Multisim and Ultiboard Idea Exchange

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I've recently switched from using RS Design Spark to the NI Circuit Design Suite. In Design Spark, I used component models from componentsearchengine.com and imported them using a piece of software called Library Loader by SamecSys.


I was more than a little disappointed to learn that NI Multisim/Ultiboard is one of the few EDA's with which it is not compatible, and it's made me question whether switching to Multisim was the right choice for me.


I've contacted SamecSys to ask if there are any plans for compatibility with Multisim, and had a reply from Mark saying that he would love to make Library Loader compatible with Multisim/Ultiboard. He is ready to go with the project, but requires the co-operation of NI.

 

I've also contacted NI Technical Support and received the following response:

 

The best way for you to further this issue would be for yourself to post on the MultiSim/Ultiboard Ideas board which allows for our R&D department to see the requests of our customers. I believe a few people may have already posted about this issue but the more people that post the more likely it is for the issue to get raised!

 

I'm posting this request here in hope that it is seen by the right person.

 

Mark at SamecSys is ready to get to work with making Library Loader compatible with Multisim, he's just waiting for somebody at NI to get in touch with him and co-operate.

Our company has used Multisim/Ultiboard for about seventeen years now.  I wouldn't know how to calculate the opportunity cost for developing our corporate library of components, but it's safe to say it has been substantial.

 

Since importing component libraries would save time, I asked NI Technical Support about importing ECAD libraries.  

 

               "Unfortunately there is nothing on the roadmap for this feature right now. ECAD is certainly a requested feature and we are interested in                    potentially working it into the product. However, there is no any plan for a soon release."

 

I recommend to anyone considering purchasing PCB CAD software to consider this.

Hi,

Multisim Live allows for the export of .ms14 files but will not import them.

 

Multisim will not export .msjs files

 

So there is no way for the tools to be used interchangeably.  

 

This topic has been on the forum for several years(10-25-2017) so clearly there is a strong argument for not implementing it.

 

Proposal:Could you either:

  • Add MAC OS support 

OR

  • Allow Multisim Live & Multisim to work interchangeably by importing/exporting of suitable data files.

 

Thanks & regards...

 

 

 

The gerber output from Ultiboard should have either an option to turn off the targeting and cornering or just leave these out.  These were used back in the cave man days to line up the gerbers for a photo shoot.  Today, they are useless and make more work in deleting them on each layer.

We are a user of Multisim and Ultiboard and have been for many years.  We have appreciated that there are user fields in the data base that we can populate with our company specific information including Part Numbers and descriptions. 

 

Here is the Good idea . . . We would like to be able to have our Part Numbers display on schematics and appear in BOM reports and also transfer to Ultiboard.   Transferring to Ultiboard is important so that the Part Numbers appear on the Centroid Output.  Currently this can be done in Multisim by copying and pasting the PN into the Label field however, this a very tedious task and it leads to errors especially on large schematic designs.  As for BOM reports, it is also a very tedious task that takes a long time.  

 

With Ultiboard, this is also a manual process of copying the Part Numbers from the schematic to the Centroid output for our machine machine programs.  (SMT)  

 

This seems like these would be very useful tools for an operation who is using your software for both design and manufacturing.  Please consider adding this feature to the next update. 

I have worked as a contractor/consultant for many companies, many years and the number one reason there has been no demand for library of symbols, footprints, 3D models is because your potential customers have resorted to other competitors software that use Ultra Librarian. This is the first time I have ever used Multisim and Ultiboard because of that very reason which is hard to believe knowing I am a contractor/consultant.

 

At our company, Multisim and Ultiboard was recommended by an engineer who used this as an instructor at a University which is good for student education purposes only to learn how to make symbols, footprints, 3D models but in the real world… why not save time and money by using already existing libraries?

 

You should not only take note of insufficient demand… but why there is insufficient demand and why potential customers have resorted to competitors software.

Add the possibility to transfer components user fields from MS (MultiSim) to UB (UltiBoard) in TEXT variables (TEXT,TEXT1,TEXT2,...).

In UB add the possibility to have the component height (height + Offset) and user fields to the part centroids export

In UB add the possibility to export user fields in the BOM

On upgrade it would be interesting to automatically keep the circuit designer suite configuration, particuliarly for customized interface, user button and keyboard shortcuts.

 

Thanks

It would be interesting to have a feature to import either text base, .csv, or XML format netlist into Multisim. We have a Flying probe machine (Acculogic brand) that export netlist in XML format (See the attached file) Would it be possible to add the feature added to import that netlist in Multisim. See the attached xml file to see an partial example of netlist that we have. 

Some icons suggestion (part 2) to add to ultiboard for:

Keep-in/Keep-out area

Narrow

Orthogonal

PCB properties

Unplace parts

Update component

Widen

Group Replica place

Download All

Some icons suggestion (part 1) to add to ultiboard for:

45 deg. angle

Add vertex

Any angle

Board outline check

Connectivity check

Corner Mittering

Export

Group editor

Download All

Some icons suggestion to add to multisim for:

Add Multi-Page

Bill of Material

Export Spice Netlist

Highlight selection in Ultiboard

Netlist Report

Replace component

Reverse Probe Direction

Spare Gate Report

Update Component

Download All

I would like the option to change the color of the PCB. This feature allows a versatile look before sending file to manufacturing.

Red, blue, purple, etc please 🙂

 

Thanks.

bits4bots@gmail.com 

 

 

Bits4Bots | Nibble MC DevBits4Bots | Nibble MC Dev

I am a university lexcturer and have  alarge number of Multisim 14 files that I use in teaching. I try to encourage students to install Mutisim on their own computers (it is available under our site licence), but most are not happy to do this for many reason including different OSes, lack of disk space etc. etc. . However, Multisim Live is the answer - but i need to be able to transfer my design across to it.

 

It would also be useful for me personally as I use a Mac for most things and have to revert to a PC for MS 14 😞

 

Please add an import function - you already have an export function 

I am using Multisim 14 with the BASYS3 board  to teach a beginning digital class.  It would be very useful to have a searchable document reference of the available PLD components.  The best way I see to get information now is to do a internet search on each individual name.  Are there any better sources?  Thanks so much for your help.

It's possible to select, edit, and place a net bridge footprint in Ultiboard (that connect two different nets, such as analog and digital ground), but there is presently no way to create a net bridge component in Multisim to complete a schematic that exactly matches and forward annotates to a desired board layout.  At least some other software packages (e.g. Altium) do offer such a component.  The ability to create such a part in Multisim would make for a much cleaner process, including design verification.

Some users have suggested the following ideas:

1) Add a feature searching functionality: The current search options are mostly related to the vendor name or characteristics, sometimes it could be cumbersome to find a part using the vendor name. Parts should be also accessible by its characteristics and features.

2) Add a command to access via command line the interactive simulation.

Allow user defined IGBT SPICE model with IGBT symbol, just like for NMOS

Hello everyone

It would be great if we could add a dummy object. I mean a schematic element that represents only the footprint. There are so many items that are not in your library. It seems a good idea if I could select a "DIP14" entry without a simulator behind it.
Only to be able to create a simple schematic...

I posted the following in the main Multisim - Ultiboard forum but it was suggested I post it here.  Sorry for the duplicate posting.

 

Digi-key and other distributors are providing schematic symbols and footprints via Ultra Librarian in many formats (e.g. OrCad, Altium, Cadence, even Eagle!!) but NOT for Multisim or Ultiboard.  I have asked the Ultra Librarian people why this is and they say they have tools to support it but are having trouble getting required information from NI to complete the work and make a release.  

 

What does it take to get Ultra Librarian the information they need?  Who is the right NI contact?  Why do we MS/UB users not have the same tools as the other package users?