MPanel 13.5 change summary March 2009
Tool	Change	Benefit	Drawing
Model Builder	New tool “Float Polys” will set a tag on polys to allow them restricted movement during relaxation.	For example, this allows the top ring of an asymmetrical cone tent to move to find is force balance position for a vertical pole, or the pole angle for an offset pole. Can also be used with pole tents, or structures with floating suspended frame members.	A, B, C, D
	New tool “Subtract Meshes” will generate a set of meshes simulating removing a small mesh from a large mesh, leaving a hole.	Helps with the development of Hypar sails with holes in them, either for poles or for intersecting sails. Can also be used to develop arch like doorways in walls.	E, F
Panel a Complete Mesh	Option to panel across the mesh.	Previously, to panel across a mesh, you had to swap the weft/warp direction using the mesh manipulation tool, and then panel. This is now a paneling option.	G
Arrange Panels	New tool will arrange a set of panels in several defined patterns.	This has two benefits: This tool will spread out and orient a set of panels, allowing clear use of the detail, compensate, seam and stamp tools, and helping to organize the drawing layout. Also this tool can arrange panels on a roll or cutting table. This is not full nesting, but is a good start on arranging the panels optimally on the roll.	H, I
Mesh Manipulation	Now preserve extended data through all the “swap” operations.	Previously this tool would overwrite the extended data, meaning that complicated models could not be correctly relaxed again without re specifying the extended data.
Change Mesh Density	Now preserves mesh extended data.	Same as above.
Extended Data	Can now edit multiple identical entries in one go.	Easier editing of multiple objects, particularly cable links.
	Extended data tab can be opened by right clicking on the help dropdown arrow.	Previously you had to open the options and navigate to the extended data tab.
	Previously used option values stored in extended data can be copied to the options	When working on an old model, this lets you set the options values to the ones used the last time the model was relaxed.
Mesh Relaxation	Model warp and weft spacing now reported in text window after relaxation.	This helps with stress estimation and in determining values to use with the FEA analysis. Previously the results were presented in a obscure format.
Bug Fixes	Info tool will now work correctly with closed polylines
	Automation timeout settings changed to avoid “Switch to” error message with Model builder on some computers.
	Seam styles menu now enabled when panel manipulation tab is first opened
	Joined edge mesh would insert internal cable on some strange mesh arrangements. Now fixed