PQView 3.71.3 Released

PQView® 3.71.3 is available for download.

This version includes more than 180 changes that resulted in improvements in nearly all components of the PQView application, including the installation program, database schema, SQL Server scripts, PQView Launcher, the Power Quality Data Manager, the Power Quality Data Analyzer, and PQView Agent.

Here are some highlights for this release:

Installation Program: This version of the installation program restores shortcuts to the Power Quality Data Manager and Power Quality Data Analyzer in the PQView 3.0 program group under the Microsoft Windows Start Menu.  These shortcuts had been removed in PQView 3.65.0 as part of changes to support Microsoft Access 2007 and Access 2010.

Digital Signatures: Beginning with this release, the executable files for PQView Agent, PQView Launcher, and PQView Agent each are digitally signed by Electrotek.

Default Site Properties: It is now possible to specify default values for site properties of new sites added to a PQView database during data source import.

PQView Database Library: Many new functions were added to the PQView Database Library (pqview.dll) and several existing functions were optimized for speed.  This library is used by many third-party applications designed to work with a PQView database.

PQView Agent: We completed many changes to make PQView Agent more reliable and easier to set up as an application for managing more than one PQView database on a single computer.  Also, changes were made in the PQView PQ Data Manager that increase its awareness that an instance of PQView Agent is running.  We need to remind you that PQDM and PQView Advisor can determine if each other is running only your computer is Windows XP or later, which would be a reason for upgrading your computer from Windows 2000 if you are still  using this operating system that is no longer supported by Microsoft.

Data Handler for Dranetz DDB Files: We made more than ten changes to the data handler, which was the first time it was revised since 2003.  The changes focused on reducing memory needed during import, making the data handler more responsive to user cancellations, and handling incomplete or invalid data blocks better.

Other Data Handlers: We modified the modules used to import from the following data sources: CYMDIST Network and Equipment Databases, Dranetz ESS/InfoNode, ION Enterprise Databases, Electro Industries Communicator Logs, Qualitrol Q-Wave Information System (QIS) Databases, and Unipower PQ Secure Databases.

New Data Handlers: We added new data handlers for importing from General Electric Communicator Logs and from the AMR Database used at Provincial Electric Authority (PEA) in Thailand.  We also added a window for importing waveforms from Microsoft Wave Sound Format (WAV) Files.

EDMI Data Files: We updated module that allows import from EDMI text files.  It now allows import of measurements from new meters without first adding a serial number for the PQView database as a site property.  As part of the change, you can specify a default value for nominal frequency and nominal voltage for new sites.

Chart Copy to Clipboard: You can now specify the format copied to the Windows Clipboard or to Microsoft Word from interactive charts.  You can choose between five formats: metafiles, enhanced metafiles, enhanced plus metafiles, bitmap files, and JPEG files.  The default is enhanced plus metafiles (EMF+).  These advanced types of metafiles better support display of languages other than English.  EMF+ plus files also can include Greek characters common in power systems analysis such as Δ, Ω, and σ.

PQ Event Roll: Several new charts were added to the PQ Event Roll: Second Derivative, Third Derivative, Rapid Voltage Change Analysis, Mean Values (PPC) and RMS Values (PPC).  You can now export measurements directly from the PQ Event Roll to the Event Roll, which allows you to view digital channels loaded with the event as thin and thick lines.  Additionally, you can now add, edit, or delete a text description of each event using the key combination <Ctrl><N>.  The event description text will appear at the bottom of each event chart if the “Show Event Desc” check box is marked in the PQDA Options window.

Steady-State Trends Window: We added two new derived charts.  One shows the minimum value of the subsets displayed in the chart, and a second displays the maximum value.  These complement the derived charts that were available in previous versions of PQView for showing the average and sum.

Rapid Voltage Changes: We updated the rules for compliance with Rapid Voltage Change limits to reflect current Norwegian NVE 1157 regulations.  Previous versions of PQView evaluated Maximum Voltage Change (ΔUmax) only.  This version of PQView evaluates an additional parameter: Steady State Voltage Change (ΔUss).  The Maximum Voltage Change is the difference between maximum and minimum rms values of a voltage change characteristic.  The Steady State Voltage Change is the difference between two adjacent steady state voltages separated by at least one voltage change characteristic.

Thai Support: We completed many changes in this version of PQView in order to better support computers configured with a Thai locale setting or Thai character set.

Requests from the Fall 2011 Users Group Meetings: We added many of the requests made by users at the 2011 North American and 2011 European PQView Users Group Meetings.

PQView 3.70.0 Released

PQView 3.70.0 is available for download.  Here are some highlights for this release:

Translated User Interface: To complement the Simplified Chinese user interface that has been available since 2008, we added a new Traditional Chinese user interface.

PQView Database Library: The software library used by third-party software engineers to provide data to custom PQView applications was significantly updated.  The new version of the library can return data log samples up to 35% faster, and waveform samples can be returned up to 80% faster.  Examples of third-party applications developed by PQView users in Asia and Europe are posted in the PQView Users Group Meetings Archive.

Point-in-Wave CharacteristicsIEEE P1159.2 Module: We added a new module for analyzing voltage sags using the methods described in drafts of IEEE P1159.2 and in EPRI Report TR-113044.  The rms characteristics defined by IEEE P1159.2 include sag start, sag stop, sag duration, rms minimum, rms average, rms maximum, and three-phase rms imbalance.  The point-in-wave characteristics defined by the draft standard include point of initiation, point of recovery, duration, initial transition angle, phase jump, final phase shift, final transition angle, post event angle, and maximum harmonic rms value.

Data Handler for Dranetz ESS/InfoNode: We completed optimizations in the data handler used to download measurements from Dranetz InfoNode servers that will reduce download time from remote InfoNodes by about 50%. Another improvement will reduce CPU utilization during stored data download by much as 95%.

Data Handler for IEEE PQDIF Files: We increased the limit on the number of samples that could be imported from a single series in an IEEE 1159.3 PQDIF file to one million.   We also updated the PQDIF-to-PQView translation table within the PQDIF Data Handler for PQView to allow import of sliding window long-term flicker perception and real power at the fundamental frequency.

Updates to Other Data Handlers: We updated the data handler used when importing measurements from the SoftSwitching Technologies I-Grid web site, from IEEE COMTRADE files, and from EDMI EziView text files.

Linear Regression Scatter ChartLinear Regression Charts: You can now create scatter charts for data logs that feature linear regression lines and statistics.

X-Axis Annotations: We are no longer using vertical lines to indicate when status values change for digital channels imported from a microprocessor relay.  We now use x-axis annotations, which allow many more digital status changes to be shown very close in time.
 

PQView 3.69.3 Released

PQView 3.69.3 is available for download.  Here are some highlights for this release:

• Installation Program Update: The PQView installation program now creates the computer ID used by PQView at the end of the installation process.
• Data Handler Updates: We updated the data handlers used to import from the following data store formats: Dranetz ESS/InfoNode servers, Qualitrol QIS databases, and Schneider Electric ION Enterprise databases.
• PQDIF Updates: The PQDIF data handler library was updated to allow client applications such as the PQView PQ Data Manager and PQDiffractor® to write harmonic and interharmonic channel group ID values in PQDIF files.  Also, the time required to export PQDIF files from within PQView’s PQ Data Manager was decreased significantly.
• RMS Voltage Variations Analysis Panel: This version includes several new tools for deriving SARFI indices, including command buttons for creating SARFI single-site and system summary tables and an overhauled SARFI Event Analysis window.

PQView 3.69.0 Released

PQView® 3.69.0 is available for download.  Here are some highlights for this release:

• Data Handler Updates: We updated the data handlers used to import from the following data store formats: IEEE COMTRADE files, Dranetz ESS/InfoNode servers, GridSense PowerView CSV Folder, Qualitrol QIS databases, SATEC PAS Databases, and Schneider Electric ION Enterprise databases.
• PQDIF Data Handler Updates: The PQDIF data handler was updated to be more compatible with a wider variety of PQDIF files that are compliant with IEEE Std 1159.3.
• CYMDIST Data Handler: We added an option to the CYMDIST data handler to convert from custom coordinate systems such as state plane to coordinate systems based on latitude and longitude.
• GroundedPower Monitoring Data Files: We added a new window for importing from text files generated by the Tendril/GroundedPower web system.
• Virtual Sites: You can now derive data for virtual sites that have voltages transformed by one to four transformer connections.  The transformer connections available include Wye/Wye, Delta/Wye, Delta/Delta, Wye/Delta, and Ungrounded Wye/Delta.  The nominal base voltage for the output voltages can be specified in line-neutral or line-line.
• PQ Event Viewer: We added event list and event roll shortcuts for events that have been processed by the optional Sag Direction Answer Module and the Capacitor Switching Answer Module.
• Harmonic Statistical Summary: We overhauled the window that displays harmonic statistical charts and updated it to allow three-phase summary charts.
• Microsoft Graph:  We upgraded numerous non-interactive charts that were dependent upon Microsoft Graph.  Microsoft Graph was the chief charting engine used by PQView 1.0 and PQView 2.0, but was replaced with a faster interactive charting engine in PQView 3.0.  The remaining charts in PQView that still use Microsoft Graph were renamed as  obsolete.  If you are using a chart marked obsolete, let us know, because they will be removed from a future version of PQView.

PQView 3.68.1 Released

PQView 3.68.1 is available for download. 

We completed nearly two hundred changes to PQView in upgrading from version 3.66.0 to 3.68.1.  Here are some highlights:

• PQView Users Group Meetings: During August and September, more than ninety users participated in PQView training sessions in New Zealand, Australia, China, and New York.  This PQView release includes many changes specifically requested at these training sessions.
• Charting Libraries: We upgraded the charting engine used for interactive charts in PQView.  The new charting engine renders charts about 60% faster, which will be most evident when making a chart with hundreds of thousands or millions of data points.  The chart engine now uses modern Windows charting technologies such as GDI+, antialiased text, and antialiased graphics.  The most noticeable enhancement is an optional zoom window that will appear at the bottom of each chart once you zoom in.  The zoom chart shows the entire chart and highlights the area that is currently zoomed.
• Updates to Data Handlers: We updated the data handlers or modules used to import from the following data store formats: IEEE COMTRADE Folders, Dranetz ESS/InfoNode, Schneider Electric ION Enterprise, Unipower PQ Secure databases, SoftSwitching I-Grid, OSISoft PI System, PQView databases, and SEL Report Files.
• Updates to PQView Agent: We modified the way in which PQDM instances shut down when launched from PQView Agent.  As an option, you can have PQDM terminate itself after a data source import initiated by PQView Agent.  This option prevents PQDM instances being left stranded after a Microsoft Access automatic restart.
• RAS Support: We made major improvements in PQDM when used to download Dranetz InfoNodes using dial-up networking (RAS) connections.
• Proxy Server Support: We added support for specifying proxy server settings when downloading measurements from InfoNode and I-Grid servers.
• Fault Viewer: The Fault Viewer in PQDA now features a command button that can export one-line diagrams to applications associated with KML files (e.g., Google Earth)..
• ANEEL Calculations: The derivations for indices required by the Brazilian National Electrical Energy Agency were modified to include monitor availability as part of the precarious and critical voltage ratio.