RapidAuthor 2506
Release Notes

Key Changes

• Ability to merge assemblies after simplification to improve import performance of very large CAD models.
• Improved import of B-Rep data.

• Control properties of multi-column pages or even and odd pages via PDF rules.
• Control illustration size and alignment via PDF rules.

• Support for ISOEntities in data modules attached to the project for reusing data modules containing non-UTF-8 symbols from other authoring tools.

• Quick project search by name in the Open Project dialog.
• Prevent multiple instances of the product from accessing the same project simultaneously, such as when used by different users in a shared network workspace.

• Clone functionality for DITA and generic content.
• Improved RapidAuthor Client launch mechanism resulting in a faster and more seamless startup experience.
• Scheduling import, update, distribute and other operation using workflow tasks. Notification in Active Workspace for completed tasks.
• Improved dialog for creating Cortona3D S1000D items.

• A new method for creating PDF publications: authors can now select project illustrations for inclusion in the PDFs and define their order. 
• PDF parts catalogs can now contain separate tables for each illustration, making them easier to use. 

• Completely redesigned composite illustrations functionality offering greatly enhanced usability and features.
• Polyline smoothing with configurable tolerance to reduce the number of points in polylines and the file size as a result. 

More detailed information about key changes →

Full list of changes

• Control page properties (such as two-column layout) via PDF rules
• Control illustration size and alignment via PDF rules.
• PDF rules can be defined through project metadata or publication option to keep the specification component and default rules file unchanged. 
• Copying project metadata into DITA topic and using them in PDF rules to create advanced customization rules.

• A new Clear button to empty the form used for creating a reference to a data module for faster authoring. 
• Command Assign Tag ID for quick generation of a unique ID for various elements in the data module.
• Support for ISOEntities in data modules attached to the project for reusing data modules containing non-UTF-8 symbols from other authoring tools. 

• Quick project search by name in the Open Project dialog.
• Attribute sorting in the Document Editor window is now disabled. Attributes order is defined by document schema or DTD. 
• Export of static geometry to glTF in RapidManual (applicable to RapidDataConverter for Teamcenter and RapidDataConverter).
• Prevent multiple instances of the product from accessing the same project simultaneously, such as when used by different users on a shared network workspace.

• A new method for creating PDF publications: authors can now select project illustrations for inclusion in the PDFs and define their order (applicable to RapidCatalog, RapidIllustrator, and Generic Procedure specification in RapidManual).  
• PDF parts catalogs can now contain separate tables for each illustration, making them easier to use (applicable to Generic IPC in RapidCatalog). Previously a single cumulative table was generated at the end of a PDF catalog.
• A new publishing option and publication setting to choose how background objects are rendered to improve the user experience (applicable to RapidCatalog and RapidIllustrator).
• Improved zoom algorithm for smother navigation when using the mouse wheel in 3D publications. New options “Set rotation center to selected objects” and “Zoom to rotation center” are available both in the publishing options of the authoring tools and in the settings of resulted publication.

• Completely redesigned composite illustrations functionality offering greatly enhanced usability and features.
• New default window layout to accommodate the new Composite Image window.
• Generation of 2D illustrations for orthographic projection while keeping 3D model coordinate information and enabling fragment alignment. This feature replaces the Fixed Scale mode introduced in the previous version.
• The Generate Callouts mode is now retained when switching IPC pages. 
• Polyline smoothing with configurable tolerance to reduce the number of points in polylines and the file size as a result. 
• Raster editor improvements: simple multiline text editor, adjusting brightness and contrast.
• Support for “no pen line” when importing files from IsoDraw.
• Fitting picture extent to the bounding box of visible geometry.

General

• Support for DITA PDF publishing rules via a new item type – DITA PDF Rules. This enables more flexible and structured control over PDF output for DITA-based content. 
• Service Planner: Illustrations are now inserted into corresponding procedure steps in the generated document. 
• Service Planner: Support for all types of Warning and Service Notice objects.
• Active workspace: Related Content Management objects are now displayed in DITA and S1000D item revision properties. 
• Active workspace: Improved dialog for creating Cortona3D S1000D items to align with the behavior and structure of the Rich Client. The new interface minimizes user errors and ensures consistency in object naming and ID generation. 

RapidAuthor Client

• Improved RapidAuthor Client launch mechanism without downloading a temporary file, resulting in a faster and more seamless startup experience. 
• The Prepare for Approve command is now available for Cortona3D S1000D items. It now opens a dialog that allows users to specify a date and assign a QA status. 
• Republish command is now available in Active Workspace. 
• Clone functionality for DITA and generic content. 

RapidAuthor Administrator

• Creation and import of Cortona3D DITA PDF Rules objects in RapidAuthor Administrator. 
• Ability to open the currently selected object in Active Workspace. 
• Improved UI: Grouping of objects in the tree view and alphabetical sorting in dropdown lists. 
• Ability to copy read-only attributes (such as Item ID, Name) from managed administrative objects. 

RapidCompiler 

• Scheduling import, update, distribute and other operation using workflow tasks. Notification in Active Workspace for completed tasks. 
• Support scheduling operations for Manufacturing Process Planner и Service Planner.