What's New in 6.8?

The very latest and greatest version of RoofWright has now left RPS headquarters and is making its way to all our supported customers. It is, without any doubt, the most exciting version of RoofWright we've ever produced, and we hope that it causes as much of a buzz in the industry as it has to all those who have already seen it.

There are numerous features, tweaks and general improvements throughout the new version - over 150 to be precise. Directly from customer feedback, we've managed to include more of your requested tweaks and improvements than in any other version.

Below are details of the main new features of version 6.8 and why you may want to upgrade if you are running an older version, or a different conservatory/sunroom product:

Window and Door Editing

New “Frames” view in main screen (Option)
A whole new view is available from the main screen, which shows details of all frames for your design in one place, including those from the conservatory and any additional ones you wish to add to the order.

Null Frames now supported (BSG)
Null frames allow you to mark a section of a wall as not having any frame and/or dwarf wall. Useful for hiding part of a wall obscured by an external obstruction, or where it joins an existing structure.

Improved Editing - support for cancelling changes (EBSG)
Any changes made in the Wall and Window Designer can now be backed out of with the assistance of the new Cancel button. In conjunction with the new undo and redo options in the main screen, you can quickly roll back any changes you make.

Packers and add-ons can now be used (BSG)
The Wall and Window Designer now allows you to specify packers on any side of a window or door frame. These are also shown in 3D and all sizes shown on orders take correct account of them.
Support for add-ons is also improved.

Clearer preview of window layout (EBSG)
The preview display of the wall and frames being edited in the Wall and Window Designer is now clearer with less clutter. Rakes and gable frames now appear more neatly and more accurately.

New “short-cuts” for easier editing (EBSG)
Various common features can now be applied on-mass to the whole design from the main screen.
These include:

Open or close all windows and doors at once
Add/remove infills below all window frames
Add/remove top openers and transoms from all frames
Add/remove leading to all windows across a design
Add/remove dwarf walls across the whole design

Wall Frame Sets are now available (BSG, SG)
You can set up collections of available frame combinations which can be applied to a wall with a single click. Frame Sets are also intelligent and will only be available for use if valid for the wall (frame min/max limits and packer max widths are automatically taken into account).
An easy to use, attractive gallery of available Frame Sets is provided for selection.

Window and Door Styles

Better support for Raked frame styles (BSG, SG)
It is now easier than ever to set up styles for use with raked frames. Styles specifically for raked or gable-raked frames can also be set up and made available in such cases.

Better control over transom and mullion positions while using window styles (SG)
Window styles can now have Transom and Mullion Breaks set up against them. This allows you to make sure that transoms and mullions are precisely placed where you need them when this style used on a frame.

Multi-door styles are now supported (BSG, SG)
Frame styles can now be set up to have as many doors as you wish at any position. This now means that you can create almost any conceivable door combination you need.

More control over how window and door styles appear (SG)
Default width and height details can now be set up against a frame style. This allows you to decide how a frame will appear in the selection gallery.

Transoms can now be automatically added to any raked frame, in-line with the ringbeam (BSG)
By popular request, RoofWright can now be set to do this automatically on new conservatories.

More intelligent choices (BSG, SG)
RoofWright 6.8 now presents the choices of window style more sensibly. If a style cannot be used in the current situation, it’s not shown as an option!

Additional Frames Support and Frame-Only Jobs

Additional frames fully supported in the new “Frames” view (Option)
The new “Frames” view on the main screen fully supports any additional frames you wish to add to your order. Through here you can add, remove or alter details of your frames quickly and easily.

Additional frames now support locations (Option)
Any additional frames can now have their location details specified against them. This includes where they are for (e.g. kitchen, bedroom), the height from the floor, and much more.

New additional frame reports available (Option)
RoofWright 6.8 comes with many new reports (see Print Designer Express section), including a number of specially tailored reports for ordering non-conservatory frames.

RoofWright is now the perfect tool for window-only orders (Option)
The extended features for additional frames now means that RoofWright is the perfect tool for any window sales/order purpose, with or without a conservatory!

RoofWright now supports even more information about your frames (Option)
RoofWright 6.8 provides more information for your frames than ever before. For each frame, you can now choose a different inside and outside colour/foil, choose which cill to use per frame and an almost unlimited number of other options via the Frame Options feature.

Dummy and Georgian Bars

Easier than ever to set up dummy and georgian bars in frames (BSG)
Improved dummy/georgian bar editor makes it even easier to set up how many and what kind of bars you want to use.
It can be used to add midrails to doors, change glass splits and much more.

More accurate and flexible (BSG)
Previews of your chosen georgian or dummy bar layout is even more accurate, showing only relevant sizes to reduce unnecessary clutter.

Options for Windows and Doors

Intelligent lists of options which can be chosen for each frame (BSG, SG)
Frame options allow you to set up a number of different options that are associated with a frame or aperture. Each option can have one or more possible choice that the salesman can select. The available options can also be shown or hidden depending on other, related factors. For example, you don’t want it to ask about the kind of handle if you have no opening sash!
Easy to set up and completely flexible to suit your needs.

Frame order printouts with all chosen options (BSG)
RoofWright 6.8 is provided with a number of different printouts for frame ordering. All the extra window options chosen by the saleman are listed on most of these printouts, to make sure your window manufacturer doesn’t miss specific requirements about your order!

Window and Door Cills

Set up your own cills to be used under window and/or doorways (BSG)
RoofWright now allows you to set up different cills for your windows and doors, with a default kind to use on all new jobs.

Different cills now show accurately in 3D (EBSG)
Along with allowing you more control over the different type of cill to use in different situations, RoofWright also shows all cills accurately in 3D, giving a realistic appearance to the customer.

Support for multiple internal cills (BSG)
You can set up a number of different internal cills/window boards for use on your frames and/or doors. The height and depth of each is fully customisable to suit your needs.

Choose different cills beneath doors and windows (EBSG)
There are now separate options to choose the type of cill to use beneath your doorways and window frames in a conservatory. You can also choose the kind of internal windowboard and internal door cill to use too!

More flexibility over when a cill is used (EBSG)
A number of new RoofWright 6.8 options allow you to choose whether cills are available in different situations or not. Do you use cills on top of full-height walls? Beneath full-height frames? What about internal cills?

With RoofWright 6.8 you now have even more control!

Conservatory Systems NEW!

Brand new feature – Conservatory Systems! (EBSG, BSG)
Conservatory systems combine one roof system, one window system and one coupler system into a single item which can be applied to a job in one click.

Stop your salesmen ordering roof / window / coupler system combinations that don’t work by forcing them to choose from a pre-defined set that you control!

Fully-editable colour schemes (BSG)
Each Conservatory Scheme has its own set of colour schemes which you can alter/add to to suit your needs.

Not only are you presented with a list of available frame and roof colours from the appropriate roof and window systems, you can also create colour schemes based on your own custom colours (if the roof system supports custom colours).

RoofWright keeps an eye open for new Conservatory Systems (EBSG)
RoofWright continuously checks for any brand new combinations of Conservatory Systems you might be interested in. If you choose to use on or more of them, RoofWright will automatically configure them for you.

Restrict the conservatory designs for a Conservatory System (BSG)
Each conservatory system has its own set of designs which are allowed, so you can restrict which designs can be created depending on the Conservatory System chosen.

Roof and Frame Glazing

Separate window and roof glazing lists (BSG)
The glazing which can be used in the roof is now separate from those for the windows/doors, making it easier to manage and to find what you need.

More control over your glazing (BSG)
Even more information can be set up against a glazing type. This includes additional options for pricing, appearance and material.

Glazing constructions supported (SG)
You can now set up how your glazing is constructed. Choose the inner and outer pane material as well as their structural details.
Using these, RoofWright can choose the best construction to use in any given situation, warning you if the glazing cannot be use safely.

Better appearance in 3D (EBSG)
The appearance properties set for each glazing kind are now closer to the real thing in 3D.
Colour and textures used now appear more accurately and truer to real life.

Infill panels are now treated as glazing (EBSG)
Infill panels are now available in the window glazing list, and are set up in the same way. This means that you have many more options to control the appearance of your infill panels, and allows for as many kinds as you wish to add.

Support for different glazing per pane (BSG)
RoofWright has always provided the option to choose different glazing per aperture, but now you can also use different kinds for each pane, between dummy bars and between muntins on a roof.

Roof and Freehand Design Features

Undo and Redo now supported (EBSG)
At any point, you can back out of changes or re-apply any backed out changes by using the undo and redo buttons in the main window. This much-requested feature allows you to roll back from mistakes and allows you even more control when editing your designs.

Dog leg wall bars are now supported (BSG)
“Kinked” (dog leg) wall/end bars are now automatically created if an obstruction intrudes into it. Any affected glazing also changes shape to accommodate it.

Frame-offs are now available (BSG)
Frame-offs can be easily added to the roof, against house walls in order to account for uneven walls or small obstructions.

Improved box gutter support (BSG)
Box gutter adding/editing is now more reliable in all cases, and RoofWright 6.8 now supports elevated box gutters (also in 3D)

Extended support for muntin bars (BSG)
Adding and editing muntin bars is even easier and more flexible. Muntins can be set up per roof panel and can be aligned across hips.

Automatic adding of muntin bars below roof vents (BSG)
Due to popular request, RoofWright can be set to automatically add a muntin bar below all roof vents.

Improved support for external rafter spacings (BSG)
RoofWright 6.8 provides better support for those who measure rafter spacings from the outside edge of the ringbeam.

New bay tool for freehand designs (BSG)
To help with creation of bay sections on Freehand designs, RoofWright 6.8 has a new bay tool. Simply enter a few basic details and all the required facets will be automatically calculated and added to the design for you.

Print Designer Express (BSG) NEW!

Design your own presentation or order print outs
New to RoofWright 6.8 is the exciting new Print Designer Express feature.

This is an easy-to use step-by-step printout designer, allowing you to make changes to existing printouts (created using Print Designer Express) or design whole new ones.

Step-by-step design
An easy to understand step-by-step approach is used for creating printouts. Options are displayed as they become relevant, and at all times you can see a preview of the layout of the page to see how you the printout will appear.

One printout, multiple colour schemes
All printouts created with Print Designer Express are colour-scheme independent. This means that by setting up a colour scheme for your company, printouts can very easily be made to appear customised just for you.

Printouts that fully scale to fit the page
All printouts (supplied or new ones) will automatically scale to fit the size of the paper at the time of printing.

Support for window order printouts
Window printouts with multiple frames per page are supported by Print Designer Express and are very easy to create or change.

Images are clearer and better proportioned on printouts
RoofWright 6.8 printing engine now produces faster, better looking scaled drawings and 3D images on printouts.

Create custom 3D images for your printouts
As well as the large number of available 2D and 3D images you can use on your printouts, you can create custom “views” of your design which can be used on your printouts.

Have even more control with Print Designer Professional
All Print Designer Express printouts can be upgraded to be used with Print Designer Professional (purchased separately). This is the powerful printout designing tool for those who want the most flexibility or control than PDExpress provides.

Brickwork

Clearer, more informative basework diagrams (BSG)
Basework and survey diagrams are available for Internal and External sizes, with less clutter and clearer information

Support for fire walls (Option)
New to RoofWright 6.8 is support for fire walls against your conservatory. These are easy to add and realistically shown in 3D.

Portal Frames (SG)

Portal frame support is now available
Portal frames can be added beneath almost any design. The location of purlins and portal legs can be set quickly and simply.

Portal structure is available in 3D
Portal frames display in 3D to give stunning realism and accuracy for the customer.

User Experience and 3D

New “Preset Views” option (BSG)
The current 2D or 3D view can be “snapshot” so you can re-use the current appearance/view in future.
Preset Views can also be used to produce custom 2D or 3D images for printouts.

DXF export option is improved (SG)
Professional-level DXF files can now be more easily (and more accurately) exported. Only the parts of the design currently on-screen will be exported, providing more control.

Moving and rotating in 3D is even easier (EBSG)
New 3D movement window provides all the 3D movement and rotation options in one place.

Scaling is now available from your mouse (EBSG)
Changing the on-screen size of the design is even easier – your mouse wheel can be used to zoom in and out.

Roof Pricing

Matrix-based pricing supports validity rules (SG)
These rules are checked before pricing the section to decide whether the section can be priced or not.

Roof glazing can now be priced and discounted separately from the roof (SG)
If the glazing is from a different supplier than the roof, the glazing can be priced and discounted separately.

New Copy and Paste option for setting up Ancillaries
It’s now even easier to set up ancillary questions.

New “fail-over” pricing mechanism (G)
If your normal pricing mechanism isn’t able to price a design, RoofWright now allows you to try a second mechanism instead. E.g. useful if you normally price by matrix for simple designs, but use material pricing for more complex designs.

New pricing mode – “by stock length” (G)