Does anyone have experince with NI/Mouser's MultiSim BLUE?

I installed it, but I haven't had a chance to explore it. I saw a poor review for it online: MultiSIM BLUE Review » PCB Shopper

Here is the TL;DR from the review linked above:

• Maximum of 65 components per schematic, not counting grounds and power sources.
• Single-sheet designs only, no multi-page circuits or subcircuits.
• Only two custom components can be created per design, and they can not be saved to a parts database for reuse in other designs.
• Custom components must have standard footprints. That is, the footprint for a custom component must be chosen from the database of existing footprints. It is not possible to create a custom footprint.
• A PCB layout cannot be updated with changes in the schematic. So if you design your circuit, layout your PCB, then change something in your circuit such as adding a resistor, you need to completely re-layout your PCB from scratch. (You also cannot do the reverse – make a change to your PCB and update the schematic to match – but I consider that a less important feature.)

I've had several colleagues that used the original Multisim, when it was still sold by Electronics Workbench. I've tried and seen it since then, but the latest info I've got is more than 6 years old. Back then, it was a PITA to work with.

Simulation was kind of OK, but component management was hell, especially because device pinning info would disappear if you would move a component from the company database to your own database. But again, that was 6 years ago.

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen.  I will be investigating the features further before deciding if I wish to install this software.

Mark

Multi-Sim Blue is pretty much junk.

The limitations on just using the mouser database is one cause of this.

I was going to use the program to make schematics for already existing devices such as Car Amps, Power Supplies and other things and use it as more of a learning tool than anything.

I guess it would be great for someone with alot of knowledge on the substitution of parts etc etc, however MultiSim lacks most of your actual components for older analog equipment two being and example are

1N134 Diodes (*Common RF diodes)

Bridge Rectifier Diodes PBPC602 *Commonly found in Ryobi battery chargers

most of your MOSFETS are listed however most are also not even mentioned.

When conatacting support for even the paid version of MultiSim they always come back and tell you

"Oh look up the datasheet on it and make your own component and add it to the database).

I thought that the purpose of this program is for teaching, education and the ability to use it for creating schematics of current devices.  Or at least that is what I would imagine that it would be used for.

I have a Power-Pro License for Multisim and Ultiboard (from National Instruments). And I'm disappointed about their features, performance and compatibility. The version 13.0 works ok. But the 14.0 is garbage, is not working anymore. Even reinstalled is not working. And I can not claim for support, I pay $13,000 USD for a permanent license in 2013 and the upgrades for the next two years, now the support expires and the product stop to works and I get back to version 13.0 because is the only working version.

My list of disappointed is vast:

1. The footprint libraries that some chip manufacturers releases; are not compatible with Multisim, so you need to create for your own. Orcad and others has a serious support on this.

2. The SPICE simulation is not the standard SPICE format to simulate components, so if your experience with SPICE is huge, you can build your own. DO NOT matter if you get the spice models from chip vendors, you have to customize to works with Multisim.

3. The MCU simulation works for a few MCUs models (very few:only 5)

4. The footprint creator (or wizard) in Multisim is a joke. In fact stop to works in my version now (June 2016).

5. The wizards in the program are poor and they not help you at all, you have to finish all the job (manually).

6. Did I mention that Multisim is perfectly incompatible with other PCB/CAD programs libraries?

7. There is not Gerber viewer in Ultiboard, you can create the gerber files, but you can not see there, so you have to use a third party solution.

8. National Instruments support is a laugh, practically do not exist, they Community is a quit resource to solve your questions. So why pay 1,500 USD for support every year?

9. Poor documentation, thanks to the guys and enthusiasts in Internet this product is not in my trash bin.

10. Why I bought such piece of software? because my boss thinks that we can used in collaboration with Labview tools. I regret this all the time... because that never happens.

11. I miss really much to use PADS, Altium or OrCAD or any serious PCB pretty decent software.

I wouldn't say I'm a fan of these products (I'm really not) but regarding some of your points:

2. Has the simulation changed that it does not support standard SPICE models? Because earlier releases supported it fine (I have been able to import many models taken from manufacturers in earlier releases when I used it)

3. I think this is understandable that so few are implemented. Also does any business use this feature anyway? (these are genuine questions, I'd like to know to opinions from others too)

5. You didn't mention specifically what parts they completed and which they didn't so it is hard to tell if this might be a disappointment to all users or not

6. This is a common thing with some other vendors too, they like having their own formats

7. Is this a real issue? It is often preferable to use a third party tool for inspection (and there are free tools if management won't pay for a supported one).

10. There seem to be business or communication issues here too, it is fair to say

11. Maybe you need to find a way to get your business to make this purchase - there is a serious communication issue if your management seems to think it will replace any of the other PCB CAD software you refer to.

2. The simulation using SPICE models is not compatible with the standard notation, even the values notation. Don't believe in my word, I'm encourages to try to get a diode model and see how to get it work in Multisim. A MOSFET spice model is a nightmare.

3. The MCU simulation saves a lot of time when you try to figure out how to manage clock frequencies and sleep modes to optimize power consumption. Just to list a few applications when you work in parallel with the hardware designers, there is some time to save between build the real thing and have a programming stuff ready at the same time. Yes, is a serious business, have the things on time with tight schedules.

5. The wizards are almost satisfactory working; but I mentioned before that in version 14.0 after some upgrades it stops to working at all? the Database is not corrupted but something happens that now I only see black windows when I run some wizard.

6. The format belong to each vendor, but even between them they have a few tools to translated each format from some vendor to other. Multisim/Ultiboard do not have this feature. Is a lonely journey.

10. The time is the only matter of business that is not negotiable at all.

11. My apologies for misunderstanding, but this tool is great for beginners, for pros is not satisfactory...