Summer 2019 Newsletter

In this issue:

Version 16.00 Released!

Version 16.00 introduces Subscription Based Licensing (SBL). This new licensing mechanism replaces USB hardware keys and allows us to support virtual machines, terminal servers and other shared computing environments. Clients will have the option to make a seamless transition to SBL during their next renewal. For more information on SBL please see our FAQ at https://www.powline.com/files/sbl_faq.pdf
Version 16.00 is shipping now: use Help/Download Upgrade to upgrade today.

Several of the more significant changes are highlighted below.

PLS-CADD: New Pole Overview report with a modern attractive look
PLS-CADD: Import XYZ point data from the internet for most of the world via Terrain/Edit/Merge Points from External File/Merge Points from Internet…
PLS-CADD: Added an IEEE P1283/D8 Elevated Temperature Creep (ETC) calculator
PLS-CADD: Sections/Electric/Full Line Constants Calculator… now reports zero sequence mutual impedance
PLS-POLE: Added ASCE 141-2019 wood pole design check option
PLS-POLE: The integrated CAISSON foundation analysis and design has improved thanks to your suggestions
TOWER: Numerous Family Manager improvements
And many other enhancements described in the program change log

You can use Help/Download Upgrade to upgrade to version 16.00 today if your licenses are within your support and upgrade period. If they are expired, please contact sales@powline.com and we will send you a quote to renew.

PLS-Distribution Released!

PLS-Distribution is a streamlined version of PLS-CADD and PLS-POLE designed specifically for the distribution side of the grid. Now distribution organizations can benefit from line design software with the same engineering accuracy that PLS-CADD and PLS-POLE are known for, but in a program tailored specifically to the features and commands typically used on distribution projects. PLS-Distribution uses predefined standards for weather conditions, engineering design criteria, structure framings, and other standards. This allows distribution designers to quickly and easily build structures and line models using the utility's standards without any upfront data entry.

The program is available in two versions: PLS-Distribution which is based on traditional ruling span sag and tension concepts or PLS-Distribution+ which adds the power of our SAPS Finite Element engine for calculating wire sags and tensions.

2019 Advanced Training and User Group Meeting

As has become a tradition, this meeting set a record with 530 attendees from 34 countries. Our thanks to everyone who took time from their schedules to travel to Madison and contribute to the meeting.

Many presentations and handouts from the meeting are available at the ATUG website.

In addition to unveiling Subscription Based Licensing we also showed off our new web site at https://www.powerlinesystems.com Our original web site that many of you are familiar with, https://www.powline.com will continue to serve the PLS Online Library and provide technical support content. Please bear with us as we continue migrating from the old to the new site.

Several requests from the 2019 ATUG round table session have already been incorporated in version 16. For example, "super zoom" is now avoided and the project wizard has a read-only option.

Classes and Events

We have scheduled the following classes:

Design of Overhead Transmission and Distribution Lines using PLS-CADD (includes 32 PDHs), September 9-13, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin (Space still available)
Advanced Topics for Design of Overhead Transmission and Distribution Lines using PLS-CADD (includes 20.5 PDHs), October 8-10, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin (Space still available)
Design of Transmission Lines, Structures, and Foundations, in association with the University of Wisconsin (This class is NOT a PLS-CADD Class; it covers the theory behind PLS-CADD) November 4-8, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin (See UW Website)
Computerized Transmission Line Design: PLS-CADD Hands-On Training, in association with the University of Wisconsin (This class is the same as our Design of Overhead Transmission and Distribution Lines using PLS-CADD class) December 9-13, 2019 in Orlando, Florida (See UW Website)

Other authorized classes organized by PLS agents and consultants:

PLS-CADD, PLS-POLE & TOWER Training - South Africa, July 29-August 2, 2019 in Durban by Trans-Africa Projects
PLS-CADD & TOWER Training - Panamá, September 2-7, 2019 in Ciudad de Panamá by Custom Engineering Solutions
Design of Overhead Transmission and Distribution Lines in PLS-CADD - Germany, September 16-20, 2019 in Berlin by NM Group
PLS-CADD, PLS-POLE & TOWER Training - South Africa, October 14-18, 2019 in Johannesburg by Trans-Africa Projects

New classes are added throughout the year based on demand. You may subscribe to a mailing list to be notified whenever a new class is scheduled.

Web Site Additions and Updates

New video: PLS-CADD Import Points From Internet
New technical note: Full Line Constants in PLS-CADD
Updated FRP pole library: NOV Fiber Reinforced Polymer pole designs
Additional cable models: Southwire C7 .wir files

Current Versions

The current shipping versions of our software are listed below. These versions support Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10 (both 32 and 64 bit). Version 16.00 is the last version that will run on Windows Vista and/or 32-bit Windows.

PLS-CADD 16.00

PLS-POLE 16.00

TOWER 16.00

SAPS 16.00

CAISSON 16.00

We strongly encourage you to upgrade to the current release of all the applications you own. To do so please use the Help/Download Upgrade command built into your PLS software. This would also be a good time to use the Help/Check for Updated Manual command to obtain the version 16.00 edition of the manuals. If your licenses have expired, then please email sales@powline.com for a renewal quotation.

As always, we welcome your suggestions and comments on our software. Please send them to support@powline.com.

Staff of Power Line Systems

Version 16.00 Now Available