Known Issues in Petro-SIM 6

These are the current known issues.

Installation

  • Installation on Windows Vista may require that you install the Microsoft .Net Framework 4.0 before installation can complete. The installer will detect where this applies and provide guidance.
  • Installation has been verified on Windows Vista upwards. We no longer verify releases on Windows XP though installation may still work.

DC-SIM Calibration Crash

There is a crash during calibration of DC-SIM models in V6 that occurs when the Coke Drum Starting Inventory is >60, <40, or missing. The workaround to avoid the crash is to supply a value of 50. The crash only occurs during calibration and only in V6.

This issue will be fixed for V6.0SP1 and V6.1

Microsoft Windows Updates Affecting Reactor Workbooks

It has come to our attention that one of the recent Microsoft updates has caused issues when generating reactor application workbooks.

Symptom:

When you generate a new Excel Application Workbook with a reactor calibration from SIM Suite 4 or 5 (or migrate SIM Suite 3 models to 4 or 5), macro buttons are missed in the A1:H5 range in the Calibration Input sheet. If you click the “Calibration” button in the ribbon bar, a pop-up window will appear indicating a severe error for Petro-SIM Excel Add-In. (Refer to below screenshot)

Solution:

Microsoft has released the fix package online:

Depending on whether you have admin rights on your machine, please go and run the “Fix it” button accordingly. After the program execution, the problem should be resolved.

Reference on the Microsoft update MS14-082:

Microsoft Excel Compatibility

Petro-SIM 6 is compatible with all releases of 32-bit Microsoft Excel from version 2007 upwards. Petro-SIM does not fully support 64-bit editions of Microsoft Excel. Use of Microsoft 2003 may still work but is no longer supported.

Microsoft Internet Explorer Compatibility

The Petro-SIM welcome screen displayed at startup may cause Petro-SIM to crash due to a known Microsoft issue. Petro-SIM will now detect this and turn off the welcome screen when you restart it.

Petro-SIM 64-bit limitations

Petro-SIM 6 is available in 32-bit and 64-bit editions, fully supporting side by side installation. Case files are fully interchangeable between the editions but there are a few limitations you should be aware of before deciding to use the 64-bit edition. These are:

  • The XPRESS-SLP solver used within the Blender and Optimizer are currently not available in 64-bit form
  • Data import from HCAMS is not available
  • There are known issues using HTRI eXchanger Suite 7
  • Some third-party Cape-OPEN components may require manual registration before they are recognized.
  • Normal Petro-SIM Extension unit operations will probably require re-registration

We also recommend that if you are going to use 64-bit, you install both editions on your computer to make sure the full set of database drivers for 64-bit and 32-bit environments get installed. This affects inter-operability with Microsoft Excel.

Petro-SIM Explorer: standalone licensing

The Petro-SIM Explorer component of version 6 is now treated as a licensed entity rather than being free for all users, with Petro-SIM licensees receiving one free Petro-SIM Explorer license seat for each seat of Petro-SIM or Petro-SIM Express they hold. Build 1318 introduces this licensing model with our QA testing uncovering an issue with the way it works for standalone license users.

If this affects you, you can correct the issue as follows:

  1. Download an updated license initialization program, lsinit2.exe
  2. Locate the executable in your downloads folder
  3. Right-click on the executable and select Run as administrator, confirming as needed

Petro-SIM Explorer should now operate without issue.

This issue does not affect users with network-based licensing and will be corrected in the next build. It does not affect any other aspect of Petro-SIM or SIM Suite license management.