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Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.0.94

We have added to our documentation on how to export data from within Ezigrade to Agform_3D. The example shows how to export a Topcon TN3 file and how you can import this into Agform_3D. This allows you to do a number of things such as:
  • Allows you to run non Topcon designs within Agform-3D environment
  • Allows you to grade the same job with multiple machines running different systems where design was done in non Topcon software
  • Allows you to create drains, contour banks etc and get them into Agform-3D 


Thursday, November 28, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.0.93

We have added in a function to allow you to display one or more background images from "Bing Maps".

Look under Tools -> Background. You can have more than one background image. To set the extents of the image zoom the appropriate part of the screen you want an image. We suggest you normally just do a default extents and use this as a guide.


Ezigrade 4.0.0.92

Miscellaneous updates:

  • You can set Geoid parameters once and these values are subsequently used in the appropriate dialogs such as export->Google Earth, Export->Trimble Machine etc. Look under File -> Geoid to enter appropriate values, UTM, State Plane etc
  • Improvement in Import -> AG3. We can now pickup Latitude/Longitude from AG3 file
  • Bug in Grading, Triangulation etc after we delete and add in a new surface
 

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

CDS 2.8.0.72

Point -> Scale function. We have added in preset scales such as meters -> survey feet, international feet -> survey feet etc and also give the option of scaling the height as well.

Have added in new point -> Select -> Select By Range. You can now select fixed points, non contourable points etc

Friday, November 22, 2019

CDS 2.8.0.71

Roadworks - sections - modify left or right intersection.

These values were lost after saving points into the database.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.0.91

Fix in grading - smoothing. A bug just introduced.

When moving section links. If we had added points along this section line then job needs to be re-triangulated. Some unnecessary messages were removed. Subsequent moves were re-triangulating when not needed. This has been fixed.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.0.90

We now support importing data from Topcon Ag program Agform-3D. Please note this is still in beta mode. We only import the relevant benchmarks, natural design and difference surface.

Enough data to transfer your Agform-3D design into Trimble FL2, Agguide etc

Here is a sample job imported from Agform-3D:


Ezigrade 4.0.0.89

Import from Topcon Civil via native files. ie TN3, PT3, GC3 and LN3 files.Please remember we can still import DXF and LandXML ; though you will need to obtain a free copy of "Topcon Open Office".

We now support writing native Topcon Civil files. The appropriate PT3, GC3, LN3 and TN3 files are created automatically.

Documentation coming shortly.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.0.88

Fields -> Add Points Breaklines added could intersect giving annoying messages
Designs with more than 5 sections hinged together. Ezigrade would do in two hinged sections rather than a single hinged design

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.0.87

When exporting to Agguide controller, strings with arcs were joining to center point. We now automatically create chords.

Bug was introduced in ESRI shape import - height was not being picked up. Now fixed.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.0.86

Couple bug fixs
  • smoothing could be incorrect close to section lines
  • some grading constraints were not being used - could happen if triangles are lying along the direction of the axes.
Changed the way layout was being saved. It was being saved everytime you closed the program. The problem was users were deleting some of the side docking bars; and program would start up in the same state.

You now need to explicitly save the layout. Go to windows -> Save Layout.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

CDS 2.8.0.70

More options in point listings.

We have added in another radio button so that we now have the option of listing latitude/longitude in both degrees ,minutes and seconds or decimal degrees.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.0.85

1. The position of the left vertical margin is stored when program exists. When program is re-opened this position is restored. Particularly good for things like a surface pro tablet.  However remember under options we can change the style from desktop to tablet and tablet small.
2. The design style (ie plane, variable or AllWay) can be set as a default. Look under Fields -> Defaults. Users in surface irrigated areas , would set as a plane while dryland users may prefer the AllWay option by default. 
3. We can now set the major and minor contour intervals. Look under Contours -> Surface Parameters and click on "Save Defaults".
4. We can now set thickness of both major and minor contours. Look under Contours -> Surface Parameters. 

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.0.84

We have added in a structure called an "Outlet". This is a simplified drain used in conjunction with the AllWay grading. You can simply sketch it in; fill in a minimal number of parameters and the grading algorithm optimises the solution taking into account the outlet or outlets.


For more details look at our online manual.

Friday, July 5, 2019

CDS 2.8.0.69

When exporting job to dwg/dxf and doing by "layer with point". Now separate entities such as heights, codes etc go on there own layer  "heights_layer", "code_layer" etc. This makes it easier in Acad to be able to read height value, code value etc when points are fairly dense.

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

4.0.0.83

Have added in a "stop bank". When running Allway grading - it stops the water flowing out along this edge of the triangles. All relevant points need to be included. Under the Grading menu you can see the "Allway Stop" menu item. You draw in the line and are prompted for a width.



On left of the job you can see the red polyline which has a width. Any triangle edges within the "stop bank" will act as a stop to water. Without this the allway grading flows out west at this point. With "stop bank" we have:



Ezigrade 4.0.0.83

The QAT (Quick Access Toolbar) has been updated so that user can customise it.


Look towards the right hand end and you will see the customisation icon. Click on this and you can add and remove any of the commands contained within the menu's.

After adding a couple of separators and a Trimble import and export, and the triangle based grading we can get the following:


You will see the extra commands. This will be remembered after you restart Ezigrade.


Tuesday, June 4, 2019

CDS 2.8.0.68

If you have the "String Add" dialog open. You can calculate new points using the Cogo routines and the new points are automatically added in order into the String - Add dialog.

Monday, June 3, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.74

Importing Eesri shape files:

We can now import design heights as well if the shape file contains them.

Polyline shape files can now be imported. You can specify whether the lines are classified as breaklines or not.

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.74

Drain Volumes:

Are now always reported to the natural surface; even if the design was based on the design surface. In the field when building you are starting with a natural surface.

Windows Tile Vertical:

Now works. ie If you have two jobs open then this will tile them side by side.

Documentation:

Added documentation on how to use the grid field option. Also have added in a short tutorial example of a job where it leads to smaller volumes.

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Ezigrade 4.0.73

Bug when creating PDF report. Surface shots displayed could be wrong. Can happen when surfaces have been deleted. Now fixed.

Monday, May 6, 2019

ezigrade 4.0.72

We have changed the version displayed in the blog to match the version of Ezigrade as displayed by Help -> About. Previously we just numbered the blog entries sequentially. Not every change is uploaded or added to the blog.

We have improved the Field -> Grid job option. Points on triangle edges are maintained if the section links extend beyond the edges of the job. Gridding the job can result in smaller volumes as changes in the design can occur between points making up the picked up data. A tutorial coming shortly.

A function to copy section links to strings has been added back in. Mainly used by those people that make up job printouts via CDS and create acad type files.

Codes and descriptions tweaked when importing farmscan path file.


Friday, May 3, 2019

Ezigrade 4.21

Fixed bug with smoothing that appeared with the last update.

Friday, April 26, 2019

Ezigrade 4.20

Archive options added. When job is saved a copy of current job is added to the Archive file. You can also add a copy at any time with a message. To restore to a previous saved position; click of File -> Restore. Select the point to restore to (each entry has a date and time an an optional message) and click OK. Cancel aborts the process.

Help file had gone missing for some time. Click on Help -> Help and compiled html help is shown. This is same help file as found on our web site.

Friday, April 5, 2019

Ezigrade 4.19

Bug fix: When deleting and adding points along a section. The design height could be left as null and can lead to missing triangles along the section join.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Ezigrade 4.18

Have extended the variable ascii routines. Can now select "tab", ''", " ", ";", or user defined as the delimiter.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Ezigrade 4.17

Ezigrade now automatically ignores any drains when doing grading solutions. In dryland situations with ponding. You can often reduce earth works by first designing surface drains to access any ponding areas. You can then do the grading and the existing drains are maintained and the grading will design to the edges of the drains. The drains are assumed to act as an edge when doing the "force water to the edge" type design. In the example below one of the designed structures is a "road". Here we can tell the grading to not use this as an edge to take the water.

We have also done some more work on the intersection of drains; as seen below.

More documentation coming soon.




Thursday, March 14, 2019


Our digital code signing certificate has expired. Until we get a new one you will have a screen as follows if you try to install CDS or Ezigrade.

Simply click on "More Info" and you will see the option to "Run Anyway".



If someone wants to ask Microsoft why it is impossible to install an application with an expired certicate, you get large red screen. I would love to know the answer. Rebuild it without any certificate at all then you get screen above, which most people are used to anyway! 




Monday, March 11, 2019

Ezigrade 4.16

Bug in Esri Shape file import. Problem was when data was a polygonZ and didn't include optional M measures. Now works in this case.

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Ezigrade 4.15

There were problems getting a valid solution for constrained grade and plane solutions joined together with hinge/hinge's.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Ezigrade 4.14

Introduced a problem with "File" -> "Save As". Field sections where being doubled up.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Ezigrade 4.13

Have added in and improved functions to create contour banks. Contour banks are added in for erosion control. It creates smaller runs for the water; thus reducing velocity.

We can now specify an alignment and hang contour banks left and right at appropriate distances or heights. These contour banks are created as drains/banks so existing drain functions can be used to edit and tweak the final design.

Access for the new banks menu item.



Monday, January 21, 2019

CDS 2.8.0.67

Natural volumes were not working if the road numbers were not in order. For example road 1 and 2 would give volumes but roads 1 and 14 failed. Now fixed.

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Ezigrade4.12

Added in some point viewing and manipulation functions to Ezigrade.

Find them under Contour -> Edit Model and you will see the point table and points by polygon. Picture below shows point table docked to the left. You can highlight a line and delete a point. You can manually change height, design height or code and it is updated within the Ezigrade model.


You can now draw a polygon around a series of points and then delete them from the model.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Ezigrade 4.11

(1) Streamlined the process of importing a .gps file and putting out a file compatible with farmscan.

(2) Added in an option to import AMW (Geologic) AGS file. You could always do this with the variable ascii but this is simpler for the user.