What's New in FactSage 5.3.1?

(Revised November 11, 2004)


FactSage 5.3.1 Update:

The FactSage 5.3.1 update was released in November 2004. The update permits you to upgrade FactSage 5.0 (April 2001), or FactSage 5.1 (June 2002) or FactSage 5.2 (May 2003) or FactSage 5.3 (June 2004) to FactSage 5.3.1 (November 2004). If you wish to install the FactSage 5.3.1 Update on a new PC then you must first install the original FactSage 5.0 package.

In June 2004 we listed the important programming changes in 5.3 with respect to 5.2 - click on What's New in FactSage 5.3?. What follows is a summary of major changes in FactSage 5.3.1 with respect to 5.3. Although there have been some modifications to the programs most changes are related to the new databases, documentation and fig files (phase diagrams).

New Databases:

Several new databases have been released - FToxid, FTsalt, FThall, FThelg, FTmisc, FSlite, FSstel, SGTE, and FSnobl.

The old FACT solution database (FS50Soln.sda) has been greatly extended and updated, and has been subdivided into the new FToxid, FTsalt, FThall, FTmisc and FThelg solution databases, each containing data for a group of systems (oxides, salts, etc.). Those clients who are entitled to the FactSage 5.3.1 update and who already have the FACT (Mar. 2001) compound and solution databases, will automatically receive these new FACT databases.

BINS – free binary alloy database:

A free alloy database, BINS, is distributed with FactSage 5.3.1. It contains 115 of the binary systems from the SGTE(2004) alloy databases. The database contains model parameters for binary systems only.

In addition to inspecting the data via the ViewData and Compound modules, you may also access and edit the solution data using the Solution module. This will provide a clearer understanding both of the models used by SGTE in describing the thermodynamic properties of different solid and liquid phases. The data for the free systems may also be useful as a basis for developing your own database with the new OptiSage optimization module, especially because of their compatibility with all other SGTE databases.

Please note that this free database is intended for calculation of phase equilibria in BINARY systems only. The database does not contain any ternary model parameters. The database can NOT be used for calculations in ternary and higher-order systems, as this will almost certainly result in totally incorrect results.

Database Documentation and Diagrams:

In addition to the new databases, the major changes relate to extensive new documentation and new calculated phase diagrams (*.fig files), for example:

FactSage Browser:

A new FactSage browser has been written to access the FactSage htm, fig and associated documentation files. The browser is highly efficient and particularly designed for the FactSage environment. For example, it displays a 'tree-view' index of the database documentation and enables you to rapidly 'open' fig files (i.e. phase diagrams) in a FactSage Viewer environment - this is not possible with Explorer or Netscape.

FactSage Modules:

Equilib: In Equilib 5.3.1, by default the maximum number of selected product species is 700 and the number of selected product solutions is 30. These limits are listed in the Equilib Menu Window and are the same as in FactSage 5.3. In FactSage 5.3.1 there is new option to install an extended version of Equilib and increase the maximum number of selected product species to 1500 and the number of selected product solutions to 40.

Elsewhere in FactSage 5.3.1 some programming changes have been made and bugs (both old and new) located in FactSage 5.3 have been fixed. The changes include:

  • FactSage databases with 6-letter nicknames are supported in all the modules.

  • In View Data it is now possible to get a detailed summary (including the file properties, expiration dates, data Read-Only or Read/Write) of all the databases in a given directory - click on the new 'Summary ...' button (or in Equilib/Phase Diagram module of the Reactants/Components Window click on 'Data Search > Databases > File > Add .. > Summary') This is particularly useful when there are many databases stored on the PC and you want to know if anything has been overlooked and should be added to the list of databases connected to FactSage. You may also click on the 'Scan' button to access one database at a time.

  • In Phase Diagram it is now possible to merge a dilute user-defined ideal solution into a real solution (this was already possible in Equilib).

  • The Stop/Kill option in Equilib/Phase Diagram now works on all Windows platforms. The % / progress bar has been modified for Equilib transition calculations.

  • Empty *.dat solution files are ignored.

  • Read-only solution files on a user's PC are now accessible.

  • Several changes have been made to the new OptiSage module, such as writing compound databases, initial temperature and pressure of a stream (dHmix).

  • 'Tools' options have been activated and unwanted error messages have been removed from Compound.

  • A Run-time error in 'EpH' related to the optional element has been fixed.

  • [F*A*C*T] [www.factsage.com] [GTT]