Install, Help System and Numerics

This minor release includes three major new features:

• It is now possible to install the software in the regular manner (i.e. 'pip install .' or 'python setup.py install'. This capability eluded the developer up to now.
• The help system keys are now in a file on the internet, along with the help system (instead of on the disk with the installation). These keys are late binding, meaning they are read only when you access the help system, and since the are along with the help system, this means that the help system can be updated completely independently from software version updates and still retain the proper indexing.
• Numerical capabilities have been added that allow the solution for diabolical problems. These include:
  • Simulations with current and differential probes, but no absolute ground reference.
  • Situations where some components have no absolute ground reference at certain frequencies.
  • S-parameter solutions with loops of wire and such were some internal waves, voltage, or currents cannot be calculated, but the port conditions can still be solved for.

The best example of this is the calculation of s-parameters with two parallel wires.
This numerical capability is controlled through a new preference called TrySVD and is still considered experimental, as it can produce incorrect answers in cases like voltage sources connected directly to ground.