Introduction > New in Version 9

The short list of feature additions and changes in the current release:

Major Changes

•Added expression engine.

•Implemented Expression Builder on all grids.

•Implemented OSnap Extension tracking on all OSnaps

•Added support for Spare Cables.

•Added support for project level signal types. There is now a Project Signal Types grid to set signal type specific properties. This will allow you to have different projects with differing signal type structures.

•Modified grids that ripple to only fill the ripple list if fields of consequence are edited.

•Added support for background indexing.

•Added support for automatic indexing on Project Open and Drawing Save.

•Added index view grids.

•Implemented natural sort on all grids and cable specific reports. No more leading zeros to get the sort right.

•Implemented quick index based ripple (if indexes exist) with option for full ripple.

•Added Sync Equipment Insert to database function. If the equipment gets out of sync it can easily be recovered.

•Added Refresh all Pointers on Insert function. Now you can easily update all of the on sheet/off sheet pointers on a selected insert.

•Added Equipment Swap function. Now you can select a piece of equipment to replace another and decide which ports map over.

•Added Link Selected Pointers function. Now you can select a group of pointers and assign them in bulk on the same sheet or across sheets.

•Modified the Software Development Kit (SDK) with new examples. Added more samples to the SDK and a Visual Studio project templates installer. Now it's easy than ever to customize WireCAD to fit your needs!

•Modified the SDK to allow developers to modify their assemblies and recompile without relaunching WireCAD.

•Modified the SDK with 4 new events to apply rules.

•Implemented rules engine using the new expression engine. In addition to the SDK Rules events there is now a project Rules grid where you can define rules that transform data as assignment are made.

•Modified the help system to tie all dialogs and forms to context sensitive help. Created a Beginner Mode setting that initiates help to track your moves and provide context sensitive help. You can disable this in the user settings.

Minor Changes

•Added support for pinning forms in the interface.

•Added form state and position persistence. Now pop-up dialogs remember previous position.

•Modified block creation to place block body on a unique layer then set the PenColor to that layer. This will allow changes in body color after creation.

•Modified all block generated text to honor the TextStyle Height property allowing for changes in text height after block creation.

•Modified the plugin integration so the wpi files now reside in the common WireCAD folder for easier editing.

•Modified the Application Settings section to allow Enable/Disable Plugins.

•Added Grid, Snap, Polar, Ortho, Extension Tracking to the status bar.

•Added context menu to tab items allowing different close choices: Close This, Close Others, Close All.

•Editing SysName or Terminal now automatically refreshes pointers.

•Modified report cable data selector grid to allow multi-select.

•Modified the Equipment Library dropdowns for units of measure, weight values, power units of measure etc. to inherit their data from comma separated list values in the translation manager.

•Increased load speed of Link Pointers select drawing form.

•Added setting to show reports in Project Explorer, Reports Gallery or both.

•Removed the Inserts gallery from the CAD Tools toolbar to speed up drawing switching and facilitate loading very large drawings.

•Introduced a top to bottom sort on all selection sets.

•Enhanced speed of the Reset Selected SysNames function.

•Enhanced speed of the Reset All Cables function.

•Added two new events to the SDK - ActiveDrawingBeforeLinkPointer and ActiveDrawingAfterLinkPointer.

•Added Draw Text dropdowns to the Terminal to Point and Point to Terminal draw cables tool panel.

•Deassign Cable function now crosses Pointers.

•Added new Delete Handling option to delete all attached cables when deleting equipment.

•Added new Delete Handling option when deleting a cable attached to a pointer the other end cable can be reset.

•Added Expert Mode to avoid common explanatory dialogs during function execution.