EZNEC
v. 5.0 Update List
This
is a list of changes or of problems which
were fixed in each EZNEC v. 5.0
update. Each update also contains all the changes listed below it. For
example, 5.0.3 contains all the items listed for 5.0.3, 5.0.2, and
5.0.1 (the first revision). Updates for all EZNEC v. 5.0
program types are shown.
5.0.20
Fixed
problems introduced by v. 5.0.19: Incorrect operation of scroll bar
following certain wire operations in models having more than 15 wires,
"Error 91" crash when some wire operations were done.
5.0.19
When using an NEC-2
calculating engine, pattern analysis data shown in the 2D Plot Window
data display gave erratic results when the pattern was nearly
omnidirectional.
Wire connection and other data shown in the
currently selected row of the Wires Window were sometimes incorrect
immediately after doing certain operations such as making offset wire
copies. This didn't affect calculation results.
When
showing multiple traces in the 2D Plot Window, pattern analysis and
cursor data were incorrect when other than the default polarization was
selected for display.
5.0.18
When
the antenna was rescaled via the Change Frequency dialog and Units were
Wavelengths, the View Antenna display abruptly and incorrectly changed
size the first time it was moved after the rescaling.
Fixed
several
problems with the 2D pattern analysis (maximum gain, front/back ratio,
beamwidth, etc.). The most notable is that the analysis now does a
better job of identifying the probable pattern maximum and sidelobe
peak angles when the field strength is identical (to 0.01 dB) at
several adjacent points.
A
calculating engine error would occur if the number of conventional
segments was within the allowed limit but the sum of conventional and
virtual segments was greater than the limit. There is now no limit to
the number of virtual segments; only the conventional segments are
counted against the limit.A
program crash (Error 6) would occur when extremely large values were
used for wire coordinates. This isn't recommended practice, but it
shouldn't cause a crash, and no longer does.
5.0.17
In
some versions, a crash (Error 9) would occur when copying any insertion
objects (sources, loads, etc.).
Near
field setup now shows compass bearing when entering locations in
spherical coordinates and when compass bearing has been
selected
via the Options menu.
5.0.16
In
some versions, all program windows would close after invoking TraceView
operation and choosing a primary trace file. Windows Task Manager would
show the program to still be running. It's possible that some other
rare malfunctions could result from the same cause.
5.0.15
Program
would crash with Error 401 if the View Antenna display was open when
changing the plot range in the Description Options form.
Undo
function didn't work for plot range change.
Several
Wires Window functions which copy or replicate wires didn't work
properly if the one of the selected wires was the same as or a higher
number than the Place After value.
Modified the way a 2D
"slice" is
shown when first viewing from the 3D display, to reduce the ambiguity
between the two possible views of a 2D elevation "slice".
[EZNEC Pro/4 only]
Program would crash with Error 9 at the beginning of calculations if
the double precision NEC-4 calculating engine was chosen and the model
contained no virtual segments and at least one parallel connected load,
lossy transmission line, transformer, or L or Y parameter network.
5.0.14
This
revision corrects two bugs inadvertently introduced in earlier
revisions which can cause program crashes (most commonly Error 9) when EZNEC is first
started or when first run after installation. The problems are most
likely to occur on systems on which a previous version of EZNEC had been
installed and later removed.
5.0.13
Wire
numbers can now be toggled on and off in the View Antenna display by
pressing the N
key when the View Antenna display is active. Default wire number text
size has been reduced. A new Special Option, VAObjTextSizePct (see
manual index), was created to enable adjusting the wire number
text size.
Calculating engine would crash with a "severe"
error when re-running a calculation with different plot
settings,
under some circumstances and with some program versions.
Rarely,
program would fail to start, crashing with an Error 52 (in versions
prior to 5.0.11), or with a message that the program was unable to
create the EZNEC_temp directory.
On very rare occasions, a
calculating engine error (Stop Error 451) would occur in a model having
two connected wires of very different length. This wouldn't cause a
program crash, but the calculation would end prematurely.
Made
minor corrections and additions to the manual.
[EZNEC Pro only]
In some versions, program would crash with Error 9 when reading an NEC
format file containing an LD or IS "card" with parameter I/LDTAG
<> 0 and I/LDTAGF = 0.
5.0.12
Fixed
three errors which were introduced in v. 5.0.11:
Program would
crash with system Error 31 when started under Windows 98 or ME.
Program
would crash with Error 482 when started on a system which has no
default printer.
When opening certain dialog windows, the
focus was not intially set to any of the text entry boxes or other
controls.
5.0.11
Program
could crash with Error 7 (out of memory) under some unusual
circumstances when a large number of switches between azimuth and
elevation slices was made when viewing 2D slices of a 3D display.
A
few context-sensitive help links were incorrect, resulting in the wrong
topic opening in the manual when the F1 key was pressed.
Made
minor corrections and additions to the manual.
[EZNEC+, EZNEC Pro only] Some
versions of the program would crash when using any of the Advanced Wire
Features (Make Multiple Copies, Reflect Wires, Make Cylindrical
Structure) on wires selected from the grid rather than specified by
range in the input dialog.
[EZNEC Pro only (all remaining
items)]
Calculating engine would report an allocation error for models with
more than about 10,000 double precision or 14,000 single precision
segments on machines having more than about 4 GB RAM.
Fixed
several problems and potential problems which could occur when running
multiple program instances.
Insertion
objects were sometimes misplaced when reading some NEC-format files
containing geometry-modifying "cards" such as GA or GM. Other
translation errors could occur if tag numbers were assigned in certain
and relatively unusual ways.
The program would refuse to do
calculations or save a file if an improperly placed conventional source
had been defined, even when a plane wave source was being used.
5.0.10
SWR
sweep window was closed and SWR sweep data made invalid when the main
frequency was changed.
Special Options ButtonFontName and
ButtonFontSize didn't affect the FF Plot/Freq Swp button.
When
a single wire was highlighted and Create Radials selected, the default
values appearing in the prototype wire selection box were incorrect.
When
a file with 2D azimuth plot specification was opened following
the
opening of one specifying a 3D plot, the plot elevation angle was
incorrectly labeled Azimuth Angle or Azimuth Bearing. There might also
have been other errors associated with opening files in a particular
sequence, which were fixed by the same modification.
5.0.9
In
v. 5.0.8 only, frequency and SWR sweeps would do an extra step,
resulting in erroneous displays. When frequencies are being read from a
file, it can result in an "Error 9" crash.
The
"Using stepped diameter corr" text didn't appear at top of the
Calculation Progress Window when this feature was activated, except on
second and successive sweeps of SWR or frequency sweep. It didn't
appear at all if not doing a sweep.
Context sensitive help (F1
key) now available for the virtual segment connection display.
Minor
revisions and corrections made to the manual. New topic "L Network
Limitations" added.
Printable
manual table of contents and index didn't show correct page numbers.
This was corrected before the v. 5.0.9 release.
[EZNEC+, EZNEC Pro only]
When making a
cylindrical structure or multiple copies of wires, program would
sometimes
give erroneous message that the number of segments in the copy was too
great, and refuse to perform the action.
[EZNEC Pro/4 only]
The double precision NEC-4 calculating engine would return Stop Error
462 and fail to complete if the model contained one or more parallel
connected loads or lossy transmission line stubs.
5.0.8
Program
now writes a run log and contains additional diagnostic code to aid in
tracking down occasional hard-to-duplicate crashes. Some code changes
were made which might reduce the possibility of some kinds of errors.
Average
Gain "Model contains loss" indicator would improperly appear when an L
network had a very high resistance shunt branch.
[EZNEC+, EZNEC Pro only]
Range of impedances possible with L networks has been increased when
using a double-precision calculating engine. Accuracy
improved also with transformers, parallel-connected loads, and
[EZNEC Pro only]
Y parameter networks when using a double-precision calculating engine.
[EZNEC Pro only]
Keys showing vertical, horizontal, and total fields didn't appear in
the 2D plot window when ground wave analysis was being run. Far field
table units options weren't shown properly.
5.0.7
V.
5.0.5 and 5.0.6 would not give the correct results if the
model
contained an L network with a series component and very high impedance
shunt component.
Wire number and position entered as a
"shortcut" (e.g. "W3E2") was not processed correctly if done at port 2
of an L network.
Made
minor changes to the manual. Printable manual was corrected to include
a few missing topics, but this wasn't done until about 12 hours after
the release of v. 5.0.7. If you have printable manual files dated on or
before July 10, 2007, please download the corrected files, dated July
13.
5.0.6
Transmission
lines
having one end connected to a virtual segment and the other connected
to a copied wire were improperly copied when copying wires. By current
rules, they shouldn't have been.
[EZNEC Pro/4 only]
NEC-4 calculating engines would sometimes return "Stop Error 437" when
all virtual segments were deleted between calculations.
5.0.5
A problem
causing occasional crashes with "Error 339" reports regarding
registration of mscomct2.ocx in about one percent of the installations
has been fixed. This solution might also fix some other problems and
erratic crashes.
Program would produce incorrect results if an
L network series or shunt branch was a short circuit.
"Model
contains loss" indicator for Average Gain results wasn't appearing when
only transmission line or [EZNEC
Pro only] Y parameter network loss was present.
5.0.4
On
rare occasions when opening a description file containing one source
and saved by an earlier version of EZNEC,
program would ignore the source.
[EZNEC Pro/4 only]
NEC-4 calculating engines would sometimes return "Stop Error 437" when
the model
contained virtual segments.
5.0.3
Fixed
an elusive crash which would sometimes occur with an Error 9 message.
This would usually happen immediately after some change was made to the
description, such as changing frequency, although it could happen at
other times and would usually not be repeatable.
5.0.2
[EZNEC+,
EZNEC Pro only] : The Make Cylindrical Structure and Make Multiple
Copies features wouldn't create the requested wires if any parameters
were changed from the initial default values.
5.0.1
Spurious
wires were shown in the View Antenna display in some models with
transmission lines connected to virtual segments.
Changed
how transmssion lines were shown in the View Antenna display to conform
with standard for two port insertion objects.
Made
corrections to the manual and added material to the manual including
additional index entries.
Corrected the copyright date shown
in the manual.
[Demo:] Fixed the error causing the v. 5.0.0
demos to be inoperative.