Ra Workshop - Innovating window design software / English Section / Ra Workshop News

New version: Ra Workshop 3.2.0

Pyramid Software — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:48:11 GMT

After about 1 year work time we are releasing today Ra Workshop 3.2. The new version includes: quotation editing, stock optimization, dealer management, new design features and many new improvements. We highly recommend you to update to this version.

This is the list with what's new on Ra Workshop 3.2.0:

Stock cutting optimization. Optimization uses remainders from previous optimizations (stocked remainders).
Stock management module. Add, edit, remove profile rests (remainders).
Cutting optimization based on multiple standard bars (ex: 6 m and 6.5 m).
Dealer management. Add, edit and remove dealer company information.
Quotations editing. Now you can edit the window size on the design board.
Mullion alignments. You can select multiple mullions and align it on based on the first selection.
Mullion versus corner alignment. You can align a mullion based on the corner cutting shape.
Curved mullions. You can design mullions with both ends on the same side.
New custom shape design tool. Draw your own shape.
New custom mullion design tool. Draw your own shaped mullion.
New shapes available: arch and circle shapes made of segments.
Fixed sliding window. You can design special sliding windows with fixed glass (similar to casement systems)
New fittings rules based on T, Y, + mullion joins.
Arch Details report. The new report contains detailed information about arch cutting and production
Ra Workshop allows Windows Authentication for SQL Server connection.

Improved

Window and door join parameters. You have complete control over the join structure.
You can now change the fitting system on each wing.
Starting with this version the Fittings System is separated from the Accessory System.
Material database will automatically reload itself if a change is detected.
Projects will connect to the database only if a change is detected.
The profile and fitting definition has been updated with information regarding cutting optimization (ex: maximum rest, minimum rest, optimum rest, optimization type, etc.).
Increased speed on saving/loading big projects.
Increased speed on handling big projects.
Increased speed on handling components with multiple windows/doors joins.

Updated

The Cutting Optimization report has been updated with information related to stock optimization.
Application’s options have been completed with almost all the options available in Ra Workshop.

For the complete version history go to this page: http://www.raworkshop.com/Version-History.aspx

Ra Workshop 3.2 Demo Beta Edition has been released

Pyramid Software — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:21:00 GMT

Today we have released the beta version of Ra Workshop Demo 3.2. The full editions will be released later this month. In the meantime you can try our beta demo version and send us your feedback. The new Ra Workshop 3.2 version is an important step ahead into what widows design software will look in the future.

Some users that had installed the 3.1 demo version may be experience some weird behavior: windows and doors can be very small. In order to fix this you have to reset the options. Go to Tools -> Options and click Reset button.

As always your feedback is highly appreciated.

Ra Workshop 3.1.3 R2 and Ra Workshop 3.1.2 R2 available!

Pyramid Software — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:23:54 GMT

In the past few months we have discovered some performance issues in the current version and we have decided to fix it and lunch a new release. Two new releases are available to our users:

If you have Ra Workshop 3.1.2 then you should install Ra Workshop 3.1.2 R2
If you have Ra Workshop 3.1.3 then you should install Ra Workshop 3.1.3 R2

Note: you can check your current version if you go to Help -> Registration menu.

In the next few days each customer will be notified by email with instructions on how to get the new release. The update is available free for all customers with 3.1 version. We recommend you to update as the new version is much faster .

Ra Workshop 3.2 Beta Preview

Pyramid Software — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:04:47 GMT

In the past months we have been working on the new Ra Workshop version 3.2. Today we are releasing the first video presentations of some of the features included in the next version. We have improved our design skills and we also added many new features which will help you design windows and doors faster and with greater accuracy.

Here you can see some video presentations: http://www.raworkshop.com/Online-Tutorials.aspx?ver_32

Ra Workshop Ultra Lite is now Freeware Software

Pyramid Software — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:43:51 GMT

As of today we are proud to announce that Ra Workshop Ultra Lite it's a free software.

Ra Workshop Ultra Lite is a great tool to design rectangular windows and doors. With this software edition you can create casement windows/doors (side hung windows/doors), tilt and turn windows, awning windows (tilt windows). The window offers can be customized with company logo and contact information, with introduction and closing, with extra costs like: mark up, transportation, assembly.

Ra Workshop Ultra Lite is Out of The box and Ready to Go software. Although is a full version product Ra Workshop Ultra Lite does not require any payment.

Just download, install it and start creating windows and doors. Enjoy our software and feel free to send us your feedback.

Database. Ra Workshop is able to compute almost any profile system in the world. This package is delivered with a free database that contains 11 profile systems, everyone with corresponding hardware (fittings) systems. If you want other profile systems you can insert your own or you can buy profile/fittings systems from us.

Go to this page and register you free license now: http://www.raworkshop.com/License-Registration.aspx

Ra Workshop Online Documentation

Pyramid Software — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:12:49 GMT

Starting from today the English documentation for Ra Workshop is available online. We will make all the efforts to cheep it up to date. The current documentation is for version Ra Workshop 3.1.

To access the online manual please use the following link: http://help.raworkshop.com/Ra

Ra Workshop 3.1.1 Release

Pyramid Software — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:31:59 GMT

A new version of application has been launched : Ra Workshop 3.1.1 .

Just as we mentioned we succeeded in releasing 3 versions a year. After two minor versions (SP2 & SP3 for Ra Workshop 3.0) the time has come to launch a new product version : Ra Workshop 3.1.1 . The new version has many new features as a result from the experience gathered from using it in the carpentry factories. Some of the new features are : manual labor calculation, easier offer creation, calculation improvements, numerical command, new reports, etc. .

The new features list of Ra Workshop 3.1.1:

Development of the users and user groups mode. Access for each user is based on the rights given by the administrator. The access can be restrained based on the activity of the user on the application.
Added support for the companies that work in dealer type partnerships. This support feature includes the possibilities of protecting the information about the materials used, about the extra costs, about the calculation details of the offers created by the Dealer.
Client/Server. Ra Workshop is the only Romanian carpentry software application (of what we know) that has the client/server 3 tier version (on 3 levels). For big companies with carpentry workshops the client/server version is mandatory. This type of build is the best method for a self-acting production.
Manual labor calculation. The new version calculates the time and cost of manual labor operations that need to be done for a project.
New report: Client Table Offer. Contains the same information as the Client Offer without the window designs. The resulting report is more compact.
New report: Dealer Offer. Contains the same information as the Client Offer but the offer calculations is different. This has only the value of the carpentry. Optionally the glass value can be added.
New report: Dealer Table Offer. Contains the same information as the Dealer Offer without the window designs. The resulting report is more compact.
New report: Glass table. The report contains the glass designs with the window quotations. It is used for glass ordering for irregular shapes.
New report: Manual labor. Gives information about the manual labor operations.
New report: Project Status. The report presents the state of the projects from the database.
Easy offering. A new mode of designing has been introduced: the wizard tool (this will guide the user through all the steps required to create a new component).
Security access for extra costs. These are grouped upon access levels. Only the users with the required access level can view and edit the extra costs.
Optimization mode:

Added the possibility to optimize at two bars.
Optimization based on production lot (based on the number of pushing-cart cells).
Optimization options additions: irregular shapes exclusions, exclusion of components that contain irregular shapes, exclusion of segments with angles different from 90 and 45 degrees.
Added the possibility of exclusion from the optimization of the segments available between certain dimensions. (I.e.: segments that cannot be cut by the machine automatically).
Added possibility to set the type of optimization and the number of windows in the lot for each profile code.
Modify Cutting Optimization Report. The new report presents visually the profile bar and the way the segment will be cut. The report was improved by adding information about the cellule and pushing-cart in which the cut segment will be placed.
Added possibility of adjusting the offer based on the optimization. The excess resulted from the optimization can be calculated in the offer.

Numerical Command (CNC):

CNC – Profile Cutting

Elumatec: E255/A, E555/1
Rotox: ZGS 314
Kaban: 1030, 1040 (InfoSys 2.0)
Pertici: 500F2K
Techna: TK145/10 Gold

CNC – Profile Welding

Sturtz: 4HSM_JC, 4VSM_JC

CNC - Glass

Optimat

User Warning. When calculating a structure the user is warned about the possible errors it might contain. (I.e.: glass is missing, joining profiles of different thickness, window dimensions for which there are no fittings, etc.)
Different way of introducing cutting quotations. All cuts will be made in absolute quotations.
Modified mode of identifying segments (references). The new system is very easy to interpret (it is similar to the one in version 2.4.1).
Extra costs:

Added new types of extra costs: loss, montage, transport, discount.
Added access and edit rights.
Added currency on the value type extra costs.
Customizing costs for each component.

Modified Client Offer Report. Added options for report creation. Some of these are: discount, montage, material information, etc. .
Modified Execution Plan Report. The new report version displays the information in a more user friendly way (like in version 2.4.1).
Modified Window Panel Report. The report has been updated with new options. In addition the designs display the quotations of the mullions outside the wing.
Modified Glass Order Report. The report calculates the surfaces of every type of glass.
Production Project. The offers can be grouped into a production project for optimization and production.
Added new irregular shape: semi-oval.
Panel calculation. They are calculated differently from the glass: they become part of the carpentry cost.
Ra Workshop application integration with Ra Mobile. The projects created with Ra Mobile (on PDA or mobile phone) can be opened with Ra Workshop.

Modified shutter and insects net designing. The designing has been improved and is now more user friendly.

Important: this version will be available only for the clients that purchased Software Assurance or Update. For details about these services click here. The clients that have not chosen one of these services when they purchased the license they can choose to do it now. For details about these services access the following link: http://www.pyramid.ro/Ro/Pages/RaWorkshop/Services.aspx . The users that received the application from a profile manufacturer or from a dealer must visit the manufacturer section of this forum to see how they can receive the latest version.

Important: Ra Workshop 3.1 does not allow the parallel function of Ra Workshop 2.4.1. If you use Ra Workshop 2.4.1 when you update to the new version you must renounce the old one.

The evolution of Ra Workshop continues at a sustained pace. Work has begun for two versions: Ra Workshop 3.1.2 – a minor version which will contain the recommendation and input of the users that update their applications - and Ra Workshop 3.2 – a major version with new features. The list of the features that will be implemented in this version can be found on this forum under the Sugestii & Solicitari section. We await your input as well, especially because the list is still open for suggestions. We will implement as many requested features as time allows us.

Last but not least we would like to thank the users that have given us their input and suggestions thus helping us create Ra Workshop 3.1. We apologize for any discomfort we may have caused during the development and we insure them of our support for future versions.

More details about Ra Workshop you can find on our website: http://www.pyramid.ro/En/Pages/Pyramid/Home.aspx

Ra Workshop at Construct Expo Ambient

Pyramid Software — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:55:24 GMT

Pyramid Software will attend, between 21 – 25 May 2008, Construct Expo Ambient. You can find us in 16th Pavilion, 8th Stand.
We will have the official presentation of Ra Workshop 3.1 version and also another product from Ra Workshop Application range.
We are looking forward in seeing you again and talking about software applications, joinery and many other.

Best regards,
Diana Vasile
Technical Support Department

Ra Workshop 3.0 - Service Pack 3

Pyramid Software — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:43:27 GMT

Service Pack 3 (SP3) has entered the last stage of testing. This update will be soon available. This topic will be updated in the moment SP3 will be lunched.

List of SP3 changes:

· We completed the server – client version. Two new products are now available: Ra Workshop Server and Ra Workshop Client.

· Ra workshop is now available in Turkish. We thank our partners from Demirtas Metal, who gave us the support necessary to make the translation possible.

· New types of profile (especially for shutters and fly screens profiles).

· New feature for designing of fly screens. Now they can be done with only one click: fly screens as type rolling pin, fly screens with frame, fly screens without frame (only sash).

· New feature for designing shutters. Now they can be done with only one click: shutters as type rolling pin, shutters with frame, shutters without frame.

· Adding support in localizing the units of measurement.

· Adding a new report: Assembly List – Standard with weights, showing the quantity of profiles in Kg.

· Adding a new report: Assembly List – Complete, shows the weight of profiles not only in Kg but also in meter.

· Cutting Quotations report modification. The report can now be in a standard mode (which means that the cuttings of the same profile are summed up) or detailed (each reference has it’s own cuttings showed).

· Client Offer report modification. The report contains now also the address of the client.

· Window Panel modification report. The report now contains options of display for information about the client.

· Possibility of change for the implicit currency. In the previously version, that was not possible.

· A change in the way the reports show the angles for pivot windows. In stead of 3 angles of 135 degrees, the new version of the application will show angles of 45 and 90 degrees.

· An alteration in the behavior of Undo/Redo. In the previous version after an Undo/Redo the application didn’t recalculate automatically the consumption. The problem has been resolved.

· An update for the available glazing beads, every time the glass is changed. In the previous version, hen the glass was changed with another one of different size, the program didn’t immediately reconsider the glazing beads list. The behavior has been corrected.

· The erasing of an element when the focus was in the consumption tab, determined a peculiar behavior: he was erasing every element there was, one by one. The behavior has been corrected.

· Consumption calculation after Copy/Paste. The previous version was duplicating the consumption. The behavior has been corrected.

· Completion of English localized. In the previous version there were English texts that weren’t fully localized, now they are.

After the lunch of SP3, the version Ra Workshop 3.0 will be closed. It is already in work a new version: Ra Workshop 3.1. You can actively participate at this process, by letting us now what you would like to see in the next version. You can leave yr suggestions at:Suggestions.

Best regards,

Diana Vasile

Technical Support Department

Pyramid Software Website Updates

Pyramid Software — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:05:53 GMT

One of the problems that we were the most concerned lately was related to the fact that the available downloads for the manufacturers, were actually available to all the people that were visiting our Pyramid Software website. We treat security very seriously, every time and we respect the interests of each customer/ manufacturer.

Today we have updated Pyramid Software website. The new version contains Registered User.

What does that mean? Each user of the products Ra Workshop can create an account on our companies website and register your licenses. In according with the type of license that he owns, the user will have access, after registering, only at he’s own downloads. By example: a user that owns a Balkan license will have access only at downloads that are attributed to Balkan. The same thing will happen to the other manufacturers: Profilco, Aluminco, Doral, Demirtas.

The manufacturers can use this feature to put at the disposal of their clients other information as well, like: profile catalogs, price lists, notes etc.

How do I register?

1. Access the main page from www.pyramid.ro and push Register button (in the right).

2. Fill in the registration form, with viable data, because, based on those information the technical support department will contact you in case of need.

3. You will receive a confirmation of registration e-mail. Read and follow carefully the instructions received in the e-mail.

4. After the confirmation of the e-mail address you may log in on Pyramid Software site and use the feature Add License (on the left) and register all the licenses that you own. The registration means entering the Info codes, for each license.

5. The licenses will be checked and confirmed. After their activation you will have access to the download section appropriated for each type of license.

Advantages of Registration

1. Clear idea of all the licenses owned.

2. Download security. The kits, databases, updates will be available only to you and to the users that you authorize(for the manufacturers)

3. Access to a customized download for each license type.

4. Access 24/7 at you own installing kit.

For additional details or problems concerning registration please contact the support department.

Best regards,

Diana Vasile

Technical Support Department

Ra Workshop 3.0 - Release Service Pack 2 (SP2)

Pyramid Software — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:17:12 GMT

Official release of Ra Workshop Service Pack 2 (SP2)

We apologize for the delay in lunching this update, but we assure you this happened just because of our wish to include as many new features possible. We give thanks to all our users that have notified us of the problems they encountered and for those that offered suggestions for improving.

List of modifications brought by SP2:

- Added numerical order feature (CNC).

- Added project export in text format, for a easier import in other applications, like accounting applications and others.

- New report added: Total Order, it contains all the information necessary to answer accordingly to an offer request.

- New type of project: Windows Library, the user can add, modify or erase window libraries.

- The possibility to rename a window from a Window Library.

- The possibility to modify the total of consumption.

- The possibility to modify the Export/Import data. Even from the Export stage, the user can set the options that will be used at the Import. This feature is very important for manufacturers (profile sellers).

- Adding new options for optimization: exclusion of curve segments from optimization, exclusion of angles different from 45 or 90, exclusion of segments outside a given interval.

- A faster optimization process. For big projects, with this SP2 the time for optimization will be at 20% of the time for the process in the previous version application.

- A makeover for the reports. The reports may contain now information about the client, and the graphics are seriously improved.

- Revision for the saving/restoring projects. These operations are now more user friendly and the time for these processes has been dramatically reduced.

- A new list containing the recent used files MRU (most recent used files).

- User’s guide. The application contains a complete user’s guide, the documentation for it is also available online : Online Documentation.

- A better transom-mullion division. For the wings that contain glass, it will be possible to divide them without loosing the glass.

- English version 100% localized.

:exclamationmark:Important: Ra workshop Service Pack 2 can be downloaded only by registered users. The update works only for the application. For updates on the database you must use the data folders.

:exclamationmark:Important: In the download page you will always find a full kit and an update (SP). After installing the kit it will not be necessary to install the update as well (because the kit already contains the update). The installation kit and the update represent the same thing. The only difference is that the update (SP), it’s smaller (it doesn’t contain the additional programs used by the application like: SQL Server and .NetFramework ) for a faster download.

Best regards,

Diana Vasile

Ra Workshop - Online Documentation

Pyramid Software — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:03:59 GMT

Like we previously announced, by the end of the year there will be lunched a user’s guide for Ra Workshop 3.0. The documentation is in it’s final stage and it will be published on our website, it will be incorporated in the application with the new update. We apologize in advance for the possible errors in expression and/or grammar, but like we already said the user’s guide is still in he’s beta phase. If there are subjects that have not been fully discussed, or contain differences from the application we ask of you to notify us. However the documentation has been created keeping in mind the second service pack (SP2) so if the manual contains certain updates that your application doesn’t, it’s very likely that this will be the cause.

We give thanks to all the users have invested time in getting to know very well the application and we specially thank the users that notified us about the subjects that need more detailed explanations. We hope that our guide will have covered all the notified aspects.

The beginners may follow the user’s course, from the documentation.

The documentation is available online at:

The user’s guide it’s the second stage (after the forum) from our plan for a better interaction with our customers. The year 2008 will bring more pleasant (we hope) surprises, first of those many surprises will come with the next update.

Since this will probably be the last press release for 2007, we want to wish you a Happy New Year!!! and Happy Holidays!!! We thank you for choosing to collaborate with this company and we assure you that we will offer all our support for the next year too.

^{:exclamation: PS: during holiday season (December 21 – January 6) Pyramid Software will not function. If you have licenses that will expire in this period, we ask of you to request the prolongation codes before Friday, December 21st.}

Best regards,

Diana Vasile

Pyramid Software Forum - Ra Workshop

Pyramid Software — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:03:53 GMT

For increasing the support that we offer our clients, we developed a new way of assistance, the forum. The purpose of this new service is to allow users to communicate among themselves, share the problems they encountered and the solutions for those problems.

We kindly ask you to create an account on this forum and to write here all the problems, suggestions, ideas, possible mall functions related to out software. Not only you will be assisted by the whole technical department from Pyramid Software, but also (in time) by the entire community of Ra Workshop users.

In the spirit of Pyramid Software we are waiting for your suggestions and references about the categories that should be in this forum, on how we can help you better and anything else you might want to tell us.

Best regards,

Diana Vasile

Ra Workshop Service Pack 1 (SP1) has been lunched

Pyramid Software — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:43:23 GMT

After several delays we have lunched our first service pack for Ra Workshop 3.0. The patch is a major update and it can be downloaded from the download page. We give thanks to everyone the reported the mall functions existing and we want to apologies for the inconveniences created.

The users that have purchased Ra Workshop 3.0 application, from Pyramid Software, for the download are requested to access the following link: Download Pyramid.

The users that have received the application Ra Workshop 3.0 from a profile distributor can download the service pack, accessing the following page Download Distributors. Some of the distributor's pages data bases have suffered alterations, so after you download the update for the program, you have to import the newest data base (available on the same download page).