PTC has released Pro/ENGINEER Routed Systems Designer 9.0 pre-production. Find out about it here and download it here.

This latest RSD (a.k.a. RSDesigner) release introduces some highly anticipated features:

• New and improved import and export formats - CGM and PDF have been added, PDF supports multiple pages. DXF and DWG have been brought up to date
• Inline connectors - create and manipulate inline connectors that can now have ports on either side to propagate properties (parameters) through signal networks
• Support for TrueType fonts - add your own fonts to a design, including extra languages
• Move to sheet - a reliable way of breaking a design up across sheets has been provided that maintains the connectivity and inserts the cross-sheet reference graphics automatically
• Ability to create "draft groups" containing a range of sheet elements they can even be created on the fly from items placed on the sheet

• Enhanced ability to route fibers and highways across sheets that greatly reduces the number of clicks
• Label support for highways
• Ability for fibers and cables to be added to and removed from highways

RSDesigner.net has been an invaluable independent source of information for users of Routed Systems Designer  since 2002. Mike Sanders, the original webmaster, recently sold the site to CeDeL Solutions to maintain its presence on the web. Our intention is to maintain its independence and continue to provide a forum for users to seek assistance or post useful information about Routed Systems Designer.

Since taking possession of the site we have upgraded the forum to provide more functionality and also prevent spammers. We've also added some extra sections to cover new functionality added at RSD 7.0 and 8.0: PDMLink, Central Catalog and Pro/DIAGRAM import.

The forum can be accessed here.

We are excited to announce that once again CeDeL Solutions will have a booth at PTC/User in order to answer your questions and discuss any requirements you have for Routed Systems. Come by and say hello at booth 406.

We are especially interested in customer requirements and procedures for the use of the central catalog tool in Routed Systems Designer.

We are also offering a free gift for our CeDeL Solutions existing customers who give us a video testimonial, come and find us at the booth to give your opinion.

Cassandra DeLeon Kemp will also be presenting a paper on Central Catalogs in RSD.

PTC has a new article on PTC Express about RSD 8.0 entitled Pro/ENGINEER Routed Systems Designer 8.0 - Are You Connected?

The article presents information about the new features in RSD 8.0, showcasing the Pro/DIAGRAM conversion mechanism and the other new functionality introduced in 8.0, such as terminator tables.

RSD 8.0 built on the foundation created in RSD 7.0, which introduced major functionality such as a centralized catalog and PDMLink interoperability.

The article presents information from Jim Barrett-Smith, the Product Manager for RSD since 2002, who is a strong proponent of the product and has introduced several new initiatives to get RSD out to as many people as possible, including the introduction of RSD Lite. RSD Lite is bundled with various Pro/ENGINEER packages to provide a complete electronic data path from schematic through 3D routing to manufacturing information for both Cabling and Piping.

Have a read of the article; if you're on maintenance with PTC it's quite likely you're already entitled to RSD Lite.