✏️ For Design & Drafting

Studio Updates

Optimized hatch rendering to reduce PDF export generation time.

Live Plans Updates

Use the new CurrentSheetName System Global Parameter to automatically report a sheet’s name in text annotations. This parameter functions similarly to the existing CurrentSheetNumber & CurrentSheetNumberPrefix parameters.
Use the new HomePlanShowroomURL System Global Parameter with the QR code annotation type to dynamically populate a QR code that links to the Showroom view for any lot. For more information on QR codes with Live Plans, see the Knowledge Center.
Custom Global Parameters can now be grouped for easier organization.

🖼️ For Sales & Marketing

Showroom Intro now provides improved visual cues for loading the home when changing options.
Higharc’s Terms of Service have been updated to better represent the interactions that require their acceptance. Additionally, all document downloads that require an acceptance of the Terms no longer require a separate click to download.

🧾 For Purchasing & Estimating

Custom Components and Custom Categories are now available for Procure

Custom components allow you to add additional data to a masterplan, location plan, or home plan in Procure without modifying the Studio file. This feature can be used to capture information that is not modeled in Studio but is still necessary for estimating. You can also find the following info in the Knowledge Center

Adding custom components to existing categories

When to add custom components to existing categories

You may want to add custom components to add or subtract things from a model.

Example:

Adding an extra footing that was not modeled
Removing a length of wall that was erroneously placed

How to add custom components to a plan

With a plan loaded, navigate to the Components tab and click on any category.
Click on the + Add Custom Component button.
Define Attributes
Example: If you need to add an extra door at the bottom of the stairs in the basement, you can specify the following attributes:
- Class: Interior
- Tag: 26/68
- Panels: Single
- Swing side: Left
- Floor: Basement
- Count: 1

💡Note: You don’t need to fill in every attribute. Only complete the fields relevant to your use case.

4. Click on the Save Custom Component button to save the component

Once saved, the new custom component will appear in the components list for that category and will be automatically included in measure groups.
- Example: If you had a measure group that aggregated all the interior doors, you will see the count increase by 1 due to the custom component that was just added.

💡Note: If a custom component is added to a masterplan, it will be inherited in all downstream location and home plans. You can also add additional custom components to downstream plans and it will not affect the upstream plans.

Conditioning Custom Components

Custom components can be conditioned to specific plan options. This ensures that additional components are only applied when certain options are selected.

Example:

A custom foundation segment could be conditioned to appear only when a basement option is chosen.
An extra appliance could be tied to a premium kitchen package.

To condition a custom component, select apply this component to specific options after defining the attributes and select which options you want this component to be applied to.

💡Note: If you are viewing an option state where the component does not apply, the row will appear italicized and will not affect be aggregated in the measures

Creating a Custom Category

At the bottom of the Categories side bar, you will see a section named Custom Categories.
Click on the + button to create a custom category.
Fill in the name of this category and all the attributes you want associated with this category.
For example, if you wanted to add shutters, you can define the following
- Name: Shutters
- Attributes:
  - Type (Single or Double)
  - Height (measured in feet)
- Note: The Count output is always available by default, so you do not have to input it
Save the Custom Category. This new category now works just like the other categories. It includes a *Components *****where you can add custom components and a Measures tab where you can add measure groups.

💡Note: Custom categories are defined on a builder level, but the custom components are defined on a plan level. That means that once you create a custom category, that same category can be used across all plans and workbooks.

Fixes!!

Pipeline XML export now reports custom fields in the parameters list. See sample below.

<product name="73.03">
     <product_code></product_code>
     <product_description>Hardwood Materials</product_description> 
     <product_qnt>0</product_qnt>
     <product_unit>SF</product_unit>
     <phase_code>73.00</phase_code>
     <parameters>
          <parameter id="Custom Field Name" value="Bedroom"/>
          </parameters>
</product>