Constructor 9 Version History

The latest version is 9.0.13.

If you were previously running a version of the Constructor program prior to version 9.0.8, then you will like some of the new features that we added back in version 9.0.8 for motor control simulation.

The first thing we did was to give the three phase motor class the ability to detect when an incoming phase is missing. Now when a three phase motor symbol detects that it is missing a phase it will simulate a single phase condition by allowing any switch class symbol that is associated to it to react. This is a great way to simulate a NC overload contact reacting to a single phased motor and the high current condition that it creates.

The second thing we did was to include a new symbol library called "New Overloads For Version 908". This library contains a new switch class overload contact that you can use in your motor control circuits. The library also includes two updated overload heater symbols. Just copy the symbols from the new library and paste them into any of your existing libraries.

Note:

Since pasting symbols in a library does not overwrite any existing symbols, you may wish to delete the two original overload heater symbols in the library first before you paste the new symbols in to it. This will prevent any confusion as to which are the new overload heater symbols, since they still look the same.

The third thing we did in version 9.0.8 was to included a sample diagram that shows you how it all works. The sample diagram is called "Overload Contact.lad". Just look in your Sample Ladder Diagrams folder to find it.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, just go to the Help menu and select Email CMH Software Technical Support. We want to hear from you.

Below is a list showing all of the changes made to the Constructor version 9 program so far:

Version 9.0.13

Corrected a problem with the printer selection dialog window.

Version 9.0.12

Corrected a problem with the simulation log window. The <SAVE> button was disabled and could not be selected.

Version 9.0.11

Changed the minimum display resolution to 800x590 to allow to run on notebooks.

Version 9.0.10

Corrected a problem on Vista systems where the program would unexpectedly shut down after the main power switch was turned on to energize a circuit. This would only happen on Vista systems, which were running Office 2007 Groove in the background.

Version 9.09

Corrected a problem where moving the mouse pointer over the top a symbol’s popup icons [?X] would produce an error if the systems current display setting was greater than 96 DPI. Other visual modifications were also made in regard to DPI settings that are set larger than 96.

Corrected a problem where resizing the bottom of the file browser window up past the windows divider bar would generate an error and shut the program down.

Version 9.08

New Feature: three phase motors will detect when an incoming phase is missing. When a motor detects a single-phase condition it will now produce the same sound effect as a motor that has a LOCKED ROTOR condition.

New Feature: switches that are ASSOCIATED to a three phase motor will now react when the motor is being single phased.

New Feature: switches can now be ASSOCIATED to Wye-Delta motors.

Updated the two overload heater symbols in the DEFAULT symbol library.

Added a new switch class symbol, NORMALLY CLOSED OVERLOAD, to the symbol libraries. This new OL style contact can be associated to motors to detect overloads and single phase conditions.

Added the program’s DLL information to the HELP ABOUT window.

Corrected a problem where a normally closed pushbutton control head would not detect a short circuit properly.

Corrected a problem where the background text that was behind a symbol’s status window (OPEN, SHORTED, LOCKED, delay times, etc.) was being erased when the status window was removed.

Corrected a problem where the symbol library’s symbol animation window would appear over other forms, which would sometimes generate an error and shut down the program.

Corrected a problem where the Constructor program would continue to close even after the CANCEL button was selected from the SAVE AS dialog window.

Corrected a problem where the panel button window would not update each button’s appearance after a new diagram was loaded.

Corrected a problem where the panel button window would not resize itself correctly after returning to the EDIT mode.

Version 9.0.7

Corrected a problem in the ASSOCIATED REACTION window where the program would shut down unexpectedly if MANUAL RESET had been previously checked when trying to go back in to modify an associated reaction for a switch.

Modified the enabling and disabling of the controls for the DELAY BEFORE SWITCH DEACTIVATION in the ASSOCIATED REACTION window for switches.

Version 9.0.6

Corrected a problem in the DIAGRAM OPTIONS window with the buttons REMOVE LEGEND FROM DIAGRAM and RESTORE ORIGINAL LEGEND TEXT. The buttons could not be selected when a diagram containing a legend was loaded.

Corrected a problem with restoring text in a legend. The Constructor program would close after trying to restore the text in a legend. This would only happen when an existing diagram that was loaded already contained a legend.

Corrected a problem with images in a legend not appearing.

Version 9.0.5

Corrected a problem with the contact assignment window. While assigning contacts to a Phase Monitor the option to select a reaction type of either INSTANTANEOUS or DELAYED would be missing.

Version 9.0.4

Corrected a problem with the multi-position (MP) switch configuration window. When accessing a MP switch in a diagram that contains multiple MP switches, the information being saved for each contact for the MP switch was incorrect.

Version 9.0.3

Added tutorials that can be accessed from the <HELP> menu.

Modified the initial start up position and width of the document viewer.

Version 9.0.2

Corrected a problem in the printing process where setting the orientation option to "Landscape" or changing the paper size would not make any changes to the actual printed page.

Corrected a problem where the printing process would reset the printer device back to the default settings once the printing was completed.

Updated some of the print preview window's controls to reflect the new color/hue options in the program.

Version 9.0.1

Corrected a problem where the path to the SHARED DOCUMENTS folder was being returned incorrectly when accessed on XP Professional with a network using a domain.