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Stringer V26.00 Release Notes

Stringer Topo is available for:

  • AutoCAD 2021 to AutoCAD 2026
  • BricsCAD V22 to BricsCAD V26
  • Civil 3D 2021 to Civil 3D 2026

IMPORTANT INFORMATION – Updated Licensing

The License Manager has been upgraded from V25.  As well as including a new interface, added functionality and improved visibility to license information, Cloud licensing has now been included.

To upgrade from V25 to V26, a new license key is no longer required.  The update will be automatic, following installation of Civil Site Design V26 and operation of the software.  If license messages display, open the CSA License Manager and click on the Refresh button.

Home Use License Keys will no longer be issued.  Customers wishing to access their Single User license across two computers will need to move to Single User Cloud Licensing.

Full installation and licensing details are contained in the Installation and Licensing Guide.

Moving to Cloud Licensing Models

The Subscription Manager for valid license/s at each organisation will have been emailed instructions on initiating a license switch from computer-bound licensing to Cloud licensing.  

Software Evaluation Process

The Evaluation process has changed in V26.  Previously, a ‘generic’ key was automatically issued to enable 30 day operation of the software.  Now users will need to: 

  • Open the CSA License Manager 
  • Click on the Evaluation tab 
  • Pick the product to evaluation and input your email and name

Your evaluation key will be sent to your email 

  • Activate your license using the Activation tab and inputting the Activation key

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Stringer Topo

You will need a valid subscription or maintenance of Civil Site Design to update to V26.

Following installation, operation of the software should automatically switch your current V25 license to V26 (if you have a current Civil Site Design subscription/maintenance.

Full installation and licensing details are contained in the Installation and Licensing Guide.

Subscription customers can obtain their V26 license keys, and manage their user access and licenses, directly from the Civil Survey Applications Customer Portal:

CUSTOMER CENTRE

New Features and Enhancements

New Features  

An attributes database has been included to support Stringer attributes in a project, applying to both COGO Points and Survey Strings. This allows users to easily organize and update extended stringer-related information within their models. Multiple commands have been added to support attributes to be added to COGO Points and Survey Strings.

  • Schema Editor
    • Create and edit Schemas. Schemas manage how your data is organised and stored. Create Data Tables and Data Fields managing data formats, field validation lists and default values.
  • Field Validation Settings
    • Create and manage validation lists (allowable inputs) for attribute fields.  Validations lists can be applied to ensure compliant inputs for any field/s in a Schema.
  • Cogo Points Table Map
    • Automates the assignment of Data Tables to COGO Points based on Point Code
  • Survey Strings Table Map
    • Automates the assignment of Data Tables to Strings based on Point Code
  • Setup Project Database
    • Establish and manage your attribute database, including Schema selection and mapping of attributes to COGO Points and Survey Strings.  The Project Database can be applied to the current project as well as act as a centralised database supporting multiple projects.
  • Import Trimble XML
    • Import a Trimble XML file including attributes picked up in the survey
  • Import Leica JXL
    • Import a Leica JML file including attributes picked up in the survey
  • Create Object Tables
    • Applies the schema tables and fields to objects in the drawing
  • Assign to Survey Strings
    • Assign COGO Point attributes to associated Survey Strings
  • Edit Point Attributes
    • Create and/or edit attributes for a selected COGO Point
  • Edit String Attributes
    • Create and/or edit attributes for a selected Survey String.  Pick a COGO point for the String required.
  • Table Viewer
    • Review and edit attributes associated with COGO Points and Survey Strings
  • Sync Data to Drawing (Civil 3D only)
    • Adds attribute information to COGO Points and Survey Strings directly in the drawing. Users can then view and edit attributes using the AutoCAD Properties panel
  • Sync Data from Drawing (Civil 3D only)
    • Read attribute information added to COGO Points and Survey Strings from the drawing (AutoCAD Properties panel) and update the Project Database
  • Sync to COGO Properties
    • Creates COGO Point Properties from attribute data fields added to points
  • Export to GIS
    • Create ESRI .shp files describing the attributed points and polylines
  • Import Cogo Points (by Alignment)
    • This new command allows users to import Cogo points based on alignment chainage and offset, making it easier to bring in data defined by chainage/offset to an alignment
  • LAS Point Cloud Surface
    • This tool enables users to create surfaces from LAS point cloud data, making it easier to work with raw point cloud data and convert it into useful models
  • CSA Surface Adaptive Decimate
    • This feature automatically reduces the density of surface data, improving performance and reducing file size while maintaining critical surface detail

Improvements

  • Project Storage – Prompt to pack on Quit
    • Adds an automatic pack prompt when exiting the application to reduce file bloat
  • COGO Point Labels – Station formatting (0+000) applied
    • Improves chainage clarity by enabling station formatting
  • Stringer – Titleblock Setup command restored
    • Brings back the Titleblock Setup command in the Stringer module
  • Toolspace – Cogo-point selection tool added (excluding Civil 3D)
    • Streamlines survey-point workflows directly in Toolspace
  • Toolspace – Remembers last position & toggling
    • Saves and toggles back to the previous Toolspace layout ​

Bug Fixes

  • Satellite Surface Creation
    • Resolved a problem that prevented the creation of satellite surfaces
  • Extracting Points from Pasted Surfaces
    • Limits point extraction to only user-pasted surface points, excluding extraneous triangulated mesh points
  • Toolspace Position Memory & Toggle
    • Fixed a bug where the toolspace did not remember its last position or toggle correctly
  • Missing Button in Material Group Editor
    • Added the missing button in the Model Viewer’s Material Group Editor to allow users to open the image folder
  • SDR File Codes in Stringer Connect
    • Addressed a problem with missing SDR file codes in Stringer Connect
  • COGO Points Selection in Toolspace
    • Fixed an issue with selecting COGO points within the toolspace
  • Pack Mode Timestamp
    • Restored the functionality of the timestamp in CSD Pack Mode
  • Missing Ribbon Entry in Stringer Topo Plus
    • Fixed the bug where the ribbon entry was missing from the Stringer Topo Plus interface
  • Surface Manager Closure Behavior
    • Fixed the issue where the surface manager was closing automatically instead of waiting for user action
  • Model Viewer – Aborting Material Group Creation
    • Ensures that cancelling material group creation properly aborts the process without leaving partial data

Special Notes

  • Pack Mode
    • Pack mode will be defaulted off in V26

Known Issues

  • Nahimic Software may interfere with Model Viewer
    • We have found that the software ‘Nahimic’ may prevent Model Viewer from displaying – the installation of Nahimic creates a conflict in Eyeshot (the graphics engine we use in Model Viewer).
    • If Model Viewer will not open, please check if Nahimic is installed. If so, updating Nahimic may resolve the issue. Uninstalling it will resolve the issue.
    • Nahimic software provides enhanced audio (typically for gamers) and is commonly installed with gaming laptops. More information about Nahimic can be found here: https://www.nahimic.com/gamers/
  • We you update your Windows if you experience this issue. Windows 11 Version 24H2 issue
    • The Windows 11 Version 24H2 Update introduces an error into the scale applied to images rendered onto a base surface in Model Viewer.  After installing this Windows update, the image will display at 200% scale in Model Viewer, measured from the top left corner of the image.
    • We recommend rolling back your Windows Update (or trying a newer update) if you experience this issue.
  • AutoCAD 2025, Civil 3D 2025 and CSD Plus V25
    • When using Load CAD, Model Viewer will not display Polyface Mesh, 3D solid or Region objects. Recommendation is to convert these 3D object types to 3D faces before loading.
  • Section Volume command
    • Roundabouts display under the String group of ‘String’ in the Section Volumes command.
  • Project Storage
    • Versions will only be stored to the nearest minute – this is as designed
    • If any of the files in the -Data folder (CSA Data folder) are not available for read/write (which happens if you plot to file for long sections and xref back into the same drawing) then the software will not be able to pack
    • Some outputs (ie: Long Section > Plot to File) are made directly to the current CSA Data folder.  Given that the software creates uniquely named CSA Data folders whenever you save and reopen a packed project, the folder path to the latest data changes when you save, close and reopen the drawing.  It is recommended that any file being referenced (xreffed) be copied to a static folder location.
  • Using the Toolspace to turn surface contours and/or triangles on/off is not remembered when you close and reopen the drawing.
  • Cadastral Lines command
    • If duplicate point numbers are created in a drawing, the software will automatically use one of the duplicates only
    • Mixing traverse lines and side shots will result in the ‘traverse’ polyline being removed up to the first side shot.  It is recommended to separate traverse lines and side shots into different groups
  • Acronis anti-virus and malware applications may assume that the Pack Mode process (whereby we zip the software data folder and include it inside the drawing file) is a possible malware threat.  This is a false positive and can be added to the allowlist
  • If you run Save As on an unpacked Stringer project:
    • In AutoCAD/BricsCAD or CSD Plus
      • The Sampled Surface will display as a block in the drawing, able to be deleted. 
      • If you have created Profile Strings (for long and cross section output, and point setout) the Sampled Surface (usually the surveyed surface) used when the Profile String was created will display as a block in the drawing, able to be deleted.
      • Drafting linework will reside in the drawing – running Cleanup will remove the drafting.