Convert from Aspen HYSYS or Aspen Plus V7.

3 to V8 in Less than 30
Minutes
Webinar Q&A
This document summarizes the responses to questions posed before and during the webinar. Additional
questions should be directed to AspenTech Support.

Q:

Is there any information on migrating from Aspen Manufacturing & Supply Chain (Aspen DMC Plus,
Aspen Watch Performance Monitor, etc.) from V7.3 to V8? Do the same principals apply as shown
here?

A:

The webinar was focused on Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS; we did not cover the aspenONE
Manufacturing & Supply Chain products.
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Q:

In Aspen Plus V7.3, I could look in the lower right corner and see the blue results available, the yellow
results available with warnings or with the red, results didnt converge. In V8, what is the equivalent
that I can use to quickly check a models convergence?

A:

During the webinar, we showed that the status area moved to the lower left corner and now includes a
show status button that brings up a form with hyperlinks that will take you to the status page of the
model with errors or warnings. The new Status tab on the results forms has an icon showing status (OK,
warnings, errors) and provides the text of the error or warning message. In previous versions, this form
was a floating dialog raised from the show status button on the forms toolbar. The new design makes it
easier to find and fix problems.
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Q:

When installing V8.6, we get a number of software items that are still V8.4 (e.g. Aspen Exchanger
Design & Rating (EDR), Aspen Simulation Workbook (ASW)). Why are not all parts of aspenONE
Engineering V8.6 of a consistent version number?

A:

The V8.6 DVDs included the newest available version of each product. While some products such as
Aspen HYSYS and Aspen Plus were updated, other products such as Aspen Exchanger Design & Rating
and Aspen Simulation Workbook were not updated. The products shipped together are guaranteed to
interoperate with each other. Generally speaking, we are moving towards less frequent, more
coordinated product releases in the future, although we may need to release individual projects
off-cycle to maintain annual updates of design codes, cost basis and index factors, and updated property
databases as they become available from third-party organizations.
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Q:

Can you explain why V8 takes a lot of time to open?

A:

The new User Interface of Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS adds significant new capabilities, including
support for multiple monitors and a richer workspace layout. The improvements, however, do require
more extensive graphic libraries to be loaded which take additional time. For Aspen Plus, licensing
changes lead to longer start-up times, but some time is saved during the simulation calculation. Note
that the most recent set of cumulative patches for Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS include a fix to make file
start-up faster in situations where the license server is far from the user and/or the network is slow.

Q:

Was an "Undo" button introduced into Aspen Plus & Aspen HYSYS?

A:

Yes! There is a new Undo button available for certain flowsheet operations.
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Q:

Do you still create documents explaining, whats new in Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS V8"? If so, where
are they located?

A:

Yes, if you go to the Resources ribbon, click the Whats New button. This will take you directly to the
documentation covering new features and upward compatibility notes.
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Q:

In V7 and prior, one could save results of A+ in .rep (report file). How do you save results in V8?

A:

Input, Report, and History files can be generated from buttons on the home ribbon.
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Q:

Are there significant thermo changes in V8 vs. V7, such as Kij's?

A:

We deliver updated property models on a regular basisplease refer to the webinar slides and the
Whats New documentation for more details.
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Q:

I prepared a simulation flowsheet in a glycol package of Aspen Plus V7.3. I want to open and run this
file in a glycol package of Aspen Plus V8.6. I want to use the binary interaction data of the glycol
package of V8.6 with no other changes. How do I do this?

A:

Generally, when you upgrade Aspen Plus files to a new version, a dialog box opens that will offer you the
choice of keeping your existing properties or using the newest available properties.
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Q:

Has the glycol package been updated in Aspen Plus V8.6 compared to Aspen Plus V7.3?

A:

The glycol package is an area of current research and improvement, but we did not deliver any changes
specifically in Aspen Plus V8.6.
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Q:

To compare the results of a file in V7.3 with V8.6 using Aspen Version Comparison Assistant, should I
have V8.6 installed or V7.3?

A:

The Aspen Version Comparison Assistant can compare versions installed on the same computer or on
two different computers, but you must have both versions installed.
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Q:

In Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS V7.3, there was a help icon you could directly put on a phrase or word
and get information. Is this icon available in V8.6?

A:

The new version has a single help button (?) that acts contextually (like the F1 key).
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Q:

When will Aspen HYSYS V8.8 be released?

A:

Aspen HYSYS V8.8 has not been released; we do not comment on release dates until they are formally
announced.

Q:

With Aspen HYSYS V8.6, can I use the V7.3 database?

A:

Yes, you can continue to use V7.3 databases or upgrade to the newest data.
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Q:

Is the new Acid Gas Fluid Package comparable with PROMAX results?

A:

We believe the new Acid Gas Fluid Package and rate-based distillation model is superior to the old
Aspen HYSYS amines package and other competitive tools.
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Q:

How do I get the most current cumulative patches?

A:

Visit the update center for all patchesadditional details can be found in the following links:
Aspen HYSYS V8.4 cp3
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamasp/My/FrameDef.asp?/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?
key=141801
Aspen Plus V8.4 cp4
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamasp/My/FrameDef.asp?/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?
key=141802
Aspen Plus V8.4 cp4
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamasp/My/FrameDef.asp?/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?
key=141889
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Q:

What is special about V8 that people would upgrade from V7.3?

A:

We very strongly believe that aspenONE Engineering V8 is a significantly better product for our users.
Weve put massive amounts of thought and time into the careful redesign of the user interface so that it
makes Aspen Plus & Aspen HYSYS easier to use for all experience levels. In addition, weve added
significant new pieces of functionality.
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Q:

Do all the PSV scenarios of column PSV calculate on its own?

A:

The safety analysis environment includes automated calculations for a number of standard scenarios,
such as blocked discharge valve, reflux pump failure, fire, and so on.
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Q:

Does the Acid Gas Package cover MDEA also?

A:

Yes, the Acid Gas Package covers MDEA, MEA, and most other common amines and mixtures of amines
including the effect of additives, such as piperazine.
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Q:

Which version of the DIPPR 801 database is AspenTech deploying with V8.7 as part of the Pure
Database series? What year was AspenTech a DIPPR sponsor?

A:

AspenTech is a sponsor of DIPPR. The V8.6 release of Aspen Plus includes the May 2013 public release
version of the DIPPR 801 pure component database.
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Q:

Are .bkp files not downward compatible?

A:

Generally, we dont promise downward compatibility, even for BKP files. In practice, however, you can
often get this to work by editing the version number in the BKP file header and replacing the databank
names with the names from a previous release (using a text editor).

Q:

Our firewall blocks the Resources link from Aspen Plus. If we cannot re-configure our Firewall as a
work around, is there another way to access this content?

A:

The most recent patches of Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS include a fix to reduce the number of ports
required to use aspenONE Exchange, and another fix to use secure (HTTPS) links for our support site.
These improvements address most of the security restrictions we have observed within our customer
base. Please try these patches first. Much of the training content is also available through the Animated
Tutorials section of the customer support web site for each product.
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Q:

I have not been able to find a way to print a selected area of a flowsheet. I tried creating a separate
section to print, but that didnt work either. Is there a way to do this?

A:

On the File menu, go to Page Setup, and choose Portrait or Landscape. Then, go to View ribbon and click
Page Breaks to show the print area as a grey box on the screen. You can drag the corners of the grey
box to change size, or move the box around to print a portion of the screen, as shown below in Figure 1.
You can also copy selected objects and paste into a drawing program, such as Paint or PowerPoint and
use that application for the printing.

Figure 1: Printing a portion of your screen

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Q:

We only have V8.4 available corporate-wide. Where can I get the Version Comparison Assistant for
V8.4?

A:

The Version Comparison Assistant is available in the aspenONE Engineering media and we have posted it
on aspenONE Exchange under tools.

Q:

I have experienced some problems opening files from V7.3 with version 8.6. It works when I open the
file with V7.3, but V8.6 crashes after loading the file and trying to open a stream. What should I do?

A:

First, try installing the most recent cumulative patch for V8.6 (cp2). If the problem persists, contact our
support center for additional help.
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Q:

What happens if you work with V7.3 and you want to upgrade to V8? Is it possible to work with both
versions or is V7.3 deleted automatically?

A:

Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS versions can co-exist side-by-side on the same computer. Generally, we
advise customers to install the new version first; test upward compatibility using the Version
Comparison Assistant, and then un-install the older version when satisfied with results in the new
version. It is also a best practice to save your original files in a folder or with a name including the
version number to avoid mixing old and new filesour files are not downwardly compatible.
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Q:

Is it possible to save a file from Aspen HYSYS V8.4 into a "special format" to open in V7.3?

A:

The Aspen HYSYS XML format allows limited interoperability with previous versions, but this should be
viewed as a method of last resort and should not be depended on. Certainly, new features will not
migrate downward. For Aspen Plus, you can edit the BKP file as mentioned previously or use Input file
with graphics (from file/export) to attempt downward conversions.
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Q:

When you generate the hypos in Aspen HYSYS V8, it generates them with some properties. Do they
get updated when you generate a petroleum assay?

A:

Each petroleum assay has its own slate, so when the assay data is pushed into the slate, the hypo
properties are updated accordingly. However, if there are no hypo properties for the hypo, it will default
to the default values.
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Q:

I am seeing convergence errors related to EDR and packed column blocks generated when opening
V7.3 .bkp files in V8.6. The method of resolution of the errors used by AspenTech Support seems to be
removal and reentry of the problem block. Is this a translation problem?

A:

For heat exchanger blocks, linking to EDR is probably the fastest way to fix the issue since most of the
data is contained in the EDR file. There was a specific defect related to packed columns with reactions
(the holdup was not carried forward properly into V8.6). This has been addressed with V8.6 cumulative
patch 2. I am guessing the problem you experienced is related to this specific defect.
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Q:

Have you modified the module about the adsorption process?

A:

The user interface for the ACM family of products (ACM, Aspen Plus Dynamics, Aspen Chromatography,
and Aspen Adsorption) has not been updated; only Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, and Aspen Flare Analyzer
have been updated to the new UI format.
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Q:

Is there a proper TEMA sheet for exchangers? Is there an API-610 pump sheet?

A:

When you use a rigorous EDR model inside Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS you can view and print a TEMA
sheet for the exchanger (under EDR Browser form). We do not have a pump data sheet in either
simulator.

Q:

Can I convert a PRO/II file into an Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS file?

A:

We ship a PRO/II converter that can read PRO/II files and export an Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS model.
Usually, a bit of additional effort is required for the more complicated models to get them to converge
after converting from PRO/II.
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Q:

Does the simulator include utility to calculate latent heat for fractional vapor, i.e. for less than 1.0
vapor fraction?

A:

Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS can report enthalpy, heat capacity, heat of vaporization, and other thermal
properties for gas, liquid, or mixed phase streams. The property analysis features of both products are
quite extensive.
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Q:

Will Aspen HYSYS V8 support multiple PFD sheets setup which we use for V7.3? Is it okay that we
continue using multiple PFD sheets setup in V8 application? We were advised to switch to
sub-flowsheet setup.

A:

Yes, Aspen HYSYS V8 supports multiple PFD sheets. In Aspen HYSYS V8, you can access the various PFDs
via the View ribbon.
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Q:

Is AspenTech considering developing a tool to help convert models to new versions? You have listed
several issues with capability between different versions; therefore, it would be nice to have a tool
that you could use to tell you what issues are in a specific model and give you options to address
them.
You have mentioned many of the items that have caused us problems, such as utility crosses, blocks
using the same name, multiple variables defined the same in a calculator, hidden specs being
incorrectly specified, and bugs. We find that the 99% success rate is actually less than 50%.

A:

Many of the upward compatibility changes are designed to eliminate defects found in previous releases.
For example, new versions enforce unique names across objects because using the same name for
different objects turns out to cause a number of crashes in particular circumstances. We document
these changes thoroughly and address as many as possible through automation (e.g., when you open a
file with conflicting names AspenTech puts up a dialog box to ask for a new unique name for each
object). The move from the old UI (V7) to the new UI (V8) was a major change and somewhat unique in
our historyand we used this opportunity to retire some problematic, obsolete, and little-used
features. However, internal testing of approximately 60,000 test files shows a compatibility pass rate
above 98%. Most likely a number of the issues you have run into are due to a handful of specific
changes related to advanced features (like custom units of measure) commonly used at your company
but not commonly used across our user base.
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Q:

From using the Aspen Version Comparison Assistant I have found that it doesn't work if you don't
have both AspenTech versions installed on your machine and if you have to make any changes due to
capability. Are there any plans to expand functions to cover these situations?

A:

The newest version (8.6) of the Aspen Version Comparison Assistant lets you point to files on a second
machine so you dont have to have both versions installed on the same machine. This also lets you run
compatibility tests across patches. We do recommend opening the files once in the new release to make
the choice of using new or original properties and to address any dialogs that require manual
intervention (like giving names to objects that violate naming restrictions).

Q:

Can you use the Aspen Version Comparison Assistant tool with .bkp files? Does it compare duties from
blocks?

A:

The comparison tool runs the files one time and then stores the results in a database to save time when
comparing against future versions. The BKP files do not contain the full set of results required to fully
check the software. The comparison assistant compares the state variables across all the streams in a
model. Any change to a block duty would show up as a change in the corresponding stream states. If
there is an exception we are missing, please let me know (David.Tremblay@aspentech.com). We are
open to improving this tool.
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Q:

NREL has many older version models for biomass conversion technologies. However, AspenTech is not
allowing those models to be distributed. Why so, if computability is so automated?

A:

NREL owns the models they post on their websitenot AspenTech. The models are publicly available as
is, and can be downloaded and updated, but we are not allowed to ship third-party content without
their express written permission.
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Q:

Will VBA for Excel Macros developed for V7.3 work in V8?

A:

AspenTech did not change any of the automation methods in Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS so the old VBA
macros should still work as long as VBA continues to be supported in Excel. We did discontinue Paste
Links which are no longer supported by Office applications.
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Q:

In your opinion do projects, even after using your new version comparison tool, have valid arguments
for not leaving V7.3 for existing projects when other projects use V8?

A:

The question is not clear. However, if your question is should we upgrade we strongly advise it since
version 7.3 support ends in May 2015. The new interfaces for Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS, new
technical capabilities, such as solids modeling, acid gas modeling, activation, and the available training
content are all compelling reasons to upgrade.
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Q:

I have FORTRAN user models with V2006.5 which use old Intel compiler. Do I have to upgrade my
compiler?

A:

You should be able to continue using your existing pre-linked library files (DLL files) unless they were
compiled with Compaq Visual FORTRAN. If your models use READ and WRITE statements, you may need
to re-compile them since the I/O unit numbers are not always consistent from one version of FORTRAN
to the next.
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Q:

Loading the Exchange tab when starting the model takes a long time. Is there any way to turn off the
loading of Exchange tab?

A:

Version 8.4 and higher does not load Exchange or News pages on start-up, so we recommend upgrading
to version 8.6. The newest patches for V8.4 and V8.6 may help Exchange load faster too. However, if you
really must turn it off refer to KB solution 138384.
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Q:

I have Aspen Plus V8.2 installed. I went to common utilities, but it does not have a compare
program. How do I get access to this program?

A:

Version 8.2 did not install the version comparison tool by default. You can install it by running the setup
program from your original media, or upgrade to V8.6 to get it installed automatically.

Q:

While comparing the version results b/w with, for example, Aspen HYSYS V7.3 and Aspen HYSYS V8.6,
is it necessary that files should be compatible to V7.3?

A:

Yes, you need to save files compatible to the releases you want to compare. We recommend you save
your files for V7.3 in one folder, then copy them to another folder and run them once in the new
version. Then, the files will be ready for the version comparison utility.