Upgrade SPIRIT 2010 in addition to the classic Geg offer modern CAD programs also intelligent 3D-Architekturbauteile that simplify the planning process and accelerate. Many designers do not use these advantages however, but use CAD for various reasons only as “digital drawing board”. While the advantages of architecture components in the sense of building information modeling are (BIM) on the hand: the planning process is streamlined. Cuts, views, dimensions and quantities can be automatically deduced from the 3D building model, easier to manage costs and materials. To facilitate the implementation and promotion from 2D to 3D designers, SOFTTECH developed 2010 special features and a new philosophy in dealing with components with the new SPIRIT. The basis for this is the new wall system by 2010, SPIRIT that just works, how designers think and how they are used to from the 2D drawing. Thus the user must not adjust in his previous work.

Composite 3-d walls are, for example, layer by layer without complicated Input methods are created. SPIRIT of 2010 just provides a variety of wall types, so that the wall system can be used immediately. Also creating new walls and wall layers or change existing walls is easy. For example, the material for the thermal insulation must be exchanged, only the relevant layer is edited – clear and easy from a central location with the “object Inspector”. This allows access to all important parameters of the component, so that not only the material but also the height of a wall section can be changed. Filtering mechanisms allow fast changes, as the thermal insulation – either at a particular point or across an entire project. Since all layers may be individually modified by simple 2D-Funktionalitaten, complex intersections of walls can be easily implemented.

Also the new Explorer in SPIRIT 2010 makes the ascent from 2D to 3D: the user must be neither to complicated Menu sequences used, still learning how the components and the associated character styles. Manages the components are clear about the Explorer, which is similar to the familiar Windows Explorer. Using a “format”brush, such as properties of a component selected with the mouse can be copy and transfer to another component. Equally intuitive properties of existing components or drawing items on new components can be transferred with the “dropper”. The clever mix of modern 3D-Bauteilphilosophie and familiar 2D-Funktionalitat is consistently continued in the planning phases. So, 3D-Bauteile are used for the creation of planning including all sections, views, visualizations, or for the calculation of the mass. For subsequent work planning the familiar 2D-Zeichenelemente components can be reduced, which can generate the complete work planning. There is more information about the new version of SPIRIT 2010 at SOFTTECH GmbH Friedrichstrasse 30, D-67433, Neustadt/Weinstrasse, phone 06321 939-0, telefax 06321 939-199, or on the Internet at or. There, interested or beginner can also demo versions of software to order free of charge or get numerous learning and help videos. Holger Faust