Updates

ElectricVLab Updates

The current available version of ElectricVLab is: 1.5.0 (Released on October 15, 2023). This update is free for installing on machines which already have an earlier version installed.

You can find out which version is currently installed on your machine by selecting the “About” option under the “Help” menu in ElectricVLab. If the version currently installed on your machine is older than the version number listed above, you can download the latest version by clicking the link below.

Click to download latest version of ElectricVLab

After downloading the file to your machine, double click on it to proceed with the installation of the updates. Generally, there is no need to uninstall the earlier version. The new version will overwrite the earlier version.

The newest version contains all the changes made in the earlier versions. So, there is no need to download and install the earlier versions to get the respective changes.

Release Notes

Version 1.5.0 (October 15, 2023)

  • Added 74126 Quad Tri-State Buffer to the collection of components.
  • Supporting parallel connection of batteries.
  • Corrected the swapped 0/1 labels on Momentary Switch.
  • Added a new sample circuit illustrating the use of tri-state buffers to implement a multiplexer. It can be found in the Digital Cicuits-1/Multiplexers & Demultiplexers folder.

Version 1.4.3 (May 30, 2023)

  • Improved Support for high DPI displays.
  • Updated the dialog for loading sample circuits to make it clearer.

Version 1.4.2 (May 1, 2022)

  • Small updates to some text.

Version 1.4.1 (June 27, 2021)

  • Improvements to make the camera controls much more responsive in simulation mode. Prior to these changes, while simulating bigger circuits, some people were experincing considerable lag during zoom changes, view scrolling etc.

Version 1.4.0 (November 29, 2020)

  • Some performance improvements.
  • Added keyboard shortcuts to activate some of the build mode tools.
  • Added a dialog to view all the keyboard shortcuts available. The dialog can be brought up by selecting the newly added “Keyboard Shortcuts” option under the Help menu.

Version 1.3.9 (October 19, 2020)

  • Using https protocol for communication.

Version 1.3.7 (September 27, 2020)

  • Updates to support translations into other languages.
  • Custom dialog to load sample circuits instead of using the generic file open dialog.
  • Safety checks on relative size and position to prevent cases of window not appearing due to bad values in preferences file.
  • Fixed: Resistance value label was not updating upon changing the max resistance of potentiometer.
  • Disabling mouse based navigation when the pop-up menu is active. Otherwise, upon cancelling the menu by clicking somewhere else, a sudden move happens.

Version 1.3.5 (March 29, 2020)

  • Added the ability to scroll the view using ‘w’, ‘a’, ‘s’ and ‘d’ keys. The view can be rotated using ‘q’ and ‘e’ keys.
  • Fixed an issue where the max/min values in curve editor dialog could not be changed. One use of the curve editor dialog is in the case of Function Generator, where the user can make it to generate a custom waveform. Another example is in setting how the intensity of fireworks should vary based on the amount of current.
  • Made the resistance value of some components (bell, horn, fan,…) adjustable instead of being fixed. Also, for sound making devices (bell, horn) “Current for Max Volume” is also now adjustable.

Version 1.3.4 (February 27, 2020)

  • Highlighting invalid part of a circuit. Earlier, if the circuit created by the user happens to be invalid (e.g., a battery is shorted), only an error message saying “Invalid Circuit” was getting displayed. Now, in addition to displaying the error message, the part of the circuit that happens to be invalid gets highlighted to make it easier to identify the error.
  • Added ability to change the color of multiple wires simultaneously. While using object tool, in the pop-up menu that comes up after dragging a rectangular region, a new option titled “Set wire color” is now available.
  • During simulation, one can now change the resistance of rheostat by holding down the left mouse button and dragging the scroller handle. Earlier, the resistance value of rheostat could be changed only by bringing up the parameter dialog. The newly added way allows the resistance to be changed during simulation in a more natural and convenient way.
  • Improved support for high resolution monitors.

Version 1.3.3 (October 27, 2019)

  • Occasionally, though rare, under some circumstances, wrong values were getting written into the Preferences file which was preventing the application from running. This version fixes that issue.

Version 1.3.2 (March 30, 2019)

  • Updates to internal communication mechanism to enhance the responsiveness and robustness.
  • In the Application Preferences dialog, pressing the “Restore Default” button now immediately restores the circuit board color.

Version 1.3.1 (January 26, 2019)

  • Some improvement to wiring.
  • Some improvement to detection of Arduino port.

Version 1.3.0 (December 19, 2018)

  • Updates related to releasing on Steam.
  • A couple of small bug fixes.

Version 1.2.3 (May 12, 2018)

  • Some improvements to the handling of screens of different resolutions.
  • Some small bug fixes.

Version 1.2.2 (September 21, 2016)

  • Some updates to the display of component labels.

Version 1.2.1 (September 18, 2016)

  • Some updates to the behavior of relay elements.
  • A couple of bug fixes.

Version 1.1.9 (June 22, 2016)

  • Added ability to duplicate existing wires and also move them. These are available via the context menu on wires (Brought up by right-click) while using the wire tool as well as object tool.
  • Added maximum current rating parameter for all kinds of diodes. When the rating gets exceeded, the diode burns out. When a component burns out, no need to place the component again. Just pressing the simulation “Reset” button or entering simulation mode again sets the component back to its original working state.
  • Added trial version.

Version 1.1.4 (June 3, 2016)

  • Added a 2D view in addition to the 3D View. In this 2D view, components are depicted by their circuit symbols. Thus, the 2D View essentially displays the circuit diagram (schematic). One can switch between the 3D view and 2D view at any time. Some of the benefits provided by this 2D view are the following.
    • Connecting components with wires can sometimes be easier in this view.
    • You can get circuit diagram images of the circuit built for communication and other purposes.
    • Easier comparison with reference circuit diagrams.
  • Added ability to assign names (labels) to components. The assigned names get displayed next to the components on the circuit board.
  • Displaying the values of some common components such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors next to them on the circuit board for ease of reference (without needing to bring up Parameter Dialog).
  • The color of the circuit symbols in 2D view, and the color of the labels can be customized via preference settings.

Version 1.1.3 (April 6, 2016)

  • Added relay components. There are 4 types of relays available: SPST, SPDT, DPST, DPDT.
  • A few improvements to make it easier to connect components using wires. These changes apply to the situation of using “Wire Tool” to place wires.
    • Turning the components translucent in the vicinity of the wire being placed. This way, you can see through the components. Otherwise, the components sometimes block the view.
    • Displaying rings at the points where the component pins contact the circuit board. This way, the connection points are clearly visible.
    • While using the “Wire Tool”, right-clicking on an existing wire now brings up a context menu which can be used to delete the wire or change its color.
  • Added buttons to scroll the view.

Version 1.1.2 (March 12, 2016)

  • In earlier versions, all wires were green. With this update, there are multiple color choices for wires thereby allowing color coding of wires. Colors of wires can individually be set. Also, the “Application Preferences” now has a setting to specify the default color for new wires.
  • The “Application Preferences” now has a new setting to specify whether the wire animations should depict the “Conventional Current Flow” or “Electron Flow”. Earlier, only the former choice was available.

Version 1.1.0 (February 18, 2016)

  • Added voltage regulator ICs 78XX and 79XX.
  • Added a bunch of digital electronics components belonging to 7400 series.
    • 7400 Quad NAND Gate
    • 7402 Quad NOR Gate
    • 7404 Hex Inverter
    • 7408 Quad AND Gate
    • 7410 Triple 3-Input NAND Gate
    • 7420 Dual 4-Input NAND Gate
    • 7432 Quad OR Gate
    • 7447 BCD to 7-Segment Decoder
    • 7483 4-Bit Full Adder
    • 7485 4-Bit Comparator
    • 7486 Quad XOR Gate
    • 7490 Decade Counter
    • 7495 Shift Register, Parallel In, Parallel Out, Serial Input
    • 74139 Demultiplexer
    • 74147 10-Line to 4-Line Priority Encoder
    • 74148 8-Line to 3-Line Priority Encoder
    • 74153 Dual 4-Line to 1-Line Multiplexer
    • 74157 Quad 2-Line to 1-Line Multiplexer
    • 74193 Synchronous 4-Bit Up/Down Binary Counter
  • Added gates with more than 2 inputs.
    • 3-Input NAND Gate
    • 4-Input NAND Gate
  • Added common anode type seven segment display