Orcina news

Before the end of the year we will be releasing a new version of OrcaFlex, version 11.6. This new version includes updated FlexNet libraries (version 11.19.8), which in turn means that if you are using FlexNet floating licenses, you must update the license manager that runs on your license server, before you upgrade to OrcaFlex 11.6.

If you are not using FlexNet floating licenses, then the rest of this post does not apply to you, and you can safely ignore it. As an aside, if you are still using legacy dongles with OrcaFlex, then can we take this opportunity to recommend that you consider switching to the modern and supported FlexNet licensing system. Please contact us if you would like more details.

For anyone who is using FlexNet floating licenses we recommend that you perform the upgrade of the license manager at the earliest convenient opportunity. Older versions of OrcaFlex will run with the upgraded license manager. Even though you don’t strictly need to perform this upgrade until you activate your 11.6 licenses, it is good practice to keep the license manager up to date.

To help with the upgrade, we provide the following step-by-step instructions to perform the upgrade. Note that these steps will need to be performed by your network administrator on the license server machine that runs your license manager.

1. Download the latest license server software from: www.orcina.com/downloads/public/ServerPack.zip and extract the files from the archive.
2. In the services control panel applet, stop the license manager service, named Orcina FlexNet license manager.
3. Update the FlexNet licensing service using <ServerPack>\LicenseService\Win64\FlexNetLicenseService.msi
4. Install the license manager using <ServerPack>\LicenseManager\Win64\lmadmin_orcina.msi
5. The installation should re-start the license manager service automatically. Check that the license manager is running and serving licenses by using the web interface at http://localhost:8090 (replace 8090 with the appropriate port if you are using a different port for the web interface).

This installation process will preserve any customisation of ports that you have made to the license manager. But if you have made more significant customisations then you will need to re-apply them. If you are unsure on how to do that, please do contact us for guidance.

We have just released a minor upgrade to OrcaFlex, version 11.5e. Version 11.5e fixes one significant GUI bug that was introduced in 11.5d. Full details of the changes are described in the documentation:

• OrcaFlex
• OrcaWave

We recommend that all users of 11.5 upgrade to 11.5e.

To upgrade to OrcaFlex 11.5e from any previous version, download the install program from your company’s Orcina software download page. A link to this page was sent to your software administration contact when we first released 11.5. If you do not have access to this page, please contact us.

We have just released a minor upgrade to OrcaFlex, version 11.5d. Version 11.5d fixes a number of bugs. Full details of the changes are described in the documentation:

• OrcaFlex
• OrcaWave

We recommend that all users of 11.5 upgrade to 11.5d.

To upgrade to OrcaFlex 11.5d from any previous version, download the install program from your company’s Orcina software download page. A link to this page was sent to your software administration contact when we first released 11.5. If you do not have access to this page, please contact us.

We have just released Distributed OrcaFlex 8.0c which you can download from the Distributed OrcaFlex page.

This is a minor update which introduces one minor feature and fixes one minor bug. More details can be found on the Distributed OrcaFlex page.

We have just released a minor upgrade to OrcaFlex, version 11.5c. Version 11.5c fixes a number of bugs. Full details of the changes are described in the documentation:

• OrcaFlex
• OrcaWave

We recommend that all users of 11.5 upgrade to 11.5c.

To upgrade to OrcaFlex 11.5c from any previous version, download the install program from your company’s Orcina software download page. A link to this page was sent to your software administration contact when we first released 11.5. If you do not have access to this page, please contact us.

Following the release of OrcaFlex 11.5, we can now announce our OrcaFlex 11.5 user group meeting. Once again, we are running this as a virtual webinar.

This webinar will cover all the new features introduced in version 11.5 of OrcaFlex and OrcaWave. In previous years we had separate webinars for the two programs, but this year we will cover both OrcaFlex and OrcaWave in a single webinar. This webinar will be delivered twice in the same day to give users in different time zones the opportunity to attend.

We anticipate that each webinar will be around 90 minutes in duration, and we will schedule a short break part way through the meeting. Attendees will be able to ask questions. A recording of the webinar will be available on our website shortly after it has taken place.

We are running the webinar over Zoom. You will need to register for whichever webinar you wish to attend, using the links below. Zoom webinars can be attended using the Zoom client, or directly from the browser if you do not have the Zoom client.

We look forward to catching up with our regular user group attendees, and hopefully some first timers too!

OrcaFlex and OrcaWave UGM

This webinar will cover the new features introduced in version 11.5 of OrcaFlex and OrcaWave.

We have just released a minor upgrade to OrcaFlex, version 11.5b. Version 11.5b fixes a single bug in 11.5a. If OrcaFlex 11.5a cannot find a license at startup, it reports an access violation error instead of an informative error message.

Full details of the changes in 11.5:

• OrcaFlex
• OrcaWave

We recommend that all users of 11.5a upgrade to 11.5b.

To upgrade to OrcaFlex 11.5b from any previous version, download the install program from your company’s Orcina software download page. A link to this page was sent to your software administration contact when we released 11.5a. If you do not have access to this page, please contact us.

We are very pleased to announce the release of OrcaFlex version 11.5. The software was finalised and built on 12^th December. All clients with up-to-date MUS contracts will receive, in the next few days, an e-mail with instructions on how to download and install the new version.

Update: These e-mails were all sent on 13^th December.

Version 11.5 introduces much new functionality, including:

OrcaFlex

• Features for modelling buried and covered lines, upheaval buckling, pipe ratcheting etc.
• Support for the modelling of synthetic ropes with rate-dependent stiffness
• Turbine initial rotor angular velocity, turbine runtime performance improvements
• Frequency domain enhancements
• Data forms can now be modeless, meaning that you can view, and interact with, multiple data forms simultaneously

OrcaWave

• Time domain panel pressure results
• Spring/dampers: simple connections between two points in the model that pull the points together, or hold them apart
• Mesh validation performance has been improved, primarily through multi-threading

These are the most significant developments, in our opinion. As always there are more enhancements that are not listed here. All new features are fully documented in the what’s new topics:

• OrcaFlex
• OrcaWave

Continue reading “OrcaFlex 11.5 released”

We have just released a minor upgrade to OrcaFlex, version 11.4e. Version 11.4e fixes a number of bugs and adds some minor functionality, including:

• Support has been added for SHEAR7 version 4.12b, specifically by capturing the new curvature time history files which SHEAR7 can now export.
• Python external functions, post calculation actions and user defined results now support the latest version of Python, version 3.13.
• The frequency domain solver now supports lines using a constant expansion factor.

Full details of the changes are described in the documentation:

• OrcaFlex
• OrcaWave

We intend for this to be the final release of 11.4 because version 11.5 will be released later this month.

On the 7th November 2024 a staff member’s email account was compromised and unfortunately this has resulted in phishing emails being sent to some of our customers. We were aware of the breach within minutes of it occurring and were able to quickly secure the account to prevent further malicious actions. We have investigated activity on this account and are sure this was limited to the online email account and no more.

The email sent had the subject line Emma Johnston shared “Orcina Ltd Project Report” with you, and the email contained an attachment. In many cases this will have been quarantined by your email system but if you see this email in your inbox then please delete it, do not click on any links within the email or attempt to open the attachment.

We apologize for any inconvenience and confusion this may have caused. It is embarrassing for us that this has occurred as we take security very seriously. We are consequently reviewing our security configuration.