Dymola 5.0 release notes

News in version 5.0c++

• Added export of AVI or Animated GIF from the animation window. Animated GIF requires GIF Construction Set (TM) to produce the GIF file from PNG images.
• The parameter dialog has been extended with the model's icon, and an Info button that displays model documentation.
• Added possibility to disable variable legend in plot window, see Plot/Options.
• Improved support for translation of menus and dialogs into other languages.

News in version 5.0c

• Many minor improvements, in particular for efficient support of the new PowerTrain library.
• Improved support for running large models in Matlab/Simulink 6.5.
• Simulation log file is displayed even if result file is empty (nothing stored).
• Included additional Matlab package: mfiles/dymtools for handling large trajectories.
• Updated "light" versions of Hydraulics library (2.1) and Pneumatics library (1.0b) included in Dymola distribution.

News in version 5.0b

• Implemented support for the function smooth, which is described in the Modelica specification.
• Improved animation support: "spring" and "tire", and DynamicShapeBody for objects that dynamically vary length, width, height, etc. Library developers can contact Dynasim for further information.
• File/Save As now allows you to save a top-level package in a new file (or directory structure) without having to rename it.
• Improved support for table-lookup using ModelicaAdditions.Tables.
• Bug fix: Edit/Paste in the graphical editor would sometimes give components incorrect names. This happened when components were copied from one model and pasted in another.
• Encryption of libraries. Library developers can contact Dynasim for further information.
• Library of pneumatic components developed by Prof. Dr. Peter Beater. Please contact sales@dynasim.se for further information.

News in version 5.0a

• Improved graphical editor:
• File/Export/To Clipboard has been added. For the graphical editor and plot windows, export to clipboard generates graphics in the Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF). This allows graphics to be scaled, and uses much less space than bitmaps.
• Edit/Select All has been added. It selects all objects shown in the graphical editor. Note that it also selects objects inherited from base classes (this is different from Dymola 4, but consistent with multiple select using the mouse).
• Multiple select + Shift toggles selection and allows additional object to be selected.
• Moving objects with arrow keys: In the diagram and icon layers, selcted graphical objects can be moved by pressing the arrow keys. The default is to move one grid unit (as specified in Edit/Attributes). If the Ctrl key is held down, the objects are moved half a grid unit. If the Shift key is held down, the objects move half a gridline (five grid units).
• Has a mode to show redeclared classes (and substituted hierarchical modifications of parameters) in the graphics layers. This is enabled with context menu in diagram layer.
• Models read from a read-only file are also read-only in Dymola.
• Improved modifier window:
• Parameters can be set for multiple selections. When multiple components have been selected, the modifier window contains the intersection of all parameters. If the selected components do not use the same value for a parameter, then the symbol "<< ... >>" is shown instead of a value.
• Matrix, array, and function-call editor for parameters (context menu for input field).
• A simplified choices annotation (choicesFromPackage=true) for choosing between all classes in the same package as the constraining class.
• A simplified choices annotation(choicesAllMatching=true) for choosing between all classes that has the constraining clause as base-class. Possible to combine the different choices-annotations.
• Constants with no given value are also included in modifier window. This can be e.g. be used for a package inheriting constants with no value: select show package in package browser, use context menu of extends-clause in component browser to show modifier window and set constants.
• Improved package browser:
• Double-click on a package in the package browser will display documentation or Modelica text for this package. This is consistent with the behaviour for models. Note that double-click on a package also opens the package, which is normally done by clicking on the "+" in front of the package name. The behaviour can be reset to be compatible with Dymola 5.0 by setting Advanced.DisplayPackage=false.
• Handles packages with redeclared internal packages/models (included in package browser, allows dragging of models).
• Remove, rename and adding classes to packages is supported in context menu.
• Model translation:
• Checks quantities (as well as units) for connections when checking or translating.
• Allows having different quantities for array elements.
• Enabled on-line checking that time-differentiated if-expressions are continuous (and removed warning during translation).
• Extended output of statistics during translation.
• Check of packages/model will insert values for constants if necessary (taking into account min-value).
• The commands for running a script, translating a model and running a simulation are easier to stop. A "stop" button has been added to the toolbar next to the Simulate button.
• Other simulation environments:
• Simulink interface supports buses for hierarchical connectors.
• MATLAB R13.1 and dSPACE Release 3.4 supported.
• Setup and installation:
• The current directory may contain non-english characters in its name.
• Better support for detecting compiler problems. Simulation/Setup can verify the compiler setup.
• Possible to create a desktop shortcut to Dymola 5 during installation (not default).
• Updated OpenGL libraries are installed on Windows 95.
• Dymola User's Manual improved and updated to reflect recent additions.
• Version handling for libraries using the tentative Modelica syntax. This is used for version 1.0 of the PowerTrain library (to allow upgrades from version 0.98 this is configurable in dymodraw.ini). Library developers can contact Dynasim for further information.

• Modelica standard library version 1.5.
• Significant changes potentially influencing existing models were made to the following classes: Modelica.Blocks.Sources.TimeTable (for startTime<>0), Modelica.Electrical.Analog.Semiconductors: PMOS and NMOS, Modelica.Electrical.Analog.Sources.TrapezoidCurrent
• The changes are described in Modelica/Documentation.

News in version 5.0

• Browsing facilities for navigating large and complex systems. This includes a package browser for navigating libraries and a component browser for navigating complex models.
• New text editor for Modelica textual representation with syntax highlighting.
• GUI support for advanced Modelica features such as redeclare.
• New experiment facilities: naming of experiment results, several results available for browsing, online plotting, multiple diagrams in each plot window, direct comparison of variables.
• Instantaneous 3D visualization of MBS models. Import of 3D shapes in STL format. Export of animations in VRML format.

News in version 4.x