What's New

This page describes recent changes in xShape.

This page discusses:

R2022x FD01 (FP.2205)

Align Cage Points Command Toolbar

Align Cage Points command toolbar is enhanced to include all the alignment types in the command toolbar.
With Align Cage Points command active, click to switch to the command toolbar and click to navigate back to the full dialog box.
Benefits: You can now manage your selections from the command toolbar without expanding the full dialog box.
For more information, see Align and Quick Align Points on the Subdivision Mesh

Shift Selection Improved Capability

Shift + selection now works on entities (faces, edges, or vertices) that do not lie in the same loop or ring on the mesh. It gives priority to the shortest distance between the two selections across the 3D mesh.
Benefits: Shift + selection earlier worked on entities that fell within the same loop or ring only. Now it provides a result even if the selected entities do not fall into the same mesh loop or ring.

Net Surface Command

The Net Surface command is now available in xShape.
Benefits: You can now create a net surface or a subdivision surface based on an existing set of curves or edges.
For more information, see Creating a Net Surface

Converting a Picture to a Sketch

You can convert an inserted picture into a 2D sketch.
Benefits: Converting a sketch allows you to more quickly create geometry from a picture by determining the edges of an object of interest and converting those edges to graphical entities which in turn are made into a 2D sketch.
For more information, see Converting a Picture to a Sketch

Print 3D Feature Enhancements

You can reposition and select geometries to exclude from the print envelope, and automatically orient geometries when using powder bed fusion 3D printers. Additional 3D printers manufactures are available, and selectable by the manufacture and technology.
Benefits: You can start the Print 3D command and select component geometries to remove from the print envelope. Just the visible geometries print. The Robot is available for rotating and positioning the geometry that works best for the print envelope.
For more information, see Printing 3D Models

Command Parking

You can temporarily park the current feature and create a reference or sketch entity to use in the dialog box of the parked feature without losing your work.
Benefits: You can park the open feature and create or edit a sketch or create a reference plane, then resume with the parked feature.
For more information, see Command Parking

Keyboard Shortcuts Displayed in Tooltips

You can display the keyboard shortcut in the tooltip for most commands when you hover your mouse over the command.
Benefits: Instead of clicking the command in the action bar with the mouse pointer, you can enter the command using a key or combination of keys from the keyboard. Hover over the command to display the shortcut in the title (top) of the tooltip.
For more information, see Keyboard Shortcuts

Working with User Parameters

You can now create parameters and define their values.
Benefits: User parameters can be very handy because they can be:
  • Defined or constrained by relations
  • Used as the arguments of a relation
For more information, see Working with Parameters

Roll Back Behavior Improvements

After you finish editing a feature in a nonactive OGS set in the tree, the rollback shifts to its last position in the previously active set.
Benefits: The manual rollback to the previously active set is no longer required.
For more information, see Rolling Back Features in the Design Tree

Enable Chain Selection for Convert Entity and Projection Curve

You can now use the new Select Chain context toolbar option to project and copy an entire chain of linked sketch entities or edges while converting sketch entities and creating projection curves.
Benefits: Converting entities and producing project curves is now faster due to the chain selection of sketch entities.
For more information, see Converting External Geometries and Sketches

Updated Context Toolbar in the Sketch Environment

The context toolbar, when sketching in the work area, now provides the additional commands such as Extrude , Normal To , and Hide . In addition to this update, the touch toolbar also displays the Normal To feature.
Benefits: It is now easy for users sketching in the touch environment to use the Extrude , Normal To , and Show/Hide features.
For more information, see Tablet or Mobile Device Option Context Toolbars

Lock and Unlock Workflow Updates

The workflow of Lock and Unlock features is now slightly changed to keep it consistent with all the platform applications. The existing Lock Geometry and Unlock Geometry features are removed from the Tools section of the action bar. However, the context toolbar options remain unchanged.
Benefits: The behavior of Lock and Unlock commands is now aligned with all the platform applications.
For more information, see Locking and Unlocking Components

Share as 3DXML to 3DSwym Improvement

You can now specify the 3DXML file name using the new 3DXML file options menu on the Share File dialog box before sharing it on the 3DSwym community.
Benefits: This improvement is helpful for a general purpose and for the Makers project.
For more information, see Sharing 3D Files with 3DSwym Communities

Loft

You can now choose close the loft when you have selected either or both, Spine curve and Guide curve.
Benefits: You can close the Loft functionality by connecting the first and last sections, while using either or both, Spine Curve and Guide Curve.
For more information, see Loft and Loft Cut

Create construction geometry while sketching

You can now create a construction entity while sketching.
Benefits: You can enable the Construction mode to create construction geometry while sketching. The standard sketch enables, when the Construction mode is turned OFF.
For more information, see Working in Sketches

Import Revit files

You can now import geometry in the Revit file format.
Benefits: You can import Revit (*.rvt, *.rfa) files into the workarea of the app. The Revit files do not have any configurations to choose from.
For more information, see Working in Sketches

Restoring Unsaved Changes While Opening Models from Recent Content

You can now restore your unsaved changes even if you open your model from Recent Content on the home page.
Benefits: You can now choose if you want to open the restored version or revert to the permanently saved version.
For more information, see Home Page

R2022x GA

Mesh Inspection

You can check the mesh for any intersecting elements and openings by clicking Mesh Inspection on the Tools section of the action bar.
Benefits: You can handle the errors better for self-intersecting mesh.
For more information, see Mesh Inspection

Measure Tool

The User Interface and workflow of the Measure tool is enhanced.
Benefits: The Measure tool is enhanced to work quickly and easily.
For more information, see Measure

Specifying Mouse Preferences

You can now specify mouse preferences from Me > Preferences or from the landing page.
Benefits: The mouse preference settings are common for all the dashboard apps and are not restricted to any widget.
For more information, see Specifying Preferences

Using the Design Assistant

While creating a model, the Design Assistant displays when similar command suggestions are available.
Design Assistant
Benefits: You can now distinguish the components with subcomponents from the components without subcomponents in the tree.
For more information, see About Design Assistance for Sketch

Printing a 3D Model

A new option lets you offset the selected base, to fit the model into the print envelope of the 3D printer. Several other options have been added to detect clearance, hollows, and thin walls in the model.
Benefits: These changes help align the model properly within the 3D printer's envelope and identify potential print problems.
For more information, see Printing 3D Models

Importing and Exporting Geometry

You can now import or export geometry in the ACIS file format.
Benefits: The ACIS format gives the flexibility to import a geometry in *.sat, *.sab, *.asat, *.asab file types or export a geometry in *.sat file type.

Shortcut Rings

Shortcut rings are available for all the modeling dashboard apps
Benefits: You can use shortcut rings for quick access to commonly used commands.
For more information, see Shortcut Rings

Opening Components without Subcomponents

When you import or open a component that does not have any sub, the component displays as in the tree.
Benefits: You can now distinguish the components with subcomponents from the components without subcomponents in the tree.

Flexible Sub-Assembly

You can now create repositionable sub-assemblies using the Flexibility context toolbar option that you can access from the Design Manager Tree. 
Benefits: You can make sub-assembly components flexible in their parent assembly. You can use the flexible components in another parent assembly while keeping their ability intact.
For more information, see Making Sub-Assemblies Flexible

Viewing Sketch Offset Dimension

You can now see the sketch offset dimension in the dialog box callout.
Benefits: The sketch offset dimension is now available in the dialog box hence easily visible.
For more information, see Sketch Offset