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Stringer Topo V26.20 Readme

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Stringer Topo is available for:

  • AutoCAD 2025 to AutoCAD 2026
  • Civil 3D 2025 to Civil 3D 2026
  • BricsCAD V26

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Stringer Topo

You will need a valid subscription or maintenance of Stringer Topo to update to V26.

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

Installation and Licensing Guide: Stringer Topo – 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

Critical Information – BricsCAD V26 Users

If you are installing Stringer Topo for BricsCAD V26, it is critical that you are using the latest BricsCAD V26 version (V26.1.07 or later).  Previous versions of BricsCAD V26 did not support the operation of Civil Site Design.

You can check the BricsCAD version by typing ABOUT at the commandline in BricsCAD

Supporting Applications

Coinciding with this release is the addition of two new software applications that complement Stringer Topo:

  • Model Review
  • CSA Translation Editor
    • This is a free, standalone application providing tools to create and manage language translations applying to Stringer Topo
    • If you are interested in providing translation services please contact us and we will provide you everything you need including this application.

V26.2 Software Changes

New Features:

  • Quick Section
    • Added a new command to enable viewing of Surfaces, Models, Subgrade Models, Alignments, Pipes and COGO Points along any polyline
    • Includes user controls over grid display, object and text display
    • Includes CAD output to directly to the drawing
  • Drape Objects
    • Convert 2D objects (polylines, text, blocks, arcs, lines) into 3D objects draped onto the surface.  For polylines, vertices are added to match all surface triangle edges
  • Language Support
    • Added functionality to manage created language translations applying to all forms in the software.  Users can switch between languages, closing and reopening the software to apply the changes

Improvements/Fixes:

  • Survey Defaults now includes import and export functionality
    • Added import and export buttons for copying Stringer settings between computers.
  • Convert to COGO Points
    • This command now includes expanded options on the point generation.  Users can now opt to
      • Create a CAD point only (not a full COGO point)
      • Include an x,y shift for the inserted point location, relative to the x,y coordinate picked up from the selected objects
  • Water Drop
    • The water drop algorithm has been improved to address possible path irregularities.
  • A new file called NewCSAProjectDefaults.ini has been added to the CSA Settings folder. 
    • This file can be edited and the input of UsePackModeDefault can be set to True. If the file has UsePackModeDefault=True then Project Storage (Pack Mode) will be defaulted ON for new projects
  • Fixed an issue with overriding the number of decimal places displayed via the Point Display Properties form when users have included a prefix/suffix with the point property being edited
  • If a point property field is blank, it will no longer display the block text attribute tag and will instead show blank

BricsCAD V26 – Important Notes

Annotation Scale Change

In BricsCAD V26, picking a different Annotation Scale does not automatically trigger a resizing of labels.  After selecting a new Annotation Scale it is required to click on the Annotation Scale button to effect the scale change.

CAD Drawing Import/Export Tools

Conflicts have been found between BricsCAD V26 and Civil Site Design affecting the import/export of data to .dwg/.dxf.  This affects the following commands

  • Export Models
    • There is a conflict between BricsCAD and Civil Site Design preventing Export Models to export .dwg or .dxf files.  This command has been removed.
  • Export Surfaces
    • Export Surfaces does not include the .dwg or .dxf export.
  • Model Viewer
    • The CAD tab has been removed.  This tab enabled loading of an external CAD drawing into the model
    • The Output > Export does not support .dwg/dxf output

The development team are working on alternatives to enable import/export of drawing files. 

Known Issues – All Platforms

  • 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
  • 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, Civil 3D and CSD Plus
    • 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.