Fastrak Building Designer
Version 7.0 Released

enhancements and take maximum advantage of the new features. Also showcased was the all new Fastrak Tubular Connection software, which replaces CIDJoint and will be available in the near future. The events were the subject of favourable comments from our Users:

"The seminar gave a concise introduction to the many advancements in Version 7.0. It would be difficult to effectively disseminate this amount of information without the personal interface. We are glad that CSC is making this a regular feature of the customer support service."

Jason Lynn - Principal Engineer, Gifford

"As well as the upgrade information, the depth of technical thinking behind the development work was educational and appreciated."

Chris Packer - Associate, HBG Design Ltd

CSC is pleased to announce the release of Fastrak CD 15 which includes Building Designer Version 7.0 - free to all users with current maintenance contracts. This release is a major update, dominated by the following 14 key technical developments and ultimately commercial benefits listed below.

• New undo/redo - 25 steps
• New member grouping - including hierarchy, changes and results by group
• Enhanced editing - 'cloning' of attributes for any member plus new partial attribute changes
• Enhanced column modelling - ability to release columns axially
• Enhanced diaphragm modelling - multiple separate diaphragms on a single floor level
• New automatic shear wall modelling - including openings and mid pier generation
• Enhanced composite beam design - including automatic calculation of pre camber, and options for fibre reinforcement options (Strux\Dramix)

• Enhanced lateral/gravity design - ability to set any load combinations and/or members as gravity or lateral if required
• Sway check enhancements - including user defined exclusion of specific columns from the lambda crit check
• Engineering updates - forthcoming BS 5950 update (including Annex G) and new steel grades
• Output - new style reports and enhanced links to Microsoft Word and PDF
• Connections - including the integration of column splice design within the building model
• Integration - new exports to SDNF, STAAD and SAP, and enhancements to 3D+ and Revit Structure integration
• New MSI based installation - allowing group policy deployment

The many features of the new Version 7.0 release were highlighted for Users at a series of free seminars provided by CSC in their Leeds Office. Delegates were shown how to get the best from the significant