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2 computers x 1 model = 2 different results = ####

This has been a major problem for a small (but important!) group of Source users.

eWater is pleased to announce we’ve worked it out the issue and fixed it!

The changes in this beta will be available in the 4.9 production release, due out at the end of June 2019. 

Highlights of this release include fixing the problem of different machines giving different results (for two models), a 'removal' script for plugins and improvements to the Map tool and the /wiki/spaces/SD50/pages/50137341 plugin.

Beta 4.8.3 also has improvements to:

• recorder sets
• editing constituent models
• ownership recorders in weirs and off allocation
• saved run information in the Results Manager
• validation of supply point options
• orders are now redistributed at extraction time for use debit accounts.  

Firstly, the problem of different results on different machines has been fixed!

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Technical Details:

Source uses the Microsoft .NET framework, the problem was caused by 2 functions in the System.Math library. Both System.Math.Pow() and System.Math.Exp() can give different results for some number combinations on different machines. For individual function calls, different results occurred at 0.09% of the time with our randomly generated test data. We believe the issue is from different CPU’s implementing different optimisations to perform the operations as efficiently as possible. The functions are not implemented directly within the Microsoft .NET framework, instead, they are implemented in the Microsoft C run-time libraries which are used by the .NET framework, as well as by a number of other languages including C++. So the nature of the .NET framework, which is an interpreted language, wasn’t part of the issue and the same results would have been obtained if implemented in C++. We have since tested all available System.Math functions and these are the only two we have found that can produce different results on different machines. The vast majority of models don’t see the issue since the differences are very minor and for an individual operation, the difference is only at the last decimal place. However, for very large models with lots of feedback in the model, when the issue occurs it can snowball into meaningful result differences.

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We have approached Microsoft about the issue and they are yet to respond: Microsoft Developer Community: Math.Pow and Math.Exp produce inconsistent results

This was a very really difficult problem to isolate . and we a very and fix. We are VERY happy that we found a solutionworked it out!!

Plugins can now "unload" themselves from projects 

Recorder sets are better at picking up "not recorded" elements

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Plugin removal

Plugins that need persistence can now include a removal script so plugins can remove themselves from a project when they are not needed or have been added accidentally.  The tool is available in: Tools \ Remove Plugin from Project File.

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There is an example provided in the Example Node model plugin.

Map tool improvements

The tool is available under Tools > Analysis Windows > Map... It now works better for constituents and comparing multiple runs.

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Lascam Plugin

The /wiki/spaces/SD50/pages/50137341plugin now includes better value ranges to help determine appropriate ranges to use when calibrating.

Plugin Developers

We are planning on moving to C# 7, Visual Studio

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2019 and .NET 4.8.0 soon, so you will need to make sure you have updated Visual Studio to continue developing plugins in the beta versions.

Regression Testing

Details here: 4.8.3 Regression Test Changes

Insight

To run Insight, you also need to install the 32bit version of Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package.
This installer is for both 32bit machines and 64bit machines since the library we use is 32bit: Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86).

Full Release Documentation