Palettes - The rename component palette capability within the Preferences dialog box now takes affect on closing the Preferences rather than on restarting Micro-Cap.
-) Arc Graphic Object - The arc graphic object's select region is now the actual arc rather than the bounding box containing the arc.
-) Command Line Load and Open File Load - When a file name is specified on the command line or typed in directly to the Open Filed dialog box, Micro-Cap now loads the file using the case that the file was last saved with rather than what was typed in.
-) Animated Switches - Toggling an animated switch is no longer considered an editable event that will force a Retrace run to start over at T=0.

 

 

Micro-Cap 9.0.1

-) Individual Noise Contributions - When a Noise analysis is run in AC, the individual noise contributions of each component at each frequency are recorded in the numeric output file.
-) Improved Switch Convergence - The routines for the S and W switch components have been improved to aid convergence in transient and DC analysis.
-) Polar Plots - The polar plots now show the actual magnitude value of the plot rather than normalizing the magnitude.
-) Help Demos - The demos available under the Help menu have been updated to run on Windows Vista.
-) Transmission Line - The ideal transmission line can now have its TD parameter set to a negative value for AC analysis.
-) Pasted Circuitry - When circuitry is pasted in the schematic, that region is now available for immediate rotating, flipping, mirroring, etc.
-) Probe Select Mode - The analysis select mode preference is now ignored during a Probe simulation.
-) Cleanup - The cleanup command now looks in subfolders also when the Look in Subfolders option in the Paths dialog box is enabled.
-) Tie Component - When placing a Tie component in a schematic, the Part attribute is now the initial default selection.
-) Probe Delete All Curves - A toolbar icon was created for the Delete All Curves command in a Probe analysis.
-) Shapegroups - The schematic file now only saves the shape information for shapegroups that are used in the schematic.
-) Show Binning - A Show Binning option has been added to the Attribute dialog box, Model editor, and the Model Parameter Limits editor to be able to hide MOSFET binning parameters in the parameter list.
-) Attribute Dialog Box Find Command - The Find command in the Attribute dialog box now remembers the last string searched on and automatically highlights the first found item in the list.
-) Label Branches - Improved the search time when doing an automatic lable placement for the Label Branches command.
-) Model List - The model list in the Attribute dialog box now displays models that start with a $ at the top of the list.
-) Stepping Dialog Box - The Stepping dialog box now keeps track of the last viewed pane during a single analysis session.