Translations:Release notes 0.18/18/en

From FreeCAD Documentation
The Arch workbench at work
  • Walls can now be displayed as a stack of blocks. There are many options to configure their size and how blocks must be stacked.
  • Building Parts are the new use-for-all Arch container. They can group any number of objects, they can be used to make floors (storeys), buildings (the Arch Floor and Arch Building tools now produce Building Parts), or any other group of Arch objects. They can be moved like Parts, and they are clonable and referencable!
  • The BIM Workbench (added via the Addon Manager), is a new external, experimental counterpart of Arch. In it, we test new features and workflows in a more free environment. Be sure to give it a test ride!
  • Windows have new presets such as a 4-pane sliding window, plus, if the Parts Library is installed, all the doors and windows from the library.
  • Panels can now do different kinds of corrugated panels, such as undulated sheets, or even sandwich panels.
  • Structure objects have a new beam drawing mode, which allow you to click two points to place a structural element between them.
  • All IFC types are now available for all Arch objects. Any object can be exported to any other type to IFC.
  • Window placement has been fully redesigned. Correctly placing windows in host objects, which was before a real pain to do is now much easier.
  • Dynamic window parameters: The size of the window frames is now a window property, so it is now possible to adjust the thickness of preset windows without the need to edit their components or base sketches.
  • IFC Property Sets are now supported by all Arch objects.
  • The IFC importer and exporter have been greatly enhanced with a wealth of new features: Property sets support, grid support, file compression, shared profiles, groups support, quantity sets, etc...
  • Materials now support hierarchy, if you give a material another material as father, they appear correctly stacked in the tree.
  • All Arch objects and materials now support classification systems (not yet supported by IFC import/export).
  • External references now allow you to link parts from another FreeCAD file into a FreeCAD file.