Trimble is proud to announce that PipeDesigner® 3D release 2013 version 3 is now shipping! Join us for our “What’s New” webinars where we will discuss and demonstrate the new features of this release. To register for one of the webinars, please visit HERE.

Below is an overview of the new features and enhancements to this release.

• Hanger Field Point wizard - Hanger Points can now be automatically generated based on parameters you define. Multiple rules can be defined for hanger spacing, customization of layer type, elevation, and single or double hangers, vertical runs, and hanger symbol.
• 3D Hanger block wizard - This feature allows you to add hanger blocks to specific hanger points in your drawing. These blocks are included in your field point export.
• AutoBid Mechanical routeline import - The PipeDesigner 3D software now allows you to import centerline of pipe and branches created in the AutoBid® Mechanical software (On-Screen View TakeOff and Graphical View TakeOff).
  • Note – This feature will be available in Release 2013 v1 of AutoBid Mechanical in On-Screen View TakeOff, Graphical View TakeOff, and Audit Trail View TakeOff (under the File menu).
• BOM data is now stored in AutoCAD’s properties - You are now able to view the Tag for BOM attributes in the Part Query and AutoCAD’s properties window. These were previously only viewable after the BOM was created.
• Field point tooltips - When you hover your mouse over a point, information pertaining to the point displays on-screen. These settings are available under AutoCAD Options / PipeDesigner 3D General.
• New annotation options - When you hover your mouse over a point, information pertaining to the point displays on-screen. These settings are available under AutoCAD Options / PipeDesigner 3D General.
• Miscellaneous
  • Pipe "healing" if a cut-in fitting is deleted
  • Field Point improvements
  • IFC improvements
  • Insulation improvements
  • Price codes are carried through to CAD
  • Editing a mark in the BOM table now updates the balloon

We're reaching out to our customer base once again for assistance.  We've had many requests over the years, and we're so pleased that we were finally able to fulfill this request.  We will now be offering a more complete ductile iron estimating database for the AutoBid Mechanical software. 

The expanding database will include additional fittings from Tyler as well as multiple configurations of ductile iron pipe spools.  The data is linked to new MCAA WebLEM data (for our customers who are members of MCAA).  Want to give it a trial run?  We'll be doing a Beta Data test period during the month of May.  The final version of this data will be released with AutoBid Mechancial 2011 v1.  If you are interested in helping us with the Beta Data, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

It's hard to believe it's already that time, but IT IS! I am very proud to announce that we are nearing the Beta release of AutoBid Mechanical 2011 v1.  If you would like to participate in the Beta testing phase, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .   AutoBid Mechanical 2011 v1 will be in Beta release from early May until May 31st.  We anticipate shipping this release around June 15th.  So, here' a sneak peak at what will be in this release:

• Ability to quickly do a + / - 1 foot elevation change while in OSV (OnScreen View TakeOff) or GTO (Graphical, Digitized-Based TakeOff)
• Longer cell formulas in Assemblies
• Ability to show the Assembly name instead of just an "A" in OSV or GTO
• Drag & drop off the mouse menu to increase the speed of counted item takeoff
• Ability to calculate detailing and layout labor
• Ability to compare PDFs and see what has changed between the two background image files

If you want to participate in our Beta test phase, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible.

Thanks -

Stacy Zerr

We are pleased to announce that AutoBid Mechanical 2010 v2 has been released to shipping.  Over the next few weeks, we'll be shipping this to all customers who are current on Customer Care as of October 1, 2010.

This release includes:
     - Copy and move functionality for OnScreen View Takeoff.  Box-in an area, and copy it or move it around your drawing.  This functionality also includes the ability to mirror or rotate the selected items.
    - A Power View for Audit Trail Takeoff.  This functionality allows users to use a floating menu in AuditTrail takeoff, and centralizes information for easier access.



    - The Mouse Menu can now be customized to use larger icons.  This version will also include two new QuickPen mouse menus - a vertical menu and a large format horizontal menu.
    - Piping Items can now be renamed in this version.  This new name will be used in all reports, takeoff, and the database.
    - A Modified Submitted Cost report that will allow our customers to apply factors to their labor and material costs.  
    - Additional PEX data has been added to the database.  This will allow our customers to run Value Engineering alternates between PEX and Wrot Copper.
    - The MCAA WebLEM has been incorporated into this release.  A link to the WebLEM data table is now included.

We'll highlight the new functionality at our 2010 Educational User's Conference at Trimble Dimensions, November 8th - 10th. 
Can't wait for this release?  Contact our Technical Support Group to be placed on the priority shipping list.

So, I'm going to brag for a minute here.  Did you know that AutoBid is the most accurate system on the market place in regard to pipe joint counts?  Yep, it is.  If you are doing Connected TakeOff, then AutoBid knows which fittings / valves / pipes are connected to each other and we'll automatically calculate the correct number of joints.  Got 3 valves back-to-back?  No problem!  In AutoBid, we know they're grouped and we'll give you 4 joints - whereas most other systems will give you 6 joints.  That's a 50% difference, folks!  Accurate joint count is critical for many of our industrial piping contractors who estimate their labor by the pipe joint.

AutoBid Mechanical isn't set-up to labor by the joint out of the box.  Neither PHCC (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors) nor MCA (Mechanical Contractors Association) currently offer labor estimating manuals that support the per joint labor method.  However, it's easy to apply labor on joints.

From the Main Menu of AutoBid Mechanical, select Tools --> Project Specifications --> Joint Parts.  Let's go down the list and select "CS Sch 40 Buttweld Joint" (Carbon Steel Schedule 40 Buttweld Joint).  This is from QuickPen Standard data - you may not have this exact one if you've modified your data.  The screen should look like this:



Notice the red arrow pointing to the Labor tab?  Click on that labor tab.  Here, you can select the labor tables that you want to apply to your joint.  I did this for all three of my labor tables, and it now looks like this:



Note:  Make sure that you click on another one of the Joint Parts in the Joint Parts Name list to make sure that the data is applied to the database.  That's all it takes to add labor to the joint.  When it reports, it will show up underneath the "Labor" section in both Crystal Reports and Rapid Reports:



 




Keep in mind, you'll want to decrease the labor on the individual items (since you're accounting for part of that labor now in the joint).  

Don't forget - this is a project specific setting - so if you want this to be "standard" for your company, you'll want to make this modification to your Default Project.

 Happy Estimating!