“Our main objective with PolyWorks Version 9 is to increase the productivity of new and occasional users during the point cloud processing workflow without annoying power users,” said Marc Soucy, President of InnovMetric Software. “The new Workspace Manager is a high-level interface that operates on top of all of the modules and will dramatically improve the learning curve for new users by simplifying navigation within PolyWorks modules and improving file management, documentation, and data exchange processes,” he continued. 

Here is a summary of the most important interface-related features in PolyWorks V9: 

• A new Workspace Manager (WM) now completely manages the PolyWorks process and coordinates the efforts of the various PolyWorks modules. The WM manages a new workspace format that contains all of the results produced by the PolyWorks process, as well as user comments, original point cloud files, macros, and any other file that users may need to embed within a specific Workspace. Workspaces may be zipped to single files for easy data sharing and archiving.
• In addition to managing all files and folders, the WM offers all of the typical Windows metaphors, such as drag-and-drop, copy-paste, and popup menus, for passing from one module to another. A process workflow wizard is available at all times to suggest next steps for a specific object.
• The IMMerge™ meshing software now offers an easy-to-use supervised mode controlled by a single parameter. In addition, a 3D progress window allows users to follow the evolution of a large multi-processor meshing task.
• Interactive operations within PolyWorks modules now pop up a contextual parameter window that presents all the parameters that control this operation. Advanced sections are also systematically used to hide parameters that are rarely modified.
• The menu bars and popup menus of the main PolyWorks modules have been completely revised to create a more logical and uniform menu structure and reduce the time needed to search for a tool.
• Dozens of interfaces and processes have been revised by renaming and reordering items for improving interface clarity.
• InnovMetric has invented a remarkable new PolyZoom™ tool that tremendously accelerates point-picking operations that need to be accurately performed at close range. For example, the PolyZoom tool allows users to accurately hand-pick a curve on a polygonal mesh without ever having to zoom in and out.