Release features pCon.planner 8.14

New Features

1 Support for Online Article Configuration

1.1 Integration of B2B Catalogs in pCon.catalog

pCon.planner 8.14 is implementing online configuration for all kinds of B2B articles. This ensures that B2B articles from pCon.catalog as well as locally installed product data can both be used in pCon.planner to the fullest and provides you with easy access to a wider range of products.

1.2 General Handling of Online Articles in pCon.planner

Online articles make use of the settings of the current drawing. They rely on the project's data language, currency and exchange rates. For B2B articles from pCon.catalog, the settings are synchronized back to pCon.catalog. Configurations opened there use the current project information from pCon.planner. These settings are hidden in pCon.catalog.

What's more: for B2B articles, the online configuration dialog includes pricing information.

1.3 Configuration of Online Articles

The support for online configuration of B2B articles influences your workflow as follows:

The Article tab in the Properties Editor is only displayed if local OFML data is available for the B2B article selected in the drawing. Whenever there is locally installed OFML data available for an article, configuration takes place by means of the Properties Editor. Configuration is done via the online configurator under the following premises:

• The respective manufacturer catalog is not installed locally
• You are logged in via pCon.login (regardless of the licensing system)
• The respective manufacturer is approved for the user in pCon.login

2 Planning Improvements

2.1 Comments

pCon.planner 8.14 introduces comments as a new means to enrich your drawing with information. Add a comment by clicking the Text drop-down menu on the Start tab, Drawing Elements group.

Comments serve as an alternative to texts and annotations. They can be placed freely in the drawing and filled with additional information on furniture or architecture to communicate with team members or customers.

Comments are subject to visibility control. Similar to Cameras and Lights, they can be shown or hidden in the drawing as a whole or specific to viewports via the Visibility group on the Start tab.

Comments can also be shared for impress if they are visible in the drawing and the option Include additional information is activated in the Share dialog.

2.2 Enhanced Dimension Styles (pCon.planner PRO/ME)

Dynamic

Fixed

For dimensions, the new Fixed Extension Length option is accessible through the Dimension Styles dialog as well as the Properties Editor for individual dimension objects. It keeps the lengths of the extension lines at a freely chosen defined value.

2.3 Enhanced Hatching for Walls

Hatchings for walls can now take different line styles. To adjust the line style, add a Hatch to a wall in the Properties Editor and set Line Type as well as Line Width.

2.4 Working in Groups (pCon.planner PRO/ME)

Working in groups has become more convenient: without ungrouping, it is now possible to use the functions in the B2B Catalog on single articles within groups (like finding a selected article in the catalog).

Furthermore, properties can now be transferred to articles in groups directly from the Property Container in the Properties Editor.

These new mechanisms do apply to elements in Arrangements, as well.

2.5 Toolbar

For a clearer arrangement of tools, the Render Styles and the Environment buttons have been removed from the Toolbar. Both dialogs are accessible from the View tab on the ribbon.

3 Presentation

3.1 Impress

Content shared via impress now stays available for three months instead of one. Comments (see chapter 2.1) become an optional part of your uploads to impress. They are shared with your content if they are visible in the drawing and the Include additional information checkbox is activated in the Share dialog.

Elements that are hidden in your drawing are no longer part of your impress content (as well as PEC exports).

4 Imports and Exports

The following changes are provided regarding import and export formats:

• SKP, OBJ and FBX export: support for all new material parameters (OMATS 2.2)
• USD export and import: full support for OMATS 2.2
• Names of enhanced pCon.catalog materials are used in all relevant exports
• IFC import:
  • Material names are added if possible
  • Transformation handling improved
• STEP and IGES imports: tessellation quality dialog implemented (pCon.planner PRO)