Beta-release of A&C 2.0

[Admin]

Hello all,

January 18, 2005
LSS released beta-version of the "Architect and Contractor 2.0" program for testing. Main points of the new program concept include:
1). Now the "Room" object is just a container for finishing elements. Also you can construct your own element categories: you are not limited with floor, wall, ceiling finishing and openings, now you may use such elements like furniture, etc...
2). Now finishing elements can be composite: elements may be devided into subelements, subelements may be devided into their own subelements, and so on, - the depth depends on your requirements only. Also an element may belong to some subcategory (for example, opening could be a door, a window, or an empty opening, and furniture could serve at a kitchen, or in a bedroom).
3). Now element volume in a room can be calculated automatically according to characteristics of the element itself, characteristics of the room, where the element is inserted, and characteristics of the element in the room: it is possible to use volume formula to calculate element volume. For example, walls painting volume may be calculated as [RoomPerim]*[RoomHeight]-[RoomOpsArea], that is walls area reduced by openings area. When you change some characteristics (for some reason), there is no need to check and correct volumes of all elements in the room, you just have to launch a procedure to recalculate auto-calculating values.
4). Now an element costs are devided into material costs and work costs. So you can find out easily, what are the material costs for a project (or a part of the project), and how much employees should be paid.
5). Now you may grant or revoke any user privileges to access the program information.

New interface screen-shots you may find using the following links:
- main windows
- add/edit element dialog
- add/edit project dialog
- add/edit room dialog
- add/edit room element dialog
- formula editor
In addition to those dialogs, you may use property inspector to modify objects properties (you may see property inspectors on the first screen-shot).

NOTE. This beta-release does NOT include the following features yet:
- data import from the previous version 1.2 of the "Architect and Contractor" program;
- forms of final documents (you may see just its names, but you cannot get those reports);
- demo-project (distributive does not include the small demo-project, as there stated in the program "Welcome message").

Please report about all bugs, required report forms, etc. in this forum at "Something wrong..." or via e-mail at support@ls-software.ru.

Thanks.

[Admin]

Hello all,

January 26, 2005
LSS released the second beta-version of the "Architect and Contractor 2.0" program.

This beta-release
- fixes the bugs #1-#4 (see "Bugs and bugs' status" topic);
- implements the data import from the version 1.2 of the "Architect and Constructor" program;
- implements new action "Replace Project Element(s)";
- includes small demo-project.

NOTE. This beta-release still does not inlcude report forms (forms of final documents).

Recommended way to move from the first beta-release:
- launch the currently installed version of the program (beta-release 1);
- export all necessary data to external file(s) (in the main menu select "File" | "Data Export...");
- uninstall the current version and remove all files, which were created after the program installation (usually those are ac2.fdb and settings.ini);
- install new version of the program (beta-release 2, dated by January 26, 2005, 5570519 bytes in size);
- import the data from the previous beta-release from the external file(s) (in the main menu select "File" | "Data Import...");
- check the data consistency.

Please report about all bugs, required report forms, etc. in this forum at "Something wrong..." or via e-mail at support@ls-software.ru.

Thanks.