Pointwise Release Notes

Overview

Pointwise is our leading mesh generation software product for CFD, encompassing nearly three decades of technology development. The product features a modern software framework and workflow and provides tools like 64-bit support, multi-threading, and Windows/Linux/Mac portability.

These release notes are provided as a reference for the new features included in the latest version of Pointwise as well as any known issues that were resolved.

New Features

  • EGADS native CAD import has been added
  • All break points on selected connectors can be deleted using a new toolbar button.
  • The Project command now includes the ability to show constrained grid points in the Display window in the same manner as Examine, Database Associativity.

Resolved Issues

SPR Description
PW-21637 The pw:Application exit function was not working when using the Glyph server.
PW-21635 Using a “\” in a CAE boundary condition renders the .pw file unusable.
PW-21630 Joining connectors unintentionally deleted an adjacent domain.
PW-21628 T-Rex bug resulted in failed face processing on export.
PW-21616 On Linux systems, the target reticle for the mouse could be inaccurate.
PW-21609 A block was not initializing successfully and causing an unexpected exit.
PW-21597 Having a floating and roaming license used simultaneously caused Pointwise to close.
PW-21594 A domain with a source was causing initialization (of the domain or the block) to fail and Pointwise to close unexpectedly.
PW-21588 Spacings were being removed from a Named Spacing when the distribution of the connector was changed to equal spacing.
PW-21586 Initializing multiple domains with triangles and quads caused an unexpected exit.
PW-21575 A block surrounded by other blocks could not be elevated on export when exported by itself.
PW-21563 Edit, Split was failing if a split location was too close to an end node.
PW-21562 Two dimensional CGNS files were not be imported correctly.
PW-21560 Two domains could not be initialized due to poor boundary triangulation.
PW-21555 The syntax description for the function getValueAtPoint was missing in the Glyph manual pages.
PW-21548 Two connectors could not be joined.
PW-21546 Structured domains had directional ambiguity in Edit, Orient.
PW-21538 Copying a block and then adjusting a named spacing was causing an unexpected exit.
PW-21537 A script setting the dimension using the size field was taking significantly longer than previous versions.
PW-21534 The end spacing could not be changed after joining two connectors.
PW-21532 The T-Rex Reduced Pyramids algorithm was not matching Match domains correctly.
PW-21521 The “All and Reduce Pyramids” option was still using 5 pyramids rather than a single capping pyramid.
PW-21508 Improved error reporting when an unstructured block is unable to be initialized.
PW-21506 Two structured blocks were unable to be joined.
PW-16958 Multi-segment is now a file option for the USM3D exporter.
PW-16955 USM3D can now export grids greater than 100 million cells.

Platform Support

Minimum Requirements for All Platforms:

  • 2 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)
  • 2 GB disk space
  • Ethernet card
  • OpenGL capable color display monitor
  • 1280x1024 screen resolution (4K monitor support now included)
  • Graphics adapter supporting 3D hardware-accelerated OpenGL and 24-bit RGB double-buffering
  • Up-to-date graphics accelerator drivers

Note: Pointwise V18.0R1 and later will not be supported on 32-bit platforms.

  Hardware 64-bit
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Intel
AMD
Linux
Linux
Intel
AMD
macOS
macOS
Intel

Requirements for All Platforms

Minimum Requirements:

  • 2 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)
  • 2 GB disk space
  • Ethernet card
  • OpenGL capable color display monitor
  • 1280x1024 screen resolution (4K monitor support now included)
  • Graphics adapter supporting 3D hardware-accelerated OpenGL and 24-bit RGB double-buffering
  • Up-to-date graphics accelerator drivers

Important Notes:

Microsoft Windows

Operating System 64-bit  
Windows 7 Windows 7 Compatible
Windows 8.1 Windows 8 Compatible
Windows 10 Windows 10 Compatible

*There is a known incompatibility on Microsoft Windows between Dell Backup & Recovery software and Pointwise V18. If you experience problems opening or saving a file from Pointwise, Dell Backup & Recovery software should be disabled or uninstalled.

Linux

Operating System Version 64-bit
CentOS 6
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
SUSE Enterprise Linux Desktop 12 SP1
Ubuntu Desktop 14.04

Linux Library Dependencies

Listed below are the specific versions of library packages that we have on our test machines where we know Pointwise works. Other dependences (e.g. libGL) are not explicitly listed below as they should be part of any standard install that includes the packages listed below.

CentOS 6.4

expat-2.0.1-11.el6_2
fontconfig-2.8.0-3.el6
freetype-2.3.11-14.el6_3.1
libgcc-4.4.7-4.el6
libstdc++-4.4.7-3.el6
libX11-1.5.0-4.el6
libXau-1.0.6-4.el6
libxcb-1.8.1-1.el6
libXext-1.3.1-2.el6
libXft-2.3.1-2.el6
libXrender-0.9.7-2.el6
zlib-1.2.3-29.el6

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

expat-2.0.1-11.el6_2
fontconfig-2.8.0-5.el6
freetype-2.3.11-15.el6_6.1
libgcc-4.4.7-16.el6
libstdc++-4.4.7-16.el6
libX11-1.6.0-6.el6
libXau-1.0.6-4.el6
libxcb-1.9.1-3.el6
libXext-1.3.2-2.1.el6
libXft-2.3.1-2.el6
libXrender-0.9.8-2.1.el6
zlib-1.2.3-29.el6

SUSE Enterprise Linux Desktop 12 SP1

fontconfig
libbz2-1
libexpat1
libffi4
libfreetype6
libgcc_s1
libglib-2_0-0
libGLU1
libgobject-2_0-0
libgthread-2_0-0
libpcre1
libstdc++6
libX11-6
libXau6
libxcb1
libXext6
libXft2
libXrender1
libz1

2.11.0-4.19
1.0.6-29.2
2.1.0-17.1
5.3.1+r233831-9.1
2.5.5-7.5.1
5.3.1+r233831-9.1
2.38.2-5.12
9.0.0-15.1
2.38.2-5.12
2.38.2-5.12
8.33-3.314
1.6.8-11.1
5.3.1+r233831-9.1
1.6.2-4.12
1.0.8-4.58
1.10-3.1
1.3.2-3.61
2.3.1-9.32
0.9.8-3.56
1.2.8-5.1

Ubuntu 14.04

libexpat1
libffi6
libfontconfig1
libfreetype6
libgcc1
libpcre3
libstdc++6
libx11-6
libxau6
libxcb1
libxdmcp6
libxext6
libxft2
libxrender1
zlib1g

2.1.0-4ubuntu1.1
3.1~rc1+r3.0.13-12
2.11.0-0ubuntu4.1
2.5.2-1ubuntu2.5
1:4.9.1-0ubuntu1
1:8.31-2ubuntu2
1.2.50-1ubuntu2.14.04.1
4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.1
2:1.6.2-1ubuntu2
1:1.0.8-1
1.10-2ubuntu1
1:1.1.1-1
2:1.3.2-1
2.3.1-2
1:0.9.8-1
1:1.2.8.dfsg-1ubuntu1

macOS

Operating System Version 64-bit
El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12
High Sierra 10.13

Important: Pointwise V18.1 R1 will not support macOS versions older than 10.10.

Other Versions

Pointwise V18.6 R5
Pointwise V18.6 R4
Pointwise V18.6 R3
Pointwise V18.6 R2
Pointwise V18.6 R1
Pointwise V18.5 R2
Pointwise V18.5 R1
Pointwise V18.4 R4
Pointwise V18.4 R3
Pointwise V18.4 R2
Pointwise V18.3 R2
Pointwise V18.3 R1
Pointwise V18.2 R2
Pointwise V18.2 R1
Pointwise V18.1 R2
Pointwise V18.1 R1
Pointwise V18.0 R4
Pointwise V18.0 R3
Pointwise V18.0 R2
Pointwise V18.0 R1