Scicos > Release of Scicos 4.2

Editor

This is a major release. Scicos 4.2 contains numerous new features: a completely new editor with many new functionalities, extended data types and associated blocks, improved compiler and code generator, and new numerical solvers. A special effort has been made to propose a complete documentation as well.

Scicos users are invited to report all problems to ramine.nikoukhah@inria.fr. In the case of a bug report, please include all the information, including a simple diagram if needed, to reproduce the problem.

GOOD LUCK!

Ramine Nikoukhah

INFORMATION

The new Scicos 4.2 has changed a great deal. Please read the FAQ file.

The followings are tables comparing the functionalities of the old Scicos with the new Scicos.

Editor facilities	Scicos 4.1.1	Scicos 4.2
Windows style editing	No	Partial Implementatin Most basic operations but some limitations due to Scilab GUI limitations
Multi-diagram editing	Single window active Only copy and paste from parent diagrams	Yes Copy and paste from any window to any other and other operations
Multi-model editing	N/A	N/A (but basic mechanism implemented already)
Documentation	Very limited	Most functions and blocks documented
On-line help	limited	Yes (automatic generation)
Active Scilab prompt	No	Yes, menu activated
Undo operation	One step	One step per window
Diagram browser	Limited	Single model multi-diagram browsing
From/To workspace blocks	No Possible using Scilab blocks and global variables	Yes Vector Scilab variables of various types But not matrices
Palette operations	Multi-window	Multi-window + Palette browser
Palettes	Palettes of elementary blocks	Palettes of elementary blocks Modelica blocks Matrix operation blocks Integer operation blocks
Debugging facilities	2 debugging levels + Debug Block	3 debugging levels + Debug Block
Modelica blocks	Simple editing	More editing On-line Modelica code
Inspection of available parameters	No	Available in every window
Block Masking	No	Yes Create, delete, customize
From/Goto blocks	No	Yes
Icon editor for blocks	Poorly implemented Not usable	Functional
Block/Diagram data inspection	N/A	Yes (Details menu)
Data types: Input/outputs Discrete states Parameters	Vector of double Vector of double Double & Integer	Vector and matrix of double (real and complex), int8, int16, int32, signed and unsigned

Compiler	Scicos 4.1.1	Scicos 4.2
Compilation of models with sub-sampling	Yes Poor algorithm Major flaws	Yes New algorithm
Accepted data types	Vector of doubles	Vector/matrix of double and various integer types
Implicitly defined multi-frequency clocks	N/A	Yes (sample-clock blocks)

Simulator	Scicos 4.1.1	Scicos 4.2
ODE/DAE solvers	Lsodar/Dassl (Modified)	SUNDIALS (modified)
Accepted data types	Vector of doubles	Vector/matrix of various types
Visualization	Basic scope blocks	Scopes based on Scilab new graphics library

Code Generator

Scicos 4.1.1

Scicos 4.2

Accepted diagrams

Synchronous

continuous and discrete time

Synchronous

‘continuous and discrete time

Accepted data types

Vector of doubles

Vector/matrix of various types