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AC3D Changelog

What's new in AC3D 9.1.0

Jul 27, 2023
  • This release includes a number of fixes - thanks to all those who reported problems and made suggestions.

New in AC3D 9.0.22 (Apr 28, 2022)

  • Added - 2D Boolean functions (Subtract, Intersect, Union, Knife, Embed, Combine-Surfaces) (Object menu)
  • Added - Edit->Select-Vertices->With-two-edges
  • Added - Edit->Select-Vertices->With-two-edges-straight
  • Added - Surface->quadrangulate and two related settings in File->Settings->General
  • Added - Surface->Thicken line (control + l)
  • Added - speed optimization of many file format importers
  • Added - holding control key down when rotating with the mouse moves in steps of pref mouse_rotate_ctrl_steps
  • Added - Vertex->Straighten
  • Added - Edit->Select-Vertices->Isolated
  • Added - Tools->Sort-Object-Vertices
  • Added - shiny textures - textures are now modulated by the specular material value (option to switch off in Graphics settings)
  • Added - advanced setting for blocky textures (switches off texture smoothing)
  • Added - shortcut key "a" for View->Look-At-Selection
  • Added - Object->Reduce retains surface materials
  • Added - info inspector pane to Hierarchy Tool window
  • Added - copy/paste/cut object-data items added to hierarchy popup menu (move items now in sub menu)
  • Added - recoded, much faster, Object->Optimize-Vertices
  • Added - the following functions were undoable but cleared the previous undo queue. They have been rewritten to be fully undoable.
  • Object->Explode
  • Object->Fragment
  • Surface->Cut-Away-Object
  • Vertex->Unweld
  • Object->Merge
  • Object->Reduce
  • Added - .oft font files to list of supported file types for 2D/3D font text
  • Added - subdivided surfaces are hidden if surfaces are hidden (surface-hide/unhide script hack)
  • Added - Surface->cut-away now optimizes the vertices of the new object
  • Added - tcl commands object_get_num_surfaces, object_get_num_vertices, object_get_textureid, object_get_texture_name
  • Added - zooming in/out limits in 2D windows
  • Added - size displayed after pressing toolbar buttons for size%
  • Added - much faster Object->Optimize-vertices
  • Added - set_show_popups internal ac3d command e.g. "ac3d set_show_popups 0" disables message popups. For script users.
  • Added - MAC - UI will run in high-res on HiDPI display (OpenGL View remains the same)
  • Added - add_undoable_tcl command. Creates an undoable using tcl execute and undo strings
  • Added - right clicking on the +/- icon in the hierarchy does a recursive open or close.
  • Fixed - Mac - App failed to start when a .ac file was clicked or dragged onto app icon
  • Fixed - Replicator - tiny movement offset was being added in duplication mode
  • Fixed - rewrite of OJB importer to correctly split files into multiple objects
  • Fixed - obj importer - faster optimization of shared vertices
  • Fixed - obj importer - mtl filenames containing spaces is now handled
  • Fixed - 2D ortho clipping problem after fitting-to-view at high zoom levels
  • Fixed - removed superfluous redraw in Surface->Make-Hole
  • Fixed - loss of UI control-panel gadgets after running >8.6 after 8.5 - setting ui_gadget_layout renamed to ui_gadget_layout2
  • Fixed - UI wrongly displayed "nothing selected" after adding an object
  • Fixed - models/samples/tree.ac now has a transparent PNG texture rather than a .gif
  • Fixed - bug in Collada exporter plugin (textureid collection) (also changed - plugin was incorrectly reporting as "internal")
  • Fixed - removed superfluous redraw from triangulate
  • Fixed - Surface->bevel/indent now handles vertices on straight edges correctly
  • Fixed - bug when setting the subdivision level on an object with no surfaces, and then commiting the subdiv
  • Fixed - bug in undo for delete selection
  • Fixed - Windows document ison updated for newer logo
  • Fixed - Linux - File->Export-selected menu didn't work
  • Changed - move/up/down/head/tail items from hierarchy popup menu are now in a submenu
  • Changed - slightly raised 2D headlight in front/rear views
  • Changed - selected line/polyline surfaces are no longer drawn over in the selection colour, so the original color can still be seen.
  • Changed - renamed edge functions to be more meaningful (create means the edgelist&edges must be freed with ac_edgelist_free() )
  • Changed - text in the Windows console is now grey
  • Changed - darkened default edge color
  • Changed - Object->Revolve now revolves only outer edges of selection (i.e. profile can be multiple surfaces)
  • Changed - edges are now outlined in wireframe (previous was only in filled drawing mode)
  • Changed - defaults of mouse_rotate_degs (rotation with mouse) to 1.0 degs
  • Changed - internal structure of edges changed
  • Changed - these plugins updated to work with newer SDK edge access functions: secondlife_export, knife, watertight
  • Changed - selected objects are now outlined with surface outline thickness (sel) from prefs if linewidth > 1.
  • Changed - ac_palette_get_material returns palette[1](white) rather than NULL, if index is out of range
  • Changed - renamed object_add_vertices to object_add_vertexlist
  • Changed - renamed ac_object_remove_vertexlist to object_remove_vertexlist (for consistency)
  • Changed - renamed object_remove_surfaces to object_remove_surfacelist
  • Changed - renamed object_add_surfaces object_add_surfacelist
  • Changed - selection_get_num_* functions and TCL commands and replaced by selection_get_num - item types are dependent on selectmode
  • Changed - Mac - all sub-windows are now non-utility toplevels. This means that color dialog show above them, they all move with the main window but stacking order cannot be altered.

New in AC3D 7.5.02 (May 2, 2015)

  • added - Object->Fill Holes
  • added - Surface->Unify Normals
  • added - Collada export - now adjusts global vertex coords with object_centre and adds translation to object in scene
  • added - Collada export - transparency and shininess added to materials
  • added - STL files automatically reoriented on import and export (can switch off using a setting)
  • added - Edit->select-by-name now supports wildcards ? and *
  • added - right clicking on a hierarchy node (shown as '+' or '-') unfolds all children groups.
  • added - hierarchy state of objects (hidden, locked, folded) is saved to .ac files (can be switched off with setting in File->Settings->files)
  • added - new 2D objects are oriented for the 2D view in which they are created
  • added - 2D objects made in the 3d window will now face the viewer
  • added - ac_set_search_texture_load_callback and ac_set_search_texture_save_callback to plugin interface
  • changed - changes in ac3dview.tcl - improves compatibility with some non-us locales
  • changed - removed spaces after commas from KML/Google-earth output.
  • fixed - help text for Vertex menu
  • fixed - Texture Coordinate Editor planal mapping (Front/Back/Left/Right/Top/Bottom)
  • fixed - compatibility with X-Plane plugin

New in AC3D 7.3.4 (Oct 13, 2014)

  • Enhanced Tools->Hierarchy functionality:
  • It’s now easier to manage large hierarchies of objects with the new Duplicate function. This will duplicate an object (and any of its children) in place. We’ve also added the ability to edit an object name, even if the object is deep inside a structure, with the new Edit Name/Data menu function.
  • OpenGL Display List Export:
  • For graphics developers, there’s now an AC3D exporter which generates your 3D model as C code for insertion into a program to be used as an OpenGL display list. This can be found in the menu File->Export-Opengl-Display-List.
  • Blocky textures:
  • Some designers requested the ability for AC3D to display blocky textures (similar to Minecraft), rather than smooth, which is AC3D’s default. (This is done by changing OpenGL MipMapping settings).

New in AC3D 7.2.17 (Apr 5, 2014)

  • AC3D and 3D printing:
  • More and more people are discovering that AC3D works well both creating and managing models for 3D printing and is a great alternative to large, complicated and expensive 3D CAD programs. STL is the most common file format used in 3D printing and AC3D 7.2 supports both ASCII and Binary STL files. Models from STL files are automatically optimized at import (duplicate vertices at the same position are replaced by a single vertex)
  • AC3D’s new STL support means that you can directly preview and edit the STL files from 3D printing download sites such as Thingiverse. AC3D 7.2 also includes Ron Jensen’s plugin for checking the integrity of an object prior to 3D printing. The plugin checks for holes and open edges, selecting surfaces that are at the edge of the ‘leaks’. This new function is available from the Tools menu as “Select Leaky Surfaces”
  • Drag and Drop geometry and texture files:
  • Windows/Linux) You can now take a model from your desktop, or a Windows-Explorer/file-browser window and drop it straight into AC3D. Supported texture files e.g. jpg, gif, png etc. can be dropped directly onto an object so you can instantly see the texture in place. This is great when you have a folder/library of objects/textures and you quickly want to load them in AC3D
  • Enhanced Hierarchy:
  • Some improvements have been made to the Tool->Hierarchy. Groups can now be drag/dropped to adjust the ordering and newly grouped objects retain the ordering – especially useful if you are editing large structures
  • Other changes include compatibility improvements and general bug fixes

New in AC3D 7.0.11 (Sep 6, 2012)

  • added - ports of Polymaker plugin compatible with Windows/Mac/Linux
  • improved - Polymaker Tcl/Tk user interface including double click to make a poly
  • fixed - memory leaks at tcl command interpreter

New in AC3D 7.0.3 (Sep 6, 2012)

  • added - LSCM unwrapping to TCE
  • fixed - problems with Texture-repeat dialog - apply button didn't work, fields now accept enter key to perform apply
  • fixed - work on Windows print setup dialog to make it pop up more reliably.
  • improved - fitting selection to view in walk mode
  • updated - Tcl/Tk on Windows - 8.5.11
  • fixed - file dialogs so they are now resizable again (Tcl/Tk bug)
  • fixed - Collada import - added additional check for empty text values
  • fixed - Ogre export plugin (Windows)
  • fixed - polymake plugin (Windows) - crashed under some Windows OS and not others.

New in AC3D 6.8.14 (Jun 17, 2011)

  • fixed - 3ds file importer - problem with Silo exported 3ds files that had no default material
  • added - Collada exporter now outputs scene nodes in a hierarchy (.e.g. AC3D groups)
  • added - divide loop plugin to all platforms (Tools menu)
  • added - select surfaces from TCE (TCE Edit menu)
  • added - misc security fixes
  • added - some extra sample models
  • updated - tcl/tk lbraries 8.5.9

New in AC3D 6.7.15a (Sep 11, 2010)

  • added - Collada geometry importer
  • added - arrow key nudging in TCE.
  • added - Render to Texture plugin
  • added - keep_windows_on_main_screen to advanced settings - default is off.
  • added - mouse wheel scrolling on hierarchy window
  • added - after a single object is selected the number of vertices and surfaces is now displayed along with the name.
  • fixed - VRML1 (.wrl) importer now handles indexed face sets that don't have a -1 on the last item
  • fixed - bug where some files could be loaded twice due to the importer
  • fixed - Collada export material names are now the same as material ids.
  • fixed - (wrong) version number in trial period expired messages
  • changed - work on Windows printing code reliability
  • removed - FOV setting from prefs (use menu on 3D Views instead)
  • fixed - bug in precision error checking on setting precision decimal places
  • fixed - removed extra console output displayed at startup from LDraw plugin
  • added - the knife plugin in all platforms

New in AC3D 6.2.05 (May 17, 2007)

  • Google Earth Support - This release sees the introduction of Google Earth support. Now you can export your AC3D models into Google Earth. Great for both practical and fun uses; whether you want to visualise how a building appears in its real environment, place an airplane over new terrains, or use it to unleash dinosaurs, the possibilities really are endless.
  • 3D mouse support - We�ve been working with 3Dconnexion to build integrated support for 3Dconnexion�s 3D mice (for Windows AC3D). 3Dconnexion�s 3D mice provide an extra level of control when navigating around your 3D objects/worlds. AC3D is compatible with the full range of 3Dconnexion�s products, whether home or professional use, the navigation around 3D worlds is superbly smooth and realistic. A great addition to your 3D toolset, and also works brilliantly with Google Earth!
  • This release also features improvements/fixes with texture loading, polygon reduction and 3DS support. For more details see the readme files that come with AC3D (visible in the AC3D Windows program installer).