When you use IES tools it appears that you are working, when in fact, you are playing: creating and producing wonderful designs, resulting in the appearance of actual work.
July 2007 iesweb.com Newsletter Volume 13.3

What a View!

VisualAnalysis 6.0 lets you see your models like never before...

Two years ago we released a version of VisualAnalysis that set new standards for structural analysis and design software in terms of ease of use and reliability. Sales of this product have carried IES quite strongly; allowing our developers the luxury of building a next-generation product in VisualAnalysis 6.0 without significant time pressure. Our plan was to get this product out early this year, but the release of Windows Vista has caused some delay, and then, well, there has been a few bad cases of "featurecrashitis" among the developers. This latest version has undergone the largest beta-test in IES history with dozens of customers finding flaws and offering suggestions over the past two months.

VisualAnalysis 6.0 is now in final beta testing and we hope to release it by the end of this month. (We have said that before so you can expect to see this product when it is 'finished', tested, stable and ready for production work!)

[Click for Full Size] A streamlined User-Interface makes the software easier to navigate!

Essential Engineering Improvements

Engineers are always asking for new features in VisualAnalysis and we listen very closely to these requests and rank them based on popularity, importance, difficulty, and whether or not it will make the software easier or harder to use and support. VisualAnalysis 6.0 offers a wealth of improvements that are essential to your engineering practice including:

  • The latest building codes and materials specifications
  • Improved seismic design provisions and assistance
  • Semi-automatic ASCE 7-05 wind load generation
  • Improved drift calculations and reporting

[Click for Full Size] The Load Case Manager provides one-stop shopping for cases and combinations.

Streamlined Productivity Improvements

The first task you have is to get the engineering correct to insure your structures are safe for construction and occupancy. Your secondary task is to make a living and improve your bottom line. VisualAnalysis 6.0 offers a host of productivity enhancements to help you get your work done with maximum efficiency:

  • Areas and Area Loads
  • Automatic Design Group Creation
  • Connection Forces Reporting
  • All new Graphics System, including:
    • Moveable text
    • Multiple edit grids, irregular grids
    • Flexible layers (cut planes & volumes)
    • Auto-snapping to members when sketching

[Click for Full Size] Graphics with hidden lines, perspective, transparency, and multiple layer filtering makes complex models easier to control.

A Friendly Partner in Work

When you spend hours a day working with structural software the tool should be like best friend! VisualAnalysis 6.0 offers a finely tuned balance of power with simplicity, automation with control, and flexibility with performance. We have tried to create a system that lets you do your work without getting in your way:

  • Undo and Redo
  • Tabbed Views
  • Simplified Units System
  • Format Painter (copy member properties)
  • Drag & Drop Report Builder
  • Simplified Model Construction

Summary

The forthcoming release of VisualAnalysis offers much more than could be explained in this short article. There is a more detailed (and yet, incomplete) new feature list available. IES has had the help of over two dozen practicing engineers to help us test and refine this next generation tool, and we are staking our business on the fact that you will love it.

If all goes well, the product will be available by the end of July and customers will be able to upgrade from any previous version of VisualAnalysis to one of three levels:

  • VisualAnalysis 6.0
  • VisualAnalysis 6.0 with Design
  • VisualAnalysis Advanced 6.0 with Design

We are still working on pricing for new licenses and upgrades. You might expect these to increase by about 10% over current pricing.

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Contents

IBC 2006 Support?

IES Product summary!

You may be wondering where IES products stand with regard to IBC 2006 and other design specifications that have been recently adopted. Here is a brief overview of how each of our products relates to IBC or other specifications, and tentative plans for upgrades or updates to get them more code-compliant.

For the most part, our modeling and 'analysis' features are state-of-the-art and do not directly rely on or interfere with building code requirements.

AnalysisGroup 3.0

This product is analysis only. Custom load combinations may be used to help you comply with any building code requirements.

ShapeBuilder 4.0

Primarily independent of IBC. ACI 318 type concrete checks are flexible enough to comply with any version, while AISI "effective section" checks are independent of specification versions.

VisualAnalysis 5.5

Ships with IBC 2003 (and referenced standards) built-in, but offers customizable load combinations. Version 6.0 (July 2007) will support IBC 2006, AISC 2005, ACI 318-05, etc.

QuickMasonry 2.0

This product is currently up to date with IBC 2006 support.

QuickRWall 1.5

The retaining wall tool follows IBC 2003, but offers some flexibility with custom load combinations. Version 2.0 is in development and will be available this summer with IBC 2006 checks.

QuickConcreteWall 1.0

QuickRFooting 1.0

These products currently support ACI 318-02 and CSA A23.3-94, but are scheduled for an upgrade or update later in 2007 to get them current.

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Retaining Walls

QuickRWall 2.0 Coming Soon

It has been over three years since the release of QuickRWall 1.5. In that time we've compiled a mountain of suggestions and feature ideas. After many delays, development of version 2.0 is now well underway. This new version has been designed to not only smooth out the rough edges reported in the previous version but also to extend the basic capabilities of what the program can do.

  • Exposes Stability Load Combinations
  • Easier Wall Height Settings
  • New perpendicular view of wall to illustrate bar layoutimg
  • Shrinkage & temperature reinforcement
  • Two layers of reinforcement (option)
  • Specific code provision listed next to each set of equations


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