AWR Design Environment - Recent Threads

Possible cause and fix for the case when install of the AWRDE executable is blocked

CurtisAWR — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 23:29:27 GMT

Some users may have seen an issue when attempting to install and run the AWRDE executable. When trying to install, they see a popup similar to the one shown here, informing them that the application has been blocked. The application's publisher is listed as "Unknown."

One potential cause of this is that the Microsoft Windows Root Certificate is expired. These certificates are generally updated through regular Windows updates, but it is possible that a stale certificate may still exist in the URL cache.

To clear the cache, issue the following command from a command line:

certutil -urlcache * delete

AWR Executable Is Being Blocked by Windows Before It Launches. How Can I Fix It?

AnalogMonk — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 11:04:40 GMT

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to install Cadence AWR 26.1, but Windows blocks the executable before the installer even starts and displays a message such as:

“This app has been blocked for your protection. An administrator has blocked you from running this app.”

Interestingly, other executables run normally on the same machine.

What should I check to determine why Windows is blocking the AWR executable, and what is the recommended way to resolve it?

RE: AWR Executable Is Being Blocked by Windows Before It Launches. How Can I Fix It?

CurtisAWR — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 23:17:56 GMT

One possible cause here, where the application has been blocked and the Publisher is listed as "Unknown" (see screenshot below), is an expired Microsoft Windows Root Certificate.

These certificates should have been updated through regular Windows updates; however, a stale certificate may exist in the URL cache.

To clear the cache, try running the following command from the command line:

certutil -urlcache * delete

RE: AWR Executable Is Being Blocked by Windows Before It Launches. How Can I Fix It?

MR202610193757 — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 23:36:02 GMT

How to Run the Cadence AWR Installer if Windows Blocks It

Search for Command Prompt in the Windows Start menu.
Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
Click Yes when prompted by User Account Control.
In Command Prompt, enter the full file path to the AWR installer, enclosed in double quotation marks (" ").
Press Enter to launch the installer.

Example:
"C:\Users\name\OneDrive\Desktop\Hotfix_AWR25.10.080_wint_1of1.exe"

Note: Replace the example path with the actual location of your downloaded installer. You can find the path by holding Shift, right-clicking the installer, and selecting Copy as path.

Hope this works for you!

RE: AWR Executable Is Being Blocked by Windows Before It Launches. How Can I Fix It?

CurtisAWR — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:23:22 GMT

Also, can you clarify:

Is the installer being blocked, or is it instead the case that AWR installed correctly, but just won't run?

RE: AWR Executable Is Being Blocked by Windows Before It Launches. How Can I Fix It?

CurtisAWR — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 16:35:09 GMT

Microsoft Windows security may be blocking new AWR releases due to lack of “Reputation” (i.e. lack of history or low usage). This issue is not isolated to AWR software. This issue should resolve itself once enough reputation has built up.

Depending on your version of Windows, either Microsoft Defender SmartScreen or Smart App Control may be blocking AWR.

First, you should try turning off SmartScreen.
- Details, and steps on how to do this, can be found here:
  - https://www.technipages.com/windows-11-how-to-enable-disable-smartscreen/

If that doesn’t resolve the issue, then check to see if Smart App is installed, and if so, try turning it off.
- Details, and steps on how to do this, are found here:
  - https://www.makeuseof.com/turn-off-smart-app-control-without-reinstalling-windows/

Please let us know if this resolves the issue (and if so, which of the steps or settings did fix the issue), so this situation may be shared by other users.

Discover What’s New in AWR Design Environment V26.1

Surya Mangaraj — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:46:26 GMT

The latest AWR Design Environment V26.1 brings new capabilities across AI-assisted workflows, Python automation, circuit and EM design, VSS system simulation, visualization, and Virtuoso Studio RF integration.

Highlights include:

ViraStack RF AI Assistant
Automated Python Virtual Environment
PCB EM Setup Wizard
Mixed-Mode S-Parameter Converter
Fixture De-embedding
Output Displays and Graph Improvements
WLAN and Bluetooth models in VSS
Native Unified Library Support in Virtuoso Studio RF

If AWR is part of your RF, microwave, EM, or system design workflow, V26.1 is worth exploring.

Find out more: What’s New in AWR Design Environment V26.1

Flexlm license problem

RM202504304348 — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 10:04:20 GMT

Anybody had problems with license commented in this way:

"10:51:46 AM Unable to check out package features. Flex Error: ERROR (LMF-10005): License call failed for feature Interposer_Extract_20, version 25.100 and quantity 1. The license server search path is defined as .... The FLEXnet error message is as follows, FLEXnet ERROR(-5, 234, 0): No such feature exists. Run 'lic_error LMF-10005' for more information.: "

I have a floating license on a server, and I read the license from there. Until now, I performed Axiem simulations without problems, but despite the license will expire next year I received this comment for models simulated recently and running without comments.

Of course, I already restarted PC, license, ... without success.

Can you help me?

RE: Flexlm license problem

OscPn — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 04:53:49 GMT

This issue may require further debugging. Please submit a case through the Customer ASK portal at https://ask.cadence.com/ with all the relevant details. An AE will be assigned to work with you on the issue.

RE: Importing MATLAB 5G NR Waveforms into VSS

OscPn — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 04:47:42 GMT

The MATLAB block was updated in AWR v26.1. To learn more about its usage, refer to the built-in MATLAB examples available through File > Open Example....

Importing MATLAB 5G NR Waveforms into VSS

AnalogMonk — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 02:48:30 GMT

I generated a 5G NR baseband IQ waveform using the MATLAB 5G Toolbox and saved it as a .mat file. Can this waveform be imported directly into VSS and used as the signal source for a complete transmit/receive chain simulation?

If direct .mat file import is not supported, what is the recommended workflow for transferring MATLAB-generated 5G NR waveforms into VSS for testing and validation?

RE: Flexlm license problem

Romolo Marcelli — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 16:52:40 GMT

Hi. Actually, my floating license file expires next year, and the simulator I'm using has been Axiem for several years.

Simply, in a couple of days I received this comment also for other models I am studying, and I have no explanation for that...

AWR Community Poll: Which AWR Workflow Would Benefit Most from AI?

CM20260602798 — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 05:04:33 GMT

[emoticon:2d6f789653e1461e8dd13b99016436b3] If AI could save you the most time in AWR, which capability would have the biggest impact on your workflow?

A) EM Optimization & Design Closure
Automatically refine layout dimensions and EM parameters to meet performance targets with fewer simulation iterations.

B) Intelligent Matching Network Synthesis
Generate optimized input/output matching networks based on gain, bandwidth, linearity, and efficiency requirements.

C) Multi-Objective RF Design Tuning
Simultaneously optimize competing specifications such as gain, PAE, output power, noise figure, and stability.

D) Yield & Manufacturing Robustness Analysis
Identify critical sensitivities and recommend design improvements to maximize production yield.

[emoticon:c3d7032264754e31a4e978a56422ea51]What consumes the most engineering time in your RF workflow today, and why?

Share your thoughts in the comments[emoticon:4c075aeede424916bf6a2357c3bb6ef0]

RE: Flexlm license problem

OscPn — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:03:49 GMT

It seems that a valid solver license is either unavailable/expired or was not checked in at the time of simulation.

RE: Load Pull Template Not Recognized After Copying to New Schematic

RfJosh75 — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 08:47:42 GMT

The schematic needs to be copied (Right-click -> Duplicate, drag to the "Circuit Schematics" node, etc.) rather than the contents.

Load Pull Template Not Recognized After Copying to New Schematic

AnalogMonk — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 08:34:24 GMT

When I copy the Load Pull template content from the wizard into a new schematic, AWR no longer recognizes it as a template document. What is the correct way to reuse a Load Pull template across multiple schematics or projects?

Feature Quiz: Do You Know This AWR Tool?

OscPn — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:38:00 GMT

You need to quickly see how circuit performance changes when component values are adjusted—without manually editing parameters and re-running simulations each time.

Which AWR feature would you use?

A. Yield Analysis
B. Tuner
C. EM Extract
D. Design Rule Check

Vote your answer below before checking the comments!

Why does my AXIEM simulation take so long, and how do experienced users speed it up?

AnalogMonk — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 06:23:03 GMT

I'm working on a PCB passive structure in AXIEM and the simulation time seems to increase dramatically every time I add more geometry.

Sometimes a small change doubles or triples the solve time.

How do experienced AWR users decide when an AXIEM simulation is "too detailed"? What are the most effective ways to reduce simulation time without sacrificing accuracy?

RE: Why does my AXIEM simulation take so long, and how do experienced users speed it up?

Surya Mangaraj — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:30:52 GMT

AXIEM simulation time is mainly affected by mesh size, geometry complexity, frequency range, and solver selection. Even a small layout change can significantly increase the number of mesh cells, resulting in much longer simulation times.

To improve simulation speed without sacrificing accuracy:

Use Advanced Frequency Sweep (AFS) instead of simulating many discrete frequency points.
Simplify non-critical geometry where possible.
Avoid unnecessarily fine mesh settings.
Check the generated mesh to identify regions driving excessive cell counts.
Start with a simplified model and add detail only where it impacts performance.

Solver selection also plays an important role:

Direct Solvers are ideal for smaller problems but do not scale well as the structure grows.
Iterative Solvers (fast solvers) are better suited for larger designs and generally offer better memory usage and simulation performance.

Recommendation: Use Auto Configure in the EM Options dialog. AXIEM will automatically choose the optimal solver based on problem size and frequency, providing the best balance between accuracy and simulation speed.

Simplifying Power Amplifier Design Flow

Renu Vibha — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:03:59 GMT

Is your power amplifier design flow efficient enough, or are you missing optimization opportunities?

This Rapid Adoption Kit (RAK) will uncover the findings

Power amplifier design flow in AWRDE

Big ideas. Bigger impact. Watch this space for more!

Feature Quiz: Do You Know This AWR Tool?

OscPn — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:35:39 GMT

You need to quickly see how circuit performance changes when component values are adjusted—without manually editing parameters and re-running simulations each time.

Which AWR feature would you use?

[emoticon:e7b6666c6f9742b1b7b51dddab3bb696] A. Yield Analysis
[emoticon:e7b6666c6f9742b1b7b51dddab3bb696] B. Tuner
[emoticon:e7b6666c6f9742b1b7b51dddab3bb696] C. EM Extract
[emoticon:e7b6666c6f9742b1b7b51dddab3bb696] D. Design Rule Check

[emoticon:4c075aeede424916bf6a2357c3bb6ef0] Vote your answer below before checking the comments!

Python/COM API: how to set per-shape mesh properties (Shape Properties > Mesh) on EM structure shapes?

PV202506039514 — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:39:42 GMT

Environment: AWR Design Environment 25.1 (19.06 19490 Rev1 (3aeb16807023df9f129c5ecef6cf132c7bd192ac)), AXIEM simulator, pyawr 24.1.1, Python 3.12, Windows 11.

Goal. From a Python script (pyawr/COM), clear "Use doc default" and set a lower mesh density on a few specific shapes of an EM structure — what the GUI does in Shape Properties > Mesh. We do this on large ground-flood polygons so they do not dominate the AXIEM mesh, and we would like it fully scripted (no GUI automation).

What we tried (minimal runnable script attached, shape_mesh_api_minimal_example.py; it creates and removes its own throwaway EM structure):

Enumerating DrawingObject.Attributes on a freshly drawn shape: only the 11 generic attributes (LineType, LayerName, ...) are present — no Mesh_* entries.
Attributes.Item() keyed by the documented mwShapeMeshOptionAttributes enum values (mwMOA_MeshUseDefault = 0, mwMOA_MeshDensity = 3): the lookup is positional, index 0 raises "Index too small" and index 3 returns LayerMapping.
Attributes.Item('Mesh_UseDefault') / ('Mesh_MeshDensity') by name: "Index too large" (key not found).
Attributes exposes no Add method (confirmed via IDispatch::GetIDsOfNames).
Update(), selecting the shape, opening a layout window, and CreateMesh() do not make the attributes appear.
ExportEmInputDataXML shows per-shape MeshIndex entries, but ImportEmInputData discards edits to MESH_OPTIONS/MeshIndex.
Copying a shape that already has a mesh override into another structure (DrawingObjects.AddShape, clipboard paste) loses the override.

Observation. Once the Shape Properties > Mesh dialog has been OK'd once in the GUI, the very same Attributes collection exposes Mesh_UseDefault, Mesh_MeshDensity, etc. as ordinary read/write attributes — so the API can edit the per-shape mesh record, but we found no API call that creates it. The mwShapeMeshOptionAttributes enum is documented in the API reference, but no calling function is listed for it.

Workaround we currently use (works, but clearly unsupported): EMStructure.Export() the document to a .eml file, splice the per-polygon K_EM_MeshOpt sub-record into the binary file, and EMStructures.Import() it back. After that the Mesh_* attributes exist and behave normally over COM. We would prefer not to depend on an undocumented file format.

Questions:

Is there a supported COM/Python API way to create/set the per-shape mesh options (equivalent to Shape Properties > Mesh with "Use doc default" cleared) in AWR DE 19.x?
If not, has this been added in a newer release?

Happy to provide more detail; the attached script reproduces everything above against an empty project.

Disclosure: the API testing and this post were co-implemented with Claude Fable (Anthropic's AI coding assistant); all results were verified against a live AWR session.

[View:/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/113/shape_5F00_mesh_5F00_api_5F00_minimal_5F00_example.zip:640:480]

RE: Python/COM API: how to set per-shape mesh properties (Shape Properties > Mesh) on EM structure shapes?

OscPn — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:25:51 GMT

As far as the documented AWRDE COM/Python APIs show, there is no supported API to create a per-shape mesh override.

RE: AXIEM EM Structure Window Cut Off – Unable to Access Stackup and Substrate Settings

NA202606253023 — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 07:56:37 GMT

Yes.I am using a lap top.I have tried chamging the resolution.but still not fixed.

I will try with an external monitor.

Thank you very much for your feedback.

AXIEM EM Structure Window Cut Off – Unable to Access Stackup and Substrate Settings

NA202606253023 — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:30:08 GMT

I am currently using AWR Design Environment 24.1 (licensed version), but I am facing an issue related to the layout and substrate definition interface.

Specifically, I am unable to define the stackup and substrate parameters because the lower portion of the relevant window is not visible. It appears to be cut off or hidden, and I cannot scroll down or access the bottom section where those settings are normally located.

In addition, the window itself cannot be resized, which makes it impossible to adjust the view or access the missing controls.

Has anyone encountered this issue before, and is there a known fix or workaround (e.g., display settings, DPI scaling, or UI reset)?