Microcap 12 is free (as in beer) now - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 08:02:39 pm
content: The Microcap simulator software is now a free (as in beer) download:http://www.spectrum-soft.com/download/download.shtmThe company is apparently shutting down so they have released the software for free. It is Windows only but itsupposedlyruns in Linux with Wine too.Nice to have a pretty powerful alternative to LTSpice!

author: taydin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 08:42:29 pm
content: WOW, this software has been around like forever! I remember drooling over it when I was in college back in the beginning of the 90's.Hats off to Spectrum Software for making this available for free. This should be a lesson to all other companies that just leave a product to die. So many vintage gear from Tek, HP and the like are just left to die because these companies don't make the design information available, even though none of these products are sold any longer. For example, why don't these companies provide all software options for free for the products that it has discontinued? They won't make money from selling the options anyway.

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 08:46:31 pm
content: Lovely! It does work in Wine on my computer and I managed to simulate something. I'm very happy and definitely give it a try. Hope it has better UI than LTSpice. The range of simulators that run on Linux is very limited, and most of them were not very useful for me.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 08:51:12 pm
content: I have also managed to get it to work in Wine, just the 32bit version sometimes glitches and doesn't react to clicks, only keyboard. Weird bug.I am not sure whether the UI is "better" than LTSpice, though - it does have its own share of quirks, such as each component having 8 (!) predefined orientations you select from instead of a "Rotate" and "Mirror" functions but I guess one can live with that. The way how to define probing points for plotting is a bit clunky, though - LTSpice allows to place probes, here you have to define the plots by hand in a table. Or maybe I haven't figured it out yet.I love some of the features such as the power analysis - you get a nice "HOT!" warning on a transistor if there is too much current flowing through, "LIN" when in linear regime, etc. Not absolutely necessary but neat.I hope that component models will be available (or adaptable) for it, though - that's where LTSpice has definitely an advantage.

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 09:10:47 pm
content: Quote from: janoc on August 04, 2019, 08:51:12 pmThere are flip X/Y buttons on the tool panel. May be there is a hotkey, I'm yet to read the manual. As for probing, there is "probe" function. Doesn't always work the way I expect, probably RTFM problem.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 12:46:41 am
content: QuoteI don't see the announcement that they are shutting down. Where did you read this?

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 12:50:45 pm
content: Quote from: bostonman on August 05, 2019, 12:46:41 amI haven't downloaded and tested Microcap yet, but I haven't seen any information (granted I didn't look extensively) on the web site that Microcap had become free either. Did I miss the info or are they just being very discreet about it?

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 01:35:46 pm
content: Quote from: bostonman on August 05, 2019, 12:46:41 amOn Reddit, in the thread where this was posted:https://www.reddit.com/r/electronics/comments/cg5q3l/after_36_years_as_a_commercial_product_the/euhkrkp?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 01:37:31 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on August 05, 2019, 12:50:45 pmIt is in the EULA:QuoteThey were supposed to post an announcement on the website too but it seems it didn't happen yet.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 01:44:39 pm
content: Oh, OK.Well, if they are indeed shutting down, that's understandable. They may not even be allowed to officially announce it while the procedure is under progress...

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 01:52:42 pm
content: Will definitely be nice to have something a bit easier to use than LTSpice.(Although i've not used this yet, but LTSpice is pretty bad from a UI point of view so I can't imagine it being worse)

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 01:56:18 pm
content: What would be even nicer would be if they released the source code...

author: taydin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 03:02:17 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on August 05, 2019, 01:56:18 pmOr at least release the source code to a few select people who are motivated to improve the software

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 03:45:43 pm
content: Well, feel free to suggest it - they have an e-mail contact on the page and apparently are still reading it. I am not holding my breath but maybe a small company (I believe MicroCap was mostly the work of one man and there are only 3 authors listed in the About page) would be more amenable to something like that than a huge multinational behemoth.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 03:57:21 pm
content: Releasing something as Open Source might involve much more work than just putting files in a repository. E.g. there could be 3rd party parts/objects used they are not allowed to (re-)distribute etc.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 04:01:19 pm
content: Thanks for the heads up; I also drooled over Microcap's simulator, which could be integrated into OrCAD for DOS (IIRC).

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 04:20:50 pm
content: I never seen this simulator before but it looks really nice.Il have to give it a try and see if i can move on from LT Spice after all of these years. This certainly has a lot more bells and whistles and hopefully the schematic editor works better than the LT Spice "90s nostalgia UI".Anyone knows how accurate this simulator is, or how well it behaves in tricky unstable circuits that like to confuse simulators?

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 04:32:39 pm
content: LOL..Last time I used Microcap, it was Microcap 3..It seems quite more complicated than Ltspice, and more featured..There will be learning curve.

author: jmw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 05:22:12 pm
content: I hope they find a way to release the source, or sell the assets perhaps to AD. It's nice to make it available but abandonware goes stale eventually.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 05:44:48 pm
content: Hm, is there a way to import LTSpice ASC files?

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 09:40:37 pm
content: Tried it on a few of the examples that come with it (there are many!!)It's definitely got a lot of features. UI is not particularly intuitive, but I guess you get used to it. The sim engine seems reasonably fast.Unfortunately, it crashed on a transient analysis of one of the examples (after testing a few). I used the 64-bit version if that matters.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 01:04:27 am
content: Wow, I haven't looked at Microcap in ages. Thanks for the heads up.

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 10:18:36 am
content: Quote from: Berni on August 05, 2019, 04:20:50 pmThe 90s had the best UIs. LTspice schematic editor is actually pretty good and very fast to operate. My biggest complaint is that the working area needs to be enlarged by zooming out rather than simply dragging the existing circuit to the side.

author: mikerj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 11:24:32 am
content: Quote from: magic on August 06, 2019, 10:18:36 amTotally agree, I really don't understand the hate for LTSpice UI, it's simple and it works. Like you, I do wish there was the ability to drag the window contents but it's a fairly minor annoyance once you get used to hitting spacebar to "zoom fit" and then scroll wheel to zoom in.

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 11:32:40 am
content: Quote from: magic on August 06, 2019, 10:18:36 amIt looks so, until one wants, say a bode plot. Or have multiple plots from different simulations for comparision. Tina-TI does it with ease, for example. There are also some traps, like, you can add a mosfet without specifying a specific part number and it will kinda work, just results will be garbage.There are many other topics where it can be improved. To me it's more like an IDE for spice code, rather than a graphical simulator. Some people like, I certainly don't.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 12:28:07 pm
content: Quote from: magic on August 06, 2019, 10:18:36 amWell its not that bad of a UI once you get used to it and it certainly gets the job done, even the "panning vis zoom" works once you get the hang of it. But after all these years i would have expected it to be updated a bit to match with modern windows apps. Things like Ctrl+C Ctrl+V Ctrl+Z, One button component rotation and flipping, drag to select without using a tool, panning around by a single mouse click, scrolling around zoomed in chats with a mouse..etcI will admit there is a a good deal of efficiency to some of these old UIs, but for some stuff we have figured out better ways of doing it in these 20 years. Tho i do dreed what UIs are going to look at in the next 20 years as all UIs seamed to went to touch oriented garbage ever since Win 8 and the popularity of smartphones.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 05:26:33 pm
content: I think, much like many threads, this thread deviated.Anyway, I contacted Spectrum Soft Support and it's true. They are closed as of 7/4 and support is available for "at least" 90 days.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2019, 10:38:22 am
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on August 05, 2019, 03:57:21 pmTrue, but even releasing it without those components would be useful - those components can be always replaced. It is unlikely that they would have them as part of the core functionality, given the age of the software (the core stuff is likely home-grown and extremely mature and tested).OTOH, I can completely understand that if they are winding the company down because e.g. the people are retiring, doing some more unpaid work on it (plus the required legal review!) for the benefit of someone else could be a tall order. We can only nicely and politely ask.Another alternative would be to pool the money and buy the rights to the software from them. That is not unprecedented. For example the people behind Blender (https://www.blender.org/) have bought out the rights to the code from the original owners when that company was shutting down and released it as open source. That could be more palatable to the software owners than simply demanding them to do the work instead, for free.

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2019, 10:40:07 am
content: Quote from: bostonman on August 06, 2019, 05:26:33 pmIMHO ? not at all it is good to have some fact and opinions poppingThis is a sad notice... it concerns all folks which know what is all aboutQuote from: bostonman on August 06, 2019, 05:26:33 pmREALLY SAD. For a project which started in 80s if I recall around 85/87My folder of crappy dos stuff from the 80s still have some "stuff" in MCAPII versionNOSTALGIA

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2019, 05:15:04 pm
content: Quote from: PKTKS on August 07, 2019, 10:40:07 amAccording to their page, MicroCap was released in September 1982, with the Logic Designer in June 1980.http://www.spectrum-soft.com/aboutus.shtm

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2019, 06:02:17 pm
content: Probably correctBut this release "II" was really designed to run over a floppyat that time 85 the XT was the latest thingSome very TOP END machines would have an incredible 10M "hard disk"mundane folks walked around with those mini pizzas 5 inch flops for XTs.This release dates this era PC-XT running latest top 8086 CPU incredible640kbytes RAM and outstanding HERCULES (EGA just rich people...) resolutionDOS 3 was recently launched (bought from MS cloned from the top CPM for Z80)and damn small and fast the DOS3 release was dominant.This MCAPII runs perfect from a floppy - although with some efforta "hard drive" (very rare in those 83/84 days) could be attached.I have one or two more shots from that time workstations...actually OR you use those XTs ...OR .. you would punch cards in the basement...with 3 dozens other folks waiting the 3 floor mainframe.Another curious detail..- coming from CPM the most used environments were BASIC/PASCAL and FORTRAN- COBOL just in mainframes with that obscure things LISP/AWK etc- C was introduced later being ASM required to do anything CPM (not C)so... MCAPII is no exception. It was compiled in BASIC (one of the very firstDOS products) and the BASIC compiler did a nice job at that time producingthis marvelous example.PLAIN MS-DOS BASIC(with one more shot from my crappy old 80s stuff)things changePaul

author: hfleming
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2019, 02:33:50 pm
content: Thanks, will download it. Still using microcap v. 10, never could afford to upgrade after I got sick.

author: mikerj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2019, 10:05:56 am
content: Quote from: exe on August 06, 2019, 11:32:40 amMaybe I'm misunderstanding, but what's difficult about getting a bode plot? You just run an AC simulation and click on the nodes of interest.

author: mark03
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2019, 03:01:38 pm
content: Quote from: mikerj on August 09, 2019, 10:05:56 amThen you realize that the resulting graphs are almost impossible to read, because the Y axis labels are completely arbitrary and never quantized in a sensible fashion...

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2019, 03:21:11 pm
content: 2 cents of paved ways...- LTSpice is proprietary- their MODELS are property- although you have some degree of adjust (on graphs)Just drop LTSpice and go straight SPICE (ngspice)Which is FAR MORE capable including programmable powerof SPICE with data gathering almost ready to plot in any viewportExample: (PI FILTER) below** IT IS NOT "PIECE OF CAKE" like MicroCAP or LTSpice regardingthe CIRCUIT CAPTURE...BUT IT IS 10x more capable after you have your netlist ready.. which after all, even MicroCAP can CAPTURE your netllist2 cents of using the proper tool for the job.there is no such thing as an "obsolete" toolPaul

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 01:41:11 pm
content: Quote from: mikerj on August 09, 2019, 10:05:56 amUhm, never tried that. I'll give it a try.What I did is I followed this manual:https://www.analog.com/en/technical-articles/ltspice-basic-steps-in-generating-a-bode-plot-of-smps.html. It looks cumbersome and didn't work for me -- LTSpice produced simulation errors that I failed to understand and to tix. Simple circuits (resistors and capacitors) worked well. Same circuit worked well on Tina-TI...

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 02:38:27 pm
content: Quote from: exe on August 13, 2019, 01:41:11 pmOuch. I don't quite get why you would go through such convoluted ways. As said above, if you run an AC analysis, the waveform viewer will automatically show bode plots.To show a typical bode plot this way, you need an AC source in your schematic. For instance, add an AC value to the voltage source you're using as an input. Run an AC analysis with appropriate frequency span. Add a trace in the waveform viewer, for instance something like 'V(out)/V(in)' to show typical gain/phase plot. Spice AC analysis is meant for that.Now I guess you could do something equivalent with a transient analysis but that would be very cumbersome. Maybe justified in some very specific cases in which a classic AC analysis wouldn't work.As a thought: maybe the switching regulators' models in LTSpice do no play well with AC analysis, hence the article you mentioned?

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 03:47:45 pm
content: The above LTSpice analysis works fine..Here an another article with the same method. It works with linear circuits as well.https://www.analog.com/en/technical-articles/ltspice-extracting-switch-mode-power-supply-loop-gain-in-simulation-and-why-you-usually-don-t-need.htmlPS: the AC sweep with bode plot is easy, you do not need the above complex stuff to run for getting it.The above mess is intended for a "stability analysis" where you get the "phase margin" (especially interesting value at 0db gain) directly plotted in the "gain" graph. You inject an "error signal" into the feedback loop and do the calculations then.

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 06:58:29 am
content: Quote from: imo on August 13, 2019, 03:47:45 pmYes, this is what I need, I design power supplies. I'll check the article, thank you.

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 07:33:53 am
content: Btw, the are 3 examples (ie the two above are from too) in LTspice's examples folder:C:\Program Files\LTC\LTspiceXVII\examples\Educational\FRA

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 11:39:27 am
content: Quote from: exe on August 14, 2019, 06:58:29 amYes quite important that kind of BODE plot.But **UNLESS** you definitely need the LTSpice MODELS (e.g. yourdesign requires it) you don't need LTSpice - not anymoreAs I have posted before - the issue is just capturing your NETLISTFrom now on we have MicroCAP as a viable alternative to do so.Before this option I have used KiCAD several times to do so.- CAPTURE THE NETLIST- export plain SPICE NETLIST and attach data gathering code- gather your data for analysis.Advantages of this method- free without MODEL proprietary issues- no cumbersome licenses - new models of LTSpice now requires a DONGLE- the new owner of LTSpice assets is publishing new models tied to a DONGLEFollow below a simple example for a TYPE1 TYPE2 and TYPE3feedback loop compensator analysisIt is attached below using KiCAD as NETLIST exporterand plain SPICE data plot.We have gnuplot is integrated into spice viewports terminalspiece of cakethings changedDONGLES are not something to accept and live with...I just drop a manufacturer that requires me to buy a DONGLE.Not even Chinese alternatives requires thisPaul

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 11:50:51 am
content: There are megatons of models for LTSpice (also the standard Spice/Pspice NGspice one work afaik) supported by community or manfacturers, you may define your own easily as well.

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 11:56:56 am
content: Quote from: imo on August 14, 2019, 11:50:51 amI follow their "RSS" news.. and since they have been incorporatedthings changed quite a lot.The very first bad one is that-- *** IF ** you have MODELS tweaked or defined by yourself-- ***IF ** you store these models into their "own hierarchy" of stuff-- automatic updates will make a hell of a mess with your models.-- their target now seems to be exclusively their TOP END MODELS.-- they are requiring a DONGLE to use these models.I had MODELS into that folder - when upgraded the new versionof LTSpice they just wiped out all my stuff. period.They put those "examples" and push their stuff .. more or lessthe new LTSpice is just a front end for their devices.Unless required you can do much better... with MicroCAP now.and I was doing so with other combinations (KiCAD/SPICE and others).PaulP.S. I rather prefer today starting new things w/Richtek, Intersilor Chinese, Weltrend or other brands without those property problems...

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 03:13:31 pm
content: Could you please provide a link describing the dongle issue? I cannot find anything.

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 06:53:48 pm
content: Quote from: exe on August 14, 2019, 03:13:31 pmsorry about the delay - been busy all day.This "notice" dates 7 January 2019 - I tried hard to find the original postsbut it seems that things changed in the mean time...Nevertheless I could find some salvaged thingsHere is the thing as announced back in January by PowerElectronics:"A buck regulator module housed in a 15- × 22- × 7.87-mm BGA package can power two 50A loads or one 100A load, and current is sharable to 800A with eight in parallel. "scroll page until you find noteTo fully explore the extensive power-system management features of LTM4700, download the GUI software LTpowerPlay onto your PC and use LTCs I2C/SMBus/PMBus dongle DC1613A to connect to the board. LTpowerPlay is a Windows-based development environment supporting Analog Devices' Digital Power System Management (PSM) products.The note is true and indeed several top models will require the dongleto run the simulations in this line and others ... as far as I could researchway back in January..Specific product page does not mention the requirements to runsimulations without their proprietary hardware attached in your PCas it seems you would not be able to perform simulations without this:*** LTpowerPlay + LTCs I2C/SMBus/PMBus dongle = DC1613Ahttps://www.analog.com/en/products/ltm4700.htmSome photos of this amazing module attached belowFortunately the PowerElectronics Magazine is organized enoughto retain their references..https://www.powerelectronics.com/power-management/innovative-cooling-shrinks-size-100a-module-buck-regulatorhttps://www.analog.com/en/products/landing-pages/001/umodule-design-manufacturing-resources.htmlI hope I will never need that kind of dongle to run simulations...Paul

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 07:29:06 pm
content: Looks totally unrelated to LTSpice and the "dongle" is just an adapter to let the LTpowerPlay software communicate with modules like that. So I figure there is no substance to this LTSpice dongle bashing after all.

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 07:37:06 pm
content: Hope you are right.If they are programmable as it seems you will not beable to load/reload microcode without the dongle.The "model" itself may be tied to the firmware insidethe module - not a crappy text related to spice anymore.I hope you are right - I got another picture from these modsI think they are firmware like programmable tiny pieces or blocks.Kinda I/O "model" required to operate.Without the firmware you have no model to simulate..But I can not tell for sure .. just point the reference.We will see in due time where this "module" approach will goPaul

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 07:56:48 pm
content: So? They offer specific hardware to evaluate a specific LT module. How the hell does that make LTSpice on the verge of being not free anymore?LTSpice is a full-fledged Spice simulator, you can use pretty much any Spice model with it, you don't need to use LT or AD models. It's just a little more work.And yes LTSpice tends to make you use LT/AD parts more than you would otherwise (their switching regulators' models are pretty good), and that's the whole point of making it free. What else would you expect?One benefit of LTSpice over many other Spice simulators is that it's actively maintained, and it's fast.

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 08:11:44 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on August 14, 2019, 07:56:48 pmI never said these stuffs like this... .The uModules are a reality. They will probably succeed discrete VRMchips - but of course 3 terminal LDOs would not need such thing.I can not tell you much more than point the relevant changes.YOU DO REQUIRE a DONGLE to use and operate the modulesProbably because their firmware will never be published outsidetheir strict control - as all components CAPACITORS INDUCTORSMOSFETs are being implemented on "die"...Mundane buck and boost chips don't need much hassle.But one thing is certain LTSpice MODELS are not "free"They are not even allowed to be used and distributed outside the soft.Don't assume you are allowed to use their models "as free" stuffIt concerns their specific chips. Other chipsets depends on specific licenceNever said LTSpice would go paid.Reference is well pointed to for each own opinion

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 09:54:51 am
content: Quote from: PKTKS on August 14, 2019, 08:11:44 pmThat's true but they certainly don't require dongles.The LTPowerPlay software is a totally different product and if you were using that, then you likely needed the license (you must request a license key) to model with that particular board/chip anyway?The quote says: "To fullyexplore the extensive power-system management features of LTM4700, ..."So does the basic stuff workin LTSpice(not PowerPlay!) without the hardware attached or not? The way I am reading it it seems that only if you want to use I2C/SMBus/etc. management stuff you need it - which is reasonable, as LTSpice is not a digital logic simulator. Moreover, the dongle is a generic communication dongle to talk to the board, not a licensing key like HASP or similar which were popular in the past.I think dongle stuff is very much a red herring with regards to LTSpice.EDIT:I have just updated my LTSpice and tried to run a simulation with LTM4700 -no dongle or anything else was required(I have dropped the IC in the schematic and just ran transient analysis - didn't try to make a real circuit with it).So this dongle claim is wrongand likely a result of confusion between two different software products: LTSpice and LTPowerPlay.

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 10:44:59 am
content: Quote from: janoc on August 16, 2019, 09:54:51 amYes the thing is you will need LTPowerPlay - which REQUIRES a "KEY" licensebesides the dongle.You will not achieve any sort of VRM like configuration (Digitally Managed Power Rails)without that stuf...To use the chip as a single Buck regulator.. well I would just select another onecheaper and better - from Richtek my top very first choice.Their top thing is the "DIGITAL MANAGEMENT POWER RAILS" (aka VRMs)That is precisely where things got "complicated" with dongles and keys...you got the point there - not with a mundane buck chipsetPaulPs. .. and probably all that "cloud" sort of things which today drives the cash flowof main players.. KEY + subscription fees plus cloud storage.. firmware access...Things biased towards this new "cash model"..IMHO.? complicated stuff

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 11:09:16 am
content: Quote from: PKTKS on August 16, 2019, 10:44:59 amYou are completely wrong and didn't understand a thing from their site. LTCpice has nothing to do with LTPowerPlay.LTPowerPlay is software to configure and communicate with Analog Devices' Digital Power System Management (PSM) products.Those chips have SMbus communication interface on them to setup chip settings and registers. In order for you to be able to play with those devices before you have finished product, they made demonstration boards for Digital Power System Management (PSM) chips, they made software for PC (so you don't have to write your own software just to try how chips work) that is LTPowerPlay, and since your PC doesn't have built in SMBus interface, they made small board DC1613A that is USB-to-PMBus Controller for use with LTpowerPlay. You connect all this to play with a prototype board.And all of that has NOTHING to do with LTSpice.....Regards,

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 01:22:28 pm
content: We are deviating from the MicroCAP topic a bit.... quite a bitHowever it is important to evaluate how far the "NEWS" ofusing "TEXT ONLY SPICE" models and firmware based modelsare going.-- How far can we use them outside like MicroCAP alternatives...Regarding your thinking that a PC "does not count with a SMB bus".It should be noted that since ACPI specification was launched every PCSuper I/O chipset counts not only with SMB bus but whole LPC bus canhandle all sorts of "device" protocols (I2C and alike).Typical Super I/O figure below.. It can handle all sorts of VRM andpower device control. Apropos VRM was conceived via ACPI Super I/OAnd for the sake of LTSpice related things.Please indulge me:- HOW WOULD YOU SIMULATE a VRM setup MODELWITHOUT THE REQUIRED TOOLS?WITHOUT UPLOADING microcode...WITHOUT the proper setup made by their soft ? LTSPICE ONLY? how?You just can not pick the SPICE TEXT MODEL of a single chipset and use itlet's say in MicroCAP (to stick topic) or ngSPICE...It will not suit the necessary requirements.Question remains.Problem dealing with this new class of VRM remains.It is outside the scope of simple LTSpice.Not a coincidence requiring a dongleas they could use the USB the very same mannerbut they didn'tWithout loading the registers the MANAGED RAILS and digital controlprobably the VRM will do nothing besides a normal trivial buck.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 01:32:44 pm
content: I have nothing....

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 01:35:24 pm
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on August 16, 2019, 01:32:44 pmI am tracking this new "CLASS" of VRM devices since January..And so far I could not find a single advantage of their "requirements"over traditional VRM design.I can use traditional chipsets in MicroCAP or regular SPICEbut not this new class of "DIGITALLY MANAGED POWER RAILS"..I think by now we reached the same point of obscure position of this classPaul

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 01:37:56 pm
content: Quote from: PKTKS on August 16, 2019, 01:22:28 pmDon't you think its time to create your own thread on this LTSpicebashingdiscussions ? Pretty please ...Don't hide in here ... its for Microcap freebie cheering and discussion ... ONLY.

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 01:43:12 pm
content: 100% agreedBut I was "asked" to post any reference of that dongle thing.I probably shouldn't even mention it.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 02:39:17 pm
content: Yep.Anyway, has anyone tried Microcap 12 now for more than just a couple minutes? I'd be interested in reading about your experience. As I said earlier, mine was not that great (looked very powerful but I found it tended to crash a bit too easily.)

author: Messtechniker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2019, 06:58:36 am
content: Been using the demo* version of Microcap on and off since Version 6.Never had any problems with my not all too demanding simulations.Could mostly get by with the component limitations except whenwanting to simulate in one piece the discrete Jensen JE 990 opamptogether the servo circuit. Just did this with the now completely free version.Worked nicely.Would certainly have liked to buy Microcap, but for meas a hobbyist, it was always way too expensive.Admitted, at thebeginning the leaning curve was a bit steep. But after having hada closer look at the fine example circuit simulations you should beeasily up and running after a day or two.By the way, I never found a forum for Microcap to exchangecircuits and components and from today on even models.* Quote: "The demo is limited as follows: circuit size limited to50 components (all layers), anywhere from 0 to 300% slowerthan the professional, limited component library, no Model capability,and some of the advanced features are not available."

author: perdrix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2019, 01:12:32 am
content: I've emailed to ask about the source code and am cloning the website to save all the newletters etc..David

author: Messtechniker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2019, 05:27:12 am
content: Quote from: perdrix on August 18, 2019, 01:12:32 amGreat idea, even though I can not contribute much.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 01:22:22 am
content: Just a quick follow-up (since the topic has been brought up lately). They have seemingly released a new version of MC12 very recently (some files including the executables are dated end of november), 12.2.0.3 (I don't remember what version it was at when I tested it in august, I uninstalled it back then.) I gave it a shot, and the crashes seem to be gone, it's much more stable now. I've been able to play with it for a long while without any crash. Impressed by the huge number of features. So, this time it's

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 03:09:09 pm
content: Cool, I need to update my copy then.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 04:52:19 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on December 25, 2019, 01:22:22 amThe previous one was version 12.2.0.0, released on 1st July 2019.The current latest is 12.2.0.3 at 18th Nov 2019.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 08:15:12 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on December 25, 2019, 04:52:19 pmThanks. That's pretty impressive that they still cared to update it now that's it has been made free and the company is shutting down. Anyway, it did solve all the issues I had.After playing with a lot of examples, I got to try it on a circuit I had simulated with LTSpice (using 2 vendor Spice models - creating new parts from models is a breeze!). MC takes a while to figure out, but once you get there, it's fine. Some UI quirks IMO, but manageable. The results I got were pretty similar to what I got with LTSPice, but it's fricking FAST! It has tons of analysis and display options. I'll certainly use it. Sad to see that it's the end of the story. (Unless they eventually release the source code... *hint*)

author: taydin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 08:39:24 pm
content: Did anybody try the NE555 macro on MC12? It didn't work for me. I did some troubleshooting and when I tried the RS flip flop inside of the NE555 in a separate circuit, that didn't work either. Just wondering if I'm making a mistake of if there really is an issue

author: taydin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 08:43:35 pm
content: Attached is the circuit of the RS flip flop. I do transient analysis and the output is at a weird 1.364V level. If I assert CLRB, output goes down to 200 mV, but once I release CLRB, output is back at 1.364V.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 10:04:57 pm
content: Quote from: taydin on December 25, 2019, 08:43:35 pmDigital primitives are handled with digital simulation, and their interconnection with the analog world requires knowing this.Here, this "weird" level just means that the output signal has the "X" state - meaning it's in an undefined logic state (something you can see looking at the signal state close to each pin of the primitive once you've run the simulation at least once, it shows "X" for the outputs). Which is normal! You're trying to simulate this circuit interactively (with "interactive" switches), but by default, each time you change a parameter in the schematic (including the state of a switch), the transient analysis is re-run from scratch, so it doesn't retain its state from previous runs. If you're resetting the flip-flop by toggling the corresponding switch, it will indeed reset the flip-flop - but as soon as you toggle it back, it re-runs the simulation and the output is again undefined.The key to make this "work" as you intend (I guess to simulate this "interactively") is to change the "State Variables" option in the Transient Analysis dialog from "Zero" (the default) to "Leave". Then any subsequent run will retain the previous state.

author: taydin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 10:54:22 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on December 25, 2019, 10:04:57 pmThanks a lot for this information, very helpful! Will build my NE555 circuit again and will try with that, too.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2020, 06:28:40 pm
content: Looks like the main web site is now down:http://www.spectrum-soft.com/so anyone who hasn't grabbed their copy... too late.I don't know whether this is temporary or permanent.

author: TerminalJack505
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2020, 07:30:58 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on February 18, 2020, 06:28:40 pmThe Wayback Machine has thesiteanddownloadsarchived.

author: ratio
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2020, 12:16:49 am
content: Seems to be back up now...

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2020, 01:34:55 pm
content: Quote from: ratio on February 19, 2020, 12:16:49 amI consistently get an "Internal Server Error" on the above link. I've tried sub-links of the website I had bookmarked (eg. for the downloads:http://www.spectrum-soft.com/download/download.shtm), and some are now back up, but they are missing some parts/look messed up a bit. Just looks like the web site is now unmaintained, which is not surprising since the company has shut down or is finalizing the process. It was all to be expected.(I for one do not promote the use of Wayback, as I think it's a highly debatable service with inherent privacy and/or IP issues.)We know that the authors have released the software for free, but unfortunately, we don't know if they allow redistributing it? It's a very different thing.Oh and of course - I know I already said that - would be great if they open sourced it.(Might be problematic if it contains third-party licensed parts... Does anyone have info/email to contact the authors?)

author: ratio
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2020, 11:18:25 pm
content: I was able to d/l the zip of version 12 from the link, but the home page gave IIRC a 500 error. IDK what the rest of the site was like.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2020, 01:32:53 am
content: One thing I haven't had a clear explanation on when I've sent an email is regarding updates.Upon running it for the first time, it does updates. If the site is going down and/or the company will cease to exist, how can we download the updates when a user installs it on another computer in the future?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 20, 2020, 11:34:51 pm
content: Does anyone know the best way to contact the author Andy Thompson?BTW, the website seems dodgy, direct download link is here:https://www.spectrum-soft.com/download/download.shtm

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 11:47:21 am
content: Program fails to install anyone else have an issueOn W10 pro Lenovo ThinkPad X1Jon

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 01:47:35 pm
content: Quote from: jonpaul on February 23, 2020, 11:47:21 amIn response to your question, I installed it on my W10 desktop. I ran one <actually, several> example simulation to test and it worked fine.

author: roman.isaikin
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2020, 09:21:25 pm
content: Can someone upload it? Their site is no longer works..

author: TerminalJack505
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2020, 10:03:36 pm
content: Try the Wayback Machine. It has the downloadspagearchived.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2020, 01:59:26 am
content: Yep, this time it looks like they just cut off the web site hosting for good. " This Account has been suspended."This is the end.Has anyone managed to contact the author recently?

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2020, 08:06:33 am
content: Quote from: roman.isaikin on March 26, 2020, 09:21:25 pmI don't think people can "just upload it". That the software is free (as in beer) doesn't mean it is out of copyright or that anyone is allowed to distribute it without an express permission from the authors. BTW, that Wayback machine link above works.However, it would be really good for someone who has a contact with the author to ask them for granting an express permission to distribute this, to avoid any risk of legal problems. Then it could be hosted legally.

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2020, 01:31:36 pm
content: Quote from: janoc on March 27, 2020, 08:06:33 amTry this:https://en.freedownloadmanager.org/Windows-PC/Micro-Cap.html

author: roman.isaikin
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2020, 05:52:27 pm
content: I didn't now that waybackmachine also saves files, thanks!

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2020, 06:40:58 pm
content: Quote from: roman.isaikin on March 27, 2020, 05:52:27 pmIt is now at Archive.org. There is a HUGE trove of documents there. Popular Electronics Magazine archive. Some great old stuff...databooks, etc.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 02:13:51 am
content: Hey folks, came across this cool thread surfing EEVblog 'Search' for newb curiosity info and downloads for LTspicebut Microcap gets a good rap hereand might be ok for a go too, perhaps run with both sims installed?FYI that website is working 100% for me >www.spectrum-soft.com/download/download.shtmas of this very minute, all the v10, 11, 12 related download links and pages tested great, no problem and fastYMMV EMMV appliesand hey, don't go hammering that website all at once, or the request load may trash the server source and result in clickers' SOL

author: ScribblesOnNapkins
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 03:34:49 pm
content: pcb-rnd has a user who asked for import from microcap. This is still a work in progress but in a few days it should be usable.If you are curious to see what using microcap schematics with pcb-rnd looks like the documentation is here.http://repo.hu/cgi-bin/pool.cgi?cmd=show&node=import_microcap

author: JohnG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2020, 06:53:53 pm
content: Quote from: perdrix on August 18, 2019, 01:12:32 amJust curious, any news here? I would love to see this go open source.I've been looking hard for an alternative to LTSpice, because of its restrictive license. For most people, it is not problem, but for me, it is. A long-term solution for us is to use an unrestricted, free, and open source preferred, solution. We have evaluated QUCS, QUCS-S, QUCSstudio, and Kicad+NGspice. None are mature enough to recommend to customers. Micro-cap looks very nice and mature. But, as free, but not open source, there is no chance of future support. Open source doesn't guarantee support, but it would at least be possible. The chief concern is that a Windows update will break it at some unknown point, and our time and data investment will be unrecoverable.I have not evaluated WRSpicehttp://www.wrcad.com/, but it looks promising from a capability standpoint. Installation on Windows looks painful, though.John

author: iteratee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2020, 10:07:59 am
content: Quote from: JohnG on August 12, 2020, 06:53:53 pmXyce can possibly be integrated into any ngspice based tool to some degree, fwiw. I've only just begun playing with it.I'd suppose you're more interested in user-friendly schematic capture than the actual simulation.

author: JohnG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2020, 01:42:00 pm
content: Thanks, I have also looked at XYCE, as part of QUCS-S. But you are correct, I am looking for a schematic capture front end and a decent plotting capability that would work with either ngspice or XYCE, both of which look like fine simulation engines and have reach a good level of maturity. They also appear to have good compatibility with many existing Spice models. They also have the advantage of command line operation, which is a big plus if you want to do any kind of complicated analysis.QUCS-S looks most promising, but development is spotty. KiCAD also looks promising, but it's integration with ngspice is not very mature yet, and the development focus is on PCB design first (which makes sense).John

author: kashinath
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 24, 2020, 05:46:28 pm
content: The site is up and they are still providing updates.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2020, 06:00:12 pm
content: Quote from: kashinath on September 24, 2020, 05:46:28 pmI haven't thought of checking for updates in a while - never thought there would be anything past 12.2.0.3...Just updated to 12.2.0.4. I haven't found anywhere what the changes were though - would be nice to know.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2020, 07:19:28 pm
content: Super smooth in-program update function too.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2020, 08:58:30 pm
content: Excellent, thanks for the heads up. It updated itself even in Linux with Wine, no problem whatsoever.

author: JohnG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2020, 02:54:30 am
content: Finally go around to taking a look at Micro-cap 12.2.0.4. I am using the 64-bit version on a Windows 10 machine. I have had 5 complete crashes in two days, so I am about to uninstall and move on.Has anyone else found this to be problem? It has always occurred either making an edit to the schematic, or when playing around with plots resulting from simulation data. The simulation itself always completes once I have fixed any errors. The crashes make the whole program just disappear, i.e. the windows all disappear and the program quits. No error messages, nothing at all. Everything else seems fine.I was really starting to get used to it, but I can't have it keep crashing on me. I'm looking at Super Spice next, then Kicad + NGSpice.John

author: Messtechniker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2020, 03:52:35 pm
content: Been using the component-limited versions for decades from XP to 7 to 10, 32 and 64 bit. And now the full featured versions on 7 and 10. Never experienced such problems. Tried it on a different puter?

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2020, 05:51:38 pm
content: I also have been running it on both a Win10 32 and Win 10 64 machine without any issues.Which graphics card are you using? Can you update the drivers on that one? I have had a similar issue with the Digilent Waveforms software, and this was related to the graphics card in my USB docking station (DisplayLink drivers)

author: chrisl
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2020, 08:30:20 pm
content: I have been using it on multiple win 10 machines and neve had any problems.I started with PSpice then moved to LTSpice. Now I only use Mcap12 if I need to do any SPICE sim.

author: JohnG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2020, 02:35:54 am
content: Thanks for the suggestions.I have a Lenovo Yoga X1 Gen 4 with i7-10710, 16 GB, Win 10 64 bit, so I think it has integrated UHD graphics. I have a Lenovo docking Ultra docking station.I will see if I can update the drivers. I have turned off as much automatic updating as is easily done, and try again. But, before you blame the computer, it has proven capable and reliable for everything else I do. I could easily run LTSpice without crashes when I used to use it, and for what it's worth, I used Altium 17 and now 19 on it with rarely a crash. In fact, the only software I use that crashes enough that I remember it is FreeCAD, and it has gotten better as well.This is my work computer, so changing it or getting another computer just to run an unsupported software is not really feasible. I'm looking for software that my team members can also use, so the problem is multiplied.John

author: JohnG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2020, 03:00:11 am
content: Updated drivers, and I could make it crash in less than 5 minutes.FWIW, my test simulation is a buck converter with a few parasitic inductances thrown in. Simulation runs fine, and I get about 2M data points. I plotted some waveforms and started playing with them. After a few minutes, the software became unresponsive and crashed shortly thereafter.John

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2020, 05:29:58 am
content: Quote from: JohnG on October 09, 2020, 03:00:11 amMaybe, if possible, post your file so we can run it on our machines and verify we have the same issue?

author: JohnG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2020, 07:31:52 pm
content: I found that I could eliminate the problem of crashes while working with waveforms by deleting an unused .model statement and putting the correct comment symbol in front of a .option statement, and then running the simulation again.However, the simulation ran fine without fixing these, and produced a data file with valid waveforms, and no warnings or errors of any kind. So, I am not sure why my changes would affect crashes while looking at the waveforms post-simulation.However, I found another issue, is that the probe analysis does not seem to work the same as a regular transient analysis. For one thing, the progress bar does not show in the probe analysis, and I really depend on this to know if a simulation is stuck or not. Since I work with switching circuits and unusual or not fully developed models, this happens a lot. I discovered this already, as I changed reltol to get better detail at switching transitions, and I could not tell if the program got stuck or was still simulating.If I do the transient analysis instead of probe, the progress bar appears.Making this software free is a huge gift, but I find the interface, while very powerful and with very useful analyses, to be cluttered and inconsistent. It's like if Microsoft developed a circuit simulator. I realize that this is a plus for some, but the clutter is a challenge for me. I may return to it, but for now I will look at other options.John

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2023, 09:39:48 pm
content: The website for Spectrum Software is no longer available today. Maybe the domain is being sold and is gone forever?

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2023, 07:52:17 pm
content: Quote from: djsb on April 01, 2023, 09:39:48 pmUnfortunately that is probably the case. I really like this software. Very easy to use. If only he could have released it as open source, but that was probably not possible due to used libraries or other licensing issues...

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2023, 08:28:49 pm
content: The end of Spectrum Software was announced a couple years ago. The author did release the software as freeware but there was no plan to release it as open source AFAIK, most likely due to the fact that he used a ton of licensed third-party libraries indeed. So I suspect that releasing just the source code that he actually owns would not be very useful at all. Although some developers may take the challenge of replacing the third-party libs with open source code. But that could be a LOT of work.As to the web site, I'm guessing the owner just let the hosting and domain registration expire, which happens to be now. He hadn't updated it in at least 2 years. So it's not that it just got sold, but rather that it just expired. And if you go to spectrum-soft.com you'll indeed see that the domain is on sale. So yeah, ownership just expired.

author: Messtechniker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2023, 07:07:08 am
content: As already mentioned in this thread, Microcap 12 isstill downloadable from here (Wayback machine):https://web.archive.org/web/20200218212700/http://spectrum-soft.com/download/download.shtm

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2023, 11:08:50 am
content: Latest version seems to be 12.2.0.5 released on 06/17/2021 so this is probably a better link:https://web.archive.org/web/20230106104512/https://spectrum-soft.com/download/download.shtmVersions prior to 12.2.0.0 are not free.News and accompanying files here:https://web.archive.org/web/20230106104609/http://www.spectrum-soft.com/news.shtmBest as I can tell is the pdf is basically the same as the webpage articles. They are fairly comprehensive so look useful. Note in order to get some files you may need to jump to an earlier snapshot.Anything else worth grabbing on the website?

author: shapirus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2023, 11:52:55 am
content: Quote from: Shock on April 03, 2023, 11:08:50 amBut there's no 12.2.0.5. The latest listed is 12.2.0.2 and there are no download links.This is the right one:https://web.archive.org/web/20230106104512/http://www.spectrum-soft.com/download/download.shtm

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2023, 02:43:23 pm
content: Yeah not sure what happened there I had a few tabs open and copied the wrong url without noticing.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2023, 03:45:48 pm
content: I have with me the last one I got with my note, Micro-Cap 12 12.2.0.4, and the file name is mc12cd.zip , size = 60.845.719 bytes.The latest file's date in the zip file at "mc12.exe" is 22nd Sept 2020 with size of 7.160.527 bytes.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2023, 04:29:19 pm
content: 12.2.0.5 mc12cd.zip is 60,846,181 bytes and mc12.exe is 06/17/2021 the same as the release date as mentioned in my previous post.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2023, 06:40:38 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on April 03, 2023, 03:45:48 pmYes, I thought I had the latest version too but found that I was also running 12.20.0.4. There must have been an update sometime during the later life of this thread. The 2021 12.2.0.5 download definitely reports the appropriate version in the Help-> About menu.

author: ve7xen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2023, 07:17:55 pm
content: Back when this was announced, I mirrored the content athttps://gotroot.ca/spectrum. But I didn't bother to do anything to 'correct' the absolute links sprinkled throughout. The download page works:https://gotroot.ca/spectrum/www.spectrum-soft.com/download/download.htmlThough I didn't update it after the announcement so the newest version I have seems to be 12.2.0.3.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2023, 08:11:50 pm
content: The latest was indeed 12.2.0.5, which I had updated. I think it was a couple years ago - last update ever.The update from within the app worked back then. Now of course, it times out if you try.