Mar 18, 2021

Released Tower 8.4 (Build 8419) which brings a quite number of new features.

The most significant new features brought by this new version are: SAF Import and Export (Structural Analysis Format) which enables whole model exchange with programs SCIA, Archicad, Allplan, RISA, FRILO, Strusoft, Axis VM, Dlubal, Sofistik, SCAD, LIRA land, IDEA StatiCa, comprehensive program adjustment for work on computers with multiple monitors and for work on high-resolution monitors, added function in report editor for automatic preservation of texts readability in rotated blocks, enabled change of the zone of the slab reinforcement area, added new seismic code NTC 2018 (Italian),...
Complete list of new features in this update is:

  • SAF Import and Export. SAF (Structural Analysis Format) is a format for exchanging data between structural analysis software. SAF was created on the basis of an initiative from the Nemetschek Group and the current structural analysis software participating are SCIA, Graphisoft, Allplan, RISA, FRILO, Strusoft, Axis VM, Dlubal, Sofistik, SCAD, LIRA land, Radimpex and IDEA StatiCa
  • Comprehensive program adjustment for work on computers with multiple monitors and for work on high-resolution monitors with text scaling greater than 100%
  • In report creation module, in addition to the existing orientations of the Portrait and Landscape blocks, two new orientations were introduced - Portrait(-) and Landscape(-) (180 and 270 degrees of rotation).
  • In report creation module added function for automatic setting the orientation of texts in rotated blocks in order to preserve readability (Dialog for Report Formatting, tab: Text)
  • Enabled change of the zone of the slab reinforcement area and copying the reinforcement area from one zone to another. (in the command for editing sets of reinforcement areas)
  • A new "Merge" function has been introduced in the dialog for editing hiding lists, which will enable to unite hidden status of entities of one hiding group with other groups.
  • Added new seismic regulation - Italian – NTC2018
  • The Swiss seismic regulation has been updated and is harmonized with the changes of SIA 261 – 2020.
  • Dialogs for 'Influence in beams' and 'Load combinations' become resizeable.
  • A change in the algorithm for determining the perimeter of the penetration of slabs at the end of the wall. The depth of the perimeter corresponds to the length of the entire edge zone of the wall.
  • In the combination scheme for Eurocode regulations, the algorithm of the Unite function has been improved and it is possible to combine loads of different types. Combined loads always appear together and with the same state of dominance.
  • Rearranged dialog for Functionality - the group "Dimensioning" was added to the main dialog and 5 items from the results were transferred to it.
  • In the Set Control command, multiple selection is enabled for the needs of the color generation function so that colors are generated only for selected sets.
  • When importing from a DXF file, it is possible to select the AutoCAD unit of measure. (it doesn't have to be just 1ACU = 1m anymore)
  • A new variant of color generation when plotting full isolines of influence in surface entities - "Symmetrical in relation to zero" where the same color refers to the same range of both positive and negative values.


Beside this new features, this Build contains a large number of improvements, optimizations and bug-fixes.