Release History V23.3 Build 11400

General points

• A connection to the BIMcollab Cloud has been incorporated for the exchange of collisions, tasks or notes via the BCF format (Version 3.0).
  BIMcollab is an easy-to-use issue management platform which enables communication via issues and comments from different trades with different software solutions such as e.g Archicad, Revit, Autocad, Tekla, etc. with reliable history tracking. (www.bimcollab.com/en/products/bcf-managers/)
  In order to discover the extensive possibilities and benefits users can also start with a free BIMcollab Cloud account as a first step. (www.bimcollab.com/en/plans/start-for-free/)
  After registration, projects can be created in the BIMcollab Cloud and team members, who can also have different rights and roles, can be added. The invited people will receive an email with a link to accept the invitation.
  In the SEMA program it is possible to create a "BCF connection" to the BIMcollab Cloud
  (www.join.bimcollab.com) and connect the BIMcollab project with the SEMA project. All issues are now synchronized with the BIMcollab Cloud via the command "BCF synchronization". If data is not yet synchronized, a red dot is also displayed in the icon as a note.
  After connecting to BIMcollab, the new issues such as e.g. user information can be set in the project with or without a component link. In contrast to the existing user information, the issues for BIMcollab have properties such as type, editor, priority, status. These properties are determined in the BIMcollab project settings for all participants and must always be defined.
  Comments can now be added to these issues, which can also be changed again. In order to be able to describe comments more precisely, a user-defined view of the present 3D view can also be linked by right-clicking into the "3D" field.
  If the issue is synchronized with the BIMcollab Cloud, all members associated with that project receive the information and can respond to it.
  Due to the different colour representation of the issues according to status and due date, they can also be displayed clearly via the filter setting.
  This secure type of communication between the different trades allows for fast and traceable work without having to import, export and version files.

Installation

• SEMA is now relying on one of the latest installation formats: the Microsoft MSIX installation. This installation significantly simplifies the administration and use of programs under Windows. An MSIX file provides various advantages over traditional installations in terms of security, isolation, ease of installation/deinstallation, and last but not least, automatic updates. In addition, the installation time is clearly reduced. Detailed installation instructions are available here available.

Printing & Plotting

• There is now the option of using keyboard shortcutswhen creating and editing plans. The following keyboard shortcuts have been introduced: "Insert frame -Strg+AItN","Copy frame -Strg+Alt+C","Delete frame -Strg + Del","Frame properties - S trg+AIt+E" and"Change frame upwards/downwards -Strg + AIt + Arrow Up/Down” Thekeyboard shortcuts are active as soon as you are in the layout view to edit or create plans.
• The new function "Copy frame“ has been made available. Consequently, marked frames can either be copied with the new keyboard shortcuts or via the Drawing manager-icon. The copied frame has the same content, size and properties as the frame that was copied.
• The number of drawing numbers can now be adjusted. This can be done in the Drawing manager under options -> plans. It is now possible to set between one and eight digits.
• The drawing coding number, which is required for the assignment to the SEMA building projects, used to be displayed fixed in a square bracket behind the drawing name. It is no longer visible as of now. The coding number is now written and hidden in the PDF file. Thus, the link to the SEMA project still works without impacting the name of the drawing.

GRD, CAD, DIM, MCAD

• 250 MCAD machining can now also be created and manufactured on page 1.
• In the case of multiple copies of CAD objects, the program now remembers the defined number until the program is restarted.

Rafter System

• The calculation times of indirectly affected timber, steel and stair components when changing 3D objects have been considerably accelerated. This has an effect on performance and usability, especially in very large projects.
• The background calculation of components with a large number of drillings has been significantly enhanced.

Floor Wall

• If the layer structure of a ceiling is changed, all layer projections will remain unchanged.

Wall and floor members

• For walls as well as roof and floor panels, it is now possible to define which layer is to be drawn below for the staggered view. The new menu can be found for walls and panels in the "Layers and division" tab under "View". In this menu it can now be determined for each layer which layer should be drawn below. Users can always choose from the timbers of layer S0 and all layers above and below. The master data of the combination pens can be accessed in the reference behind in order to make the display of the layers independent of the original layer. In order for the layers below to be displayed, the option "Multiple staggered view of components" must be enabled in the display settings (F7) under each layer. Board joints and projections to other layers can now be displayed even better and more easily by means of this new option.

Sheet Metal

• Folding profiles can now be created in the profile editor by mouse input. A new icon with a plus has been made available for this purpose. This icon activates the mouse control mode. If there is no profile available, the first line is displayed directly on the mouse pointer and users can start drawing the profile. The first step is to determine the angle, which rasterizes in 5° increments. Next, the length is determined, which rasterizes in 5 mm increments. If both values are confirmed, the line is drawn and users can continue drawing directly with the subsequent line. This process is repeated until the profile is complete. The profile is completed with the "End" button.
  At the lower right edge there is an "undo" icon which can be used to remove the last created line. It is also possible to create a hem via mouse input. To do this, a further line must be created on top of an existing line. Now a preview of the hem is displayed and it is possible to create the hem on the right or left side of the existing line. Then the length is queried. More precise length and angle information that is outside the 5° or 5 mm grid must then be modified by marking the number.

PHP Automatic features

• The new setting "Fixed distance" has been incorporated in the MC tab of timber components. The macros are divided at a fixed distance on the wood using this setting. The program allocates the maximum number of macros to the total length of the component by means of the "Auto" option. A fixed number can be defined, which is divided into a fixed distance by using the "Number" option.
• Nailing lines which are given a comment can now also be connected automatically.
• The representation in layer S0 for the top view can now be defined for macros and electrical combinations. This new option can be found in the component under the layer settings tab. Users can decide whether the display adopts the display setting (F7) as before, or whether layer S0 will no longer be interrupted. This makes it possible to design plans more clearly, especially if there are many macros and electrical combinations.

Stair Design

• The possibility to allocate an assembly play in the connection points of the tread to a cut string has been made available. The new setting is located under "Connection cut string", separately for both the left and right side. A cut-out is created with the help of this setting. This cut-out can be used to "tilt" the tread. This can facilitate assembly work, especially if a notch for the tread has been created in the cut string.
• The program now also calculates the connections of balusters to curved counter components.

Structural analysis

• A complete SEMA project can now be exported to the FRILO BIM connector from Friedrich and Lochner to calculate the reinforcement for walls by means of the new structural analysis export.
  The basis for the structural calculation is the created project from the SEMA software.
  When creating a project, the export model can be optimized by defining the structural analysis materials for components, information about the building location and allocating snow and wind load zones.
  The structural analysis materials used, which can be defined in the material list tab for each component by right-clicking in the field "Structural analysis material", are loaded directly from the installed FRILO version and are therefore always up-to-date and compatible.
  The export menu is called up via “Extras”, “Structural analysis export FRILO BIM Connector (FBC)” and the export can be selected for the entire building, selected by storey or by marked components.
  The “Building/Loads” option opens the menu for defining the building location via selecting the community and entering the possible snow and wind load zones.
  In addition, the export model can be further filtered via settings for the export, which can also be saved.
  The project is exported via the "Start" button and opened directly with the FRILO BIM Connector, if installed.
  In the FRILO BIM Connector (FBC) (www.frilo.eu/wp-content/uploads/EN/Manuals/fl_fbc_eng.pdf) a calculation model is automatically generated from the physical model. All structurally relevant components are connected to one another in the calculation model. This makes sure that the loads are passed on.
  With the FRILO program building model (GEO) (www.frilo.eu/wp-content/uploads/EN/Manuals/geo_eng.pdf) it is possible to determine structural loads in terms of wind, tilting and earthquakes for reinforcements calculations of timber buildings. The automatic wind load calculations based on the geographic data from the SEMA program can be made depending on the building geometry and the specified wind parameters and then imported into the FRILO BIM Connector.
  The export to the FRILO timber panel wall (HTW) program (www.frilo.eu/wp-content/uploads/EN/Manuals/fl_htw_eng.pdf) is used to calculate panel walls according to Eurocode 5 and the respective national regulations. Each panelling side gets the material with the structural parameters assigned in the SEMA program. Various fasteners and distances can be calculated to attach the panelling. When anchoring the end ribs, the program supports the dimensioning of two-part Würth panel anchors. Extensive output controls allow for detailed outputs as well as short outputs with compressed results.

Master Data Macros Content Maintenance

• In a create command, users can now directly select master data from the SEMA master data (original) and insert it into the building project.
• A master data folder can now be specified as a system folder under the "Master folder" tab in the master data manager. This folder should contain all the crucial master data for certain automatic features, such as automatically generated dimensions, auto corners for the wall automatism or nesting master data. Under this link here there is a list of settings linked to those settings of the system folder. A system folder like this is highlighted with a cog wheel in the master data manager. By determining a system folder, a central location is defined that contains important master data for automatic features and thus an unintentional changing of automatic features is excluded After the installation of the current SEMA version, the last active master folder is automatically the system folder! If necessary, this must be changed.
  All installed master data folders are now displayed on the left side of the master data manager. Thus, a better overview of all installed master data folders is achieved. This also facilitates working with several master data folders. A read-only folder is also marked with a padlock icon. The properties can be called up by a double-click on the respective folder.
• If several master data folders are switched to active in a creation command, the individual master data is displayed grouped and subdivided. Consequently, it is listed in which folder which and how much master data is contained.
• The selection of available master data folders is now also displayed when storing macros such as CAD or MCAD macros. In addition, it is also directly visible whether one of the folders is read-only. When saving macros, the selection automatically jumps to a master data folder that is not read-only.
• When saving roof surfaces from a project, there used to be a query as to whether these roof surfaces should be saved locally to the building project or globally in the master data. This query will no longer appear. The previous button "Locally to the building project" is now replaced by the master data window that opens or the master folder "BP-Own master data" in blue background that can be seen in the window. If another master data folder is selected, this automatically means "Global master data manager".
• The respective and detailed instructions are available here.

Survey Systems

• Hilti measurement data (Hilti .txt/ Hilti .csv) can only be imported into the SEMA program with the coordinate definition X Y Z.
• There is now the option of displaying a 3D view of the measurement points in the preview dialogue when importing measurement points. The zero point is also displayed there in the 3D mode. Furthermore, users can now have the point designations and the coordinates in the preview dialogue displayed. The representation of the point designations and coordinates is only possible with files in the format .txt and .csv. With the help of this new feature, users can better check whether the data match their coordinates during the import of measurement points.

Load Planning

• Loading is now automatically started with the loading component above. This means that after the setting of a loading component, the command is automatically restarted and the next component can be loaded directly.
• A free component labelling can now be assigned to loading components via the display settings (F7). What's more, a unit of measure can now be displayed for the "Weight" display option.