The ability to assign the type of drop to each tap port has been instituted in version 11.00 of The Lode Data Design Assistant. This new feature was created to meet customer requirements for using Tap Ports to designate Drop Types as an alternative to the MDU Window. With this comes a way to designate count types and drops without using the MDU window. The new count option is independent of the existing MDU Window. The two do not interact.

For a full review and usage of the new Drop Count Types feature please see our documentaiton article: Tap Port Drop Types

Compatibility

• Windows 10 (x64)
• Compatible with Drafting Assistant 11.00+

11.03 Maintenance notes

• 0 Home for list window off screen behavior changed. Every time the Design Assistant is started the dialog will open in the default position. If the dialog is moved it will reopen in that position as long as the DA is running. Close it down and restart and it will revert to the default.
• Ghost PCDs resolved – In previous versions, PCD connection info was not always fully removed when PCDs were removed. This resulted in Ghost PCDs causing crashes when powering. 11.03 looks for and removes the Ghost PCDs automatically when entering the Powering mode. Resolve Branches also looks for and removes Ghost PCDs

Compatibility

• Windows 10 (x64)
• Compatible with Drafting Assistant 11.00+

File Formats Have Changed

Previous files can be opened seamlessly. Files opened and saved in 11.00 can be saved back to previous versions.

11.00 New Features/Enhancements

• Tap Port Drop Types
• RES: residential
• COM: commercial
• MDU: multiple dwelling unit

The ability to assign the type of drop to each tap port has been instituted in version 11.00 of The Lode Data Design Assistant. This new feature was created to meet customer requirements for using Tap Ports to designate `Drop Types` as an alternative to the MDU Window. With this comes a way to designate count types and drops without using the MDU window. The new count option is independent of the existing MDU Window. The two do not interact.

3 new columns have been added to the design mode. The `drop count type` columns can be found to the far right of the Design Assistant design mode screen. See the Drop Count Types – Feature Highlight for full details on how to use this new feature

This folder is the start of the search path for attached networks (PCD connections). This can be the same as the Network folder but it doesn’t have to be the same. The PCD folder is fixed, meaning that the program doesn’t ever change it. The only way it should change is by manually editing it in the Project Settings dialog.

11.00 Maintenance notes

• Edit Tap Plugins has been updated.

There were certain situations where random characters were shown instead of the available plugins from the set spec.

• When using the Design Assistant with a Viewer only dongle, spec files cannot be saved.

Feature Documentation

More detailed information on these new features can be cound in our documentation.

Compatibility

• Windows 10 64bit
• AutoCAD: 2023, 2022, 2021
• Oracle 12c
• Lode Menus:
  • Drafting Assistant.cuix
  • Lode Fiber.cuix

Note that some new features and fixes require the Design Assistant version 10.61 or higher.

API users will need 10.61 files or higher

No Changes.

11.01 Maintenance notes

• Re-Order positions corrected to properly re-order all cable positions for any cable.

Open an area with the entire cable loaded Select Lode properties on the cable Click Re-Order on the Positions Tab Update Database

• Zero length polylines no longer display the “error inserting polyline” dialog when opening maps.

This will reduce a number of unnecessary warnings. This also fixes issues caused by the error:

• Objects saving on LODE_LOCK_LAYER
• AutoCAD Break command working on Fiber Cables
• No Check In warning when closing map

Compatibility

• Windows 10 64bit
• AutoCAD: 2023, 2022, 2021
• Oracle 12c
• Lode Menus: Drafting Assistant.cuix Lode Fiber.cuix

11.00 New Features/Enhancements

• AutoCAD 2023 Support Added
• Ports can now be named

How to name a port

1. Open Port Properties of a Port
2. Add a Name to Port Properties
3. Name will appear on reports that include port positions

11.00 Maintenance notes

• Re-Order positions corrected to properly re-order all cable positions for any cable.

How to Re-Order Positions

1. Open an area with the entire cable loaded
2. Select Lode Properties on the cable
3. Click Re-Order on the Positions Tab
4. Update Database

Design Assistant

$6,000 each for 1-3 licenses
$5,700 each for 4-9 licenses
$5,500 each for 10+ licenses

Drafting Assistant

$4,000 each for 1-3 licenses
$3,900 each for 4-9 licenses
$3,500 each for 10+ licenses

Fiber Module

$3,000 per license

Please contact with any questions!

Compatibility

• Windows 10 (x64)
• Compatible with Drafting Assistant 10.50

10.84 Maintenance notes

• Update All no longer distorts pull down menus.
• Generating reports when Excel is not installed now displays the following error: MS Excel could not be found!
• Column headings Res Com MDU have been removed. These will be used in the upcoming 11.00 release.
• Jump to Branch Label is working properly.
• Forward Feed now correctly prompts user to move couplers to the new branch, or not.

Compatibility

• Windows 10 (x64)
• Compatible with Drafting Assistant 10.50

10.83 Maintenance notes

• Issue with Control File BOM has been resolved. The BOM now fully populates.
• BOM no longer lists cables that are not in the Network.

Compatibility

• Windows 10 (x64)
• Compatible with Drafting Assistant 10.50

10.82 Maintenance notes

• Equalizers are properly saved back to all versions available.
• Run Read Key button on startup error properly starts Key Utility.
• All Pad and EQ prefix show on Active File Report.
• Cable Color properly saves.