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.