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New Features for Snowpro Plus+ Version 2011.03.30
Released on March 31, 2011.Click here for older releases New Features
This release is a minor release with some nice new features and some bug fixes.
More details on the fixes are available on our Support Page.
Overview
- New Photo Attachment to the profile which allows you to attach and display a bitmap file (Details).
- New Export all profile data to a .CSV format file allowing you to easily open profile data in MS-Excel or other applications (Details).
- New option in preferences that allows you to set the graph to either left or centre when in full screen window (Details).
- 2 New fields: Wind Loading and Notable checkboxes added to main graph (Details).
- For new installs the (data) sample and bitmap folders has been moved out of the application install folder to the "Common Application Data" folder (Details).
- The Log (F9) window is now sizeable and can remain open on the profile while editing other data (Details).
- When a profile is exported to a bitmap/graphic file you now have the option to immediately display the exported file using the default Windows viewer for that graphic file type (Details).
- The current profile, bitmap, text, and language folders are now displayed on the Help, About menu dialog (Details).
- All profile names are now shown on the bottom of the main menu "Windows" menu option with the current one checkmarked (Details).
- When tiling multiple profiles you can now tile with strategy either horizontal or vertical (Details).
- We are simultaneously releasing a free Snowpro Plus+ Viewer which is exactly the same in features as the subscription version except you cannot create or change profiles with it. The Viewer is always free and does not expire (Click here to download).
- We are simultaneously releasing a 15 day free Snowpro Plus+ Trial which is exactly the same in features (Click here to download).
1. New Photo Attachment
This is a new feature which allows you to attach a picture using various bitmap formats such as jpeg, bmp, wmf. A sample is shown here:.Notice that the log window can also be left open and is maintained on top at the same time. When in full screen the graph can be placed either at the left or center of the screen.
To attach a new profile:
- Open the desired profile
- Click on the button to the right of the "Photo" label to open the picture dialog
- On the photo dialog click on the File, Open menu option to select the desired photo file
- Click Ok button
Sample of new photo attachment (Click graph to view full size)
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2. New Export CSV Format (for import into MS-Excel and other apps)
A new Comma Seperated Value (CSV) save format has been added. This allows you to create a .csv file for importing profile data into various applications. This works especially well for importing into MS-Excel spread sheet.To create the csv file:
Sample of saving CSV File (Click to view full size)
Sample data in MS-Excel (Click to view full size)
- Open the desired profile
- Select main menu option "File, Save As"
- Select the .CSV file type
- Enter the desired file name (will end in .csv)
- Click the Ok button
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3. New Graph Position Preference
When you maximize a profile to fill the whole screen you can now have the profile either be docked to the left or center of the snowpro desktop.This is a preference default and applies to all profiles that are maximized.
To set the profile position:
- Click on main menu option "Preferences" to open the preferences dialog
- Click on General tab
- On bottom left click either Left or Center
- Click on Save button (if you want this to be remembered next session)
- Click Ok button to close the preferences dialog
4. 2 New Fields
Both fields below are checkboxes.Wind Loading means heavy snow loading from wind (Cornices etc.)
Notable means this profile is a significant profile. Can be used in reporting to flag this profile.
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5. Common Application Data Folders
For new installs the (data) sample and bitmap folders have been moved out of the application install folder to the "Common Application" Data folder which is located as follows: (indicated later as {commonappdata})On Win2000, WinXp: c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\ApplicationData\Gasman\Snowpro
On WinVista, Win7: c:\Programdata\Gasman\Snowpro
User accessible files are located as follows:
Profiles default folder: {commonappdata}\Gasman\Snowpro\Profiles (user changable)
Bitmaps default folder: {commonappdata}\Gasman\Snowpro\Bitmaps (user changable)
Text files including Observer and location comboboxes info: {commonappdata}\Gasman\Snowpro\Textfiles (not changable)
Translation Files: {commonappdata}\Gasman\Snowpro\Translate (not changable)
Note that upgrade installations over top of previously installed Snowpro will copy the following 4 user text files from the application folder to the{commonappdata} data folder: obs.txt, obs2.txt, obsdr.txt, and location.txt. These files contain updated text that you enter into the observer name and location fields. You may edit these with a text editor to populate your own lists.
This was done as the new Microsoft security recommendations separate data folders from application folders to allow user security to be better controlled. In most new implementations of Windows the application folder is set to be read only and does not allow the user to modify files located in the application folder thus preventing Snowpro from saving profiles there.
You may also place your profile and exported graphic/bitmap files anywhere you wish on your computer (security permitting)
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6. Log Window (F9) Improvements
The Log (F9) window is now sizeable and can remain open on the profile while editing other data in other profiles.Did you know that the log window indicates all kinds of information when you load a profile as well as various actions that you complete while working on profiles?
You can also type your own information into the log window as a temporary scratch pad while working.
This log is only kept for the current session and once you exit Snowpro the log is not saved.
You can, however, save the log information by clicking on the Save button on the log dialog and specifying a text file name.
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7. Export to Graphic File Improvement
When a profile is exported to a bitmap/graphic file you now have the option to immediately display the exported file using the default Windows viewer for that graphic file type.To open the bitmap after save:
- Open a profile
- Select main menu option "File, Export to Graphic File"
- Type in the desired bitmap file name
- When the completion prompt appears click on Yes Button to see the graphic file
Sample of Exported Graph (Click to view full size)
Note that you can also get good export results of graphs by simply printing to the included PrimoPDF printer driver.
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8. File Locations Shown on About Dialog
The current profile, bitmap, text, and language folders are now displayed on the Help, About menu dialog.This will tell you where various files are saved by default.
To view the file locations
Location data shown in red (Click to view full size)
- Click on main menu option "Help, About"
- View locations on bottom of About dialog
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9. Profile List with Active Profile Checked
All profile names are now shown on the bottom of the main menu "Windows" menu option with the current one checkmarkedTo view the list:
- Open multiple profiles
- Click on main menu option "Windows"
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10. Multiple Profile Tiling Options
When organizing multiple profileson screen prfiles by tiling you can now tile with strategy either horizontal or vertical.
To select the tile options:
- Open multiple profiles
- Select main menu option "Windows, Tile (Horizontal)"
or
Select main menu option "Windows, Tile (Vertical) "
or
select main menu option "Windows, Cascade"
