Pro tip: turn on automatic updates.

CH1: Added new FE3 Single Web symbols.

CLA: Corrected tags and layers on Circa Tables, Corrected EMU Ivy Ottoman graphics, and Corrected 3d layers on many symbols.

CLC: Corrected 3d layers on many symbols.

CLL: Corrected EMU Ivy Ottoman graphics and Corrected 3d layers on many symbols.

CLO: Corrected 3d layers on many symbols.

CLT: Corrected layers and dimensions on Akira Tables, Corrected layers and tags on Au Lait Round Tables, and corrected 3d layers on many symbols.

ME1: See CH1.

SCN: Added new Folio Sloped Top symbols, Corrected dimensions on Base Cabinet and Pedestal symbols, Added back Cesar symbols, Added Move Non-Upholstered Seat symbols (See SCS), and Corrected layers on Crew Guest Chair symbols (See TRN).

SCS: Added new Move Non-Upholstered Seat symbols.

SCW: Added new Queen Anne Table Base symbols and Corrected layers on existing Queen Anne Table Base symbols.

SCX: Added back Utility Pole symbols.

SWE: Added new EE6 symbols and Corrected existing symbols.

TRN: Added new Campfire symbols, Corrected layers on Crew Guest Chair symbols, and Corrected dimensions on Currency Mobile Cart symbols.

TSA: Added new Answer Window and Frameless Glass symbols and Added new Laminate and Wood Skins to the Floor symbols.

VWR: Corrected AAC’s on Moby 2 symbols.

Release Totals: 2082 new symbols, 1031 changed symbols, and 798 culled symbols.

We hope to release the next version of the FSL in late March or April, with 64-bit support and AutoCAD 2011 support as well.

In the meantime, this post mentions some alternatives for getting Steelcase furniture symbols into your 64-bit system.

1. Click Steelcase FSL -> Options
2. Check the “Automatically check for data updates” box
3. Choose Daily, Weekly, or Monthly (we release updates monthly, but weekly will ensure you don’t miss it by a day)
   

CLA: Added new symbols for Emu Cushions and Corrected dimensions on Evaneau Seating.
CLL: Added new symbols for Emu Cushions (See CLA).
CLT: Corrected Runner Table symbols.
DOD: Corrected 1 Worksurface symbol.
SCB: Corrected Cabby Leg symbol and Corrected insertion points and dimensions on Universal 1H Laterals (See SCF).
SCF: Corrected Cabby Leg symbol (See SCB) and Corrected insertion points and dimensions on Universal 1H Laterals.
SCK: Corrected Insertion points on Context Overheads.
SCN: Fixed 3d solids on 2 symbols and Corrected Handing on Sonata Nurses Stations.
SCZ: Corrected Cabby Leg symbol (See SCB) and Corrected insertion points and dimensions on Universal 1H Laterals (See SCF).
SVW: Added tags for new Eno symbols.
SWE: Corrected layers on EE6 Storage and Supports and Corrected dimensions on Center Support Panels.
SWU: Corrected Cabby Leg symbol (See SCB).
TRN: Corrected Payback Pulls and Corrected dimensions on Tour Tackboards.
TSA: Corrected Cabby Leg symbol (See SCB) and Corrected insertion points and dimensions on Universal 1H Laterals (See SCF).
VWR: Changed vendor code to CLS.

Release Totals: 64 new symbols and 408 changed symbols.

When converting from 2d to 3d, you see this error message:

Unable to extract xxxxxx.DWG From Zip file contact fsl@steelcase.com for an updated symbol file.

The only choice is OK.

Or, if you try to insert a 3d component you get the following message in the command line:

Command: STC_FSLAPP
Steelcase Furniture Symbol Library – ARX ERROR: eFileNotFound

Solution

Change settings to appear that the application is a first run application. The effect will tie up your pc for a bit of time so be prepared to wait it out depending on how many catalogs you have choosen to have installed.

1. Close AutoCAD
2. Go to: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SteelcaseFSL\Utils\
3. Open FSLUpdate.xml in Notepad and change the <FirstRun>0</FirstRun> to <FirstRun>1</FirstRun>.
4. Relaunch AutoCAD and run the FSL again, which re-downloads the MDB

Our application connects to the internet to download symbols, catalog data, and preview images. We often get support calls regarding connection issues, and this post will attempt to relay all the information your IT support may need to know to help our application work on your network.

In the 2.30 version, we abandoned our FTP site and are now strictly using http calls on port 80 to access our files. This has already reduced the number of issues, but not eliminated them entirely.

What the FSL Connects To

The FSL (as of the date of this posting) downloads the following file types (which will need to be allowed if certain file types are blocked)

• Access Database (MDB)
• XML
• ZIP
• JPG (access real-time while using the application)

All of these files are retrieved from our server located at fslcdn.steelcase.com.

Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing connection issues, please try the following steps:

1. Make sure you can ping our server (fslcdn.steelcase.com)
2. Is traffic to our server allowed on port 80 for the file types listed above?
3. Is a proxy server involved?

You can also try the infamous uninstall / reinstall of the FSL software to see if that makes things behave better.

Message: Exception Caught, System.Xml.Xml Exception: an error occurred while parsing entity name. Line 1, position 1691

Solution

This error is caused by the “&” (ampersand) character existing in our symbol descriptions. We plan to fix this bug in the next release of the FSL software, but in the meantime, we recommend that you edit your symbol attributes manually to remove the “&,” and then re-run your SIF output.

Here is the current list of affected style numbers / symbol names:

There are many reasons we have not moved to support 64-bit yet, but the main one is that we will basically be supporting 2 applications, since our software developers will have to split the application into 2 versions. We simply do not have the resources to add this platform at this time.

Please continue to send your requests to fsl@steelcase.com, and they will will help management justify allocation of resources to this upgrade.

Great, so what can I do until then?

We realize that the FSL application is the easiest way to find Steelcase furniture symbols and the only way to take-offs for specification, pricing, and ordering. However, we do offer some other options for getting to our symbols that may help until we can support 64-bit platforms.

Planning Ideas

We offer a great library of thought-starter application on Steelcase.com, which we call Planning Ideas.

Symbol-at-a-time on Steelcase.com

We offer individual 2d and 3d symbols for many of our products on Steelcase.com. For example check out the Furniture Symbols link on the Leap product page.

Sketchup

SketchUp will run on 64-bit versions of Windows, but it will run as a 32bit application. If you are a Sketchup user, you can download many of our newer products and many of our chair models from the Google SketchUp 3d Warehouse.

Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 64-bit

For the techies out there, there is a way to make Windows 7 64-bit run a virtual Windows XP machine. This will allow you to install a 32-bit version of AutoCAD (assuming you have a license for it) to this virtual machine, install the FSL to that version of AutoCAD, and run both applications virtually within Windows 7.

This has been tested and it works.

The only work-around at this point is to remove the software first, then re-install. We will continue to look into better ways to catch this with our installer program.

The Problem: 3d Symbols Not Installed

An IT admin installs the FSL software while logged in with Administrative rights, then the user logged on without those rights. Once the user starts their CAD system and launches the FSL, he or she cannot place a 3d symbol, and gets a “3d Symbols not installed” error when attempting to swap to 3d.

The Solution

Logged in as the user (this may require elevated permissions to be granted temporaroly), perform the following steps:

1. Click Start -> Run -> Type regedit -> Click OK.
2. Browse the left-pane to HKEY_CURRENT USER -> Software -> Steelcase -> STLCFSL -> Ecats.
3. In the right-pane of the Ecats node, right-click and choose New -> String Value.
4. Type All_3d as the name -> Double-click the new key and enter 1 as the Value Data.
5. Exit the registry -> re-launch the CAD system, and try to place a 3d symbol again.

We are tracking this bug and it will be fixed in the next release of the software.