What’s New in Shoemaster QS

QS 7.01, July 2007

Piece Collection
The line selection tooltip option available when selecting lines has been enabled for
piece collection. Previously the highest numbered style line would always be picked.

Piece Name Dialog

The piece name dialog can now be resized to allow the advanced piece names to be
selected more quickly than before. Scroll wheel issues have also now been resolved.
Single-Click Browser
A new option has been added to the browser window to allow single-click to draw an
item. This option reflects the behaviour of the browse pieces option in QS 3 releases.

Edit Nodes Option

A new option has been added to allow double-click for adding nodes when using edit
nodes. When a line is being edited, you can now single or double-click to add nodes.
Hole/Punch Defaults
Default settings for hole and punch line types have been improved. “Position at Start
and End” values default to “Yes” and “Position By” defaults to “Number” for new lines.

SoleDesign Export
A new option has been added to the export file wizard in Creative to export selected
style lines and the last to SoleDesign which act as the starting point for new designs.
QS 6.03, April 2007
DXF Export
The export of splines to AutoCAD R14 DXF introduced in Shoemaster QS 5.02 has
been significantly improved in terms of the number and distribution of control points
on the NURBS curves. Compatibility issues with AutoCAD have also been resolved.

Original shell in Shoemaster:

DXF imported into AutoCAD:

Punch Lines
The positioning and spacing options for punch lines have been significantly enhanced
and are compatible with the options previously only available for lines of type hole i.e.
position at start and end, centred, offset and position by (spacing, number, nodes and
graded sizes). Different options can now be applied to lines using the same punches.
Piece Rotation
The command for rotating pieces about a point has been restored. This is especially
useful when zoomed in where rotation using the handles is not always appropriate.
The command now works in the same way as the rotate line about point command.

JPEG Scaling
Imported JPEG images are now scaled based on their DPI information. This is useful
when importing scanned images and aligning features with lasts at the correct scale.
QS 6.02, January 2007
Browser Window
The browser window has been improved and offers new spacing and sorting features,
faster flicker-free updating and quick access to all settings via the new context menu,
including the choice of what to browse - freeing up more space for the browsed items.

Icons can be arranged using the “Arrange Icons By” menu item or by clicking the
required column when in details view. For example, pieces can be arranged in the
order of packet position, perimeter, area or in alphabetic order by the piece name.
The new browser settings dialog allows the large icon size, horizontal and vertical
spacing to be configured and previewed. The settings apply to all browsed items.

For example, punch shapes may be viewed using a small icon size and spacing:

Alternatively a larger icon size and spacing may be preferable for 3D pieces:
Single Installer
The Shoemaster installer now includes the advanced macros previously installed by
the Torielli installer. Please choose the ‘Full’ setup type if you require these features.

Alternatively choose ‘Custom’ setup type to select the features you want installed:
Compare Line Option
A new option has been added to enable line comparison using edit nodes. When a
line is edited, the original line will be drawn if the line comparison option is enabled.

The line remains drawn until the edited line is deselected or edit nodes is turned off.
Graded Output
The output to devices is now determined by what is drawn to the screen as in QS 3.
For example, to send multiple sizes to DXF (via the setup communications dialog or
the export file wizard), you must now first knock the pieces or packet.

Grading Speed
The speed of last grading for the model size has been greatly improved and is now
much quicker than before regardless of the last or the grading settings being used.
Square Notch Mirror
The mirror option has been added to the square notch properties allowing the detail
to be flipped. The mirror property was previously only available for standard notches.

Shoe Project Files

It is now possible to save both footscan and measures files as part of a shoe project.
This is in addition to the existing supported files such as lasts, styles and units. Note
that this feature is only applicable to Shoemaster Orthopedie.
QS 6.01, October 2006
Interface Output
The output to Interface is now determined by what is drawn to the screen as in QS 3.
For example, to send multiple sizes to Interface, you must now first knock the pieces
or packet. Draw/redraw buttons have also been restored to the piece copies dialog.

Arc Text Usability

The application and positioning of arc text is now both easier and faster than before.
A new apply button has been added to the arc text dialog which allows arc text to be
repeatedly applied using real time positioning and subsequent rotation for alignment.
Rotate About Point
The command for rotating lines about a point has been restored. This is especially
useful when zoomed in where rotation using the handles is not always appropriate.
The command works as before and can be used to rotate single or multiple lines.

New Progress Bar

Progress bar support has been added to the status bar. All previous operations using
progress bars have been converted to use the new progress bar, including file saving
and loading, file import, last grading, flattening and autodigitise.
Fast VRML Import
A new parser for both VRML 1 and 2 has been developed which offers significantly
faster import speeds, especially for large files such as complex soles exported from
Sole Design. Previous problems with colour and texture have also been resolved.

Scanny3D Sections
Support for scanned section files from the Scanny3D scanner has been added to the
import file wizard. Once imported, the sections can be automatically converted into a
standard Shoemaster last using the recently improved autodigitise functionality.
QS 5.04, July 2006
3D Ruler Display
The ruler display options previously available only in 2D are now available in 3D also.
Controls allow the origin of the ruler to be positioned, rotation around the X, Y and Z
axes and the length of the ruler to be specified.

Deselect by Rectangle
Selection by rectangle previously always added items to the selection. You can now
use the Control key to deselect already selected items or the Shift key to always add
items to the selection. This is useful when deselecting many items at once.
Quick Holes
A new ‘Quick Hole’ command has been added to the Arc > New menu which reduces
the time needed to add individual holes to a piece. The command adds arcs of type
‘Hole A’ and inserts a circuit created from each arc into the piece. The hole size can
then be changed by selecting the arcs and changing their type from Hole A to B or C.

Knock To Intersection
The ‘Knock to Intersection’ grading command previously available in QS 3 has now
been added as an additional option to the knocking cursor. To knock to intersection
you must first select either two intersecting style lines or arcs or one of each type.
Animate Windows Option
A new option has been added to disable the animation of docking windows such as
the properties and browser windows. If a hidden window is activated it will slide into
view if the animate windows option is enabled and appear immediately if disabled.

Delete Confirmation Option

A new option has been added which specifies whether a confirmation message is
displayed when you delete objects to prevent you from deleting objects in error. If
objects are deleted by mistake then they can usually be recovered by using undo.
Tied Line Highlight
To help in identifying which line a tied line is tied to, a ‘Tied Highlight’ bundle colour
has been added. When a tied line is now selected, the tied to line will be highlighted
using the new tied highlight bundle colour.

Edit Line Style

When moving or editing style lines the line type style is now maintained. Edited lines
were previously drawn as a solid line by default which sometimes did not match the
line type style of the line being edited.
QS 5.03, April 2006
Interface Tooling Sequence
It is now possible to cut/plot one tool at a time, choosing between all combinations of
the knife, pen and milling head. This enhancement is now available for all supported
devices. Please contact the Shoemaster Helpdesk for more help with this feature.

Real-Time 2D Digitising
The drawing of style lines in real-time when digitising has been implemented. Points
are now used to create a splined line which is drawn to the screen passing through
the crosses. Once the digitised points are accepted the temporary line is discarded.
Lap With Notch Marker
A new ‘Lap with Notch’ command creates an arc lap marker holding a notch pointing
towards the side of the allowance. The notch is positioned at the midpoint of the arc
which is offset slightly so that it'
s inside line rests on the style line it is dependent on.

Feather Offset Duplication

It is now possible to duplicate the feather offset line to a normal style line which can
then be edited. This is useful for users wishing to make alterations to the offset line
without wanting to alter the feather line itself. It also allows all the existing style line
commands such as ‘Edit Nodes’ and ‘Smooth’ to be used on the duplicate line.
New Mirror Across Line
A new ‘Across Line’ command has been added to the Line > New > Mirror menu. The
command allows a new style line to be created by mirroring the existing line across a
two-point style line. This removes the need to first duplicate the line before mirroring.

Edit Line Bundle Colour

When moving or editing style lines the current line bundle colour is now maintained.
Edited lines were previously drawn in red by default which sometimes conflicts with
the default highlight bundle colour used for selection.
Greek Language Support
Greek has now been added to the list of supported languages. It is anticipated that
menu items only will be translated for QS 5.03. Further translations for dialogs and
toolbars are expected to be added in future Shoemaster QS 5 point releases.

External User-Defined Tools

Application support for user-defined external tools has now been enabled. This allows
users to set up new menu items (on the Tools menu) which launch external programs
e.g. POV-Ray (for Shoemaster Creative) or other useful and frequently used utilities.
QS 5.02, January 2006
DXF Import
New options are available when importing packets/pieces from a DXF file. You can
now collect pieces automatically, by block or by layer. You can also collect '
CIRCLE'
entities as Shoemaster hole arcs and ' TEXT'entities as Shoemaster arc text.

DXF Export
It is now possible to export splines in DXF format as an alternative to polylines. DXF
can be exported either in version R11 or the updated R14 specification. When using
R14 you have the choice of exporting style lines as either splines or polylines.
VRML Last Import
It is now possible to section a VRML model and convert it into a native Shoemaster
last. Once the VRML data has been imported, a set of four orientation points must be
manually set before completing the process of creating the last using autodigitise.

Flattening Springing
On-screen feedback for manual springing has been implemented to assist when
springing '
by eye'and enables the springing process to better reflect the manual
methods. The springing is now much more accurate, predictable and easy to use
than before and problems with high heeled lasts have also been addressed.

A new ‘Smooth’ command has also been added to the Flattening > Modify > Form
menu which allows further iterative smoothing of a previously created flattening to
alleviate the problems with uneven feather lines which can result after springing.
Reduce Nodes
A new ‘Reduce Nodes’ command has been added to the Line > Modify > Nodes
menu which reduces the number of nodes on a style line. The command tries to
remove as many nodes as possible, whilst keeping the difference between the
geometry of the original and reduced lines within a set tolerance.

Expert Flattening System

The Expert Flattening System (previously Autoflattener) is now available as an
installation option for Shoemaster Power only (please choose the full setup type
during installation). The Expert Flattening System menu is on the Tools menu.