Last Updated: Jul 2021
This page provides you with some insights about the HOOPS Communicator roadmap. If you are interested in providing input or collaborating on any of the projects below, please contact HOOPS Communicator's Product Manager or Tech Soft 3D support.
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Fix regressions or high priority issues
Deliver updated formats to reduce availability delays
RELEASE SCHEDULE
Provisional dates – Subject to change
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VERSION
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RELEASE DATE
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HC 2021 U1
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HC 2021 SP1
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HC 2021 SP1 U1
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HC 2021 SP2
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Jul 6, 2021 SP2 is delayed, new targeted release date is
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HC 2021 SP2 U1
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July 27, 2021 SP2 U1 is delayed, new target release date is
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HC 2022
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See the HOOPS Target General Availability Dates.
FORMAT UPDATES PLAN
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Provisional plan – Subject to change |
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FORMAT
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VERSION
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Sketchup 2021
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HC 2021 SP2
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Catia V5_6R2021
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HC 2021 SP1 U1
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CREO 8
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HC 2021 SP2
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NX 1980(2021 June version)
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HC 2021 SP2
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Inventor 2022
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HC 2021 SP2 U1
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Solid Edge 2022
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HC 2021 SP2 U2
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ACIS 2021 1.0
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HC 2022
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SolidWorks 2022
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HC 2022
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Revit 2022
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HC 2022
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NX (2021 Dec. version)
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HC 2022
Refer to the HOOPS Exchange Roadmap for Format Updates Plan.
SHORT-TERM PROJECTS
Projects planned to be delivered in next release (the next 4 months)
IFC Improvements
Support additional classes and information that will help model analysis and querying. This will include both the semantic information and being able to display the relationships graphically.
Spatial relationships: Project, Site, Building, Story, Spaces, Walls.
New classes: Openings.
Optimizations for Pipes and Beams
New platform: Support of Apple Silicon platform
HOOPS Communicator will be ported to Apple's new ARM64 architecture. This is critical for partners using HOOPS Communicator with toolkits such as Electron, delivering a more native application experience (rather than web-based).
Beta support was already provided with HOOPS Communicator 2021.
Support for assembly level features in shattered workflows
HOOPS Communicator currently supports assembly-level features in its monolithic mode. This project will enable assembly level features when used in Communicator’s shattered workflow (where each CAD part in an assembly is converted separately into a stream cache file. This is critical for partners in PLM.
Support and display of Mates
This project will focus on delivering support of the CATIA V5 mates to help applications in Manufacturing simulation, Robotic, Kinematics Analysis and more generate a kinematics model of the assembly.
Mates will be supported both semantically and graphically.
Note that the support of Mates for other formats might be considered in future release cycles.
Modular Framework
Release a version of HOOPS Communicator compatible with the ESM framework
MID-TERM PROJECTS
Planned or on-going projects that might be delivered mid-term (in one or two releases) – After 4 months / before 12 months
Improved performance for large models
This project will focus on improving frames per second performance when working with large models, or data sets comprised of many files. Examples include BIM federation workflows and Digital Factory simulations.
Improved support of HSF files
HSF files that contain drawings may not display correctly in HOOPS Communicator. This project aims to bring parity where possible between HOOPS Visualize and HOOPS Communicator for rendering.
New format support: PLM/XML reader
PLM/XML format is an XML-based file format designed by Siemens PLM Software to facilitate interaction in product lifecycle management.
New format support: Navisworks Reader
Navisworks is a 3D design review solution used primarily in construction industries.
This project will focus on the NWD format which corresponds to the publishing of a project, including all loaded models, the environment, views, and saved viewpoints.
Improved support for SolidWorks materials
The support of visual models’ appearances (material, textures, decals) is meant for high fidelity rendering and full-color printing of parts and will serve PLM/Visualization as well as Manufacturing as a Service applications. The scope of this project is to improve the support of SolidWorks appearances by adding the surfacic projection for textures as well as decalsEditing workflows
Cloud issue resolution workflow: provide tools and functionalities to build leading web applications for cloud based issue resolution
PLM workflow: provide tools and functionalities to build leading web applications that can create new assemblies and/or edit existing ones.
Linux Arm support
Support for Multiple Canvases and off-screen renderers
Usability
Improved HOOPS Communicator Web Viewer API Reference: The Web Viewer’s API reference will be improved considerably, with all APIs documented sufficiently.
HC Web Viewer API Simplification: A refactor of the Web Viewer API will be done in order to improve stability and ease of use.
LONG-TERM PROJECTS
Longer-term projects we are considering
WebGPU
New format support: DGN Reader
DGN MicroStation is a CAD software platform developed by Bentley Systems and used in the architectural and engineering industries.
Client-side Collision Detection
While HOOPS Exchange licensees can use an integration between Communicator and Exchange to check for collisions, this is a server-side integration. This project would aim to have collision detection performed on the client-side (in the web viewer).Investigate support for WebGPU
Custom shaders
Investigate the introduction of Custom Shaders in HOOPS Communicator
Add support for implicit modeling
The generative design market is pushing the boundaries of what can be manufactured. However, since they do not typically use standard BRep / single body mesh forms HOOPS Communicator cannot display these models efficiently. This project will be to investigate what changes would be required to make it easier for generative design applications to use HOOPS Communicator.
Add DWG & Revit support for 2D Floorplan Generation
The current 2D Floorplan Generation only works with IFC models. Adding support for popular BIM formats is a common request.
Support of massive point clouds
As workflows in BIM & AEC continue to use large point cloud sets, Communicator needs to scale its support for massive sets. Some workflows include comparing large point cloud sets to the original data files to check that construction is as designed.
Investigate adding custom shader support to HOOPS Communicator
Currently, Communicator does not support custom shaders. This project would aim to expose the ability to insert your own shaders into Communicator's web viewer.
Add ability to serialize changes to models from the Web Viewer to Stream Cache
Some partners have requested adding the ability to use Communicator in an editing workflow. This requires adding the ability to open a stream cache file and edit its contents
New format support: PLM/XML reader
PLM/XML format is an XML-based file format designed by Siemens PLM Software to facilitate interaction in product lifecycle management.
Support and display of Mates
This project will focus on delivering support of the CATIA V5 mates to help applications in Manufacturing simulation, Robotic, Kinematics Analysis and more generate a kinematics model of the assembly.
Mates will be supported both semantically and graphically.
Note that the support of Mates for other formats might be considered in future release cycles.
Improved support of HSF files
HSF files that contain drawings may not display correctly in HOOPS Communicator. This project aims to bring parity where possible between HOOPS Visualize and HOOPS Communicator for rendering.