Brads Electronic Projects Forum

Hi Guys,

I have just purchased a fantastic piece of software titled Proteus Professional version 7.

Man it is cool!

It basically allows you to construct any circuit on the screen (from a library of hundreds of thousands of components) you can then press play to make the circuit run just as if you constructed it on breadboard etc...

The main reason that I bought it was because there are microcontrollers in the library, so you can construct a circuit with your microcontroller, then you can assign your hex code to it and run it just like a real project.

You can also connect virtual oscilloscopes, mutlimeters, logic probes and analisers, UART, SPI, SIg Generator and loads more.

I can now design all my circuits (apart from POV displays) using this software! Once I can see that it works, then I can order all the parts.

Here is a little animation of a sample circuit that comes with the program.

(Note, the screenshots are taken only every 1/2 second, so the animation is not very smooth at all)

Wow that looks cool

Where did you purchase it from Brad? is it for mac or windows?

Ouch! That comes at a hefty price tag for a hobbyist.

The starter package is not bad, but if you want to add the microcontroller simulation you can really rack up some dollars. The source level debugging sounds pretty cool.

If you are selling product, this can be an invaluable tool.

It is cool though!

bitfogav,

Not sure if this is where Brad purchased from but here is the website:
http://www.labcenter.com/index.cfm

They have some nice looking PCB design software as well.

Stacy

Sorry buddy, it is for windows.

But I take it back. I spent all that money on it and don't even use it! I prefer to use breadboard still

ahhh dear it looks good thou!!

I have used this software also.One problem I have found is with the alpha numeric lcd.In 8 bit mode it works as expected but if the lcd is wired in 4 bit mode (and the code changed to suit ) it does not work correctly outputing gibberish on the screen.The same code works in the Oshon sim and when loaded into a real system so can only be due to Isis (Proteus), not found an answer to this yet any Ideas?

FreeThinker wrote:I have used this software also.One problem I have found is with the alpha numeric lcd.In 8 bit mode it works as expected but if the lcd is wired in 4 bit mode (and the code changed to suit ) it does not work correctly outputing gibberish on the screen.The same code works in the Oshon sim and when loaded into a real system so can only be due to Isis (Proteus), not found an answer to this yet any Ideas?

Sorry I can't help you there. I basically went and spent all this money and found pretty much what you have found. It doesn't seem to work as it would work on breadboard or with actual components.

I bought the software to save time with my experiments, not make me waste time by trying to figure out the programs bugs.

I agree that the software has a very steep learning curve and (possibly) is buggy.The package contains an example of a 1x16 display in 4bit mode that does work so it points to the sim of the 2x16 display needing tweaking- how you would do this I do not know yet.My main reason for using it is that you can try out various hardware solutions quickly without actually having the required parts to hand and, bugs aside, this is a real advantage.Register with the forum and play a little more the effort is really worthwhile.As an update to the original problem I have read that it is a timing problem in the component for the lcd and can be edited but as i have seid I don't know how yet

FreeThinker wrote:I agree that the software has a very steep learning curve and (possibly) is buggy.The package contains an example of a 1x16 display in 4bit mode that does work so it points to the sim of the 2x16 display needing tweaking- how you would do this I do not know yet.My main reason for using it is that you can try out various hardware solutions quickly without actually having the required parts to hand and, bugs aside, this is a real advantage.Register with the forum and play a little more the effort is really worthwhile.As an update to the original problem I have read that it is a timing problem in the component for the lcd and can be edited but as i have seid I don't know how yet

I guess another problem for me is that I mainly use RGB matrix displays and RGB leds in my projects - the library doesn't actually have either of these. Do you know how to make your own components?

brad wrote: I guess another problem for me is that I mainly use RGB matrix displays and RGB leds in my projects - the library doesn't actually have either of these. Do you know how to make your own components?

At the moment no, but it is possble.Only had Proteus for a few weeks so only just scratched the surface.I think the main problem is that it is a "Professional" product and the developers expect you to either know how something works or pay for support.The forum is essentially 'Locked' to unregistered users so info is scarce.Only using the demo version at the moment so it's an uphill battle.The potential is awesome though!

I thought you could only get circuits to run if you had the registered version?

brad wrote:I thought you could only get circuits to run if you had the registered version?

Basically only the save/print feature is disabled.You can modify the sample designs and run your own code, but how far you can take the process I'm not sure (ie to pcb outputing of gerber files) but I've not come up against any real limitation so far except that you cannot save anything.I also think that the component library is smaller but don't know for sure.Regarding the rgb matrix would it not be possible to make one up from standard parts ie If your library contains a rgb led could you not wire them in a matrix to simulate the part? failing that do they sell such a thing as an add on?, You only get a selection of the available components that are the most popular,they may well have something to do the job.

Thats really strange because I tried modifying theirs and it still didn't let me run it. I wish I had have tried it out a little more before purchasing...

brad wrote:Thats really strange because I tried modifying theirs and it still didn't let me run it. I wish I had have tried it out a little more before purchasing...

Well you cannot create a new design but you can adapt an exisiting sample within limits ie I picked up the lcd sample but the wireing was to different ports I could change the connections to run my proven code BUT cannot add any new hardware (No valid key).Still this allowed me to find out that It was buggy.Have tried via SF to run some code on the lcd and again it behaves strangely.Cannot test it in hardware as I do not support the 18f family yet.Tried in Oshon pic simulator for the 18f (trial version) and it ran nearly as expected (I had modified SF to support scroll screen right and left but in oshon it move right with the left instruction and left with the right but that could be me mis reading the data sheet) In proteus it behaved very strange starting with a blank screen and scrolling the data onform the end of the text.had expected to fill the screen and for it to scroll off one end and reappear at the other like a scrolling banner.Deffo seems to be a faulty algorithom for the lcd component.

Thats what I tried to do, modify a circuit with extra components and it just did not allow me to do it. I think it would be great if I were able to sell this software but I am not sure that I can do that because it is in my name.

Ah well!