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.
5.0.59
Program was reprocessed to reduce the large and growing number of false
positive anti-virus program reports. There is no operational difference
between this version and 5.0.58. A larger main executable file is
normal, a result of the reprocessing.
5.0.58
A bug introduced in v. 5.0.55 caused various types of crashes when
running an
SWR or
frequency sweep with a model containing one or more virtual segments.
5.0.57
A bug introduced in v. 5.0.55 caused an Error 9 crash when running an
SWR or
frequency sweep with a model containing one or more virtual segments.
5.0.56
Internal code changes only; no operational difference from v. 5.0.55.
5.0.55
In some program revisions, when running a frequency or SWR sweep,
stepped diameter correction (SDC) wasn't correctly being applied after
the first frequency,
resulting in the first frequency correction being applied for all the
remaining
frequencies. Consequently, if meeting of SDC criteria changed after the
first frequency step,
results for frequencies after the change wouldn't be correct and
wouldn't agree with a
single-frequency calculation.
5.0.54
3D plot wouldn't correctly scale, and some gain and angle values
reported in the 3D Plot data window weren't correct, if the maximum
pattern gain was less than 0 dBi.
5.0.53
Version 5.0.52 would crash with Error 13 when starting on a Windows
Home Server, Windows Server 2003, or 64 bit Windows XP system..
5.0.52
In some program revisions, 2D display grid dots were invisible or very
dim when the classic 2D grid style was selected.
If a trace file saved with v. 4.0 or earlier was opened as a primary
trace in TraceView, the linear plot range was set to zero, which in
some cases caused an error message to appear.
Program would crash on some machines with Error 13 under a specific set
of conditions: Data changed in a data grid entry window (Sources,
Loads, etc.) and FF Plot or some other button on the main window
clicked without first pressing <Enter> to finalize the
change,
when View Antenna, 3D and 2D plot windows were open.
[EZNEC
Pro only]: When a very
large model caused virtual memory operation with an NEC-2 calculating
engine, in some program revisions the calculating engine would stop and
report Stop Error 204 just after the geometry check completed.
5.0.51
When a 3D plot or FF table was generated but a 2D plot not shown and
the user requested a change of outer ring value from automatic to a
fixed value, an incorrect default value was shown in the text box.
Changed Option menu entry from "2D Plot Scale" to "2D, 3D Plot Scale"
because it affects both types. Note, however, that the 3D plot had and
still has a fixed range.
Added additional diagnostic information to the run log file.
Demo program would crash with Error 429 if installed after installing
and uninstalling EZNEC-ARRL v. 5.0.
Made additions and corrections to the manual, most notably a new topic
regarding end fed antennas.
5.0.50
When first installed
on a machine with no previous EZNEC installations, a message sometimes
appeared erroneously saying that one or more directories specified for
output could not be accessed.
On newer machines and operating systems, the message would appear that
the "core part of EZNEC has stopped working". This was due to a
restrictive setting of Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and it was
necessary in those cases to make an exception for the EZNEC executable
file. That is no longer necessary on most systems.
5.0.49
This revision was not released.
5.0.48
Program would crash (Error 11) if any Printer Setup dialog box was
opened then canceled, and printing subsequently requested.
In some versions, attempting to print the View Antenna display virtual
segment connections list would could cause a crash (Error 438).
5.0.47
In some versions, attempting to apply segment length tapering could
cause a crash (Error 9).
5.0.46
When changing loop diameter, values from previous run were pre-entered
in dialog, but not accepted as being valid.
Crash (Error 9) would occur under some conditions of importing wires
from an ASCII file.
5.0.45
V. 5.0.44 would crash
(Error 76) at startup in new installations.
5.0.44
Program would crash
(Error 9) after calculation if compass bearing was chosen for azimuth
angle display and the 2D plot range was restricted to less than 90
degrees.
Reversed operation of up/down keys when moving the 2D plot cursor with
the compass bearing azimuth angle option. The up and down keys now
increase and decrease the cursor angle respectively.
5.0.43
In some versions, graphics windows would not re-draw if
covered by some dialog windows then uncovered.
Fixed labels in the Frequency Sweep Input form which could truncate
text at some settings of screen resolution and DPI.
Improved EZNEC's ability to properly detect whether resistance and/or
power are positive or negative in cases where large and nearly equal
positive and negative powers are present.
[EZNEC
Pro only]: Several
different types of crash could occur when using a plane wave source if
conventional (voltage or current) sources had previously been defined.
5.0.42
On displays with low
resolution and/or high DPI setting, v. 5.0.41 entry grid rows were much
too large.
Made further improvements to appearance and operation of data entry
grids,
particularly on displays with low resolution and/or high DPI settings.
5.0.41
Improved appearance when operating system display is set to higher than
standard DPI.
[EZNEC
Pro/4 only]:
SWR and Frequency Sweep results could be erroneous (with typically a
very small error) when using an NEC-4 calculating engine if a model
contained wire insulation, one or more loads or wire loss, and more
than one virtual segment or current source.
5.0.40
Program would crash
(Error 9) when importing wire coordinates from an ASCII file if all the
following conditions existed: The selection was made to replace the
existing wires with the ones from the file; the number of wires in
the file was fewer than the number in the existing
description;
the units declared in the file were different than the units in the
current description; and the Wires Window was open at the time of the
importation.
5.0.39
[EZNEC Pro only]: In
v. 5.0.35 - 5.0.38, the calculating engine could end abruptly without
an error message when the calculation is only partly finished. This was
observed with some very large models when the disk was being used for
virtual memory. It was seen only with NEC-4 calculating engines,
although it might have occurred also with NEC-2 engines.
5.0.38
When
a defective command-line specified description file was opened, the
name of the defective file would appear in the "File" line of the main
window. When a defective file is opened, the Last.EZ file is read, and
its name now correctly shows in the window. The same problem would
occur with defective normally opened .NEC files (EZNEC Pro only).
When
a frequency-sweep generated trace was opened in Trace View, the main
window showed the nominal model frequency rather than the frequency at
which the plot was run.
Having more than two wires connecting at a junction didn't prevent
Stepped Diameter Correction from being applied to a group of wires
otherwise qualified. Wire length changes resulting from Stepped
Diameter Correction would break the connections to wires not belonging
to the corrected group, resulting in various errors. Any group of wires
having more than two wires connecting at any junction are now excluded
from Stepped Diameter Correction.
5.0.37
Fixed
bug present in v. 5.0.35 and 5.0.36: When wire coordinates are entered
in the add row using W#E# notation, the coordinates of the same end of
wire 1 were changed to the same values.
5.0.36
Fixed
bug introduced in v. 5.0.35: 2D plot data pane would not update
properly after 2D plot window was covered and uncovered by another
window.
5.0.35
Program
would crash (Error 6) when running a model with parallel
component, shunt connected RLC load having all components open.
Improved frequency/SWR sweep speed with small models by eliminating
some redundant calculations.
Error message sometimes didn't correctly show permissible range when an
entered value exceeded the range for the variable type.
Calculating
engine would generate an Error 462 message if a model contained one or
more split current sources and one or more Y parameter networks (EZNEC
Pro only), L networks, transformers, lossy transmission lines, or shunt
connected loads.
When
using W#E# shortcut to
enter wire coordinate values, the entered values were sometimes very
slightly different than the copied coordinates. The only practical
effect was occasional failure of program to detect duplicate wires
created in this way.
5.0.34
Program would
crash (Error 9) when segment length tapering if the tapered
wire had a split source on one or both ends.
In spherical
coordinate near field data written to a frequency sweep output file,
data would be for incorrect coordinates on alterate frequencies.
5.0.33
Program
would crash (Error 91) when closing the program if the
Frequency Sweep frequency file had been opened for editing.
In some revisions, 2D plot recalled trace colors couldn't be
changed.
2D
plot Reset Cursor to Max didn't work properly under some conditions
when multiple 2D traces were being displayed, cursor was on primary
trace, and primary trace was 2D slice of 3D plot.
Frequency sweep
wouldn't function properly if frequencies were being read from a file
and the file was edited outside the Frequency Sweep dialog box during
program operation.
It was possible to save description files
containing certain wire errors if there were also duplicate or
zero length wires which were deleted before saving.
5.0.32
V.
5.0.31 would crash (Error 9) when changing wire coordinates or
under some other conditions if the View Antenna window was open with
Show Data not selected.
5.0.31
A
crash (Error 11) would occur if Load Dat button was clicked if a zero
impedance parallel connected load was present.
Changes in linear 2D plot range weren't reversible using the undo
feature.
LastZ.txt
file was replaced by one containing only header information and no data
if the alternate SWR Z0 value was changed when no valid SWR data were
present.
Additional information is now written into the LastRun.log
file, and additional protections against division by zero were
implemented in several places in the program in an effort to isolate or
eliminate occasional reported divide by zero (Error 11) crashes.
5.0.30
A
crash (Error 9) would occur in v. 5.0.29 when running a calculation if
the model contained both loads and virtual segments.
Transmission line stubs on copied wires weren't being copied correctly.
2D
plot step size not evenly divisible into 180 degrees would cause
various 2D display anomalies. 2D step size must now be evenly divisible
into 180 degrees.
Several additions and corrections were made to the manual.
5.0.29
A
crash (Error 13) would occur in the L Networks Window if RLC
type was
selected and the R Freq column was empty when data were finalized (for
example by pressing the <Enter> key).
In
the tabular far field data display, the displayed angle was rounded off
to nearest integer when a fractional angle step size was
specified.
When
the ground type was changed from Real to Perfect or Free Space then
back to Real, the ground conductivity and permittivity would be reset
to default values. The program now remembers the previous values. Note:
The program doesn't currently remember specifications related to a
second ground medium. The undo feature should be used to restore a
previous two-medium ground configuration.
A very small error could
occur in results when the model contained multiple virtual segments. It
was small enough to not usually be noticeable except for a slight
asymmetry in the pattern of a symmetrical antenna.
5.0.28
A
crash (Error 13) would occur in the Loads Window if RLC type
was
selected and the R Freq column was empty when data were finalized (for
example by pressing the <Enter> key).
In some revisions, the
wire length shown in the View Antenna pop-up display wouldn't
change when some description modifications which change wire lengths
(such as changing height of only some wires with Preserve Connections
on) was done.
5.0.27
Data windows (e.g., Source
Data, FF Table) wouldn't appear on some Windows 98 systems when using
v. 5.0.26.
[EZNEC
Pro only]:
When reading NEC-format files, ordinary loads (LD4) would generate
erroneous "limits include partial wires" messages in the translation
window, and a crash (Error 9) would occur if the model contained a
network which EZNEC determined to represent a transformer.
5.0.26
On
some systems having a right-to-left language (e.g., Hebrew) installed,
display of large outputs such as 3D field data was extremely slow,
appearing in some cases like a program hang.
Added new Special Options to allow increasing the widths of 2D plot and
grid lines displayed on the screen.
Made minor corrections and additions to the manual.
5.0.25
Program
would crash (Error 13) if the 2D plot grid style was changed while the
2D plot window was closed, and after running a 3D plot.
On rare
occasions after making an exact copy of wires, the coordinates of the
last wire copied would be changed very slightly. It wasn't
enough
to affect results or be visible in the Wires Window, but would prevent
the wire from being identified as an exact duplicate.
[EZNEC
Pro only]: Removed some
obsolete and/or inoperative selections from the Utilities Menu.
5.0.24
An
unusual problem was found when running on one user machine which causes
major calculation errors. The errors are large enough that they
generally result in an error message indicating that a negative power
value was calculated, so it's not likely that this same problem has
been occurring on other machines without being noticed. However, this
revision contains a trap to detect the problem in case it does. If it
occurs, a message will be displayed with a request to send a diagnostic
file to the program author for analysis.
[EZNEC+,
EZNEC Pro only]:
Program would crash (Error 9) when using Advanced Wire Features (Make
Multiple Copies, Reflect Wires, Make Cylindrical Struct) if the feature
window overlapped the main part of the View Antenna display.
[EZNEC
Pro only]:
Program
would crash when running an NEC-format file if explicit tag number
specification in LD or other card was that of a non-existent wire or
one which had been rejected or not read for some reason.
5.0.23
Demo, Standard, and Plus v.
5.0.23 programs are functionally identical to v. 5.0.22.
[EZNEC
Pro only]:
Program would crash with Error 9 if a frequency sweep was run and plane
wave source specified.
5.0.22
When combining
descriptions (adding a description to the currently open one), a number
of features weren't properly combined: virtual segments, wire
insulation, transmission line loss, transformers, L networks, and
[EZNEC Pro only] Y parameter networks.
When using the classic 2D
plot grid while viewing 2D "slices" of a 3D plot, the horizontal line
indicating ground in an elevation plot over a ground plane would remain
when switching to an azimuth pattern.
5.0.21
Fixed
problem introduced by v. 5.0.20: When arrow keys were used to move
cursor after modifying data in Wires Window, cursor would move to the
first column regardless of which column it was moving from.
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.