GHS Version 06.70 Update Features

F GHS Version 06.70 Update Features

GHS Version 06.70 Update

New features, changes, and bug fixes since GHS2 was released

Bug Notices for version 6.70

See the update history section for the latest available beta versions.

PM can't WRITE using "KL" dongle under Windows NT

Part Maker 2.40 reports "The system cannot open COM2 port" when trying to use the WRITE command using certain lock dongles under Windows NT. The problem only arises with parallel port dongles whose serial numbers begin with "KL". These new dongles were not supported by earlier versions of PM.

The bug has been fixed in version 2.44. If you would like to receive this as an interim update, please let us know.

Bug Notice: FL problem on multiple runs.

Floodable Lengths version 1.60 causes DOS to crash on some systems when run repeatedly during the same DOS session. If this happens, open a new DOS command prompt and FL should work once again.

This problem has been fixed in version 1.62, except that using the ENTER command to run FL twice causes GHS to exit under Windows NT only. There are no known problems running FL version 1.62 from a DOS command prompt or on any operating system other than Windows NT. If you would like to receive version 1.62 as an interim upgrade, let us know.

This is a new bug which did not exist in prior versions. A downgrade to version 1.58 is also available, but it runs considerably slower.

The /PEN parameter on the GROUND command does not work correctly unless you omit the colon. For example,

GROUND ... /PEN -1.0 `- This works correctly

GROUND ... /PEN: -1.0 `- This does not work correctly in version 6.70

This is a new bug which did not exist in prior versions. It has been fixed in version 6.70B. If you would like to receive this as an interim update, please let us know.

IMPROVED GHS INSTALLATION FOR WINDOWS NT

The GHS installation package for Windows NT has been simplified and enhanced. Improvements include shortcut icons for the GHS program and command prompt; the FORCEDOS command is no longer necessary; and a bug preventing the GHS "MC" command from working under NT has been corrected.

If you have installed an earlier version of SETUPNT and wish to upgrade, do the following: (1) download the new SETUP.ZIP; (2) unzip into your GHS directory; (3) reinstall NT support as directed in the new SETUPNT.DOC (which is also available on the web in the SETUPNT bulletin).

GHS 6.70 Shipments Complete

GHS, BHS and BHS/Yacht version 6.70 have been shipped to all users who are current with their Maintenance/Support subscription.

GHS version 6.70 is the formal release of "GHS2", which was the name used during field testing.

If you have not received your update, please notify us.

SUMMARY OF NEW FEATURES

(since version 6.54)

The source code of the Main Program has been moved to a new program development system resulting in much faster execution in Windows, OS/2 and DOS with memory managers. (See SPEED COMPARISON, below.) The program is also more compact in terms of memory and disk space requirements and fewer files are involved in the Main Program.

In order to compare report files from the old and new program, a utility program called FCGHS is being included with the updates. It is similar to the DOS program FC (File Compare) but is optimized for comparing report files.

Note: We have discovered that FCGHS was not included in some of the update packages. If you are missing it you can download FCGHS.EXE now.

Other changes and improvements:

* The maximum number of user-defined variables has been increased from 35 to 50.

* The maximum number of ground points has been increased from 20 to 50.

* The maximum height allowed for a wind profile has been increased to accommodate tall offshore structures.

* Additional decimal places are now included for small WPA and VOL in the COMPONENT report.

* The /MAX: weight parameter on the ADD command is now recognized with a distributed weight curve.

* Load Editor now permits changing the weight as well as the load percentage for fixed weight items where the /MAX: weight has been defined. In addition, the VCG may be changed if an additional /FREEVCG parameter is specified with the ADD command.

* The FILL command now allows the /MAXGAP: parameter following a failed READ without having to give the file and component specifications.

* Model Converter also has several new features.

BUG FIXES

The highest critical point number allowed with the /FLD parameter on the DIVISION command is now 99, which is in agreement with the CRTPT command.

DAMSTAB /SDIP was not reporting the correct area (though it was using the correct area internally).

Tolerances in LS have been adjusted to work with very wide structures.

Directory name extensions are now accepted.

LOAD STATUS /FIXED in metric mode showed the wrong total center of gravity.

The math speed test was adjusted to account for the greater efficiency of the Pentium math processor.

In the RA process when the righting-arm curve extended far enough to encounter a third intercept, occasionally it would be confused with the second intercept. This has been corrected.

An internal file allocation bug was causing a report of "System Error #55" during LS /FRA.

Two-point distributed weight curves with both ends zero now preserve the CG location.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT INSIDE GHS?

The Main Programs (GHS, BHS and BHS/Yacht) and the Floodable Lengths module have been "ported" to a new development system. The purpose of this move was to modernize the source code in which the program is written, making it more amenable to future development, including future versions for operating systems other than DOS.

In theory this is a lateral move, neither adding to nor subtracting from the functionality of the program. In practice certain characteristics of the program inevitably change. This happens because, while externally it is exactly the same program, internally everything is different.

The trend in the software industry has been toward larger and slower- running programs. Since continual improvements in hardware speed and capacity have kept a similar pace, the performance of the newer software (assuming the latest hardware) has not suffered too much. Nevertheless, the inefficiency of modern software has eaten up the performance gains which should have come with more powerful hardware.

Another problem with such moves has been an initial decrease in reliability. It seems that the first version of the rewritten program always has many new bugs for its users to find.

In order to avoid these undesirable results, Creative Systems spent a great deal of effort developing a technology for automating and optimizing the conversion process. And the result is well worth the effort.

The new program files are actually smaller - less disk space is used; they run faster on the same hardware and require less memory to run the same geometry file. The Main Programs provide much more memory for interaction with other programs; and they are not full of new bugs! In fact the automated conversion process eliminated a whole class of human errors - the most common source of bugs. Not only is the disk space requirement less, it also involves fewer program (.EXE) files: only one file where the old program had four to seven.

SPEED COMPARISON

For a speed comparison between the old and new versions of GHS, a run consisting of cross curve calculations on the Chemical Tanker model (TANKER.GF) was prepared. It consisted of 13 heel angles at 15 drafts with free trim. Run time comparisons were made on a 133 Mhz Pentium under various operating systems.

The results of the timing test are shown in the graph below. These times include loading of the program and reading of the Geometry File. Note that in all cases the new version (shown as GHS2) is substantially faster. Interestingly, the performance in a window under Windows 95 went from the worst to the best.

Reports from field testing have indicated that in many cases the speed improvement is even better than these figures indicate!
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