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Tekla Structures Version 13.0 Prologue
It’s also time to look ahead. Tekla will soon launch the predecessor to last year’s main release 12.0. Tekla’s commercial product development team have narrowed down the customer segments to Steel, Precast and Structural Design and we expect several changes (with help from Tekla’s software development team) to be segment-specific. This allows the new release to serve both existing and new customers in the best possible way. Those keeping a close eye on the development since the beta release will see that drafts of the release notes are constantly being changed throughout the version cycle. To check out current draft notes, you may either click the Windows Start Button > Programs > Tekla Structures 13.0 > Documentation > Release Notes. For segment specific draft notes i.e. Steel, Precast or Structural Design, start Tekla Structures V13 and go through the Help > Release Notes. On future development, Tekla’s documentation Specialist, Eija Koskenlinna mentions that Tekla’s online help files will be upgraded to an XML-based system starting on V14 and this step will produce beneficial outcomes i.e. accurate searching, configuration-specific help files etc. A keyboard shortcut list, however, has also been documented in this release which you can find under Help > Learning Center > Keyboard Shortcuts which even veteran users will find handy and convenient. Paivi Puntila, Tekla’s B&C Marketing Manager states ‘one connecting improvement for all segments was going to be improved speed in software functionality, which translates into saved time and faster project delivery’. Customers can view these augmentations in lengthy detail via training presentations available for download at the Tekla Structures 13.0 page on the Extranet. In line with Tekla’s global direction, these presentations are divided into the steel, precast and structural design segments for easier viewing. Users are advised to browse through these in order to receive an in-depth look on new program features and their development rationales as well as information on fixed functionalities. These presentations are constantly being updated and re-constructed as Tekla draws near towards the global ‘Available Now’ date which is tentatively set for April 18. General development for Version 13 can be grouped under the following:
Some of the aesthetic changes to aid the user find his/her way through the new version are the enhanced tooltips. These provide more information on functionalities as well as providing examples and tips on using different tools. Tekla has decided on two discs for version 13, separating the Main software in one CD and the Learning Center on the other. The Learning Center CD will also have segment specific sections, which should result in easier learning. Based on these developments, we can clearly see that Tekla has listened to its users and have focused their efforts on making the existing functionalities faster to learn and easier to use, which will greatly improve productivity and the bottom-line. We would like to thank all our customers who asked to be a part of the 13.0 beta testing team and appreciate the expertise and contributions given, as well as valuable time spent in order to make this global release successful. To those customers who still haven’t checked out V13’s pre-launch versions, we recommend visiting Tekla Extranet and downloading the current release available, or by viewing the steel, precast or structural design presentations. Onwards and upwards – to Tekla Structures 13.0!
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