How to run ATP-EMTP under MS Windows 7/8/10/11 ?

– A SHORT GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS –

For the following illustrations it is assumed that the ATP-EMTP programs, various versions
based on different Fortran compilers, compiled as EEUGSETUP.EXE for EEUG members in 2023
are installed on your PC without any change.

Essential ATP Files

! GNU-Mingw 32 bit ATP:

! TPBIGM.EXE : Executable ATP file

! TPGIGM.EXE: Executable Giga version of ATP
- ULMATP.dll: Universal line model Foreign Model v3.2
! LISTSIZE.BIG : Maximum array limits specified during generation of TPBIGM.EXE.
! LISTSIZE.GIG : Maximum array limits specified during generation of TPGIGM.EXE
! STARTUP : Important initialization variables that can be modified by the user

This annual distribution includes the universal line model (ULM) for transients
implemented as a DLL (according to Zanon, Leal, De Conti "Implementation of the
universal line model in the alternative transient program", EPSR, 2021. The model is
implemented as a TYPE94 foreign model in ATP. It is supported by ATPDraw v7.5
directly without any other external program dependencies. Steady-state initialization
is not included in this version ULM 3.2.
Previously several other versions were also distributed., but these are for now skipped to be
able to include the ULM model with increased speed and robustness.

Difference between default and Giga version of ATP is the table sizes, i.e. maximum program
dimensions for the components of the Giga version are much larger than the default version.

ATP does not own a GUI under Windows. Therefore it is executed in a DOS window, either
using command line parameters or by a simple dialog using keyboard. Command line parameters
are described in the Readme files of the corresponding ATP program version. The most
convenient way to work with ATP is to use ATPDraw, graphical pre-processor and execute ATP
within ATPDraw. Current version 7.5 of ATPDraw enables easy execution of ATP without DOS
batch file (.BAT).

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Use of ATPDraw, graphical pre-processor for ATP

ATPDraw is a graphical preprocessor for ATP, i.e. user can draw his/her circuit using built-in
objects and create finally an ATP input data file (*.atp) via ATP < run ATP or by pressing F2.

Before executing ATP, the command to run ATP should be better checked as shown in the
screen capture below. The installation routine EEUGSETUP.EXE automatically register ATP
program and plotting program PlotXY into the ATPDraw Options < Preferences (Fig. 1).

Figure 1: ATPDraw Options, Preferences tab

Figure 2: Setup ATP connection

ATPDraw starting from version 6.1 has a new feature called ATP Setup Wizard that is accessible
via ATP < Setup ATP connection F10 (see Fig. 2) and also via Tool Bar. ATP Setup Wizard
window is shown on the next page. It is recommended to use ATP Setup Wizard to connect the
desired ATP version to ATPDraw.

Alternatively, RUNTP.BAT created by the SETUP program in the ATPdirectory can be used. As
default the Giga version with maximum table sizes for memory allocation is connected to
ATPDraw to execute ATP.

ATP input data files (*.atp or *.dat) and output file (*.lis) can be viewed/edited using internal
text editor of ATPDraw or an external editor like free source code editor Notepad++
(https://notepad-plus-plus.org). The Notepad++ is included in the installation routine
EEUGSetup.exe for members. To view plots, plotting program PlotXY.exe is registered in
ATPDraw.ini ( Tools < Preferences < Programs window of ATPDraw; see Fig. 1).

After a simulation has been performed using “Compile + run current file (F2)” command on the
toolbar, the created plot file (*.pl4) can be viewed using “Execute Plot Command (F8)”

Short guide for ATP use, EEUG e.V. 2023 page 2

Figure 3: ATP Setup Wizard window. ATPDraw v7.5 has a ULM availability checkbox under Solver.

command of the toolbar. Please check first under ATP Settings, Output, if the option “Plotted
output” is activated in ATPDraw as shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 4: ATP Settings, Output

If PlotXY cannot handle the .PL4 file correctly, please check in STARTUP file located in the

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corresponding ATP program directory with TPBIGxy.EXE the value of variable NOPISA.
STARTUP is a text file and NOPISA is defined on line 36:

8 L4FULL NOQUOT JJEATS NUMBUS NOTAB NOPISA MSCSV MAXL31 LIM132 MAXMVC
0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 400 0 80

The value should be 0.

If ATP Analzer is preferred to display/plot the output variables, then in STARTUP NEWPL4=0
and NOPISA=1 should be set. Please note that ATP Analyzer is relatively old program

Another graphical plotting program is GTTPLOT developed and constantly updated by Orlando
Hevia. GTPPLOT will be available as command in ATPDraw via ATP < run GTPPLOT after the
installation. GTTPLOT is driven by entering commands via keyboard.

For the ATPDraw use, please refer to the Help function, the up-to-date ATPDraw manual for
version 7.5 (ATPDrawManual75.pdf) and Readme file (Readme.pdf) for further information.
ATPDraw allows starting with version 7.1 embedded plotting of simulation results. This feature
can be accessed via Add Objects < Draw Plot.

The diagram on the next page shows the steps from generation of a simulation case using
ATPDraw up to viewing simulation results using several plotting programs.

Important note:
Avoid strictly blank “8” character in directory and file names during the installation of
ATP, ATPDraw and later in your working directory and file names.

Although ATPDraw starting with version 6.1 can handle ATP file names with blank
characters (not directory names!) it is not recommended to use blank characters in
ATPDraw project files and consequently in ATP data files.

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