3DCrafter 9.1.1 Build 1256 Available

There are a number of bug fixes in this version as well as a re-implemented right-click access to group and component properties, and a new option to optionally update custom fields when using the Train Simulator Wizard.

3DCrafter 9 can co-exist with some earlier versions. There shouldn’t be any problems running it with version 8 or version 7 on the same system.

3DCrafter 9 is a free upgrade for anyone who purchased 3DCrafter, or a 3DCrafter upgrade July 1st, 2010 or later. The upgrade cost is $34.95 US. If you qualify for a free upgrade, your 3DCrafter 8 license code will automatically work with 3DCrafter 9. You need not request a new license.

Please report any bugs you find, other than installation problems, in the 3DCrafter 9 bug reports forum. Thanks.

[u:1smi5xmw]What’s New in 3DCrafter 9.1[/u:1smi5xmw]

[list:1smi5xmw][*:1smi5xmw][b:1smi5xmw]New View Options[/b:1smi5xmw]

Hover over the "cog" in the upper right hand corner of each view, and the view options for that particular view are displayed. Hover over an option and it is immediately (temporarily) applied to the scene. Click an option to apply it.

The best thing about this new feature is that you can switch between view modes (perspective/orthographic) retaining position and orientation. This can be handy when you want to have a quick view from a different perspective. I also think it is handy to be able to quickly switch from wireframe to outline to smooth rendering.[/*:1smi5xmw]

[*:1smi5xmw][b:1smi5xmw]Operation Quick Access Buttons[/b:1smi5xmw]

An option (via the right-click menu) is now available to display the most common operations as view buttons. These are the operations currently available via right-click. These view buttons can either be located in the upper right-hand corner of each view, or directly above a selection. Again, this can be set via the right-click menu.

This feature is off by default, at least for now.

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[*:1smi5xmw][b:1smi5xmw]Auto-Aligning Edit Control[/b:1smi5xmw]

The Edit Control can now be aligned to the current selection.

This feature is off by default, at least for now. You’ll need to right-click on the scene to enable it.

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[*:1smi5xmw][b:1smi5xmw]Enhanced Selection Box[/b:1smi5xmw]

The selection box for shapes now has a "directional" aspect to it. The lower right hand corner of the box show the direction that operations will be applied. The red/green/blue match up with the red/green/blue of the edit control so you don’t have to guess what is "x", "y" and "z". It’s relatively clear now. There are a couple of (sensible) exceptions in "standard" editing mode, but I believe all the other modes strictly hold the directions.

If you hover over a shape, it also show the red/green/blue, to show the orientation of the shape. This can be helpful because usually the "group/pivot point" is obscured by the shape itself.

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[*:1smi5xmw][b:1smi5xmw]Improved "World" and "Shape" Coordinate Modes[/b:1smi5xmw]

These modes now take into consideration the current viewpoint.
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[*:1smi5xmw][b:1smi5xmw]Context Sensitive Navigation[/b:1smi5xmw]

When a shape is selected, rotation will be around the selected shape. If a shape is selected, zooming (including mouse-wheel zooming) will be directed towards the selection.

Also, center mouse button movement has been entirely changed

•No-Shift Over Grid=Zoom
•Shift Over Grid=Walk
•Ctrl Over Grid=Y-X movement
•No-Shift Over Component=Rotate Around Component Center
•Shift Over Component=Rotate Around Point Clicked

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[*:1smi5xmw][b:1smi5xmw]Compact Controls[/b:1smi5xmw]

The Navigation and Edit controls can now be displayed in a more compact form, to provide more viewable space. This is particularly useful when using "the align to selection" option. This feature is enabled via the right-click menu. It is off by default, at least for now.
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[*:1smi5xmw][b:1smi5xmw]Improved Group/Pivot Point Indicator[/b:1smi5xmw]

The Group/Pivot Point indicator now displays x, y and z to give a better indication of direction.

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This version is specifically for those users who have had problems installing 3DCrafter. There are no bug fixes or new features.

I have implemented a new navigation system that allows you to avoid using the Navigation Control, if you wish. Three new buttons have been aded to the edit toolbar for Orbin/Pan/Zoom. When one of these are selected, the navigation control will not be available, and selection will not be possible until selection mode is again chosen.

3DCrafter 9.2 can co-exist with 3D Crafter 9/8/7. There shouldn’t be any conflicts.

Since this is a beta release, please report all bugs on this topic. Thanks.

[u:2iw84feb]What’s New in 3DCrafter 9.2[/u:2iw84feb]

[list:2iw84feb][*:2iw84feb][b:2iw84feb]Pan navigation[/b:2iw84feb]

Click on a location and drag, and the location clicked on moves to the new location of the mouse pointer.
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[*:2iw84feb][b:2iw84feb]Orbit navigation[/b:2iw84feb]

The orbit location is chosen by sampling what is in the center of the view, which is the area most likely to be currently being worked on.
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[*:2iw84feb][b:2iw84feb]Zoom navigation[/b:2iw84feb]

Identical to the current zoom on the navigation control, but is "control-less".
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[*:2iw84feb][b:2iw84feb]Zoom to extents[/b:2iw84feb]

Expand the current view to view the entire model
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[*:2iw84feb][b:2iw84feb]Performance Improvements[/b:2iw84feb]

Performance has been improved approximately 15%
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[*:2iw84feb][b:2iw84feb]C# Export Plug-in Sample[/b:2iw84feb]

A sample of a Wavefront OBJ exporter written in C# is provided.
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[u:2iw84feb]Known issues with 3DCrafter 9.2 Beta 2[/u:2iw84feb]