From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
NI Ultiboard
Electronic PCB layout design software
Electronic PCB layout design software
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| name | NI Ultiboard | |
| logo | NIUB10 logocap.png | |
| screenshot | [[File:NIUB10 screencap sample.png | 300px]] |
| caption | Screenshots of an NI Ultiboard project in 2D and 3D views. | |
| Above: PCB editor and plot view tools and panels. | ||
| Below: 3D mode with components and tracks visible. | ||
| developer | National Instruments Electronics Workbench Group (formerly by Interactive Image Technologies) | |
| latest release version | 13.0.1 | |
| latest release date | ||
| operating system | Microsoft Windows | |
| language | English | |
| genre | Electronic design automation | |
| license | Proprietary EULA | |
| website |
Above: PCB editor and plot view tools and panels. Below: 3D mode with components and tracks visible.
NI Ultiboard, formerly ULTIboard, is an electronic printed circuit board (PCB) layout program which is part of a suite of circuit design programs, along with NI Multisim. It is used for customising hardware components. One of its major features is the real time design rule check, a feature that was only offered on expensive work stations in the days when it was introduced. ULTIboard was originally created by a company named Ultimate Technology, which is now a subsidiary of National Instruments. Ultiboard includes a 3D PCB viewing mode, integrated import and export features to the schematic capture, and simulation software in the suite, Multisim.
History
Market penetration
ULTIboard was originally created by Ultimate Technology in Naarden, Netherlands. It sold for $800–$2500, depending on the design size chosen.
Student versions that were offered for very low prices were limited; they could not produce photo plot files. They also contributed to the popularity of the software as most students knew how to work with the program.
Ultimate Technology's managing director, James Post, was known for his innovative marketing approach and customer oriented thinking. In 1989, they distributed 180,000 free demonstration floppy disks (demo-discs) via electronics magazines, a first in history. Soon thereafter, ULTIboard became market leader in Europe in the field of PC based PCB design products.
The company held worldwide user meetings where customers could attend free and even got a free gourmet lunch. Optionally, customers could take an afternoon training to get up and running with the latest features. Priced at US$75, most users took this option. Other PR activities included invitations for customers to have a lunch during trade shows and conferences, boat rides, cart racing, flying for their best accounts. This strategy helped ULTIboard to become the leader in customer loyalty.
Rebranding
In 1999, Ultimate Technology merged with Interactive Image Technologies and eventually renamed itself to Electronics Workbench. In 2003, all development of ULTIboard was moved to the head office in Toronto.
Ultiboard is now supported and distributed by National Instruments. The product has been renamed from Electronics Workbench back to Ultiboard with the schematic capture and simulation tool named Multisim.
References
References
- (2012-05-05). "NI Multisim and NI Ultiboard Professional Product Features".
- (2012-11-08). "Theory of Digital Automata". Springer Science & Business Media.
- (2025-02-11). "The Impact of Algorithmic Technologies on Healthcare". John Wiley & Sons.
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about NI Ultiboard — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report