CloudCalc is pleased to announce the release of Version 1.02.10, the application’s 30^th update since its initial launch on June 2, 2014.  The highlight of this release is the addition of several enhancements to CloudCalc’s Units management.

Units management is done through the Tools->Units menu option.  The new features are:

1. Addition of Metric-3 Units Set. A number of users have requested additional combinations of metric units.  We have added the Metric-3 set, basically corresponding to the “typical metric units for UK structural engineering”, as defined by the Structural Engineers Pocket Book: Eurocodes:

   This Units Set may be selected from the drop list on the Units Configuration Screen, or may be selected as the default Units Set using the drop list in the CloudCalc Configuration Screen

   

2. Two additional units types are now defined: In addition to the units that were previously defined in CloudCalc’s user sets, we have now added defined units for Displacements and Moment In.  Previously the units for Displacements in the output reports were the same as the Length units, but now, for example, Length may be specified in meters while Displacements may be specified in millimeters.  Previously, the units for Input Moments (concentrated loads) were always specified in units derived by combining the units of Force and Length; now Input Moments may be specified independently of the other units.
3. User customized Units Sets: Since no one (or even five) predefined Units Set(s) can meet the requirements of every user, CloudCalc now allows users to customize any Units Set to fit one’s own needs.  This can be done through the following procedure:
   • Select the Units Set to be customized from the drop list on the Units Configuration Screen.
   • Click Customize at the bottom of the screen, this brings up an editing screen:
   • For each unit type, select the desired unit from the associated drop list. When finished, click Save to save the changes to the Units Set.
   • Note that these changes will not retroactively affect models that were built using this Units Set, only those models that use it in the future. Existing models can be updated to the new Units Set by clicking Convert Model on the Units Configuration Screen while the model of interest is currently open.
4. User-creatable Units Sets: In addition to the CloudCalc provided Units Sets, users may now create their own individual Units Sets.    This can be done through the following procedure:
   • Select a starting base for the new Units Set from the drop list on the Units Configuration Screen. This can be one of the CloudCalc provided Units Sets, the Current Units (i.e., whatever Units Set is being used by the current model), or a previously user-created Units Set.
   • Click New at the bottom of the screen, and CloudCalc will prompt for a name for the new Units Set. Names that begin with “English-“ or “Metric-“ are not permitted, as future CloudCalc standard Units Sets have reserved that naming convention.
   • Once the name is specified, a new Units Set will be created. Simultaneously the units editing screen will appear, allowing customization of that new Units Set, following the process described above.
5. Deletion of Units Sets: The Delete button at the bottom of the Units Configuration Screen can be used to delete any user-created Units Sets (select the Units Set to be deleted from the drop list, and then click Delete).  Clicking Delete on a standard CloudCalc provided Units Set (such as English-1, Metric-2, etc.) will simply delete any user-customizations to that Units Set, effectively restoring it to its original form.

A video showing these new features is available.

Remember, because CloudCalc is delivered via the cloud, we can provide more updates faster than can software still based on the PC.  30 updates in a little over two years, that is an update every 3-1/2 weeks!  Let us know, at techsupport@cloudcalc.com, which update you would like to see next.

To learn more about CloudCalc, the scalable, collaborative, and mobile cloud-based engineering software, please visit: www.cloudcalc.com – Structural Analysis in the Cloud.

By Tom Van Laan

Copyright © CloudCalc, Inc. 2016