Novapoint Virtual Mapftp.novapoint.com/CFU/Downloads/VirtualMap/RealeseNotes/NPVirtual...2(22) Novapoint Virtual Map 7256 New image export method quality very bad compared to old 7217

Novapoint Virtual Map Release Notes - Version History

This document contains information on the product releases of Novapoint Virtual Map.

Version 6.5.4 (Released December 2012)

Released versions:

Standalone installation packages (32bit and 64bit)

o Novapoint 17.20, AutoCAD, Map3D and Civil3D

Integrated in Novapoint installation packages:

o 18.20.FP4 64bit

o 18.30.FP4 64bit

New features:

https protocol support for viewer and ActiveX

Bug fixes:

7326 Image export dialog broken

7330 Dashboard transparency did not work any more

7325 Problems with transparency sorting

7283 Sometimes model went blank

7270 LandXML import dialog, translation missing


Released versions:


o 18.20.FP3 64bit

o 18.30.FP3 64bit

New features:

Meshes: smoothing

New values for solid tessellation; 5cm and 20 degree accuracy

W&S: GUI improvements

KM stationing presented when a railway model is added

LandXML: user defined main group

LandXML: Inframodel3 and LandXML 1.2 support

LandXML: Added IM_struct and IM_pipe to info text ...

Warning message for large models when making 32-bit export

Bug fixes:

7216 Image export is really slow

7223 Difference when .rut file is imported from Novapoint and read from dwg

7242 Newer viewer versions run out of memory (32bit)

2(22)

Novapoint Virtual Map

7256 New image export method quality very bad compared to old

7217 Some objects disappear when navigating

7254 Viewer refreshes model even standing still

7017 W&S problem with manholes top elevation ...

7141 Autosave was broken in 6.5

7177 LandXML export did not export all surfaces

7250 Splash not any more always on top

7287 Go to cursor when pointing out of world now works better

7289 Esc key that normally cancel dialog did not work on LandXML plugin

7290 LandXML: User needs to click twice to material to open material list

Version 6.5.2 (Released October 2012)

Released versions:

Standalone installation packages (32bit and 64bit)

o Novapoint 17.20, AutoCAD, Map3D and Civil3D


o 18.20.FP2d 64bit

o 18.30.FP2d 64bit

Bug fixes:

7140 Viewer crashes with older ati or Intel card and drivers

Version 6.5.1 (Released September 2012)

Released versions:


o 18.20.FP2c 64bit

o 18.30.FP2c 64bit

o 19.00 64bit

New features

Viewpoint markers: editable status fields

Higher than screen resolution image output using graphics card

Building floor area and volume calculation for area planning (under model statistics)

Improved rendering; transparency sorting (new setting under rendering)

Improved rendering; mesh smoothing (new setting under optimization)

Improved stereo frustum rendering

Bug fixes:

3(22)


6856 64bit model export package won't work on computers that don't have VM in-stalled

6858 Viewer export package doesn't get a proper license

6411 LandXML virtual layers / XREF generation

6771 Merging config will add an empty group

6957 Select best performing video card/display for VM viewer

7058 Viewer movement not smooth

7095 Rendering problems in VM6 compared to VM5

6759 When starting a model with start.bat viewer doesn't always allocate license

6726 Material area with patch don't work with target layer

7046 Duplicate groups after generating model

6665 Advanced object information does not work with * defenition

7117 Update web template for ActiveX

7057 Editing config (remove item) very slow

7009 Erasing groups does not work using delete button

7138 Copy view to clipboard crashes when using software rendering

7141 Autosave was disabled in 6.5

7145 Reading a Novapoint 18.10 road model silently upgrades the VIPS file from 18.10 to 18.20

7146 Object info sometimes crashes.

6897 Unsupported compression method in zipped viewer package

Version 6.4.0 (Released June 2012)

Released versions:

Novapoint 17.20, AutoCAD, Map3D and Civil3D

o Standalone installation packages (32bit and 64bit)

Novapoint 18

o Integrated in Novapoint 18.20 FP2 64bit installation package

New features

AutoCAD 2013 compatibility

3DConnexion 3d-mouse support

3D Stereo display support (option in configuration)

Viewpoint markers

Major bug fixes in addition to many instability and minor fixes:

4(22)


5740 Slow framerate with many pipes in hidden group

5974 LandXML file path should be relative to dwg

6400 VM thinks xref files on mesh layers are mesh blocks

6588 Multiple plugin items generate same elements even not listed in plugin settings

6695 After changing resolution, the tool windows may lie off screen

6791 VRML export exports viewer package instead png textures only

6793 LandXML virtual layers vs. localization

6843 Switching sub-groups on/off slow

6856 64bit model export package won't work on computers that don't have VM in-stalled

6878 VM6.3 drops elements underground, VM6.2 did not do that

6885 Fence interpolation not working as in VM62

6891 Culling trees when exporting video unnecessarily causes lost trees

6898 LandXML export fails to export triangles from sub-groups

6919 Interpolate_to building still not working OK

6928 Config with over 1000 materials don't read material parameters correctly

6947 Antialiasing and Anisotropic filtering: Disable when not supported

6948 Exported model does not start properly from network drive

6949 No open gl available => Warning with exit proposal

6967 Standalone installer 2013 compatible

Version 6.3.1 (Released April 2012)

Released versions:

Novapoint 18

o Integrated in Novapoint 18.30 64bit installation package

New features


Version 6.3.0 (Released March 2012)

Released versions:



Novapoint 18


New features

5(22)


2914 Interpolate_to parameter for buildings

5355 Right click menu; list also config items that have "*"

6663 Clash detection sorting of groups

6813 NP18.20 Road marking export layers added to default vm-modeler.ini

6826 Ability to export geometry as LandXML from the Viewer


3488 Turning audio off doesn't turn traffic audio off

3630 Export Viewer package activates sounds

4194 Automatic RGB colors should not have emission

5271 Opening a project from vm-viewer.exe doesn’t open vm-viewer.ini

5313 Ctrl-C doesn't work in viewpoint edit dialog

5457 Error in exporting viewer package

5785 Pipes render very slow and slows down models hugely

6307 Right clicking highlights objects even when info tool off

6524 Double textures when exporting a model

6637 Pressing +- in object information works also on keys

6648 Block with insert point 0,0,0 block elements in xxxxxx, yyyyyy moved.

6688 Interpolate doesn't work with fence

6695 After changing resolution, the tool windows may lie off screen

6704 Model generation log dialog is a bit too small

6715 Update viewpoint location doesn't work

6727 Material Area with no as cut method don't work with target layer when group de-fined

6732 Precision issues in some models

6737 Fence interpolation to top doesn't work

6738 Unable to close clash dialog once activated

6796 Stop highlighting items on measure and object info (without extra info)

6800 Default config updates for Norwegian and Swedish

6801 Make mouse movement slower

6804 VRML export hangs on buildings

6852 Video export culling gone broken

Version 6.2.0 (Released October 2011)

Released versions:

6(22)




Novapoint 18

o Integrated in Novapoint 18.10.FP2b 64bit installation package

New features

Civil3D support

o users can now generate Civil3D surfaces and pipe networks

o automatic cutting and welding Civil3D surfaces to terrain

o automatic grouping

o material assignment to Civil3D objects from VM material library

o possible to combine Civil3D, DWG and Novapoint models into same VM model

o Civil3D needs to be installed and active

o supports Civil3D 2010, 2011 and 2012, 32bit and 64bit

Support for AutoCAD 2012 platform (AutoCAD, Map3D, Civil3D), 32bit and 64bit

New parameter interpolate_to_layers has been added to allow users control on which surfaces / layers elements are interpolated to (applies to single element, element chain, element area, mesh, fence, text and pipe, for buildings this was not possible to make in this release)

Support for AutoCAD PlaneSurface, SweptSurface,ExtrudedSurface, LoftedSurface and RevolvedSurface. Since 2011 release also NurbsSurface is supported. These 3d-elements are handled like 3dsolid objects and can be defined as Material area or Mesh objects.

Group dialog: Expand All / Collapse All (mouse right click menu) will expand or col-lapse all groups (when not over group name) and selected group (when over group name)

Edit viewpoints in Viewer:

o toggle save groups on/off

o update viewpoint to current camera view

o re-ordering custom viewpoint columns (not default columns)

o rename columns

Help system has now been moved to web based WikiNova

Default view angle (vertical) has been changed from 45 to 30 degrees to make models look closer to how human eye sees and feels depth and distances

Speed improvements in model generation and model loading


5535 Object Information and Link Activation Mode works now better

5667 64-bit viewer model export: alBufferData() failed when loading file "VM_Sound_Skidding.wav": error AL_INVALID_VALUE.

7(22)


5895 Force camera view angle to be same always

5983 Pasting Pipe Cross-section into the config doesn't work

6042 Patch material area doesn't generate on top of another patch

6080 Search window placed incorrectly

6082 Save last viewpoint causes stuttering

6095 Group should not affect target layer nor interpolation

6179 UCS 3D rotation from AutoCAD for Meshes sometimes wrong

6227 Road model import cuts big holes

6302 Patch image is rotated in model

6325 Pipes are scaled incorrectly

6371 Viewpoint group state not working for sub groups

6384 Z-buffer problem with a patch mode roadline

6390 Dashboard shown too far and mixes with model

6392 Long layer names from xref files

6414 Changing a pth file with e.g. capital letters will delete the file.

6423 Alpha channel not always visible in textured elements

6433 Styles in Swedish config don't work

6434 Purge removes main group in a tree menu of groups

6455 Setting XREF mode FIRST TIME don't work

6486 Model extents wrong when no triangles in the dwg

6487 Pipes doesn't generate correctly

6488 Building a *gen file without 3d faces in dwg

6504 Blocks not coming to model correctly when scale is 0.001

6509 Enter doesn't work on search

6522 Jittering / flashing models

6549 Manholes are modeled with inner radius ...

6550 Pipe reference level in info text ...

6554 Apply in configuration dialog should not update viewer position

6572 Block instances has gone broken

6576 Default dialog "Enter" action behaves as Cancel

6581 Plugins die of exception when pressing ok without touching any settings

6703 Crash when doing a clash detection of all groups

6725 Crash in Merge in some cases

8(22)


Version 6.1.0 (Released March 2011)

Released versions:



Novapoint 18

o Integrated in Novapoint 18.10.FP1 32bit installation package

o Integrated in Novapoint 18.10.FP1 64bit installation package

New features

New method for handling large XREF scenes. XREF method can be selected when re-activating XREF in Model menu. First method is the old method using AutoCAD undo which sometimes fail and caused memory usage increase because of bug in AutoCAD undo. New method doesn’t use undo, but saves dwg, then generates model and then re-opens it, so avoiding the use of undo.

Novapoint Water & Sewer support; direct link to database and automatic model gen-eration

LandXML import supports irregular line elements from alignments

LandXML import new feature “Locked” allows users to unlock surfaces from cut opera-tions allowing LandXML surfaces to cut into each other in order of configuration

Changed group behavior so that generation of elements is not affected by groups. For example interpolation nor target layer doesn’t depend on groups, groups function only as on/off for elements.

AutoCAD layer name is saved as object property and can be seen in Viewer InfoTool with “Show Advanced Info for Every Object” setting

New tool in Modeler / Configuration Summary will show summary of configuration and useful info like: Layers with no VM definition, Layers with multiple VM definitions, List of all layers and VM definitions and VM definitions with no matching layer.

Pipes with 0.0 thickness can now be highlighted with InfoTool

City of Bodø (Norway) added to city list for sunlight analysis function

Purge has new option to purge unused groups

Target layer now works on material areas and roadlines with patch mode and doesn’t depend on group

Help button available in LandXML and WS import

Default value for fog has been lowered to make models more clear when looked far away

Texture compression made available on lower end ATI graphics cards making models with many textures run much faster

Bug fixes

Numerous stability fixes when modeler crashed during model generation

Sometimes Viewer loaded model fine but no 3d was displayed

9(22)


Meshes with large dimensions or insertion point in 0,0 was sometimes shaking in Viewer

Modeler now ignores 3dfaces with all corners in 0,0,0 that sometimes come from Novapoint Bridge and caused erratic model dimensions and large dimension blocks

Buildings now become same height independent of base height parameter (fix for SOSI buildings)

Purge will not remove material areas any more that have only solids

Purge now keeps order of road lines and ditches untouched to keep model generation order untouched

Purge now considers also layers in multiple level xref files

Licensing dialog shows always if license check fails, previously users were not able to change licensing type if license check failed

Groups now work for element chains with 3d objects

Turning audio off now turns all audio off

Model dimensions become now correct if there is no surface like when generating only pipes


Released versions:



Novapoint 18


o Integrated in Novapoint 18.10a 64bit installation package

New features

Support for multiple level xref’s (xrefs inside xrefs)

Bug fixes

Target layer for material areas didn’t work with elements in xref files

Assert failure and crash from model export if texture path is wrong

Missing 32bit Viewer package export in Novapoint 18.10 64bit

Version 6.0.3 (Released November 2010)

Released versions:

Novapoint 18


Bug fixes

Parts of terrain was randomly missing from Viewer

10(22)


Known problems

Missing 32bit Viewer package export in Novapoint 18.10 64bit

Version 6.0.2 (Released November 2010)

Released versions:



Major new features

64bit version

o Larger models can be generated, solves memory problems

o Requires 64bit operating system and 64bit version of AutoCAD

o AutoCAD 2011 64bit support

o Model packages with Viewer can be exported in both 32bit and 64bit

o Note: AVI export from 64bit version Viewer works only with 64bit AVI codecs

LandXML import

o Can import models from Civil3D, Microstation, Tekla and other design packages

o Supports Surfaces, Surface/Breaklines and PipeNetworks elements

o Generates VM groups automatically in simple hierarchy

o Automatic cutting of LandXML surfaces into terrain

o Setting of materials for LandXML elements

o Generates “virtual layers” to dwg so target layer function can be used to LandXML surfaces. Object info in Viewer shows this layer name for LandXML surface triangles.

Bug fixes

o After playing a movement path, the Viewpoints dialog occasionally becomes stuck

o Movement path playing: stop button doesn't react on every click

o Solids / 3dfaces in meshes don't get color from material area list

o Surface cut not working well when overlapping surfaces

o Pipes don't interpolate to upper most surface

o 3d-window stops working / updating

o Surface disappearing randombly

o Elements missing from screenshots

o Viewports menu not working

o Anim paths generated opposite direction for circles

o Unable to click sunlight calc dialog city list scroll bar

11(22)


o omp_deadlock error when generating model with meshes that have autocad textures attached to them

o Hardware accelerated still and video rendering limited to one screen size on multiscreen systems

o Info tool and edit material do not recognize building roof, base or multiple fa-cades nor texboard background

o Empty filename in Road Model entry in the config causes the model generation to crash with a certain config

o Crash and other critical bug fixes

Version 6.0.1 (Released June 2010)

Major new features

AutoCAD 2011 support

Bug fixes

o Meshes get material correctly from material area list or from layer / object

o Memory usage after multiple generation remains same

o Grid triangulation improvements

o Movement path play pause / continue button

o Crash and other critical bug fixes

Version 6.0 (Released March 2010)

Major new features

Model generation speed enhancements using multiple processors

Numerous new modeling enhancements including building façade texturing tool

Clash calculation tool in Viewer

Enhanced user interface in Viewer

General changes

Users with Novapoint have Virtual Map installed as part of Novapoint design package since version 5.1. Users without Novapoint should install Virtual Map as a separate product. Updates to the product will be delivered both Novapoint updates and as sepa-rate update packages (for users without Novapoint).

New texture library with higher resolution textures and in PNG format

Elements which have parameters defined into CAD object (xdata) will now function as multiple elements / all elements they are defined in config. In previous versions these elements only functioned as elements defined in CAD object properties. Now for ex-ample buildings that have façade textures attached to building wall line can also be-have as negative element areas for removing forests around buildings. Also if facades are defined as fence parameters and fence polyline is in building layer, there will be both fence and building. In this case fence should be moved to a different layer de-fined as fence and not as building.

12(22)


Numerous bug fixes (not listed here)

New features in Model Builder

Model generation has been accelerated by implementing multithreading into the sys-tem. This allows using power of multiple processors or processor cores to speed up model generation.

Virtual Map 6.0 introduces hierarchical groups; groups can be under other groups.

Interpolation of elements is no longer affected by groups

Right click on material (fast material selection and creation from texture)

Right click when building polyline is selected (façade texturing tool)

Tool to generate report of VM config: with dwg layers it uses

Automatic backup saving of vm-modeler.ini before every generation

Undo function for configuration changes

Negative element area now works on elements that have object parameter (like build-ings with facades)

Model generation priority parameter to control the order of model generation

Animations are not generated if dwg contains no polylines even if animation definition exists

Position offset follows AutoCAD block rotation (offsets to rotation direction)

Generic new parameters for objects (depending object type)

o buffer (expand area outwards / inwards)

o auto_segmentation_angle (divides polyline curved segments based on angle)

o group (added to surfaces and road models)

o z-rotating = yes/no (automatically rotates elements along z-axis towards viewer)

o z-rotation = angle (rotates elements along horizontal axis)

o alignment = default / surface (aligns objects along surface)

Surface Models

o cut_mode (automatic cut surface to another none/yes/weld)

o group

Road Models

o group

Material Areas

o automatic_texcoords=fit (automatically fit texture to material area size)

o Extruded material areas can now be generated using patch option

Forests

o buffer

Buildings

13(22)


o facade_materials (list of materials for facades – multiple textures / building)

o texture_autofit (façade texturing mode; segment, polyline)

Road lines

o auto_segmentation_angle

Fences

o z-rotation = angle (rotates fence along polyline axis)


Ditches


Pipes


Single elements

o z-rotating

o z-rotation

o alignment

Element chains

o z-rotating

o z-rotation

o alignment

Element areas

o z-rotating

o z-rotation

o buffer

o area_around_points (creates a circular element area around each point)

o area_along_lines (creates an element area around the polylines)

o alignment

Meshes

o alignment

Animations

o rotation_xyz_per_second (will rotate the 3d-object around its x-axis while mov-ing, unit is angle / second for each axis like 360,0,0 will rotate object one round / second)

New features in Viewer

Clash Calculation

Clash calculation is an engineering tool that automatically calculates collisions be-tween different structures in the model. Calculation is done with plain geometry infor-

14(22)


mation which makes it possible to calculate collisions between any Virtual Map model elements.

Modernized new user interface allows dockable windows like groups, viewpoints etc.

Some parts of model rendering have been improved in performance

Viewpoints have been enhanced to allow user defined additional information fields and save group state

Drag navigation model has been enhanced

Night lighting simulation allows users to define any element to act like light source and simulate night driving along roads and streets

snap for measurement tape allows snapping to model vertices and element middle points

AVI export has been enabled for vmz files if valid license exists

Export Viewer package now separates model and viewer files into “Files” subfolder and keeps only start.bat in main folder

Turning groups on and off has been much faster

GoToHome function keeps looking direction and zooms out the whole model

VRML export

o exports custom pipe geometry correctly

o fence texture not any more mirrored

Changed the search maximum distance to 30000 to make search function in larger ar-ea

Updated simulated sky global ambient intensity to lower value to give more contrast to model when simulated sky is on

15(22)


o Version 5.1.0 (Released January 2010)

Important notice 1: Novapoint Virtual Map 5.1.0 doesn’t work with Novapoint 17.10 when using Novapoint licensing. Following versions are functional combinations:

Novapoint Virtual Map 5.0.1 with Novapoint 17.10


Novapoint 18.00 and later releases include Virtual Map integrated so there is no need to separately install Virtual Map. Future updates to Virtual Map will be included in Novapoint updates.

New features:


Support for Windows 7 platform

Negative element areas can now contain multiple layers and wildcards "layer*" etc.

San Sebastian added in city locations for sunlight analysis

Bug fixes:

Sketch.dwt template missing in 5.0.x is now included

Mesh instancing fixed

Default File Open list of file types now includes vmz

Info Tool pointing of elements fixed

Fix in polymesh support (some triangles were missing in previous versions)

Renaming viewport to an existing one doesn't erase the old one any more

Known issues

XRef generation might be very slow in AutoCAD 2010 because of a bug in AutoCAD 2010 undo system and AEC objects. Vianova is currently working together with Auto-desk to find a fix to the problem. As workaround users need to save xreffed dwg files into AutoCAD R12 DWG format, then re-open and save as AutoCAD2010 DWG files.

NVidia drivers newer than 178.46 seems to work slower in Viewer in some systems. If that happens it is recommended to install version 178.46 drivers.

Version 5.0.3 (Released May 2009)

Important notice: Novapoint Virtual Map 5.0.3 doesn’t work with Novapoint 17.10 when using Novapoint licensing. Following versions are functional combinations:



Bug fixes:

16(22)


When “Include XREF” option was on

o VM erratically handled all blocks as xref files resulting duplicate items

o VM erratically handled meshes as surface elements resulting errors in model

Version 5.0.2 (Released May 2009)

Important notice: Novapoint Virtual Map 5.0.2 doesn’t work with Novapoint 17.10 when using Novapoint licensing. Following versions are functional combinations:



New features:

NP 17.20 Module loader now works on both VM 4.0 and VM 5.0

Viewpoints can be exported to CSV file to be used in for example Excel (feature can be used to manage clashes / comments in Excel)

After editing modeler configuration VM remembers the configuration tree collapse state

Bug fixes:

Material areas are not processed multiple times any more when using XREF files, this fix has a big influence in memory usage and final model sizes

XREF’s don’t disappear from dwg after generation (in special cases)

Texture compression now works correctly (saves texture memory)

+ many smaller bug fixes

Version 5.0.1 (Released Feb 2009)

This is a bug fix release with following changes:

Shadows are now calculated more reliably

Artifacts in element top edges (repeated pixels from texture edges) are now removed and should not be visible any more

No more out of memory errors / crashes when activating simulated sky in big models

Pressing "u" (U-turn) works now correctly

Sunlight analysis (updating sun location, date and time) requires a license. If license doesn’t exist the sunlight button only turns shadows & sky on/off.

Sun-calc dialog now works better (changing location possible and entering location by hand)

When selecting layers in dwg containing xref files the xref file name is truncated and only layer name is set into the configuration. This makes config work on xref layers af-ter xref files are bind to the main dwg.

17(22)


Some old animations that didn’t work, now works

Simulated sky now works more reliable and there is more visible clouds, fogging is al-so more realistic and color comes from sky

Sun color doesn’t change unless you press Apply / OK in suncalc dialog or if the “au-tomatic update” checkbox is on. This makes updating time much faster, almost realtime.

Default time zones are now fixed in some localized vm-viewer.ini

Version 5.0.0 (Released Jan 2009)

Main themes in this new release are:

AutoCAD 2009 platform support

Team working via XREF support

Sunlight analysis and improved realism via shadows and simulated sky

Improved performance via new modeling parameters

New generic features:

New VM5UserFiles is a new default directory for all user files; All files user might need is there and no more need to go to program folder to search textures.

Completely customized country specific localization including directory and file nam-ing, default configurations, texture library, web template and other files

New features in Model Builder:

AutoCAD2009 platform support

Support for XREF files; XREF files can be included in model generation by selecting “Include XREFs” from Model menu. This makes it possible to combine different data sources like design domains together and keep them separated. Main use for this could be team working so that each domain expert creates their own part of the model and xref the other domain parts. This makes conflict analysis and overall use of virtual models as design tools easier to manage.

New object parameter: cut=patch for material area and roadline objects; This will work like cut=no except material area nor underlaying surface is not divided in any way meaning much less triangles in end result. This also makes model generation times much faster especially for models that have many road marking elements

New object parameter: automatic subdivision for material area, roadline, fence, pipe and ditch objects; This parameter divides polylines for better interpolation / follow sur-face. This is especially useful when using new cut=patch model for road markings as long road marking lines will be automatically divided and therefore better follow sur-face model.

New road model cut parameter weld - will force the terrain model edge to follow road model edge

Solid objects can now be placed on material area layers where they get their material

18(22)


Solid objects are now supported inside mesh blocks

Solid object tessellation accuracy is improved

Support for POLYMESH and POLYFACE objects

Support for AutoCAD 3d-rotation for mesh blocks

Notification to save configuration if user exits AutoCAD and config is not saved

19(22)


New features in Viewer:

Sunlight analysis with Shadows; User can activate automatically calculated shadows from new toolbar button and define model location, date and time. Shadows will be au-tomatically calculated near camera and optionally updated while moving.

New physically correct simulated sky changes colors and shows sun position, realisti-cally animated 3d-cloud systems, night sky with stars and moon and other effects based on date and time.

New “Drag” navigation mode; User can navigate in the model by pointing a model lo-cation and keeping Alt-Left mouse button pressed and then dragging model. This is very fast way of navigating from location to another.

Activate links tool; A new toolbar button highlights objects that have external links and by clicking to the object, the link is activated.

Search tool now includes text elements in search

Texture compression compresses textures in graphics card memory allowing more textures to be used

New status bar layout displays status information in bottom part of the Viewer window

New improved web template compatible with latest IE versions and makes automatic ActiveX Viewer update function better

Video export is now possible without VM license so that end users can also export videos from Virtual Map models

In addition to new features several bugs have been fixed.

Version 4.0.2 (Released 16th May 2008)

This version has been tested and updated for the Novapoint 17.10 release and Microsoft Vista operating system.

Virtual Map 4.0.2 is compatible with Microsoft Vista operating system and Novapoint 16.30, 17.00 and 17.10 international releases.

Version 4.0.1 (Released 15th Oct 2007)

This is a bug fix release, with the following updates:

Fixed problem that caused losing of AutoCAD support path settings when user tried to start Virtual Map directly, without first loading the license from the Novapoint 17 Mod-ule Loader.

The Virtual Map RUT import was updated to create exactly the same amount of col-umns and rows as the RUT import in Novapoint Base menu.

Version 4.0.0 (Released 10th Oct 2007)

This is an AutoCAD platform upgrade release. Main functionality and user interface is the same as in version 3.0, with the following new features:

Support for both AutoCAD 2005/2006 and 2007/2008 platforms.

20(22)


Integration to Novapoint Module Loader. When running in Novapoint 17 environment, Virtual Map has to be started from the module loader. The Virtual Map menus and support files are included in the main Novapoint 17 distribution.

Outside Novapoint 17 environment, Virtual Map can be started as earlier, from the VM4 toolbar menu. Menu loading system has been changed so that the menu is not anymore reloaded each time Autocad is started (opening drawings is faster)

The Norwegian localization with English language help files

Model builder now remembers menu options "allow only single viewer" and "remember viewer viewpoint"

New orbit mode Ctrl-Orbit will take window center point instead of mouse cursor point for orbit center, this makes recording movements better

AutoCAD 2008 material and texture mapping support (planar mapping)

JPEG default saving quality has been changed to 90

Improvements in roof triangulation for better compatibility with SOSI buildings

Version 4.0.0 contain a great number (> 50) of bug fixes from previous release (3.0.1)

Version 3.0.1 (Released 16th May 2007)

This is an update and localization release, with the following new features:

Swedish, Spanish and Finnish versions are now included, both user interface and help system. English and French languages were supported already in the previous re-lease.

Material settings improvement: Transparency is now fully supported for materials with textures. Previously only material without a texture could be shown transparent. For example the road surface could be set partly transparent and the pipes could be seen though the asphalt surface.

Novapoint Road Model and Terrain Models: Target layer setting for material areas (or-tophotos) and road lines (road markings) now works also for Novapoint import models.

Animated objects can now follow the 3d-polyline path also in z-direction, previously only in 2d. This allows for example cars follow the road better.

The release contains a number of bug fixes, especially:

Multiple bugs have been fixed regarding highlight, info tool and measurement tool be-havior when multiple viewports are active in the Viewer.

Fixed the problem that caused the roofs of buildings being sometimes modeled in a wrong way if the roofline polylines are not exactly in the right position.

Fixed the problem that caused the Viewer window to come ‘on top’ when moving the mouse cursor to AutoCAD window or Model Builder dialog.

The Novapoint road model import module, NPVM_VipsReader.dll has been moved to Virtual Map program files folder. Previously it was copied in to the Novapoint 16.x pro-gram binaries folder which caused problems when uninstalling Novapoint.

Groups can now be renamed and deleted and the definitions are correctly removed from the configuration.

21(22)


Virtual Map AutoCAD toolbar help button now launches the correct localized help file.

Version 3.0.0 (Released 16th Apr 2007)

This is the first release of the Virtual Map 3.0 series. Please note the following:

This release contains the full English and French versions of the software including the user interface and documentation in the help system.

For other language versions (Spanish, Finnish and Swedish), the Help files are in Eng-lish language. The final Help files will be added in the next update.

This release includes the new Sketch tool as an add-on. Please see ‘My Docu-ments\VMUserFiles\Sketch\Sketch_Guide_English.pdf’

The Virtual Map API documentation is available on request. Please contact your sales representative for more information.

New Features in Novapoint Virtual Map 3.0

Novapoint Virtual Map 3.0 aims to improve usability and integration with Novapoint design software. Besides that it brings new advanced modeling features for expert 3D modelers and many visual improvements in the Viewer.

Usability

o User interface redesigned for better usability

o 2x-5x performance in the model creation

o Improved support for localization – all items localizable

o Finnish localization

Viewer improvements

o New outlook with an easy to use layout and menu structure

o New navigation modes including allowing underground movement

o Weather effects: Rain. Snow, fog

o Texture styles: Winter, Autumn, Summer..

o Measure distance - function

o Two-sided rendering for surfaces

o New info tooltips including search functionality

o Highlight elements with object information

o Simulate car physics while driving

Novapoint Integration (“Engineering Model”)

o Read Novapoint grid and triangle model and directly from the DTM.

o Read Novapoint Road Model directly

o Automation API for developers

Modeling improvements

22(22)


o New outlook with an easy to use layout and menu structure

o Draw / Edit mode

o User can give a descriptive name for each configuration entry

o Load also partial model builder configurations, merging specific items

o Object groups (turn on/off/highlight in the viewer)

o GIS integration. Show Autodesk Map object data as in the Viewer

o Material area extrusion (e.g. for curbstones in intersection areas)

o Use meshes as elements (Mesh=Autocad block with 3D faces)

o Automatic fence endings (e.g. for guard rails)

o Pipe interpolation to ground, free cross section (e.g. noise contours)

o Audio for animated traffic

Documents

Novapoint Virtual Mapftp.novapoint.com/CFU/Downloads/VirtualMap/RealeseNotes/NPVirtual...2(22) Novapoint Virtual Map 7256 New image export method quality very bad compared to old 7217