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 3.66.0 Released

PQView 3.66.0 is available for download.

We completed nearly sixty changes to PQView in upgrading from version 3.65.1 to 3.66.0.  Here are some highlights:

• Microsoft Access 2010: This version of PQView includes support for the just released Microsoft Access 2010.  We also posted the free Microsoft Access 2010 runtime edition for download.
• Microsoft Access 2007: Some users reported problems using PQView with Access 2007.  We discovered that there was a defect in the original release of Access 2007 that prevented launching PQView.  Microsoft corrected the problem in Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1).  In PQView 3.66.0, the PQView Launcher and PQView Agent applications will show a warning message if your computer is using the original release of Access 2007, and will advise you to install SP1 or SP2.
• Updates to Data Handlers: The following data handlers were updated: PQView 2.x/3.x Databases, IEEE COMTRADE Folders (No Map), Dranetz-BMI PASS 8010 PQNode Database, and GridSense PowerView Text Files.
• Data Handler for GridSense PowerView Text Files:  The data handler was updated to import waveform samples and rms samples from event files.  Previously, you could import data log measurements only.
• SEL Report Files: We added a new window for importing from report files created by Schweitzer Engineering Labs (SEL).  The only report supported by the window with this release is the Load Profile (LDP) report.  We plan to expand on this window in the future to import other SEL report files, including EVE, CEV, and SSI.  Until then, there is a separate data handler specifically designed to import EVE files.
• Derivation of ANEEL Indices: We revised the module in the PQView PQ Data Manager used to derive indices required by the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL).
  Fault Analysis Window: We added three new charts: distribution of maximum voltage, maximum voltage per fault event, and maximum voltage per fault event in a time line display.  The fault data for this report is added by the optional Reactance-to-Fault Add-in Module.
• Follow-On Fault Analysis Window: We added a new window that analyzes faults that “follow” other faults measured by a site at the same station.

PQView® 3.65.1 Released

PQView 3.65.1 is available for download.  We completed nearly one hundred changes to PQView in upgrading from version 3.64.0 to 3.65.1.  Here are some highlights: 

• PQView Launcher: A shortcut to a new application now appears rather than the traditional shortcuts to the Power Quality Data Manager and the Power Quality Data Analyzer.  PQView Launcher allows you to use PQView without having write permission to the “Program Files” folder where PQView is usually installed, which provides better compatibility with Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7.  It also allows you to have more than one PQView application open at a time.  For example, you could have three instances of PQDA open at one time, each connected to a different PQView database.  PQView Launcher can be used to “trust” folders when using Microsoft Access 2007 or Access 2010; a database in a trusted folder can be opened without any warning messages from Microsoft Access.
• PQView Agent was upgraded to work on Microsoft Windows 2003 Server and Windows 2008 Server.
• Updates to Data Handlers: The following data handlers were updated: IEEE Std 37.111 COMTRADE Folders, IEEE Std 37.111 COMTRADE Folders with No Mapping, Dranetz® PASS/PNDS Databases, Dranetz® ESS/InfoNode, Electro Industries® Communicator Log, and SoftSwitching® I-Grid® Web Site.
• Data Handler for Electro Industries Communicator Log:  This data handler was redesigned to load data log samples in batches.  This change means that large volumes of data will be imported up to 400% faster than when using PQView 3.64.0.
• PQ Event Roll: We modified the functionality of the Auto Zoom checkbox.  When checked, the time axis of all charts in the same PQ Event Roll window will be zoomed together.  That is, when one chart with time values for an x-axis is zoomed, all other charts will have their x-axis zoom modified to match the zoom of the chart that was just zoomed.  This feature has been requested by many users in the past.
• Optional Fault Location Add-in Module: The add-in module was updated to show the distance to fault in miles or kilometers when non-default values of line parameters are specified.  This makes it easier to use the add-in module with transmission line data.  For distribution circuits, the Fault Viewer was updated to allow one-line diagrams to be displayed that show only the line segments with phases that correspond to the fault phases.
• Derivation of ANEEL Indices: We revised the module in the PQView PQ Data Manager used to derive indices required by the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL).  We also added an ANEEL report in the PQView PQ Data Analyzer.
• Steady State Trends Window:  You can create a new derived chart that cross tabulates the values in the trend chart by day.  This allows each day being plotted to be overlaid on top of each other day.