Envisioneer Version 7 New Feature List

Import Blocks as Columns
CAD blocks can now be imported as Column Elements and saved to the catalog. You can import DWG, DXF, 3DS and Sketchup files from the Google Warehouse, then adjust their size, scale apply new materials and associate quantity information. Import objects are saved as columns which behave and quantify as a column element.

Convert Polyline to Profiles   Note: Not available in Envisioneer Essentials
The Convert polyline to profiles command is perfect for the creation of any closed 2D Cad shape to a profile that can be stored in the Envisioneer library. Profiles can then be used for trim, moulding, beams, and other decorative features. They can also be quantified for material estimates.

2D Roof Component Display added
A new 2D roof component has been added to the roof object to display the representation in plan view independently from the elevation view.  Now roof line styles, colors and weights can be designated independently in plan view and elevation views.  This allows you to insert SmartViews and have more control over your drawing appearance after views are inserted.

Mirror Command Improvement
The Mirror command has been enhanced to prompt whether you would like to erase the original selection or not.  Responding “No” now deletes the original selected object saving you having to do it manually.  This is available in both model and worksheets.

Tapered Columns
Columns can now be tapered using several new variables.    By editing the properties of a column, you can change its shape to control the taper distance in either direction to get the look of the column desired.  Taper distances can be set for rectangular and also for round columns.  Additional properties also control the height at which you want the taper to begin; giving you added flexibility to edit the column’s appearance.

New Electrical Catalog
A new electrical catalog has been developed for Envisioneer 7. In it you will find a much broader range of elements both represented in 2D and 3D form.  You will find more detailed and modern looking light switches, outlets and additional items as well.  Categories include electrical switches, outlets, communication jacks, sensors, controls, exterior controls, heaters, and many other items to complete your electrical plans quickly and accurately.  All symbols can be accounted for in your quantity takeoff as well.

Floor and Ceiling Framing
The floor and ceiling functionality has been improved to make it faster and easier to specify your framing configuration. You can now designate the specific floor joist, rim joist and opening header from the catalog. In addition, you can also specify the Usage and Phase from the library which can be sorted and grouped appropriately for lumber ordering and delivery.

Duplicate to Locations improvements
The Duplicate to Location has been improved. You now select elements your elements, activate the command, and after you choose your new location to copy the elements to, you are now also prompted to determine whether you wish to delete the original objects or not.  If Yes is chosen, it erases all of the selected elements on that location which is a great time saver for moving objects from one location to another. Also, if you placed objects on an unwanted location, you can now move them to another and delete the original in a single step.

Auto Scroll Improved
You can now choose to only activate auto scroll when pressing the Control key. The auto-scroll feature is an extremely useful feature when drawing objects such as walls that might be longer than anticipated in your current view. Also great for tracing PDFs and DWG files for on screen estimating.

Print Scale Override
The Print scale Override function allows you to independently specify a print scale from a drawing scale. Now you can keep your drawing scale and annotation consistent but override the printing scale independently when outputting to a printing device. This is extremely valuable when printing drawings at different scales but you don’t want to adjust your drawing scale.

New from Template Command
The New from Template command allows you to select from a series of pre-defined templates on startup, and use these settings as a base for a new project.

Project templates may contain the following configurations:

• Wall framing configurations
• Building Location settings
• Program Settings
• Dimension setting configurations
• Drafting preferences

Nudge Command Enhanced
The Nudge command has been enhanced due to popular demand.
Under the Drawing Settings section of the Program Settings dialog, you can now set up the feature to use the arrow keys for one nudge distance and another distance that uses the Control key in combination with the arrow keys.

The is a great time saver for fine tuning your model and now you can also use the Nudge command in Worksheets as well which is ideal for aligning details, and moving other CAD objects in small increments.

PDF Import Improvements
The PDF Import feature has been greatly improved in a number of areas.   Large scale vector and raster PDFs now opened faster and are managed in a more efficient manner and multiple pages can also be accessed more rapidly.  This is most valuable when receiving large PDF files that have been created from a scanned image.

Let’s take this example and rotate the PDF to prepare it to scale correctly on insertion. You will notice that you can now scale the PDF independently in both X and Y directions.  You can choose to scale using two points in each direction so you can alter the aspect ration of the image file.
We will now crop this image ­as well and alter the brightness so we will be able to more effectively use it as a trace image on insertion.

After insertion, if you would like to change the scale or alter the aspect ratio, you can now activate the Resize command to choose 2 points on the inserted PDF and scale the image again, either in the X direction, Y direction or both directions simultaneously. 

Layer Dialog Enhancements
The Layer functionality has been upgraded with several improvements. The dialog is now resizable for easier access and usability and changes to sizes are also saved when you reopen the dialog.   Controls for features such as “Set Current” and “Select All” are now more easily through both a menu and the right click menu.

You will also notice that only a single click in the layer property cells will now directly change colors, linetypes, and line weights making it faster and easier to edit the variables than in pervious versions.

Envisioneer has also added an “Invert Select” feature by popular request for faster layer management.

Another benefit is evident when moving between the Layers and Layer Properties dialog, as the currently selected layer is now remembered between the two interfaces, making layer access and management faster and more efficient.

Continuous Dimension
By popular demand, the continuous dimension feature allows you to now specify a continuous string of dimensions by clicking individual points and can continue from any existing on screen dimension.

Split Dimension
The split dimension allows you to select a dimension and specify points and which to split the dimension.  It’s also a great time saver when adding new extension lines to a string of dimensions. This is available in both model and worksheet modes.

Overall Dimension
The Overall dimension prompts you to select a position on screen, then select a series of existing dimensions to combine and make the new dimension line. This is available in both model and worksheet modes.

Leaders Text Justification
The justification of leaders in relation to text is now able to be set and stored in dimension styles. Leaders can be justified from the bottom, middle, or top of the text paragraph to achieve your desired annotation appearance faster and easier in a single step.

Baseline Dimensions
Baseline dimensions prompts you to select an extension line to start from, then proceed to enter continuous dimension strings all located from a base starting point. The dimension line offset variable controls the spacing between dimension lines.

Join dimension
The Join dimension command is the reverse of the Split function. Using this feature, you can select a series of existing dimensions and join them into a single string which is a great time saver for eliminating unwanted extension lines. You can also use this feature to join dimensions and align them in a single step. Join dimensions is available in both model and worksheet modes.

Suppress 0 on Dimension Units
The Suppress 0 function now gives you added control over the display of your dimension units.  When working in metric, you can now choose to display your trailing 0s or not when working in decimals saving you drawing space where needed.  Alternatively when working in feet and inches, you can choose to display the 0 or not when a measured distance works out to equal feet and no inches are present in the dimension string.

Join Polyline
Join Polyline allows you to select a combination of polylines, lines and arcs and convert them into a single polyline.  If a selected element is not a polyline, you are prompted on whether you wish to convert it to one. You can continue to select additional lines and arcs and join them to a single polyline entity by either using the shift key, or using your cursor to window all objects.  This command is also handy when used in combination with the Export Profile to Profile command for preparing a series of lines and arcs to convert to a 3D profile.

Align Dimensions
The Align Dimension feature is very handy for lining up a series of dimensions with each other.  Simply issue the command, select the primary dimension, and then select the additional dimensions you wish to arrange in line with the primary dimension.  The Align Dimension command recognizes the rotation of the dimension line and adjusts the alternate dimensions accordingly. This feature is available in both model and worksheet modes

Integration with the Constellation Home Builder Systems
Envisioneer now integrates with the series of software from Constellation Home Builder Systems. Whether you are using Envisioneer as a design tool or for on-screen digital takeoff, the integration of these systems now form a more robust solution to encompass design, takeoff, accounting, project management, scheduling, estimating, and job costing.

Envisioneer supports the following Constellation Home Builder products:

• HomeDev Pro
  HomeDev Pro streamlines your business through powerful management by exception processes, creating unprecedented levels of control and improved profitability.
  
  
• Buildsoft Pro
  This small business construction software package gives home builders and remodelers everything they need in one totally integrated single database solution.
  
  
• NEWSTAR
  NEWSTAR is a comprehensive suite of integrated modules designed to help you build more homes with better profitability and increased efficiency.
  
  
• FAST
  The FAST Enterprise System™ (FAST), offers a comprehensive ERP system and management tool for builders and developers throughout North America.

New Cut List Optimizer
The new cut list optimizer is entirely new and replaces the existing cut list routine.

This new approach to optimizing cut lists presents the results in a much more intuitive manner. Purchased member item lengths are displayed in the Cut List tab, but now each length can be expanded to illustrate exactly how actually lengths measured in the 3D model have been cut from that purchased length. This allows you to show more or less detail depending on your preference and acts as a cross check for accuracy.

Additional optimization settings can also be accessed to control how each member type should be cut depending on your preference. For example, you can determine that certain member types should be measured and displayed in total linear length, which is ideal for item such as plate material.  You can also choose to designate to cut down long members which will illustrate the way a long member length such as a rim board can be cut into multiple lengths to optimize waste.

You can also choose to group your results by building location as well as by the material usage which is another ideal way to check your material order.  Detail such as the resultant scrap that could not be used may also be displayed to illustrate how you can minimize your waste.

These and many other features make the new cut list optimization routine an extremely powerful new module in Envisioneer version 7.

Groups Editor
The New Groups Editor command consolidates Category, Phase and Manufacturer setup as well as adds Usage Setup, all in one easy to use concise interface for managing and sorting of your quotes and delivery.

Direct Product Substitution
You can select and substitute a Stock or Custom Product either by selecting directly on the SKU field or Item Description. This will replace the object and all associated data including Category, Phase and Usage from your Point of Sale or estimating system. You can also select the substitute this for the current quote or all future quotes that use this substituted product, giving you maximum control over your final order.

Sketchup version 8 support
Sketchup version 8 file format is supported through the Import Object Wizard and also through the Element Manager when adding content through custom blocks for cabinets, furniture, and other accessories.

20-20 Design Integration Improvements
The integration with 20-20 technologies has been improved to now account for additional information to be transferred back into Envisioneer.  Now, 2020 materials are also imported enhancing the object transfer.  In addition, decorative objects such as accessories and furnishings are now also included from 20-20 Design to Envisioneer for a more seamless integration.

Import AutoCAD Enhancements
Using the all new Import CAD feature, you can now open up drawing files and access multiple model and paper space pages.  As you open the drawing, you can access each page one at a time and view the contents. You can also adjust the scale of each page, either by typing in the scale or by using the “pick on screen” option to specify two points in the window to determine the size.

Once you insert the drawing, you are also prompted to complete or change the attributes in the blocks if you wish which is great for completing your title block and detail information.  Let’s access another worksheet and open the same DWG file and view a drawing sheet of details.  Envisioneer lets you isolate specific details using the Crop Box tool and extract only what you need, making retrieving and inserting details quick and easy.