Development Log (2018-2019)

Program changes:

• Updated location search in Sky tab with changes needed to continue working in the future
• Fixed uniform scaling to be enforced when resizing shade sails created in MPSD
• Fixed crash when clicking the next page button on the Print page
• Fixed crash when editing the location of a dimension

Estimation:

• Added calculation of waste fabric
• Added option to disable inclusion of shipping cost in default fabric cost

Objects:

• Added Bottom Panel object
• Traditional: Added back fabric panel option
• Traditional Gable Marquee Combo: Fixed error when adding top plates to poles
• Open Traditional: Fixed incorrect mitering when using rotated front bar
• Open Traditional: Added 45-degree mitering support for rafters and front bar
• Slide On Wire: Added estimation
• Slide On Wire: Added new hardware - rear turnbuckle, interim wire hardware, crimp connectors
• Spear: Added square pole option

Accessories:

• Added Accessories section to documentation
• Added internal offset option for accessories with internal spacing (e.g. z-brackets, lag bolts)
• Track: Added bottom bar and front bar locations
• Eggcrate and flange: Fixed position to be at the bottom when a sign band is present

Fabric changes:

Glen Raven

• Added Graphite, Lapis, and Sagebrush to Sunbrella Solids 46" category (previously available via other categories)
• Added Beaufort Graphite, Beaufort Lapis, and Beaufort Sagebrush to Sunbrella Stripes category (previously available via other categories)

Program changes:

• Added Awning Tracker integration (open backdrop from AT, save rendering to AT)
• Added new rotation step to straight-on backdrop loading process for correcting skew
• Added grid overlay to help when rotating a straight-on backdrop to correct skew
• Added prompt to use location/direction data stored in image files for Sky tab settings
• Fixed mitered frame parts to not stick through fabric when using round tubing option
• Fixed message displayed when trying to run MPanel Shade Designer when it's not installed
• Fixed inability to send large scene files (over 4MB) via Send Feedback window
• Fixed validation of user-entered dimension used to set backdrop scale
• Fixed language editor problems on some non-English versions of Windows
• Fixed error when loading Retractable Roof and some other objects on some non-English versions of Windows
• Fixed crash when duplicating some static objects with valances applied
• Fixed crash when setting default page layout when file can't be saved
• Fixed crash when using replace selected object with MPanel Shade Designer
• Fixed crash when unable to load sky rendering system

Estimation changes:

• Fixed quote description and valance style fields to reflect customized object/valance names
• Fixed over-estimation of fabric needed for front/back surfaces of Box Enclosure

Program changes:

• Added ability to load additional dynamic objects distributed separately from the main application
• Added ability to add additional languages for localization (add new entry to language names collection)
• Added localization support for object part names
• Updated new version notification to continue working after upcoming server migration
• Fixed inability to set default values for values in the Quote tab whose checkboxes have been checked
• Fixed crash when saving a rendered image when unable to write to the user's Documents folder
• Fixed crash when saving a page as an image and an insufficient memory error occurs
• Fixed crash when displaying release notes for a new version when the Calibri font is corrupted
• Fixed crash when duplicating a dynamic object when the object couldn't be reconstructed

Estimation changes:

• Updated accessory pricing and item numbers
• Updated Estimation Tab Contents sample page layout
• Updated user guide with new section "When Options Are Used" and updated instructions for staple-on

Objects:

• Slide On Wire: Added new hardware pad eye, snap hook, eye bolt, lag bolt, turnbuckle, clamp, thimble, wire loop
• Slide On Wire: Added BOM tab for hardware components (in estimation panel)
• Slide On Wire: Added individual beam setback parameters
• Hipped End: Fixed alignment of sign band and valance fabric when back fabric is enabled
• Fixed top plates being displayed in some cases after poles were turned off
• Renamed Shade Tree objects to Shade Panel

Fabrics:

Trivantage

• Added 14 Phifertex Solid 17x11 54" fabrics
• Added 31 Phifertex Plus 54" fabrics

Program changes:

• Added ability to add accessories such as Z-brackets, lag bolts, cement anchors and eggcrate to various awning styles
• Added ability to export fabric panel data to Autometrix Eclipse, where it can be reviewed and then sent to an automated cutting table (right-click on object in scene, Export to Autometrix Eclipse)
• Added initial multi-language support, with the ability to customize English text including content such as awning style names (shift+click on text)
• Added exchange rate option (in File->Options), affects default estimation cost settings
• Added support for importing glTF 3D model files
• Changed discontinued fabric image files to be stored online instead of included in the program installer
• Changed behavior when opening new backdrop image to no longer remember scale/ground information about a backdrop between sessions
• Changed importing OBJ files so that objects from MPanel software can be aligned to the ground by default
• Changed HTTPS networking to use TLS 1.2 instead of 1.0 for improved security and compatibility
• Changed frame parts list to show miter angles as either 0 or 90 degrees for straight cuts instead of leaving it blank
• Changed frame parts list CSV export feature to always export miter angle columns even when no mitered cuts are present
• Fixed frame parts list to take into account object quantity and better handle multiple objects in the scene
• Fixed parts list in page layout to better handle multiple objects in the scene and different substitution target settings
• Fixed crash when editing tables in page layout
• Fixed crash when using the color picker eyedropper with a stylus on a Microsoft Surface tablet
• Fixed crash when opening invalid default values XML file

Estimation changes:

• Changed allowance terminology to match Autometrix: Header Allowance is now Top Bar Allowance, Back Allowance is now Down Bar Allowance
• Changed default seam allowance to 1/2"
• Added rafter lacing strip calculations
• Added thread calculations
• Added a new End Rafter Allowance value when the sides of the top fabric are attached to the frame instead of being sewn to side panels
• On the Quote tab, changed the title of "Options" to "Job Options" to help fabricators understand that these options are applied to the job and not individual awnings when there are multiple awnings in a quote
• On the Quote tab, job options such as sales tax, installation, discounts, etc. will now show "see total for all objects" for these items when the user is displaying an individual awning and there are multiple awnings in a quote
• Added ability to specify custom names for Additional Charge values
• Added ability to show valance style name in quote and page layout
• Added fabric alignment properties to Fabric tab for Main fabric and Side fabric (used for Autometrix interface only right now)
• Changed default mileage rate from $0.57 to $0.54 per mile
• Improved "Add to cart" usability (added cart column header with item checkboxes, disable button when no addable items selected)
• Fixed incorrect results for price breakdown with multiple objects
• Added line items to sample page layouts for sales tax, price breakdown (fabric, frame, labor)
• Removed example expiration date value from sample page layouts (should be manually entered on a per-quote basis)

Objects:

• Added Scrollwork object (in Misc. tab)
• Box Enclosure: added a bottom frame and fabric option, added parameters to control frame and fabric separately, added parameters to control left and right fabric separately and added sign band and valance options
• Box Enclosure: added ability to add to the bottom of the following to create an enclosure: Concave, Convex, Gable Marquee, Hipped Canopy, Hipped End, Pyramid, Round Marquee, Round Nose Traditional, Rounded Traditional and Traditional
• Box Enclosure: added ability to add to the back of the following to create an awning extension under a soffit: Concave, Convex, Round Nose Traditional, Rounded Traditional and Traditional
• Changed default support spacing for Rigid Flat Panel and Box Enclosure
• Fixed valance placement for Round Marquee Top Corner and similar objects
• Fixed Spear to follow the front bar on Open Traditional when its angle is changed
• Removed unnecessary straight length parameters from Arc group for Concave
• Removed experimental Traditional w/ Accessories object (replaced by new accessories system)