Documentation — SimulATe

Getting Started

Five minutes to your first signed report.

Install, activate, calculate, export. Each step linked to the matching section of the in-app help.

Install

Download the Windows installer from the downloads page. Standard MSI — no admin tricks.

Get installer

Activate

Run SimulATe and pick "Try Free". The 14-day trial unlocks every PRO feature.

See plans

Calculate

Define section → pick standard → add cables → press Calculate. Live derating updates as you type.

See module

Export

Tools menu → Export → PDF / Excel / DXF. Each report carries a QR-signed audit trail.

See module

Video Tutorials

Watch & learn

Short, focused video walkthroughs of each module. New videos every two weeks.

04:32

Your first cable tray section

From blank workspace to compliance check in under 5 minutes.

06:18

Support design with seismic check

Binrack support sized, ASCE 7-22 anchor verified, BOM exported.

08:44

3D modelling deep-dive

PyVista navigation, wall-arm support, ceiling reference plane.

05:51

Cable pulling — IEEE 1185 walkthrough

Sequential capstan, sidewall pressure, lubrication factor decay.

07:09

Route Designer + DXF export

FreeCAD-style routing, IEC 60617 symbols, hand-off to AutoCAD.

04:02

Batch calculation from Excel

Import 250-row circuit list, run, export per-section PDFs.

Video library coming on YouTube. Get notified when each one drops.

Power user

Keyboard shortcuts that pay rent.

SimulATe's command palette and keyboard shortcuts mirror FreeCAD and AutoCAD conventions where they exist.

Global

Ctrl KCommand palette Ctrl NNew project Ctrl SSave project Ctrl OOpen project F1Shortcuts help F5Re-run calculation Ctrl PPrint preview / PDF Ctrl Shift DToggle dark mode

Route Designer

F8Ortho on/off GGrid toggle DelUndo last point EscFinish route Z / HomeZoom extents Mid-clickZoom extents WheelZoom in/out Right-dragPan view

FAQ

Common questions

Where are my projects stored?

SimulATe saves projects as .ots files (SimulATe ProjeKt format) anywhere on disk. Auto-backup runs every 5 minutes to %LOCALAPPDATA%\SimulATe\backups\. Restore via File → Restore from backup.

Can I run SimulATe offline?

Yes — once activated. Calculations, 3D viewer and exports work fully offline. Internet is needed only for licence activation and update checks.

How does the 3D viewer handle large scenes?

PyVista is GPU-accelerated. Up to ~500 cable strands on a 1000 m route renders fluidly on a discrete GPU. Beyond that, switch to Schematic mode from the View menu for line-segment rendering.

Can I extend the brand library?

PRO and Enterprise tiers can import custom brand catalogs from Excel (use the templates in %PROGRAMFILES%\SimulATe\templates\). Drop the file into the catalog folder and restart.

Where do reports get signed?

QR signatures are generated inside the app at export time. The QR encodes the project hash + build number. Anyone can verify by scanning — the QR resolves to a verification URL with the embedded payload.

How do I report a bug?

Use Help → Send crash report in the app — it bundles the log and project hash. Or email help@simulate-software.com with a reproducible example.

Is the EULA open-source-friendly?

SimulATe is commercial proprietary software but uses many OSS components, all listed in THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES.txt (PSF, MIT, BSD, Apache 2.0, HPND, CC BY 4.0, SIL OFL).

Does updating break my saved projects?

No — project file format is stable within a major version (v1.x). Minor updates auto-migrate. Major version upgrades (v2.x) come with an explicit migration wizard.

Email support

Standard & PRO: priority email. Replies usually within one business day.

help@simulate-software.com

Video tutorials

Step-by-step walkthroughs of every module. New episode every two weeks.

YouTube channel

Talk to an engineer

Stuck on a calculation? Book a 30-min screen-share with the SimulATe team.

Schedule a call

Documentation & Help