July 16, 2018

Release Notes - Autodesk Alias 2019.1
Autodesk, Inc.

In a continuing effort to provide high quality products, this 2019.1 update for Autodesk^® Alias^™ includes new features and fixes or addresses a variety of issues.

History Metadata

We now capture history metadata for objects created with the following tools:

• Offset tool
• Trim Convert tool
• Skin tool
• Square tool
• Panel Gap tools
• Freeform Blend tool

Metadata is not deleted when construction history is deleted.

If you select an object with metadata and construction history deleted, and start the tool that created it, you are prompted to load the tool options from the metadata.

Note: If construction history is not deleted, the regular Query Edit workflow is performed.

To display metadata

• In the Query Edit tool, right-click on an object created with construction history.
• In the Information Window, if an object has metadata it displays in the new Creation Info tab.

Cross Sections Editor improvements

• New check box to the left of each section name. Select it to apply the cross section.
• The Global option has been renamed to All Objects.
• Selecting cross section groups in the editor no longer applies the cross sections but now changes the selection state of items in the list.
• If you have multiple groups selected in the editor and you select the check box to the left of one of the selected items, all selected groups are applied. The same goes for the selected curvature combs icon to the right of the group name.
• To edit a cross section group, double-click the name to launch the tool for that group. This is now the only way to edit a cross section group.
• Closing the tool window or selecting another cross section group exits the cross section and goes back to the tool you were using before editing the cross section.
• You can now create dynamic cross sections from the Cross Section Editor by choosing Tools > DynamicCrossSection.
• To control cross section line thickness, use the Line Width option under ObjectDisplay > Draw Style > Visual Curves (Cross Sections).

Inter Continuity Check option added to tools

We added an Inter Continuity Check option to the following tools:

• Extend
• Freeform Blend
• Fillet Flange
• Tube Flange
• Tubular Offset

Select the option to check for continuity when running the tools on multiple edges, surfaces, or curves-on-surface. Continuity locators indicate whether they are continuous. Yellow locators indicate they are not.

Improved trim and history interaction

We improved the trim and history interaction so that history updates correctly when trimmed surfaces are involved.

Construction plane improvements

We made the following improvements to groups and construction planes:

• When performing a zero transform on a group, that group now gets the transformation of the current construction plane (the translation, rotation, and scale shows identity with the current construction plane set). The transformation set of nodes below are set to identity. The accumulated transformations are baked into the geometry (which is what already happened if you zero transform a surface node).
• The Information Window shows the transform relative to the parent node. This is consistent with how transformations are displayed without the construction plane active.
• Grouping objects now results in nodes with the construction plane transformations, rather than the construction plane hanger. This means new group nodes do not need to be zero-transformed.
• Grouping now transforms the child node instead of geometry, ensuring that the total transformation on a node is unchanged.

  This also fixes an issue where moving an object with history into a group with a transformation causes the object to be placed incorrectly when updated.

Note: To make operations that create groups of objects create their group node at the construction plane origin, zero transform the object while in a construction plane.

Improved Curve to Curve Deviation locators

• Projected Curve to Curve Deviation locators now support construction planes through the use of a new Fix Projection Plane option in the Curve to Curve Deviation Info window. Selecting this option also ensures the locator position and values are correct when you change the view.

  The projection plane is saved in the wire file.

• To differentiate between True deviation analysis and Projected deviation analysis (Closest Point and Curve to Curve Deviation locators), we updated the text that displays on the locators:
• True deviation locators remain unchanged, for example, *min=2.1234 max=7.981*.
• Projected deviation locators include angled brackets around the values, for example, *min=<2.1234> max=<7.981>*.
• Comb display remains unchanged:
• If you look at a locator in a direction perpendicular to a projection plane, then the comb looks the same for true and projected locators.
• If you look from an arbitrary direction, the comb of a true locator is planar, not drawn between original curves.

New option to control location of the current tool icon

We added a new Current Tool Location option to General Preferences to control the location of the current tool. The icon can be on the Left or Right side of the window and can also be turned Off.

Check Model tool improvements

• The behavior of the Check Model tool has changed. In previous releases, the tool would execute as soon as you select the tool.

  Now, selecting the tool opens the Check Model Options window and only executes when you click the Check button.

• The tool has been optimized, resulting in an increase in speed of at least 50%.

New command line math calculations

We added the ability to perform simple math calculations while entering values during modeling operations. For example you could select the Sphere tool and enter coordinates for a new sphere as *1+4 10/2 1+2*2* to create a sphere at x=5, y=5, z=5.

Shelves remain visible when toggling the display of editor windows

Like the Palette, Shelves now remain visible when you toggle the display of editor windows.

Ability to pick curves by picking a CV or Hulls

You can now select a curve by picking one of the curve's CVs or hulls.

However, if you are picking the curve during the workflow of the following tools, you must pick the curve itself.

Curve Edit

• Duplicate Curve
• Combine Curves
• Rebuild Curve
• Curve Planarize

Surfaces

• Rail
• Extrude
• Square
• Multi-Surface Draft

Locators

• Curve Curvature

Point Clouds

• Project Curve

Smaller marking menu icons

We added a new option to the Marking Menu Options window to make the marking menu icons smaller. Select Menu Mode > Show Small Icons.

Object Lister enhancements

New flag icon lets you mark certain layers. The flagging is a variable in the Variant Lister.

Unify Normals enhancements

You can now adjust all Visual Normals to align with the Geometric Normals using the new When Geometric Normal Flips option in General Preferences > Modeling.

• Reset Visual Normal
• In the Unify Normals Control window, Unify Type options are:
• Visual
• Unify visual normals only. Construction history is preserved.
• Visual and Geometric
• Unify geometric normals, then reset visual normals to match geometric normals on all selected surfaces.
• Keep Visual Normal
• In the Unify Normals Control window there are now three Unify Type options to select which normals should be unified.
• Visual
• Unify visual normals only.
• Visual and Geometric
• Unify geometric normals, then reset visual normals to match geometric normals on all selected surfaces.
• Geometric
• Unify geometric normals only. Visual normals on changed surfaces retain their direction.

Offset improvement

We now display feedback when Offset creates surfaces with self-intersection.

Improved display of locators in Trim and Trim Convert tools

New Region Selector Length option displays trim locators based on pixel size rather than based on the size of the surfaces to be trimmed. This option replaces the Region Selector U Size and V Size options.

Improvements to msave crash recovery

We improved the crash recovery options. The message that appears when you crash now lists 5 stages maximum, or four stages plus the total number of stages, and includes the following options:

• Save
• Cancel
• Reopen
• Perform action for all stages - When selected, no additional confirmations display. When not selected, a dialog with the options Save, Skip, and Reopen displays for each stage. By default, this option is selected.

We also added the Save Wire on Stageset Save option to Preferences > General Preferences > System. The option sets the default value of the Wire Store column for new stages in the Stage Editor. When selected, the default value is to save the stage when the stage set is saved.

Alias VR enhancements

• New support for Microsoft WinMR Controllers.
• We extended Alias VR symmetry to support Original, Mirror, and Both settings.
• Alias VR now supports Reference Manager data.
• Annotation data now displays in Alias VR.

Performance improvements

We improved performance in Alias models containing animations with at least one expression. Improvements are seen with the Multi-Surface Fillet, Trim, Align, and Rebuild Surface tools.

Align tool enhancement

We added the ability to use manipulators to adjust CVs for G3 continuity.

General

• Added the ability to block Automotive Drift, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube from the Help > Community menu using the environment variable ALIAS_NO_HELP_SOCIAL.(ALS-4750)
• You can now send a SpeedForm file to Alias when Alias is running. (ALS-1509)
• AlTrimCurve on a surface no longer scales down after the store() and retrieve. (ALS-1430)
• You can now migrate hotkey preferences.(ALS-4584)
• The Canvas menu has been removed from Alias Surface 2019.(ALS-4171)
• Setting \ (blackslash) as a hotkey no longer corrupts Alias Hotkey preferences.(ALS-4736)
• Crashes in the Object Lister have been fixed.(ALS-4214)

Modeling

• Resolved issue with MS-Draft tool producing poor quality surfaces from trimmed edges. (ALS-1876)
• Duplicating with an active construction plane no longer creates an incorrect result.(ALS-4362)
• Construction plane behavior no longer changes after the first plane is generated.(ALS-4298)
• Resolved issue with tool option boxes not opening when the tool is double-clicked. (ALS-4606)
• History of the draft surface is no longer deleted when you drag the proportional crown.(ALS-1461)
• Resolved issue with the active layer becoming the default layer when copying and pasting.(ALS-4605)
• Resolved issue with inconsistent delete history.(ALS-1670)
• Alias no longer crashes when aligning a surface in a symmetry layer.(ALS-4590)
• Resolved issue with Check Model and Min/Max Curvature evaluation tools providing incorrect feedback.(ALS-4156)
• Resolved issue of frequent crashes when using Query Edit. (ALS-4176)
• COS Approximation now has a maximum degree limit of 9.(ALS-4357)
• Aspect ratio is now maintained after tranforming canvas.(ALS-3572)
• Untrimming and deleting the curve on surface now updates correctly.(ALS-3481)
• Resolved issue with Path Array flipping when duplicating an even number.(ALS-1478)
• Alias no longer crashes when updating a profile surface with Modify Range selected.(ALS-4415)
• Skin tool no longer crashes Alias when setting the U or V degree to 2 in Explicit Control.(ALS-3536)
• Path Array no long flips when duplicating an even number.(ALS-1478)
• Untrimming a trimmed surface and deleting the curve-on-surface using the cleanupCurveOnSurface plug-in now updates correctly.(ALS-3481)

UI

• Resolved issue with Grid label not showing properly when switching views.(ALS-3573)
• Layers and folders now retain their visibility.(ALS-4263)
• Current tool icon can now placed on the right side of the window.(ALS-4238)

Data Transfer

• STL import performance has been improved.(ALS-4070)
• Corrected issue that was causing performance to drop in STL import.(ALS-4318)
• Resolved issue with Open/Import where wire options were overriding other file type options.(ALS-4479)
• Exporting a CatPart no longer crashes Alias.(ALS-4057)
• Improved Catia import quality to match IGES.(ALS-1892)
• Curves imported from Catia V5 are no longer corrupted.(ALS-4723)
• EDF import now trims accurately and is able to shade.(ALS-1742)
• Resolved issue with generating reference files when converting to EDF.(ALS-4022)
• Resolved issue with EDF files exported from release 2017 containing no geometry when opened in Alias 2016 or earlier.(ALS-2961)
• Resolved issue with EDF file import creating bad surfaces.(ALS-3779)
• The EDF translator now respects the environment variable for setting license information.(ALS-4127, ALS-4022)
• EDF export no longer fails.(ALS-4654)
• STL import performance has been improved.(ALS-4070)
• The -l option on AliasToStep.exe command now works.(ALS-4039)

Rendering

• Resolved issue with surface failing to shade.(ALS-1496)
• Anti-aliasing quality has been improved.(ALS-2749)
• Resolved issue where surface patches disappear in some areas.(ALS-4332)
• Resolved issue where Anti-alias fails in wireframe display mode with specific preferences.(ALS-4099)
• Improved Anti-aliasing on Quadro P5000.(ALS-4266)

Data Management

• Alias no longer crashes when opening Msaved files.(ALS-4271, ALS-4337)
• Screen export now respects the Dynamic Section visual clipping.(ALS-4072)
• Alias no longer crashes when opening a stageset.(ALS-4047)
• Alias files can now be opened from Vault 2019.(ALS-4655)
• Resolved performance delay with multiple stages visible.(ALS-4265)

Dynamo

• Resolved issue with Dynamo 3D preview being grayed.(ALS-4221)
• Improved Dynamo rendering precision.(ALS-4615)

Alias VR

• When switching stages, the position of the VR user is no longer set to zero.(ALS-4140)

Multi-Surface Draft

There was a change in the Multi-Surface Draft tool that affects how the output surfaces are grouped. This causes the downstream history to be removed if the draft was originally created in an older version.(ALS-4847)

Dynamo Integration

If the 3D preview in Dynamo does not work (the scene has a 2D grid and the Background 3D preview option is not available), try the following:(ALS-4186, ALS-4783, ALS-4198)

• Install the version of DirectX available on the Alias Sample Files page. Download the Direct3D_Installer_for_Dynamo.exe file, run it and follow the prompts to install DirectX.
• If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, manage the 3D settings and change the Global Preset to the Base Profile, or for Alias, select High-performance NVIDIA Processor as the preferred graphics processor.
• If the Dynamo application does not start on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, try installing .NET Framework Runtime 4.6 available on Alias Sample Files page. Download the dotnetfx46_full_x86_x64.exe file, run it and follow the prompts.

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