Although the roadmap below is currently accurate, we won’t hesitate to take our customers’ advice and do whatever needs to be done to get you the software features you need as soon as possible. Because of this, these priorities can shift rapidly based on customer feedback. Keep in touch with us via our RSS Feed, Facebook page, Release Notes, etc., to stay up to date on the latest features, release schedules, and priorities.

Improvements progress as follows: Conceptual – Development – Testing – Ready for Release – Released.  Once an item is released, it will remain in this list for another release cycle and the details of the feature will be in the release notes.

1. A redesign of the pipe database to include all the options in ASME B36.10M, expanding pipe sizes to 80″ and increasing the number of pipe choices by over 500. (Development)
2. Code Case 2695 for the design of cylindrical shells. (Development)
3. Code Case 2695 for the design of elliptical and torispherical head.  (Development)
4. Code Case 2695 for the design of nozzles. (Conceptual)
5. A redesign of the fittings concept and the fittings database to be more flexible and comprehensive and thus support multiple fittings datasets and code years (much like what is planned for Materials and Rated Flanges above). With the change in ASME Section VIII, D1 of the referenced fittings code (B16.11) to “Latest Edition” rather than a defined edition or addenda, the ASME is meeting its goal of allowing for more frequent updates to standards and thus meeting industry demands for more timely changes than was allowed for by the yearly code cycle. In the Section VIII, D1 2010 code the referenced standard was the B16.11 2005 edition. The software will be updated to utilize the B16.11 2005 data if the code year selected is 2010 and to utilize the “Latest Edition”, in this case B16.11 2009, if the Section VIII, D1 2010 code year selected is 2011. As new editions of the B16.11 are published they will be added to the software. (Conceptual)
6. Add a feature that will notify the user when the materials that were selected don’t comply with the selected code year, thus preventing an unintentional mismatch of code year and material stresses/yields.  (Development)
7. Expansion of the analysis module to include the new Welding Research Council Bulletin 537 (Precision Equations and Enhanced Diagrams For Local Stresses In Spherical and Cylindrical Shells Due To External Loadings For Implementation of WRC Bulletin 107). This new option expands upon WRC 107 and includes improved allowable stress criteria, loading options, and refined defaults to speed design. (Conceptual)
8. Expansion of the Tubesheet calculations to include the Elastic/Plastic option for Floating Tubesheet design.  With this new option, designers will have another methodology to apply in pursuit of compliance with part UHX requirements. (Conceptual)
9. The addition of the wind/seismic codes from IBC 2009, ASCE 7-2010, and the California Building Code. (Conceptual)
10. Add the option to the Hydrostatic Test Pressure calculation to include the allowable stress ratio of the bolting materials. (Conceptual)
11. The inclusion of an optional alternative bolt load calculation for Clamp Design per ASME Section VIII, D1, Appendix 24. (Conceptual)

New Features

• The camera location for the 3D snapshot included in the cover page (optional feature) has been improved to better capture nozzles on the top head.

Documentation Updates

• The nozzle dimension L definition has been revised to show how it applies to nozzles in elliptical heads and also to clarify the dimension for nozzles in heads.
• Additional knowledge base articles have been added to the manual and the online help.

Issues Resolved

• An issue was resolved in the tubesheet form that was preventing certain tubesheets from running the calculations, classifying them as incomplete, and giving the error messages that an hG and Wm1 value must be greater than zero. The most commonly affected tubesheet was fixed configuration b.  This has been addressed.  The behavior now no longer requires hG to be greater than zero, as some configurations may eliminate this or greatly reduce it.  Wc and Wm1c are required to be greater than zero for configurations b, c, d, B and C.  Ws and Wm1s are required to be greater than zero for configurations d, e, and f.
• The U-tube tubesheet solve for thickness iterative routine had an issue that was preventing it from returning a passing thickness in some cases where it should. This, too, has been resolved.

Misc

• A new message has been added to clarify why certain vessels cannot be opened if they are unable to patch due to being locked by another user or because they are in a folder that the user does not have write privileges to.
• The patching mechanism was re-factored so that unit testing could be added and also to better handle problem patching scenarios.

CEI is participating in the Kansas City Heart Walk this year. The funds raised by the American Heart Association go towards programs that aim to improve cardiovascular health at all stages of life.

• 1 in 3 Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease.
• Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined.
• 36,000 babies are born with heart defects each year.

Together, we can change these statistics! Imagine the impact if we reduce death and disability from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20% by 2020. You can help CEI reach our goal by spreading this message and by donating to our team. Watch for more announcements about what we’re doing for Heart Walk and beyond on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

New Features

• Addition of the R2 Rev 11 form.

Misc

• This release does require the running of a SQL script against the FormPro SQL database to add the additional fields needed by the new R2 Rev 11 form.
  • Related Files
    Download the SQL Script to update the FormPro SQL Database: http://www.computereng.com/downloads/current/FormPro 2012.sql
  • Instructions
    1. Install the FormPro SQL Client from the CEI Portal or from this location: http://www.computereng.com/downloads/current/FormPro SQL.exe
    2. Apply the above linked SQL script to update the database. The most commonly encountered order of operations is presented below.
       1. Log into the server with an account with administrative rights to the system, SQL Server Instance, and FormPro SQL Database (if using Windows Authentication).
       2. Double-click on the file from the provided link.
       3. Select “Connect” when the “Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express Connect to Database Engine” screen appears. The correct Server/Instance will need to be provided as well as Server/Instance/Database credentials sufficient to execute the script, but these may all be defaulted to the necessary values so that only the “Connect” button need be pressed to proceed.
       4. Select “! Execute” on the main toolbar at the top of the screen.
          

New Features

• Addition of the R2 Rev 11 form.

New Features

• Nozzle Code Changes and Calculation Improvements:
  • The value of Rn is now 0.5*nozzle ID for the 2011a code and is still 0.5*developed opening for the 2010 edition.  This is a code change as seen in UG-40(b) in the 2011 addenda.
  • Large nozzle calculations (Appendix 1-7a and 1-7b) now run for nozzles in cones.  The message warning that these calculations are not performed has been removed.
  • The requirement that the limit of reinforcement must fall outside the nozzle neck has been removed.
  • New Limits of Reinforcement section added to the report to better explain how the reinforcement calculations are performed.
  • The value of A is no longer allowed to be negative.
  • The value of A1 uses the limits of reinforcement now instead of having them built-in like figure UG-37.1.  In addition, A1 is no longer allowed to be negative.
  • The value of A2 uses the limits of reinforcement now instead of having them built-in like figure UG-37.1.  In addition, A2 is no longer allowed to be negative.
  • The value of A3 uses the limits of reinforcement now instead of having them built-in like figure UG-37.1.  In addition, A3 is no longer allowed to be negative.
  • The values of A41, A42, and A43 now all calculate an effective weld leg considering that the limits of reinforcement in both the normal and parallel directions may stop in the weld.  In addition, these values are no longer allowed to be negative.
  • The value of A5 uses the limits of reinforcement now: It no longer shows the pad diameter as the lower of the pad diameter or the parallel limits of reinforcement.  Instead, it shows a min statement that includes both the limit of reinforcement and the pad diameter.  In addition, A5 is no longer allowed to be negative.
  • The equations for partially inserted (e.g., UW-16.k) have had the symbol “tp” replaced with “dneck”.  Both of these symbols still represent the length of the nozzle neck that is inserted into the host wall.
  • A lot of internal rounding between steps in the reinforcement calculations was removed to simplify code and improve accuracy of final results.
  • Outer “h” limit, Internal “h” limit, and OD Limit of Reinforcement were all removed from Nozzle Design Information Section.
  • The section of the nozzle reinforcement calculations in the report has replaced the words “greater than” with the symbols “>=”.  The section of the nozzle reinforcement calculations in the report has replaced the words “less than” with the symbol “<”.
  • Several nested parentheses have been replaced with ‘[' and '{' to better clarify the nesting.  The nesting works like this { [ () ] }.  Equation A1 for nozzles that are partially inserted (e.g., UW-16.k) now limits the second term to zero so that it is more favorable to the design.
• Tubesheet Code Changes: When using the 2011a code, the bolt load values have been replaced with W* for all three tubesheet types.  In addition, several loading cases now use the operating bolt loads or zero instead of the design bolt load; this is more likely to get a thinner tubesheet to meet the code requirements.

Documentation Updates

• The nozzle help topic for “Diameter Limit of Reinforcement” has been replaced with the topic “Custom Limit of Reinforcement”.
• The tubesheet help topics “Bolt Load” and “Operating Bolt Load” have been expanded to explain Ws, Wc, Wm1s, and Wm1c.
• Additional knowledge base articles have been added to the manual and the online help.

Issues Resolved

• The nozzle required area of reinforcement (A) for the external pressure case for nozzles in flat heads/blind flanges was using a factor of 0.25 instead of 0.5.  This fix may cause some vacuum controlled nozzle designs to now fail in the software as the A value for the external pressure case will double.
• The value of gamma* in fixed tubesheets will now come out as zero for loading cases 1, 2, and 3 for designs with a shell band.
• An issue was resolved with the nozzle screening criteria for performing large opening calculations.  They were based on a hard conversion from the Customary values (60 inches converted to 1524 mm, 40 inches converted to 1016 mm, 20 inches converted to 508 mm); now they use the values listed for Metric units in UG-36(b) (1500 mm, 1000 mm, 500 mm).
• The nozzle A41 calculation will now reference the outside corrosion allowance instead of the inside corrosion allowance on the nozzle.
• The MAWP calculation for certain jacket closures where the MAWP based on the jacket spacing was referencing the closure thickness will now reference the jacket thickness.
• An issue was resolved in the 3D graphics that was causing a program lock up for nozzles in conical heads.
• The ASME SCVIIID1 Appendix 9 sketch g-6 image detail will now print in the Jacket Closure report.
• An issue was resolved in the nozzle report where the fr3 strength reduction factor was being shown when it was not being used.
• The Type column will no longer overlap the Size column in the ASME Flange report.
• An issue was resolved in the Fixed Tubesheet report where a bolt load value would sometimes appear in the printed equations for Pw and Q2 even though a bolt load was not present.
• An issue was resolved in the U-tube Tubesheet report where a “+” was missing in the displayed symbolic equation for M* for configuration f tubesheets.
• Changing the host allowable stress will now update the Appendix 2 Flange form.  This did not affect any calculations.

Misc

• New vessels now start with the 2011 Addenda selected for the Code instead of the 2010 Edition
• Selecting the 2011 Addenda option for the Code no longer triggers a message indicating the code changes from the Addenda were not all yet ready (they are now ready as of this release).

New Features

• Added new “Green” custom reports created by CEI as well as new landscape reports that are available to Report Designer and Report Viewer subscribers. (S9)

Performance Improvements

• Added several additional fields to be used in the creation of new custom reports dealing with PQRs, available to Report Designer and Report Viewer subscribers. (S9)
• Added several additional fields to be used in the creation of new custom reports dealing with WPSs, available to Report Designer and Report Viewer subscribers. (S9)

Issues Resolved

• Resolved the issue of Electronic Signatures not appearing on printed documents of Procedure Submittals. (S9)
• Removed the warning stating that ProWrite will expire on 12/31 as this is no longer needed due to our subscription licensing . (D1)
• Weld Toolbox CAD images will now appear in the Preliminary WPS’s UI. (S9)
• Weld Toolbox CAD images will now appear in the WPS’s UI. (D1)
• The Stud Weld image will no longer distort the ASME format of the PQR document. (S9)
• The Stud Weld image no longer produces an error when removed. (S9)
• Resolved the issue of metric thickness ranges showing incorrectly due to hard conversions. (S9)

According to Wikipedia, “Agile software development is a group of software development methodologies based on iterative and incremental development, where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing, cross-functional teams.”  At CEI, we agree, but we would strike the word software from that description.  We have found that Agile works for all kinds of development, from customer service processes to creative content to, yes, software.

Most recently, our web content team traveled to a local library to spend a couple of days concentrating on a specific user story without the distractions of email and other office interruptions.  They completed all of the tasks in the target story, plus an entire second story and various tasks in a third.

Breaking large tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces and assigning focused teams to complete them seems like common sense, but traditional development environments actually operate in a much different manner. Often described as the “waterfall model,” traditional development is regimented and involves departments completing their part of the project and then throwing it “over the wall” to the next department.  In Agile, the entire project is tackled simultaneously by the team. Constant contact between team members is encouraged: problems are identified quickly and changes are implemented without a tedious process.

By adopting Agile methods for other departments in addition to software development, CEI can focus on delivering a high quality experience that is highly responsive to employee and customer concerns.

New Features

• Tiled layout is now available as a User Interface option.  This is accessible under the Window button on the main toolbar.

Documentation Updates

• Additional knowledge base articles have been added to the manual and the online help.
• A webinar archive is now available

Issues Resolved

• Removed the code expiration warning that began appearing on 12/1/2011 as it is no longer a valid concept.
• Corrected an issue with the patching mechanism that was related to patching designs that skipped versions.  This was most obvious with rated flanges.
• APV 2010.1.2 import will no longer bring in the old abbreviated rated flange descriptions.
• Resolved an issue with the Ctrl+N shortcut key combination that would allow a new vessel to be created when the file location was not known.
• Fixed an issue in the rated flange report that would prevent the rated flange host from showing in certain cases.
• Corrected an issue in the Heat Exchanger Setup that was preventing some components from being created when rated flanges were included.
• Some minor typos in the rated flange notes were corrected.
• The correct seismic use group is now showing in the tower analysis for ASCE 705 and IBC 2006 seismic codes.  The math was unaffected.
• Pressing “Cancel Changes” in the lifting lug, support ring, or support lug screens when the component is first created will no longer cause a series of program error messages to appear.
• Corrected an issue in the global update that was preventing the cover page information from updating when the user indicated that they wanted it to update.
• Corrected an issue with Tubesheet where the solve for thickness routine would not return a thickness.
• Corrected an issue with nozzles when fittings were selected.  If the fitting was not a long weld neck a message would incorrectly appear regarding the flange information for the weld neck.

Misc

• 3D graphic rendering time has been improved for nozzles that are fit to the the surface of their host.
• The arbitrary limit on field m in the Appendix 2 flange form has been removed.
• The Nozzle Path option of ERW/Auto is now allowed for all host types including other nozzles.

New Features

• The handling of ASME Rated Flanges has changed to dramatically increase the speed of the design process. Refer to the links below for more information:
  • Development News
  • Knowledge Base

Documentation Updates

• Context Sensitive Help buttons have been added to the material selection screen and wizard.
• Additional knowledge base articles have been added.
• The help file for the Rated Flange fields has been updated to reflect changes with the Rated Flange rewrite.

Issues Resolved

• A bug preventing the printing of a WRC 107 report has been fixed.
• MAWP report now shows the MAWP of Rated Blind Flanges
• MAWP report now shows the design pressure of Rated Flanges.
• MAWP report was showing artificially high MAWP results for nozzles in some cases where certain nozzles had repads and/or internal projection and others did not.
• Fixed an issue with the structural search selection for the cone-to-cylinder analysis form that was only updating the description when a selection was made.
• Images in the right-click (pop-up) menus are now correct.
• Fixed an issue on the Toriconical Head form where a note was appearing in one of the caption boxes on the internal pressure tab.  The note should not have been appearing.
• Resolved an issue with the conversion that was preventing the Attachment/Loadings information from converting.  This includes liquid, insulation and packing as well.
• Fixed an issue with the conversion that was sometimes preventing shell components from converting in certain cases.

Misc

• Rated flange types are no longer abbreviated.
• If a rated flange was created as part of a LWN fitting, the rated flange component of the fitting can now be updated and deleted without deleting the nozzle neck.
• The HX setup no longer requires the rated flange information in regards to material or material group.
• The reference notes are no longer shown in the custom fitting form.