# [OpenVSP 3.51.3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.51.3)

2026-08-17

OpenVSP 3.51.3

While this version breaks from the strict 'speed only' theme of .1 and .2, this
release is still pretty small and doesn't warrant a new .0 release.

It includes one fix for the only problem found so far in .1 or .2.  This was an
esoteric issue with the AngelScript wrappers for some OpenVSP classes.  These
only manifested when running scripts that used certain language features on
these classes.  Thanks to John Dannenhoffer for finding a failure case at the
Workshop.

That lead me down an AI driven path to turn the API example code (and other
sample scripts in the tree) into unit tests that can actually report failures.
This sudden increase in tests consequently turned up some bugs.  This also has
the effect of making the documentation code samples a bit ugly.  If this is a
real problem, let me know and I'll see if there is a way to get clean examples
while keeping the value of the tests.

As it turns out, our inertia calculation for thin-shells has been wrong forever.
Since the major contribution is the parallel axis theorem part (which was
right), our answers were close enough to not raise suspicion.  Now they are
correct.

The search and replace variable names in Advanced Link code could screw up in
certain situations.  It shouldn't eat your code now.

CFDMesh with a symmetry plane may be vanishingly faster.  Nobody will ever
notice.

There were a few other fixes in this sweep.  Nothing major, but good things
to fix.

After the sample code and unit testing sweep, I asked AI to audit the API for
completeness.  This was inspired by the observation that there was no
SetContainerName() in the API.  Thanks to Cooper Cook for pointing that out.

We started with a pass looking for asymmetric pairs -- Set/Get, Add/Delete, etc.
After that, we searched for any GUI button that didn't have an API equivalent.
For all these things, AI added the API call, registered it with AngelScript,
wrote the help documentation including AS and Python examples - including
test conditions making the example into a unit test.  While I'm sure it isn't
perfect, it should be better.

Another Workshop discovery, Max Lindstrom found that you couldn't work with
matrix type spreadsheet UI's (say for Attributes or Results).  This was caused
by a recent change I'd made to increase pointer safety in that area.  Searching
for the same problem elsewhere turned up another latent bug in AttributeScreen.

As it turns out, ancient SWIG doesn't like 'using std::' directives.  Since we
used std:: inconsistently in the API header, seemingly random Python API calls
failed to work on RHEL8.  That should be sorted.

The Python MANIFEST.in should be platform agnostic for any users installing
the OpenVSP package with pip.

Jaime Benitez did some debugging and enhancements for VSPAERO moving body
full unsteady analysis.  They should be useful for people who drop things.

Roman Prokopyshyn had help from Claude fixing some problems with one of
the VSPAERO example cases that hadn't been touched since before the
thick/thin era.

Features:
- API code examples now serve as unit tests
- AI Audit for API completeness
- VSPAERO Outputs more stuff for dynamic analysis

Build System:
- Update AngelScript to v2.38
- Improve Python MANIFEST.in and packaging

Bugs:
- Fix AngelScript registration of vec3d and Matrix4d
- Fix thin shell inertia calculation
- Fix many small bugs identified by new unit tests
- Fix matrix spreadsheet UI referencing
- Fix DeltaFlatPlateDragArea for unsteady cases (thanks Jaime)
- Swept_Wing_API example VSPAERO script brought current (thanks Roman)


---


# [OpenVSP 3.51.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.51.2)

2026-07-26

OpenVSP 3.51.2

Like the last version -- not a whole lot here, but good things nonetheless.

So far, it looks like the speedups from the previous version haven't broken
anything.  I've also had more time to go back through and re-audit everything.
It looks good.

This version continues the speedup work.  It finishes the train of thought from
the previous changes in a few spots that weren't quite finished before (mostly
in PropGeom).  It extends the profiling and speedup work to CFDMesh (should
also improve surface intersection and FEAMesh).  There is always a question of
how much complexity do you take on for speed.  In my test case, the CFDMesh run
went from ~21 seconds down to ~14, so overall it was certainly worthwhile.
Of course, some changes have more impact than others.  Either way, I don't
think there is any more juice to squeeze in CFDMesh.

Unlike the last version, this one also includes a few bug fixes.  Of course,
there are probably bugs that only I would ever run into -- but I ran into them,
so they get fixed.

The locking in APIHide/ShowScreenHandler wasn't working, so show/hideing a
screen from the Facade API would not return control to Python.  Screenshots
taken from the API implicitly assumed the 3D screen had 1:1 aspect ratio.
Now that the default screen does not, the screenshots (taken from the API)
looked wonky.

There are some fixes for bugs that others might hit.  Some of the interference
geometry analyses would crash if the two objects perfectly touched, but
did not overlap.  Those cases work now.

Using the 'Negative Only' setting for flowpath geometries could sometimes
cause a crash.  Thanks Keenan.

A stale dependency in pyPMARC was removed, it was apparently causing a crash
in Visual Studio debugger somehow.  Thanks Artur Usbek.

Bogie interaction routines were added to the API.  As was 'MakeMeshGeom'
for appropriate Geometry Analyses.

Some of the CFDMesh optimizations occured in Code-Eli, so that is updated
here as well.

Features:
- More AI assisted profile guided optimization, mostly in CFDMesh
- Bogie interaction routines added to API
- MakeMeshGeom added to API

Build System:
- Update Code-Eli with some speedups

Fixes:
- Fix locking for APIShow/HideScreenHandler
- Fix AR of API driven screenshots
- Fix interference analysis crash with just-touching geometries
- Negative only crash
- Stale Python dependency in pyPMARC package


---


# [OpenVSP 3.51.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.51.1)

2026-07-18

OpenVSP 3.51.1

Something unusual for OpenVSP -- a new version with no new features, no bug
fixes, and hopefully no changes in behavior.  So why bother?

I was working on presentations for the OpenVSP Workshop and I felt that some
things were slower than I'd like them to be.  So, I decided to do some
profiling.  I found that things were generally pretty reasonable, but there
was lots of memory churn.  This is often where I get to -- because previously
I didn't have a good strategy for improving these kinds of cases.

So, I decided to point my friend Claude at the reports (don't do this unless
you want to burn through a ton of tokens - ask me for more efficient ways if
you go down this road.).  Claude had some strategies to try -- while certainly
uglier code, they look to be maintainable and reasonable enough (the added
complexity isn't too great).

After that initial success, I pointed it at a few other things and found a few
more wins.  Among these was a change to how HumanGeom is done that at least
means that the vsp executable got a lot smaller and should take up less memory.
I also sent after some compiler warnings in dependencies that have really been
annoying me.

In this work, I wasn't targeting one-and-done things (eg analysis).  Instead,
I was mostly targeting frequently recurring tasks (things that happen when you
move a slider).  So the improvement should come for real interactive geometry
manipulation.

So, if this was successful, everything should work the same -- only faster.

I could really use your help.  Please pull this version down and try it out.
If you find anything that behaves differently (other than speed) from 3.51.0,
please report that to me.  If you have success with this version (faster, but
no breaks), please report that too.

Features:
- AI assisted, profile guided optimization in several areas.
- Refactor HumanGeom math to store less data and do less math.

Build System:
- Update Code-Eli with lots of changes
- Update Pinocchio with compiler warning cleanups
- Suppress some compiler warnings for sixseries
- Clean up some warnings in Cartesian
- Remove pathlib dependency in Python dev environment
- Point CMake on Windows with old Python at python.exe instead of python3.exe


---


# [OpenVSP 3.51.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.51.0)

2026-06-29

OpenVSP 3.51.0

Mid-summer OpenVSP (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) -- a handful
of features and some nice bug fixes.

Copy/paste of XSec and XSecCurve now works across different Geom
instances and Geom types.  So, you can copy an airfoil from one wing and
paste it on another -- or paste it into your fuselage (or XSec type
SubSurface).

Conformal components are now detachable from their shape parent.  This
allows them to be moved around the tree in the Geom Browser -- which
allows them to be attached to some other component.  In a special case,
if the detached conformal is an immediate child of a Hinge, it will be
attached to the hinge (so it moves with the hinge), but it can get its
baseline position from its shape parent.  This enables using conformals
for moving control surfaces or other articulating parts of the aircraft.

A new AeroCenter geometry analysis was added.  This analysis will calculate
the location of the incompressible aerodynamic center of a single wing
in isolation.  It will actually fire off a quick set of VSPAERO analyses
and then calculate the AC position from those.

Inspired by a conversation at Aviation, I've added an alternative distance
metric to the interference checks.  Now, instead of using a scaled volume
when the objects overlap, we calculate the maximum of the minimum distance
between the faces of the overlapping region.  This maximin metric will
be closer to smooth (not just continuous) when an object transitions from
non-interfering to interfering.  This may work better for your optimization
process.  However, it does not extend to the situation where the interfering
geometry is entirely contained within the other (which the old metric
handles).  Both calculations are available, use one - use them all!

I've embellished the names of a bunch of the Geometry Analyses in the GUI.
This feature was originally called 'Interference Checks', so names like
'External' and 'Packaging' seemed complete.  When The overall name was
changed to Geometry Analyses, that context was lost.  Now they are called
things like 'External Interference' which should be more clear.

There was a small improvement made to the accuracy of the mesh-mesh minimum
distance calculation done in several Geometry Analyses.  Nobody will ever
notice, but I feel better about it.

X3D files will now be written with split surfaces.  This will improve the
normal vectors near corners.  Which will improve the visualization of models
on the OpenVSP Airshow.

When you open a file set to auto-show the Vehicle Notes from the command line
(or by double clicking if you're set up for that), the notes will now
actually show.

Plotting -Cp from VSPAERO is now less fugly.

I updated the Clipper2 library to the latest version hoping that it would fix
some issues.  It did not, but we're keeping the updated version anyway.

There was a problem where retractable or stowed landing gear attachment
points would not update when the Gear itself was moved.  That is fixed.

The update process for hinges and conformals (and other step-children) was
cleaned up a bit.  Some scenarios should update faster now.

I had my friend Claude do some random cleanups of compiler warnings and
other build system issues.  This included some cleanups of the API docs
and examples.  I don't trust him much for 'real' dev work on a project
of OpenVSP's size and complexity, but for stupid stuff like this, he is great.

GitHub Actions finally has an Ubuntu 26.04 runner, so we're going to give
that a go.  They deprecated 22.04 a while back, so that one is already gone.

Features:
- Copy/paste XSec & XSecCurve across Geoms and Geom types
- Detachable conformal components with special treatment of hinges
- AeroCenter geometry analysis added
- Maximin interference metric
- X3D files now written with split surfaces - prettier normal vectors

Build System:
- Clipper2 updated to latest version
- Ubuntu 26.04 build added

Bug Fixes:
- Geometry Analysis names improved in GUI
- Improved accuracy of min-distance mesh calculations
- Auto-show vehicle notes now works from command line and double-click
- Better plotting of -Cp for VSPAERO slices
- Gear attach point update now works when Gear itself is moved
- Faster update for some hinge/conformal combinations
- Compiler warnings and build system cleanups


---


# [OpenVSP 3.50.5](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.50.5)

2026-06-05

OpenVSP 3.50.5

Just in time for AIAA AVIATION, a mostly bugfix release with a couple of small
enhancements too.

I'm giving a talk at the conference on the (relatively) new Geometry Analysis
capability.  Come by if you're around.  Tue, Jun 09, La Jolla B, 3:50pm.

If you're the kind of person who hasn't embraced using Sets when doing analysis
in OpenVSP, you really should reconsider.  However for those of you who run
VSPAERO with the Shown Set, we will now not no-show the geometry when you run
VSPAERO.  This will allow you to re-run VSPAERO without having to Show the
geometry.  It will also prevent problems with control surfaces, actuator disks,
and other such things when the active geometry Set gets No-Shown in the middle
of doing things.

For everyone using the projected area calculation for rotor download
calculations, there is now an option to break down the projected area by the
segment, annulus, or sector of the disk that it corresponds to.  This is done
at the wireframe resolution of the disk shown on screen.  This option is
available through the legacy Projected Area GUI, but all the cool kids are
using Projected Area through the Geometry Analysis GUI now.  It is available
there too.

The Results Viewer GUI was enhanced with buttons to export a result to CSV, to
delete a result, and to delete all results.

A small marker was added to the Prop Geom to indicate where zero degrees of
rotation is measured from.  This is implemented as a feature line like the
thrust direction vector and rotation direction circle.

There are a handful of bug fixes - mostly things that were identified by users.
Thanks for the help.

The Discrete Visibility Results were improved and some memory leaks were
plugged.  It also now defaults to DBA and falls back to Triangle -- hopefully
this will be more robust.

A few asserts were fixed up in the process of debugging some crashes and ill
behavior.

The Pipe type beam section outputs to NASTRAN files were fixed.

Everyone should update.  See you in San Diego!


Features:
- Don't no-show geometry when running VSPAERO when using Shown Set
- Disk Segment Breakdown for Projected Area calculations
- Export to CSV in Results Viewer
- Delete(all) in Results Viewer
- Zero rotation direction marker added to Prop

Fixes:
- Fix and/or clean up some asserts triggered in Debug mode
- Default to DBA, fallback to Triangle in ProjectionMgr
- Add missing Discrete Visualization info to Results
- Improve combined result in Discrete Visualization
- Fix some Field of View memory leaks in visualization analysis
- Fix writing pipe type beam sections to NASTRAN


---


# [OpenVSP 3.50.4](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.50.4)

2026-05-19

OpenVSP 3.50.4

Just one bug fix and a small thing to make bleeding edge compilers happy.

A change I made in 3.50.2 broke tessellation on the back end of some Stacks
and Fuselages.  Thanks Steven K. for reporting this and helping narrow it
down.

Fixes:
- Tessellation failure for some Stack and Fuselage components
- Build fix with new compilers / libc++


---


# [OpenVSP 3.50.3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.50.3)

2026-05-15

OpenVSP 3.50.3

No features here, just a few bug fixes.  One of them critical.

Some *.vsp3 files written with 3.50.2 will become corrupted and will cause
OpenVSP (of any version) to crash when loading.  This has been fixed.

OpenVSP would crash when you changed the XSec type away from a CEdit when
the CEdit screen was still open.

OpenVSP would sometimes create ghost results when reading a VSPAERO solution.

Fixes:
- Fix corrupt XML file output with vectors of vec3d's
- Fix crash when changing XSec type when CEdit screen still open
- Fix problem reading VSPAERO results that caused ghost results
- Write full precision in files sent to VSPAERO


---


# [OpenVSP 3.50.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.50.2)

2026-05-09

OpenVSP 3.50.2

Mostly fixes, but a few creature comforts that may quality as features if
these issues were causing you irritation.

More options when placing Stack XSec's.  There is now an 'Abs' mode for
position/orientation of cross sections.  These are in the Stack's coordinate
system (not the global coordinate system).  This should make it easier to
build up bodies in certain circumstances.

Stack XSec's also gained an option to change their vertical alignment.  Setting
the VAlign Parm to -1 will cause the XSec origin to be at the bottom of the
section (+1 at the top, and 0 at the center like it is now).  So, if you are
designing a body with a flat bottom, set VAlign for those sections to -1 and
you should have an easier time of it.

The Planar Slice tool now ignores inlet/exhaust extensions when automatically
setting the bounds for slicing.  It will also ignore landing gear ground
planes and Aux Geoms intended to extend beyond the model.

I noticed that changing XSec type was slower than I felt like it should be.
I profiled it and made a few nice speedups, but it was still sluggish.  I then
realized that the slowdown was caused in 3.41.0 by some changes I made to
preserve ID's when changing XSec type.  I was able to make an algorithmic
change to this routine and now it is back to full speed.

File/New will now pop up a dialog to give you the opportunity to save or
discard your changes.

There is now an aspect ratio control for 3D background images.  If your images
are not 1:1, this should make life easier.

There is now an option to not show the colored dashed lines indicating the
designated propulsion station locations.

When doing a discrete View From visibility analysis, the FOV of any viewpoints
is not taken into account.

Several bug fixes that have hit users.  FEA Structures are now Update()'d
when exporting STEP/IGES files via the API.  A bug setting up the slices for
Planar Slice (introduced in 3.50) has been fixed.

There was a mistake calculating the torsional stiffness constant for rectangle
beam sections could actually cause an infinite loop and crashes.  While fixing
it, I also noticed that the torsional stiffness for box sections with un-equal
wall thickness had an error.

Also, a build fix for shiny new GCC - thanks fernape.

So, nothing too huge, but pretty good for a .2 release.  Everyone should update.

Features:
- Planar slice auto bounds now ignores components meant to extend beyond model
- Absolute XSec positioning for Stacks
- Vertical alignment of XSecs for Stacks
- File/New now has confirmation dialog
- Aspect ratio control for 3D Background images
- Show/Hide engine definition station highlights
- Discrete View From visibility analysis now honors limited FOV

Fixes:
- FEA Structure Update() when exporting STEP/IGES via API
- Planar Slice limits fixed
- Torsional constant for rectangle beam sections - causing infinite loop
- Torsional constant for box beam sections
- Build fix with new compilers / libc++


---


# [OpenVSP 3.50.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.50.1)

2026-05-04

OpenVSP 3.50.1

Quick bugifx release to address a problem with area / volume calculations
from CompGeom.

When CompGeom was refactored to be available as a Geometry Analysis, the
mesh scaling that is done was not un-done when the areas and volumes were
calculated.

Also drop Ubuntu 22.04 from builds.  The GitHub Actions Runner for this is
broken and we expect 26.04 to be made available very soon.

Build System:
- Drop Ubuntu 22.04

Fixes:
- Fix CompGeom area and volume calculations


---


# [OpenVSP 3.50.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.50.0)

2026-05-01

OpenVSP 3.50.0

This release comes with a handful of small features and some nice bug fixes.
It probably would have been 3.49.1, but the small features were a bunch of
things I added to round out Geometry Analysis and Auxiliary Geom in support
of the AIAA AVIATION paper I just finished (on Geometry Analysis).  So,
I figured it was good to have a nice round number to point at.

Geometry Analysis gained a few new tricks.  Perhaps most significantly,
several of the legacy analysis tools are now available through the Geometry
Analysis Manager.  This means that you can configure and interact with the
analyses more easily - particularly for complex models.

This applies to CompGeom (called Wetted Area and Volume), Planar Slice,
Projected Area, and Mass Properties.  The old way isn't going away, but I would
encourage you to use the new way going forward.  I think you'll like it.

Geometry Analysis also gained an entirely new analysis capability -- Risk Angle
calculates the geometric risk angle for a fragment thrown from rotating
machinery according to FAA AC 20-128A.  This should be helpful for anyone
doing safety analysis.

Several Auxiliary Geoms were added.  The fragment types from AC 20-128A as well
as the thrown blade description from AC 25.905-1 were added -- unsurprisingly,
these work directly with the Risk Angle analysis.

The pertinent tire and wheel failure modes from EASA AMC 25.734 were added.
Thanks to the folks who helped me sort out the geometric definitions of some
of those.

Finally, the tire spray geometry from ESDU 83042a was added.  This ESDU uses
empirical methods to predict the shape of the spray plume from landing gear.
The new OpenVSP Auxiliary Geometry does not implement any of the ESDU methods.
Instead, it simply creates a 3D representation of the spray envelope that is
the output of the ESDU.  So if you want to check your gear / engine placement
for water ingestion, get a copy of ESDU 83042a and go to town.

Several missing holes in the API were filled.  First, the ability to create,
list, and delete Geometry Analyses was added.  You could already execute
them, but they had to be created in the GUI.  Second, the ability to create,
list, delete, and generally work with points along a FEA Structure poly spar.
Similarly, previously these operations could only be done through the API.

I added routines to dump out a stack trace on demand.  This is a debugging
feature that isn't hooked up to anything yet.  However, I wanted to go ahead
and roll it out so I could see if it breaks anything on any platform.

There are several fixes to issues that have been hitting users.

As it turns out, intersection points in CFD/FEA mesh were being created
separately on each surface (even though an average point was computed), leading
to the need to search and merge points later.  This required a tolerance that
has been problematic.  Too big and real features / elements get squashed.  Too
small and CFD meshes aren't water tight and FEA elements don't connect.

The average point is now correctly used everywhere, which means the point merge
tolerance can be very much smaller and all those problems should be resolved.

I figured out that Triangle will sometimes crash (and other times not) given
identical geometric input -- but with points in a different order.  This was
absolutely infuriating and led me to one of the ugliest hacks I've ever done.
I am not proud, but it seems to be working better than it was before.

CFDMesh won't crash if you're using symmetry plane or outer boundary.

Un-used FEA Properties will no longer be deleted on startup.

Fix crash when reading files written with 3.42.0 that had spaces in Set names.

Some cleanups to the API documentation.

Features:
- Legacy analyses now available as Geometry Analyses
    * CompGeom, Planar Slice, Projected Area, Mass Properties
- Risk Angle Geometry Analysis
- AC 20-128A Rotor fragment Aux Geom
- AC 25.905-1 Thrown blade Aux Geom
- ESDU 83042a Tire spray Aux Geom
- AMC 25.734 Wheel and tire failure mode Aux Geom
- Geometry Analysis API
- FEA Poly Spar API

Fixes:
- Point gaps fixed along intersections in CFD / FEA Mesh
- Tolerance that was collapsing features and elements fixed
- Point order crash in Triangle worked around
- CFDMesh crash with symmetry plane or outer boundary
- Un-used FEA Properties no longer deleted
- Don't crash when reading files from 3.42.0 with spaces in Set names


---


# [OpenVSP 3.49.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.49.0)

2026-04-02

This release is all about one new capability and a lot of bug fixes.  Even if
you don't plan on using the new capability, you should update for the fixes.

There has been a lot of new stuff over the last year.  The best way to figure
out how all of it works is to attend the OpenVSP Workshop in Daytona Beach, FL.
August 4-6.  https://openvsp.org/wiki/doku.php?id=workshop2026

Before I talk about the new capability, you should know about one of the fixes.

Previously, if you used a non-zero center of rotation and toggled a component
between REL and ABS positioning, it would walk off to la-la-land.  This has
been fixed.  However, it means that a component in ABS with a non-zero
center of rotation will now end up in a different location than before.
This might change people's models.  I'm sorry.  It should be easy to detect
and fix.

Very few people use the center of rotation -- and ABS is used much less
frequently than REL, so I'm optimistic this won't burn too many models.
However, the risk is there.  Be careful.


OpenVSP 3.44.0 introduced a native landing gear component to support a bunch
of new analysis capabilities.  Those analyses really needed a definition of
the ground plane and how the aircraft moves/rotates in relation to it.  So
although it looked like landing gear, it was really about the ground plane.

The gear model has been extended to also describe how the gear is stowed or
retracted.  This is not a tool for the complex design of a retraction
mechanism.  This is not a tool for kinematic analysis.  This is a very simple
capability to help the early stage configurator have a plausible solution
for where the gear is going to fit.  Think of it as starting point to throw
over the wall to the gear design team -- where they won't be too mad at you.

There are two modes, you can either specify the 'Stowed Position' or the
'Gear Mechanism'.

When working with Stowed Position, you specify the location and orientation
of the stowed tires/bogies.  There is no mechanism preventing you from
placing the nose gear in the vertical tail, or 20ft above the aircraft.  You
just put the stowed gear where you want it, the reasonableness of that location
is up to you.

When working with Gear Mechanism, you specify a series of joints (trunnion,
knee, wrist) and how they move.  The retraction motion schedules all movement
in proportion (there is no scheduling or nonlinear speed).  There is no
representation of any other part of the mechanism (no side struts, actuators,
torque links, locks, etc.).  The intent is to specify a plausible way for the
gear to move from extended to retracted.  This is not actually a gear
design/analysis tool.

The gear motion provides many degrees of freedom.  Use them sparingly.  Each
additional motion represents added complexity and cost.  They are sometimes
necessary, but they should always buy their way onto the airplane.

Once you know where the gear is stowed, you can use the existing interference
checks to ensure it fits in the OML and has adequate clearance with other
subsystems.  To aid this, the Tire and Rim Association's tire clearance model
has also been implemented.

Using the gear component (and now retraction) has a lot to it.  It will not be
trivial to figure out.  Come to the Workshop and you can learn it from me.

There are lots of fixes all over the place.

The Python API in the Ubuntu build has been fixed for real this time.  The
Wave Drag tool won't crash when you look at it the wrong way.  Inlet/outlet
subsurfaces might work with Wave Drag again.

Corner rounding (mostly for rounded rectangle) should be more robust.  You can
make a circle from a square now if you really want to.

A crash with ground maneuverability analysis has been fixed.  Landing gear
now show up correctly when loaded a second time.  Tail strike / tip strike
analyses with off-nominal gear positions could sometimes have a parameter
mismatch.

Many other small fixes.

Features:
- Stowed / Retracted landing gear
- TRA Clearance model
- Single gear auxiliary geometry
- Faster interactivity with landing gear

Build system:
- Use venv when building Ubuntu to fix numpy version problems
- Update to Eigen3 5.0.0
- Update OpenABF to support new Eigen

Fixes:
- Center of rotation with ABS positioning fixed
- Wave drag crash on load
- Ambiguous subsurface with line subsurfaces in WaveDrag
- Fix mismatch of gear plane for certain analyses
- Improve robustness of corner rounding
- Fix crash with ground maneuverability analysis
- Fix scrolling stability of Check Box Browsers
- Fix some Python unit tests
- Only show 'Apply Rotation' when it makes sense
- Fix landing gear scaling on second load
- Fix crash due to non-deregistered attribute collection


---


# [OpenVSP 3.48.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.48.2)

2026-03-04

Yesterday's haste to fix the problem with 3.48 caused some other problems.
These are caused by strange interactions between some features -- but I think
we finally understand what is going on.

This revert's yesterday's changes and instead goes with a simpler approach
that I first tried as a proof of concept.

While we're at it, we're going to add experimental support for a MacOS *.dmg
package.  The *.zip isn't going anywhere, but give it a try if you want
OpenVSP to act more like a normal app on your Mac.  Thanks to
Christian Jacobsen for putting this together.

Build System:
- Add experimental *.dmg package for MacOS

Bug Fixes:
- Fix regressions to Stack Presets caused by 3.48.1 fixes.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.48.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.48.1)

2026-03-03

This is a quick bugfix release for a couple of issues that popped up.  Thanks
to Brian German and Bryan Sandoz -- this version would not exist
without Br(i,y)an's.

Brian German noticed that files read in with Stacks did not restore the
parent/child hierarchy.  This would be visible as messed up attachment.

Bryan Sandoz noticed that the fix concerning FEA lamination's didn't always
work -- and he also noticed some FEA meshes that were not properly connected.

The first bug is particularly nasty and will hit a lot of users.  It is
important that everyone update.

Bug fixes:
- Fix problem with Stack attachment when loading files
- Fix problem with FEA laminates causing GUI infinite loops (again)
- Adjust FEA Mesh point merge tolerance


---


# [OpenVSP 3.48.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.48.0)

2026-02-27

This release is either a big-little-release or a little-big-release, I'm not
quite sure.  It doesn't have a lot of things in it (it is little).  However,
some of those things are quite consequential (it is big).  I'll leave it up
to you to decide.

The most consequential change is a change to how twist and dihedral interact
when lofting a wing.  The order you apply transformation matrices matters,
and back in 2022 (3.27.0) I made a change on behalf of a particular use case.
As it turns out, it made other use cases worse -- namely, people trying to
model toe-in of winglets.  This has been a popular GitHub issue (#292, 304, 328)
and topic on the Google Group.

You can now get the behavior I think most people will want -- and through some
combination of options, you can also still get the special use case behavior.
The default values for a new wing will reflect best practices, but you might
need to play with existing models to get the behavior you want.

In addition, the airfoil thickness correction for dihedral rotation had a bug
that has been fixed.

The Stack component now has quick buttons to turn 'off' skinning for a
section or the whole stack.  This will reduce all the skinning settings to a
linear loft 'ground state' from which you can then build back up exactly
the settings you want.

There is also now an ability to set a Stack to certain presets.  These include
the default stack, a cylinder (two ways), and a bunch of different ways of
modeling engines.  All these were possible before, but it was a bit of a
hassle to get everything set up right.  Now, you can select from 14 different
ways of representing a nacelle from the click of a button.  This should make
the integrated flowpath modeling capabilities of OpenVSP much easier to use.

There is also now some documentation added to the Stack to hopefully make this
stuff more clear.

Further, the integrated flowpath modeling gained three new flowpath
representations -- flowthrough, inlet to face, and nozzle to face negative
only.  These are useful for tasks like calculating the fuel volume available
in a fuselage with an embedded flowpath.

Also, when modeling the inlet/exhaust as an extended flowpath, the extension
can now be done in the global X direction.

For some reason, when the Pick capability was implemented, it was set up to
only work with bodies in Wireframe mode.  I don't remember a reason for this,
so I went ahead and made it work with Hidden, Shaded, and Texture views of
Geoms.  Let me know if this breaks anything.

If you don't know about Pick -- either press 'p' or click the 'Pick' button
on the Geom Browser.  Now move the mouse over the 3D window.  Different geoms
will be highlighted in red.  Click on one and it will become the active geom.
Press P or turn off the button to exit Pick mode.

There was a nasty bug when using composite laminates in the structures
modeling stuff.  It would cause the GUI to act bizarrely and eventually crash.
As it turns out, it was an infinite loop in the GUI.  Who knew?

There was also a bug where a co-planarity test for structures was performed
with a tolerance in FEA scale on a geometry in VSP scale.  If these were
substantially different (say m vs mm), then FEA parts could be dropped from
the model and other similar problems.  Thanks Bryan S. for reporting these
two structures bugs.

Sometimes the VSPAERO viewer would fail to load because it would complain about
not being able to write or read a font file.  That has been fixed.

The VSPAERO console output would default to an unreadable font when Windows
was set to a Japanese locale.  We've changed to a different font that will
hopefully make things better and not worse.  Let me know if you can't read
what VSPAERO is telling you.

The Python API for Ubuntu had a problem where it was built against the wrong
version of NumPy.  That should be fixed.

We've had to update the Intel MacOS build to MacOS-15.  Hopefully this doesn't
cause any problems.  We're coming to the end of days for Intel MacOS.  When it
is deprecated by Apple, I expect GitHub Actions to stop supporting it and I
will no longer be able to support the platform.  Do yourself a favor and
update now.  The M1 processors are really fast.  You'll thank me.

Features:
- Buttons to turn off skinning for Stacks
- Shape presets for Stacks -- makes engine flowpaths easy
- Negative only engine representations
- Extend flowpath in global X direction

Build System:
- x85 MacOS build now using MacOS 15

Fixes:
- Fix twist / dihedral interaction, add options for XZ only twist
- Fix correct thickness for dihedral
- Pick now works with hidden, shaded, and texture views
- FEA GUI Bug with laminates
- FEA Part dissappearing bug
- VSPAERO Viewer font fail to load
- VSPAERO console font on Windows Japanese locale unreadable
- Ubuntu Python NumPy version mixup


---


# [OpenVSP 3.47.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.47.0)

2026-01-22

The gap since the last release (3.5mo) is a bit longer than usual (1-2mo).
While some of that gap is certainly attributable to the holidays, I also
realized that I've been sitting on some features that I thought had been
released.  Oops.

There are several new Geometry Analysis capabilities and some existing ones
have been extended.  A Swept Volume analysis has been added that is useful
for checking clearance between components that move with straight line motion
(i.e. store separation).  Some dispersion around the motion vector can be
included.

A new Look-At Visibility analysis has been added that will calculate the
visible surface of the aircraft from a specified direction.  This is ideal
for calculating the effective solar area area of an aircraft while considering
self-shadowing.

The Look-From Visibility analysis has been extended in three major ways.
First, it now includes a discrete mode that checks a list of directions in
addition to the continuous mode that finds all visible directions from a point.
Second, it can now compute the combined visibility from multiple viewpoints.
Third, it can now consider a limited field of view from each viewpoint.  These
capabilities work together appropriately.  It is now possible to compute the
combined field of view of multiple sensors (each with a limited FOV
- say a 20deg cone) placed around the airframe.

A new 'Intersect' type subsurface has been added.  This allows the user to
create a subsurface (in UW space) from the intersection between two objects.
This subsurface can be used like any other subsurface.

Intersect subsurfaces will find many uses, but one immediate goal is to
allow specification of a visibility requirement (either a pilot view requirement
like FAA AC 25.773 or a sensor capability like a 20deg cone) and then generate
a cutout in the body that meets that requirement.  Another immediate goal
is to improve the FEA Structures capability, making it easy to accurately
trim the fuselage skin at wing-body join.

There has been an overhaul of the UX Add/Delete/Rename concepts. Many features
of OpenVSP involve adding, deleting, and renaming items. These typically live
in what are known as "Browsers" or "Trees." These items encompass things such
as Geoms, AdvLinks, Structural Components, Excrescence Drag contributors, and
much more. As these features were implemented over many years by various people,
the design language for how an item is manipulated in these browsers became
muddled. Practically, this led to OpenVSP users having to develop conflicting
muscle memory from learning multiple menu archetypes. Would an item need a name
before adding it, or does it have a default name? When renaming an item, does
the user reuse the name input field or a separate rename input field? Does an
item rename when hitting "Enter" on the field or when clicking a button labeled
"rename?" With this noted, a we developed a UX template for
Adding/Deleting/Renaming items in browsers and trees, resulting in two key
developments.

First, all instances of mutable browsers were redesigned to the same
functionality. They all have buttons for Adding & Deleting. No item requires a
name before adding it and all items now have a default name associated with
its type.  Renaming items reuses the name input field, and the "rename" button
has been removed everywhere, deferring to users' "Enter" key callback when
finishing modifying the name input field.

Second, a popup rename field was developed for easier renaming. This inline
rename field mimics OS file renaming by inserting a name input field over
the item in its browser/tree, triggered by double clicking or using an
applicable hotkey (F2 or Enter to match both Mac and Windows hotkeys). Once
open, the user may click out of the rename field or type "Enter" to confirm
their modifications. All mutable browsers now support this feature to reduce
friction when designing your vehicles.

We believe intentional design consistency is key to enabling further user
proficiency, however subtle it may appear.

A NASA hypersonic parametric body (COBRA) has been added.  It comes from NASA,
so you know it is an acronym -- Co-Optimization of Blunt-body Re-entry Analysis.
This is a shape that was previously generated as a CFD mesh via a Fortran code.
Implementing it in OpenVSP will let them do lots of new things with it.

I discovered that there is an analytical solution to the problem of statically
balancing non-uniformly spaced blades.  Although there was nothing wrong with
the numerical solution I was using, I switched to the analytical solution
because that is what you do.

There is potential to add a capability for higher order blancing of
non-uniformly spaced blades, but this would only be relevant for 7+ bladed
rotors.  Let me know if this is of interest to anyone.

Python 3.9 has reached end of life.  OpenVSP will now support 3.11 and 3.13.
GitHub Actions has dropped MacOS 13 for x86, so our x86 build is now built
using MacOS 14.

As usual, there were lots of fixes all over the place including a handful of
user-reported issues that have been neglected for a while.

There were several fixes and improvements to the multifacade capability of
the Python API.  Large vectors of vec3d data transferred through the API can
now be intrepreted directly as numpy arrays.  This is about 400x faster.
If you have an API workflow that computes a lot of surface points, you'll
want to use this feature.  This does mean that numpy is required at build
time.

The OpenVSP build system would not work with Python 3.12+.  This has been
fixed -- thanks Alasdair Gray.

There were some bugs with writing *.vspgeom files from CFDMesh.  I don't think
anyone is trying to use that feature, but we are looking at it as a new way
to work between OpenVSP and CBAero.

All VSPAERO input files are now written with %lg instead of %lf formatting.
This lets scientific notation be used when appropriate, ensuring that both
large and small numbers are communicated properly to the solver.  Users
modeling insect sized aircraft using large units (meters) will appreciate
having non-zero Sref communicated appropriately.

Some point merge tolerances in CFDMesh have been adjusted.  It was reporting
a lot of false-positive non-watertight meshes.  This should work better now.

Features:
- Swept Volume Analysis
- Look-At Visibility Analysis
- Look-From Visibility now has discrete mode
- Look-From Visibility supports multiple viewpoints
- Look-From Visibility supports constrained FOV from each viewpoint
- Intersect type SubSurfaces
- Reworked UX for all item browsers and trees regarding adding/deleting/renaming
- Explicit Add and Delete button
- Auto-name for all recently-added items
- Rename using name field, no button necessary
- Inline rename field via item double click, F2, or Enter
- NASA COBRA Hypersonic reentry body geometry
- Analytical solution to static blade balance
- Faster transfer of large vec3d data to NumPy via API


Build System:
- Python 3.9 EOL.  Support dropped, supporting 3.11 and 3.13 going forward
- MacOS 13 EOL, x86 build now using MacOS 14
- Update FindPythonLibsNew to work with Python 3.12+ -- thanks Alasdair Gray


Fixes:
- Fix Deactivate() logic for sliders all over the place
- New Geom selected correctly when Vehicle initially selected
- Fixes for *.vspgeom files from CFDMesh
- All VSPAERO files written with %lg for precision across all magnitudes
- False positive non-watertight warning in CFDMesh fixes
- Fix for repeated CompGeom / ParasiteDrag calls from API
- Write BOX beam section types correctly to CalculiX files
- Don't clobber XSecCurve name when changing XSec type


---


# [OpenVSP 3.46.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.46.0)

2025-09-30

I was going to hold off on this release until a couple bigger pending changes
were finished -- but there are a handful of fixes for problems that people are
running into.  I thought about doing a 3.45.5 release with just fixes, but
there are also a few features that should go into a .0.  So here we are.

Most of these fixes do not apply to the 3.44 series, so I'm going to stop
supporting the parallel branches, moving forward with just 3.46 from now on.

Routing Geom's can now have rounded corners of specified radius at each
junction.  You can also now specify the mass/length of Routing Geoms.  That
linear density is used for both a live-updating mass calculation as well as
by the detailed mass properties calculation that will calculate the CG and
inertia contributions of the Routing Geom.

The classical lamination theory calculations used in the FEA Structures tool
have been updated to calculate the through-laminate engineering constants.
Hopefully this improves compatibility with several solvers.

Several simplified tire representation modes have been added.  These include
a simplified TRA mode that skips the flange calculations as well as some
Balloon tire modes.  The TRA flange calculations are scale dependent and will
not produce reasonable results for tires outside the expected size range.
The simplified modes provide alternatives in particular for small scale
aircraft like UAV's.

Some Auxiliary Geom's have specific requirements for what type of parent
Geom they need to function.  These requirements are opaque to new users.
The Auxiliary Geom GUI has been modified to include a short note describing
the requirements for each Aux Geom type.

There have been some struggles with meshing control surfaces to send to
VSPAERO.  This release has two changes to help with the situation.  First,
only subsurfaces corresponding to active control surfaces will be impressed
on the mesh being prepared for VSPAERO.  This means that if you aren't
actively using a control surface, it can't cause problems.  Second, I've
made a change to the subsurface mesh intersection algorithm.  This change
appears to help -- and doesn't appear to cause any problems, but keep an eye
out for issues with subsurfaces and CompGeom type operations.

There was a problem identifying Kutta wake edges for VSPAERO where the wake
would continue up the side of the intersection with another body.  The geometry
preview option for VSPAERO was not working with the thick set.  Some degenerate
faces created in the CreateNGonMeshGeom process have been cleaned up.  The
VSPAERO Clo2D parameter had a misleading description.

The FitAFCST API call had a bug that kept it from ever working.  This bug dates
to 2015.  Sometimes I wonder if anybody uses this stuff -- in this case, the
answer is No.

Slider GUI elements were not disabled when expected, this made it possible
to sometimes change Parms that shouldn't be changed.  Attachment GUI elements
were not disabled at the right time.  The Vehicle Notes screen had a toggle
that did not display properly the first time.

Thomas N. reported a crash that he found during repeated operations with
Python scripting.  However, it probably could have hit anyone opening a file,
or possibly even more frequently than that.

Lots of good stuff here.  Everyone should update.

Features:
- Routing Geom gets rounded corners
- Simple and detailed mass properties calculations for Routing Geom
- 3D Lamination theory
- More tire representation modes - including Balloon tires
- Add some notes about geometry requirements for Auxiliary Geoms
- Only intersect active control surfaces for VSPAERO

Bug Fixes:
- Make VSPAERO control surfaces tolerate spaces in names
- Fix TE wake detection for VSPAERO
- Potential fix for control surface subsurface meshing problems
- Fix VSPAERO preview for thick geometry
- Remove Degen Faces in CreateNGonMeshGeom
- Fix FitAfCST API call
- Improve Clo2D Parm description
- Fix deactivation of sliders
- Fix deactivation of attachment GUI elements
- Fix update of toggle button for vehicle notes screen
- Fix intermittent crash reported by Thomas N.


# [OpenVSP 3.45.4](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.45.4)

2025-08-31

Another small bugfix release.  This time, none of the fixes are applicable
(well, one technically would apply, but it wasn't causing a problem there)
to 3.44, so just one release this time.

The 'View Front Of' feature from 3.45.3 made it so you couldn't push shift
while changing the name of things.  who wants capital letters or symbols
anyway/

There are a few fixes that affect the meshing for VSPAERO.  They are kinda in
the weeds, so I'll gloss over them here -- but if you use VSPAERO, you'll want
to update.  One fixes the intersection with thin LE / TE surfaces with
bodies.  The others help thin cruciform bodies that you shouldn't be using
because you should be using thick bodies instead.

Finally, some VSPAERO settings were not properly getting reset on File/New.

Bug fixes:
- Fix event handling for 'View Front Of' to not make shift weird.
- Fix VSPAERO::Renew()
- Fix MergeFaces, which was preventing LE/TE panels from merging then spliting.
- Ensure degen cruciform intersection points are coincident
- Merge (don't intersect) degen cruciform meshes


---


# [OpenVSP 3.45.3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.45.3)

2025-08-26

Mostly a bugfix release, but with a couple small features for good
measure.

Version 3.45.X is going well.  All new features are going into it and
fixes will not be back ported to 3.44.X after 3.46.0 is released.  The
big change in 3.45 is the update to VSPAERO.  The only reason you should
stick with 3.44.X is if you are a production user of VSPAERO who can
not update their processes to 3.45.X at this time.  If that describes
you, you should be excited about 3.45.X and eager to upgrade as soon as
possible.  So, you should really be testing it now and updating your
processes to the new version.

There are some new options for interacting with the 3D window.

Press 'n' (or choose 'View Normal To' from the menu), pick a point,
and the 3D view will be centered at the selected point, your view
will be aligned with the local normal vector, and the center of
rotation will be set to the selected point.

Press 'z' while rotating, and instead of rotating the 3D trackball,
you will only rotate about the camera Z direction.  Use this when you
like your 3D view direction, but not its orientation on screen.

Press 'x' ( or choose 'View Front Of' from the menu) with a Geom
selected, and the view will be centered on and aligned with the
X direction of that Geom.

There are a handful of fixes for VSPAERO including a fix for bookeeping
of group forces/moments and adjustments to the cutoff value that will
help with models of broadly different scale.

3D backgrounds now work with photos and filled images (not just line
drawings anymore).

Two bugs were found when looking at the FEAMesh mass calculation.  The
cross sectional area for beam elements was not being calculated.
Instead, the default value was used.  The conversion factor for g/cm^3
was 3 orders larger than kg/m^3 instead of 3 orders smaller.  And people
think metric is easier...

RoutingGeom would crash because it doesn't really have surfaces.

Calling UpdateGUI() from the API when the GUI is not running should no
longer cause a hang.


Features:
- View Normal To
- Camera Z rotation
- View Front Of

VSPAERO Updates:
- Fix book keeping of group forces / moments
- Modified cutoff value for models of different scale
- Fixes for python optimization API

Bug Fixes:
- Fix formatting of Cull Orphans Slider
- 3D backgrounds with filled images
- FEA Beam properties (including area) were not calculated, fixes mass
- g/cm^3 conversion factor fixed.  Fixes FEA mass calculation.
- RoutingGeom crash due to no surfaces fixed.
- API UpdateGUI() hang when GUI not running fixed.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.44.5](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.44.5)

2025-08-26

One more small bugfix release of fixes backported from 3.45.X.  One fix
might be enough for some people to see fixing it as a feature -- but I'm
calling it a fix so it can go in this version too.

Version 3.45.X is going well.  All new features are going into it and
fixes will not be back ported to 3.44.X after 3.46.0 is released.  The
big change in 3.45 is the update to VSPAERO.  The only reason you should
stick with 3.44.X is if you are a production user of VSPAERO who can
not update their processes to 3.45.X at this time.  If that describes
you, you should be excited about 3.45.X and eager to upgrade as soon as
possible.  So, you should really be testing it now and updating your
processes to the new version.

3D backgrounds now work with photos and filled images (not just line
drawings anymore).

Two bugs were found when looking at the FEAMesh mass calculation.  The
cross sectional area for beam elements was not being calculated.
Instead, the default value was used.  The conversion factor for g/cm^3
was 3 orders larger than kg/m^3 instead of 3 orders smaller.  And people
think metric is easier...

RoutingGeom would crash because it doesn't really have surfaces.

Calling UpdateGUI() from the API when the GUI is not running should no
longer cause a hang.

Bug Fixes:
- 3D backgrounds with filled images
- FEA Beam properties (including area) were not calculated, fixes mass
- g/cm^3 conversion factor fixed.  Fixes FEA mass calculation.
- RoutingGeom crash due to no surfaces fixed.
- API UpdateGUI() hang when GUI not running fixed.


# [OpenVSP 3.45.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.45.2)

2025-08-18

Another small bugfix release and just a few micro-features.

Single structure NASTRAN files now include some starter executive control
statements previously only output for assemblies.

CompGeom now reports area calculations for each subsurface (not just by tag).

Subsurfaces can now be re-ordered from the GUI.

Paths to control surface tag files are now correctly constructed in
VSPAERO on Windows.

Degenerate edges that would lead to zero-node faces in NGon meshes are now
cleaned up.

Warnings from Attribute Editor complaining about insufficient height have been
silenced.

A fix in the previous version managed to mess up the normal vector
direction for CompGeom and other mesh-type operations.  This also
has the effect of messing up surface orientation for VSPAERO.

FEA Beam properties were getting deleted and substituted for a default
property -- even if they were used.

The FEA Mesh was visualized in FEA scale not VSP Model scale.  While
not the end of the world, it caused significant inconvenience.  Mesh
size parameters are still in FEA scale, but the resulting mesh is
visualized in the model scale.

FEA mass calculations were often output with inappropriate precision and
also without the context of the mass units.  The number formatting has
been improved and units added to the console output of mass property
totals.

So, not a whole lot here -- but it is all good stuff.  These bugs were hitting
users, so update to avoid these issues.

Features:
- Single structure NASTRAN file now includes executive control deck
- Detailed subsurface area outputs from CompGeom
- SubSurfaces can now be re-ordered

Bug Fixes:
- VSPAERO control surface tag file paths correctly constructed
- Degenerate edges cleaned up in NGon files
- Attribute Editor height warnings silenced
- Normal vector directions for CompGeom and other meshes
- FEA Beam properties getting deleted
- FEA Mesh visualization scale
- FEA Mass properties precision and units in output


---


# [OpenVSP 3.44.4](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.44.4)

2025-08-18

Another small bugfix release with fixes ported back from 3.45.X and just a
few micro-features.

Single structure NASTRAN files now include some starter executive control
statements previously only output for assemblies.

CompGeom now reports area calculations for each subsurface (not just by tag).

Subsurfaces can now be re-ordered from the GUI.

A fix in the previous version managed to mess up the normal vector
direction for CompGeom and other mesh-type operations.  This also
has the effect of messing up surface orientation for VSPAERO.

FEA Beam properties were getting deleted and substituted for a default
property -- even if they were used.

The FEA Mesh was visualized in FEA scale not VSP Model scale.  While
not the end of the world, it caused significant inconvenience.  Mesh
size parameters are still in FEA scale, but the resulting mesh is
visualized in the model scale.

FEA mass calculations were often output with inappropriate precision and
also without the context of the mass units.  The number formatting has
been improved and units added to the console output of mass property
totals.

So, not a whole lot here -- but it is all good stuff.

Features:
- Single structure NASTRAN file now includes executive control deck
- Detailed subsurface area outputs from CompGeom
- SubSurfaces can now be re-ordered

Bug Fixes:
- Normal vector directions for CompGeom and other meshes
- FEA Beam properties getting deleted
- FEA Mesh visualization scale
- FEA Mass properties precision and units in output


---


# [OpenVSP 3.45.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.45.1)

2025-08-11

This is a bugfix with a few extra goodies thrown in.  The applicable
fixes from this release have been back ported to 3.44.3.  That version
is being maintained in case people have trouble moving to 3.45.X.
That said, 3.45.0 has been going very well and I do not anticipate
keeping the 3.44.X branch active for long.

Although a bugfix release, a couple features made their way in.

OpenVSP will now decompose file-type airfoils into approximate thickness
and camber distributions.  Then, when the thickness of the airfoil is
adjusted, the thickness is scaled and re-applied to the fixed camber
distribution (rather than just scaling the ordinates).  This same process
is used when interpolating between dissimilar airfoil types along a
propeller blade.

The Advanced Link code window now displays line numbers.  The error
messages reported when there are problems in the code now reflect the
displayed line numbers.

The new Geometry Analysis feature gained an online help page to help
explain the input requirements for each analysis.  The analyses also
received some error checking to notify the user when those requirements
are not met.

The most visible change in this version will be the layout of the
main OpenVSP screen.  Over the years, screens have gotten bigger and
wider -- and while most have landscape orientation, some are portrait.
The default size of the main screen has been increased to better take
advantage of the screen.

There are also a handful of updates to VSPAERO.  Mostly bug fixes all
around, but also continued improvements to the optimization mode
including an adjoint optimization based trim capability.

Of course, a bugfix release is mostly about the bugs.  The new VSPAERO
NGon meshes could end up with holes in the mesh when there were
adjacent coplanar surfaces in the geometry.

Control surface tag files were given invalid names on Windows.  The
VSPAERO Viewer would not load on Linux.  Mref was not written properly
to the VSPAERO input file.  Input for the CLMax2D parameter was added
to remedy its unintentional omission.

A problem with EngineGeom tessellation that mainly appeared on Linux
was fixed.

A CFDMesh crash tied to model scale was fixed.  Small scale aircraft
modeled in large units (meters) with thin blunt trailing edges would
cause degenerate patches that would cause a crash.

A long-standing bug on Windows machines that would not read STL files
with non-native line endings properly.

There were also several fixes related to the new Geometry Analysis,
Auxiliary Geometry, and Landing Gear capabilities.

Two releases in one go -- everyone should update.

Features:
- Camber decomposition scaling for file and interpolated airfoils
- Advanced Link code section now has line numbers
- Advanced Link code error messages reflect displayed line numbers
- Geometry Analysis Online Help
- Error handling for Geometry Analysis
- Adjust Main Screen sizing

VSPAERO Updates:
- Cleaned up vspaero_opt
- Optimization support for non-geometric inputs as design variables
- Optimization based trim mode
- Preliminary support for VSPAERO API wrapper
- Various bug fixes

Bug Fixes:
- Fix holes in NGon mesh with co-planar surfaces
- Fix control surface tag file name problem on Windows
- Fix vspviewer temp directory problem on Linux
- Fix writing Mref to VSPAERO input file
- Add omitted support for VSPAERO CLMax2D parameter
- Expose AuxGeom XSec Attributes
- Fix bug with tessellation of EngineGeom
- Fix CFDMesh crash tied to model scale.
- Fix reading STL files on Windows with non-native line endings.
- Fix Bogie containers not appearing in search
- Fix CG envelope calculations & visualization
- Clean up GearScreen
- Improve matrix attribute format string


---


# [OpenVSP 3.44.3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.44.3)

2025-08-11

This is a bugfix release made by back porting applicable fixes from
the 3.45.X branch.  Update to this version if you can't update to
3.45.X for some reason.  That said, 3.45.X has been going very well
and I do not anticipate keeping this 3.44.X branch active for long.

Although a bugfix release, a couple small features squeezed their way
in to help smooth some of the rough edges in the big new features
introduced in 3.44.0.

The new Geometry Analysis feature gained an online help page to help
explain the input requirements for each analysis.  The analyses also
received some error checking to notify the user when those requirements
are not met.

The most visible change in this version will be the layout of the
main OpenVSP screen.  Over the years, screens have gotten bigger and
wider -- and while most have landscape orientation, some are portrait.
The default size of the main screen has been increased to better take
advantage of the screen.

Features:
- Geometry Analysis Online Help
- Error handling for Geometry Analysis
- Adjust Main Screen sizing


Bug Fixes:
- Expose AuxGeom XSec Attributes
- Fix bug with tessellation of EngineGeom
- Fix CFDMesh crash tied to model scale.
- Fix reading STL files on Windows with non-native line endings.
- Fix Bogie containers not appearing in search
- Fix CG envelope calculations & visualization
- Clean up GearScreen
- Improve matrix attribute format string


---


# [OpenVSP 3.45.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.45.0)

2025-07-18

A huge update to VSPAERO and OpenVSP's support for and integration with it.
This release represents ~27 months of OpenVSP development and ~18 months
of VSPAERO development.

Because of the magnitude of this change (particularly if you use VSPAERO),
we recommend you tread carefully.  Give it a try and report any bugs,
but gain some experience with it before fully committing for any
serious application.  This also means you should go back and repeat
any validation studies you have done with VSPAERO to reestablish your
confidence in it and the settings you are using.

To support the transition, version 3.44.X will stay active until the
dust settles on 3.45.X.

The updates are really too many to list.  For a great summary, watch
the VSPAERO related videos from the 2025 OpenVSP Workshop.

https://openvsp.org/wiki/doku.php?id=workshop2025

To briefly summarize the changes...

VLM and Panel mode are no longer discrete choices.  Instead, components
can be modeled as thick or thin.  The user chooses which components to
model each way.  We expect users will often model lifting surfaces as
thin and non-lifting bodies as thick.  OpenVSP performs the intersection
and trimming -- even in cases of thin/thin and thick/thin geometry.

The computational mesh is no longer triangle based (with approximate
diagonal removal by VSPAERO).  Instead, the mesh is made of polygons
with an arbitrary number of edges (NGons).  OpenVSP performs a cleanup
process to eliminate slivers as artifacts of the intersection process.

The *.vspgeom interchange file format has been updated to v3 to support
all of this (BTW, the vspgeom format was initiated back in 2020
with all this in mind, so maybe these changes go back 5+ years).

The automatic differentiation library used to create the adjoint version
of VSPAERO has been removed.  Its performance was unsatisfactory and
it did not scale to unsteady solutions.  The adjoint is now calculated
via hand-coded algorithms throughout the solver.  VSPAERO can now
calculate a solution and 12 adjoints (6 inviscid forces/moments & 6
viscous forces/moments) in approximately the time for 6 flow solutions.
The adjoint calculation is fully parallel and makes use of the
multipole acceleration.  As a bonus, build time on Windows is now about
25% of what it was before.

There is now an implicit wake mode that uses the adjoint to directly
couple the solutions of the vortex strengths and wake position.
The convergence of the explicit wake mode has also been improved,
this is required for optimization workflows.

Stall is now an implicit part of the solution, better capturing the
effect of lost circulation on the entire flowfield.

Wakes are now modeled with the same code as regular surfaces, including
the multipole acceleration.

VSPAERO can couple with the OpenVSP C++ API to enable optimization.  This
is just the beginning...

I'm sure I'm missing something, but you get the idea.  This is a huge
VSPAERO update.


Features:
- Thick/thin intersection in OpenVSP
- Clean up of NGon meshes

VSPAERO Updates:
- Mixed thick/thin geometry support
- Hand coded adjoint
- Implicit wake formulation
- Wake sheet formulation
- Implicit stall model
- Optimization coupled with OpenVSP for geometry updates

Libraries:
- Adept differentiation library removed (faster compiles on Windows)


---


# [OpenVSP 3.44.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.44.2)

2025-07-18

Another fix release to address two or three things in 3.44.1 before the
release of 3.45.0.  3.45.0 is a really big change that is slightly more
risky than OpenVSP's normal releases.  Consequently, I'm going to leave
3.44.X up as an alternative until the dust settles on 3.45.X.

Everyone should update to this release (3.44.2) right away.  When 3.45.X
is released, everyone should pull it down and give it a try.  You may
want to save 3.45.X versions of your files so you can go back to 3.44.X
with no risk.  Most of the 3.45.X changes are VSPAERO related, so if you
are not a VSPAERO user, this change will affect you less.


Delabella (a constrained Delaunay triangulation library) was getting
compiled on Intel MacOS machines without the FMA instruction.  This
sometimes caused it to go into an infinite loop.  FMA has been restored
on Intel MacOS DBA.  Unfortunately, Rosetta2 does not support the FMA
instruction (running Intel binaries on Apple Silicon Macs).  However,
if you're running an Apple Silicon machine, you really should be running
the native binary.

DBA has been restored as the primary CDT algorithm for CompGeom type stuff,
if a failure is detected, it will fall back to Triangle.

The intersection in CompGeom with SubSurfaces would sometimes cause
duplicate edges that would cause the CDT to fail -- which would cause
holes in the mesh.  Those duplicate edges are now removed, which should
improve CompGeom with control surfaces.

The GeomPicker in GeomAnalysisScreen could sometimes reach an invalid
state.  This would prevent an analysis from working -- even though it
looked like everything was configured correctly.  This has been
fixed.  Thanks Mikel Catania for reporting this bug.

Libraries:
- Update DBA to version that fixes FMA on Intel MacOS

Fixes:
- Remove duplicate edges in SplitTri()
- Fix GeomPicker handling of invalid choices in GeomAnalysisScreen


---


# [OpenVSP 3.43.3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.43.3)

2025-07-17

Another quick fix release to improve robustness of some CompGeom style
operations.

To minimize the changes from 3.43.0, try DBA first, falling back to
Triangle on a detected error.

Fixes:
 - Fall back from DBA to Triangle when failure is detected.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.44.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.44.1)

2025-07-15

This is a quick fix release to address a few issues that immediately
appeared in 3.44.0.

Using the HumanGeom component would immediately cause a crash on
non-MacOS platforms.

The AC 25.773 GUI elements would obscure other XSecCurve GUI elements.

This includes a change to improve robustness of some CompGeom style
operations.

Some time ago, OpenVSP switched from Triangle to DBA for its main CDT
algorithm.  This helped some cases, but hurt others.

In 3.43.1, OpenVSP switched back to Triangle.  This helps in some cases,
but hurts others.

This fix catches some failures of Triangle and tries DBA in those cases.
Hopefully this will prove to be the most robust approach without
major work.

Fixes:
- Fix HumanGeom crash
- Fix AC 25.773 GUI elements obscuring other GUI elements
- Fall back from Triangle to DBA when failure is detected.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.43.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.43.2)

2025-07-15

This is a quick fix release to improve robustness of some CompGeom style
operations.

Some time ago, OpenVSP switched from Triangle to DBA for its main CDT
algorithm.  This helped some cases, but hurt others.

In 3.43.1, OpenVSP switched back to Triangle.  This helps in some cases,
but hurts others.

This fix catches some failures of Triangle and tries DBA in those cases.
Hopefully this will prove to be the most robust approach without
major work.

Fixes:
 - Fall back from Triangle to DBA when failure is detected.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.44.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.44.0)

2025-07-14

Lots of features working together to create a paradigm shift.  I
think this release will enable a huge change in how people use OpenVSP.

Hopefully you watched the OpenVSP Workshop so you know what I'm talking
about.  If you didn't, here is a 10 minute video that will give you an
idea of what to expect.

[Geometry Analysis Teaser Video](https://youtu.be/r91Cpz6gDKY)

If you read the 3.43.1 release notes, then this release is a change of
plans.  What was planned for 3.44.0 is still coming (i.e. another
exciting release soon) -- but it makes sense to put this stuff out first.

This release is all about new Geometry Analysis tools in OpenVSP.

Aircraft Configurators perform all kinds of geometry based checks when
laying out an aircraft.  These checks were traditionally performed at
the drafting board -- today they're performed manually by eye, or with
the aid of CAD.  OpenVSP can now perform many of these checks in an
automated and quantitative manner not possible before.

There are some prerequisites to make all this work.  Many geometry checks
involve the behavior and position of the landing gear.  OpenVSP now
has a built-in landing gear component.  Unlike using Stacks or other
components to build an ad-hock landing gear model, OpenVSP 'knows' that
this component is a landing gear, so it can rotate about the wheels,
the axles, or the bogie as appropriate.  It knows that gear struts can
extend or compress and that tires can have different effective radii.

Some geometry checks involve shapes whose form can be inferred from
other components in the model.  For example, The arc that a propeller
or rotor swings through (including flapping) can be inferred by the
information in the propeller component.  Auxiliary Geometry was added
to provide a way to handle these situations.  Expect more Auxiliary
Geoms to be added in the future.

While most analysis tasks in OpenVSP are simple to set up and often can
be set up once per model, I expect users to have many Geometry Analyses
set up in their model, each with nuanced configuration and needing to be
frequently revisited throughout the design process.  The Geometry
Analysis Manager was created to help organize all of this.

Many geometry checks are possible.  This release includes a dozen new and
different analyses to handle some common and interesting aircraft design
use cases.  Expect more geometry analyses to be added in the future.

The HumanGeom was refreshed a bit.  Posing the head (nod and turn) was
implemented to support visibility checks.  Resolution of the model was
increased.  Posing the hands (wrist and forearm) was added at user
request.

SubSurfaces (including Structures) were extended to support arbitrary
XSecCurve SubSurfaces.  This is mainly to support SubSurface cutouts
when performing visibility checks, but will find usage elsewhere.

A new AC25.773-1 XSecCurve type was added intended to be used with the
SuperCone Auxiliary Geometry for visiblity checks.

There is a lot here (about seven months of work in almost 500 commits)--
and it will take some time to figure out how it all works together.
The summary video linked above is a good start.  This was also discussed
at length during the OpenVSP Workshop Day 2.  For now, you can watch
the whole day on YouTube, but individual talks will eventually be
separated out and linked to from the Workshop Wiki page.

Everyone should update to take advantage of this new capability.  I can't
wait to see it put to use by users.  Oh, there are some bug fixes too.

Features:
- Landing Gear Component
- Bogie modeling with suspension travel
- Tire and rim modeling
- Aircraft CG envelope specification
- Auxiliary Geom Component
- Propeller arc
- Rotor burst cone
- Off-nominal gear rotation Geoms
- Composite clearance envelope Auxiliary Gear Geom
- SuperCone
- Geometry Analysis Manager
- Results Viewer
- External, Internal, and Self External interference checks
- From point visibility
- Height above plane distance check
- Gear rotation (tail and wingtip strike angle)
- Gear tipback and tipover angles
- Weight distribution
- Ground handling
- Convex Hull in projected area
- HumanGeom head motion (nod and turn)
- HumanGeom hand motion (wrist and forearm)
- HumanGeom improved resolution
- XSecCurve based SubSurfaces
- XSecCurve SubSurfaces in Structures
- AC 25.773-1 XSecCurve type

Libraries:
- Geometric Tools GTE included in src/external
- Robust predicates included in src/external

Build System:
- GTE Does not work with gcc-10.  Updated Ubuntu 22.04 build to gcc-13.

Fixes:
- Fix visualization of GeomEngine highlighted cross sections
- Improve error message when advanced link output is not set
- Fix height of attribute editor in XSecLayout for Fuse & Stack
- Fix bug with HumanGeom positioning, some pose would move origin


---


# [OpenVSP 3.43.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.43.1)

2025-07-02

One feature, a bunch of fixes, and lots of infrastructure in this release.

Spoiler alert -- 3.44.0 is going to be big and it is just around the
corner.  There is much to be excited about -- but it is so big that it is
more risky than OpenVSP's normal releases.  Because of this, 3.43.X will
stay on the download page for a while and users will be encouraged to
tread carefully with 3.44.X until things settle down.

With that in mind, there are a handful of fixes built up that have been
hitting some users.  Ergo, let me introduce 3.43.1.

First, the feature...  You can now modify an airfoil section with a plain
trailing edge flap.  It is as easy as specifying the chordwise extent,
hinge location, and deflection.

Next, there are a bunch of fixes.  Watermarks weren't displaying.
Calculix elements were numbered from 2 instead of 1.  Multi-facade
instances weren't starting when lots of parallel processes attempted to
spool up lots of parallel facades.  Yes, someone is doing that, why
aren't you?  FindThickness wasn't as robust as it should be.  BOR
XSecCurve Parms weren't updated from file load.  Etc.

There were also some fixes for potential buffer overflows and a bunch of
housecleaning found through static analysis.  Use of std::map was
converted to std::unordered_map wherever possible -- it should provide a
theoretical speed improvement, but I doubt anyone will be able to measure
any change in a real workflow.

Finally, GitHub deprecated their windows_2019 runners, forcing an
upgrade to windows_2022.  While this mostly went smoothly, it did cause
a CMake race condition to appear.  That was fun.

Overall, this is a nice bugfix release and everyone should update their
production use of OpenVSP to this version.

Features:
- Plain flap airfoil modification

Library Updates:
- Update Code-Eli to fix FindThickness

Build System:
- Update GitHub Windows build to windows_2022 runner

Fixes:
- Fix large scale MultiFacade problem
- Fix Calculix element numbering
- Fix Watermark display
- Fix fscanf buffer overflows
- Fix FindThickness -- used by airfoil TE trimming by thickness
- Fix BOR file load


---


# [OpenVSP 3.43.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.43.0)

2025-04-24

Lots more good stuff here.  Several cool features as well as some pretty
critical bug fixes.  Everyone should update.

Under the Geom pull-down, you'll find a new kind of Geom.  The Routing
geom is for modeling subsystems that are routed around the vehicle.  Think
wiring, pneumatics, hydraulics, shafting, etc.  The routing geom is a
3D poly-line that can be anchored to multiple Geoms along its route.  The
length of the route will be calculated.  For now, the route has no volume
(it is just a polyline) and the corners are sharp.  It does not participate
in analysis (such as mass properties) or export.  It is useful for
visualization and calculating the overall length of a route.  More
capabilities may be added later.

While Routing Geom may seem simple, under the hood there is subtle
complexity.  Normally a Geom can only depend on its immediate parent
(think attachment or Conformal).  Updates propagate parent to child
down the tree as needed.  Conversely, a Routing Geom can depend on
multiple Geoms that can be scattered around the tree.  This required
fairly fundamental changes to the way OpenVSP works.  It also means
that you can't attach things to a Routing Geom -- we don't want infinite
loops, do you?

You can now assign nicknames or aliases to XSecs on a Stack, Fuse, or
Wing.  You can name a cross section ('Bulkhead' or 'PlanBreak') or
you can name the space between cross sections ('Cockpit' or 'Wingtip').
These names should make it easier to be organized for tasks like setting
up Advanced Links.

You can now change the parent of Geom without resorting to cut/paste.
There are now left/right arrows in the Geom Browser that will
promote/demote a Geom in the tree.  Cut/paste of a Geom would destroy
the ParmID's, which would break any Links and Advanced Links involving
those Geoms.  This capability allows you to re-organize your model
without breaking links and things.

The Geom Browser has received an overhaul.  Insted of custom code with
ASCII art connections, the Geom Browser now uses the FLTK native tree
with pretty line drawing.  Visibility and surface mode icons have been
added to each row to display and control how Geoms are viewed.

The Python Multifacade has received some fixes and upgrades.  The
Multifacade enables using multiple OpenVSP models from one Python process.
This helps complex MDO problems and also enables coarse parallelization.

Propellers now support control surface subsurfaces.  Subsurfaces now
have an option to apply to all surfaces of a geom.

Several performance improvements for high tessellation levels and objects
with repeated surfaces (props and symmetry).  Also some performance
improvements for models with high part counts.

There are a bunch of FEA / Structures modeling improvements.
A new poly-spar part will improve the parameterization of spars and will
fix the spar continuity problems people have had. Beam and shell elements
are now written separately for NASTRAN files.  Groups of beam elements
are now split into chain segments.  'Spider' points associated with
on-part fixed points are now detected and identified.  Later these will
be used to improve how assembly connections are set up.

The new CMake 4.0 breaks significant backward compatibility.  While this
is not a big deal for OpenVSP itself, it breaks many of our library
dependencies.  If you compile OpenVSP yourself, you must stick with
CMake 3.X for now.  I've updated several of our libraries to work with
4.0, but two will require more extensive work.  Hopefully this will be
sorted by the next major release.

There are a lot of fixes in this release, some for pretty significant
issues including some crashes and model correctness problems.  There
are also fixes for some creature comforts - multi-view jumping, rotation
center change not re-centering, prop curve editor resizing, window size
on portrait displays, etc.

The way Attributes applied to Sets are stored in the XML file has been
changed, so if you have Attributes on your Sets, you'll need to re-do
them.

There are a handful of FEA / Structures modeling fixes too.  NASTRAN
PSHELL property cards now sport a MID3 value.  BC's can now be applied
to off-body fixed points.  Symmetrical fixed points can now be used
when building assembly connections.


Features:
- Routing Geom
- Aliases for XSecs, connected to Advanced Linking
- Geom Browser refresh, visibility and surface mode icons added
- Change parent/child of Geom without destruction, preserves ParmIDs
- Performance improvements with large Geom count
- General speedups to Update process, particularly high tess & symmetry
- Multifacade support matured across package
- Unit test infrastructure improved, Python and AngelScript sample code
- Prop direction of rotation marker location adjustable
- Add 'all' option to subsurface surface ID for multi-surface geoms
- Support control surface subsurfaces for Props
- Write beam and shell elements separately for NASTRAN
- Break FEA beam element groups into chain segments
- Add FEA Poly Spar to fix spar continuity problems
- Make FEA trimming support Poly Spar
- Find and identify fixed point spider points for future use

Library Updates:
- Update various libraries to support CMake 4.0
- Update Code-Eli to version that supports average_normal computation

Build System:
- Force CMake 3.X for GitHub Actions build

Fixes:
- Fix storage of NVD collections
- Fix treatment of propeller curve editor resizing
- Fix out-of-date Link-able Parm List
- Fix wake identification for VSPAERO
- Fix storage of Sets with Attributes
- Fix PropGeom::UpdateMainTessVec() not getting called
- Fix and clean up proliferation of DeaultShell/Beam
- Fixes view jumping when changing views with multi-view. Thanks Chris S.
- Fix re-centering of view when changing center of rotation
- Fix missed update of Geoms with ancestral symmetry
- Fix calculation of t parameter from uv.
- VSPAERO GUI moment reference point inaccessible
- Fix default window size on portrait displays
- Stipple engine highlight curves to improve visibility
- Make file choosers work with suggested file name
- Don't clear filename when changing directories in SelectFileScreen
- Fix NASTRAN PSHELL property cards MID3 value
- Allow writing BC's on of-body fixed points
- Correct fixed point Set name in NASTRAN dat file
- Fix choice of symmetrical fixed points when building assembly connections


---


# [OpenVSP 3.42.3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.42.3)

2025-02-06

Another small bugfix release that addresses some issues that were biting
some users.

Fixes:
 - Fix casting of string literals to bool for NameValData.
 - Fix RenameAttr in ResultsMgr enforces persistent AttrID.
 - Attributes API revisions.
 - Cleanup AttributeExplorer construction.
 - Link pthread library to cartesian example on linux.
 - Correctly delegate constructor for NVD bool case.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.42.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.42.2)

2025-02-03

This is a bugfix release that addresses a bunch of recently introduced issues.  Some
of these are pretty critical (crashes in common use cases).  Everyone should update.

Features:
 - Display alert message if accessing disabled screen is attempted.
 - Make Mode 'Apply and Show Only' button more visually distinctive.

Fixes:
 - Fix advanced link sceen failing to be disabled.
 - Various API documentation fixes.
 - Make Set_0 show up in Geom Browser by default.
 - Do not make Vehicle appear selected when it is not.
 - Update NerfGeomManager to match GeomManager Attribute changes.
 - Don't restore viewport size and view from file.
 - Revert bool NameValData to int type.
 - Ensure Vehicle BBox is up-to-date from API.
 - Fix gimbal lock with rotation matrix.
 - Only reset vehicle screen Parms from main screen.
 - Fix crash when ParmChanged called with NULL Parm*.  Thanks Mike V.
 - Improve facade search for host python executable.
 - Automatically call InitGUI from graphics API.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.42.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.42.1)

2025-01-20

Fixes:
 - Fix vanishing window on Windows with high resolution display.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.42.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.42.0)

2025-01-19

Although this version comes less than two months after the last, the improvements
it contains have been in the works for nearly a year.  This version contains a bunch
of infrastructure changes that will be appreciated by serious OpenVSP users.  There
are also a handful of smaller features and fixes that everyone will enjoy.

The biggest feature in this version is the addition of Attributes.  Attributes were
developed by Tim Cuatt -- thanks much Tim.  Attributes are a mechanism to add
metadata to just bout anything in OpenVSP.  You can use this metadata for whatever
you want.  Perhaps you want to make a note of where the value of a certain parameter
came from, or perhaps you want to add auxiliary information that will be used by
some downstream analysis tool.

Attributes are Name / Value pairs that can be associated with Parms, Geoms, Vehicle,
Measures, Advanced Links, etc.  Their value can be a string, bool, int, double, vec3d,
a vector, or a matrix.  The user can interact with Attributes through the GUI or the
API.

A few special case Attributes have been built-in to models.  First is a Watermark
capability.  You can set the text, color, and size of a text box that will be
superimposed on top fo the 3D window.  You might use this to add proprietary
markings to a file.  Second is a general Notes capability.  You can think of this
as a journal that you keep with a file.

It is always exciting to see what users do with new features -- Attributes will
certainly be another example of this.  More than most things we add, Attributes
are an unstructured feature meant to be used however the user deems fit.  Go forth
and attribute!

Sets and Variable Presets are two features that new users often find confusing, but
that experienced users find essential.  Modes is a new feature that combines Sets
and Variable Presets.  This will be even more powerful for experienced users -- but
hopefully will be within reach of novices.  If you haven't ever used Sets or
Variable Presets, now is the time to level-up, learn about them, and add Modes
to your skillset.

By popular demand, OpenVSP now calculates the MAC of a wing.  It also calculates a
new reference area called Scurve.  Scurve will only differ from Stot when blending
is used.  Scurve takes into account the curved LE and TE of the wing, while Stot
is meerely the sum of the areas of the trapezoidal base segments for a wing.  The
MAC and Scurve are now available for use as VSPAERO reference quantities.

The Python API facade has been extended to support the 'Multi-Facade'.  The
multi-facade will allow one Python process to interact with multiple OpenVSP
models simultaneously via the API.  Each OpenVSP model resides in a separate instance,
each loaded in a dedicated Python process.

There are a scattering of more features and fixes all around.  The descriptions
below are pretty self explanatory, so I won't belabor them here.  Update
to the latest and enjoy.

Features:
 - Attributes added as means to attach metadata to many things in OpenVSP.
 - Attribute interaction added throughout OpenVSP GUI.
 - Modes added as concept combining Sets and Variable Presets.
 - Modes interaction added to all analysis and export capabilities.
 - Re-write Variable Presets to be ID based instead of index based.
 - New Variable Presets GUI.
 - Added Watermark that can be displayed on OpenVSP screen.
 - Added Notes editor for tracking general model information.
 - Added Multi-facade mode to Python API
 - Added warning when GUI windows exceed 800 pixels tall.
 - New Measure GUI to fit in 800 pixel limit.
 - Improve resizability of numerous GUIs.
 - Add new CHANGELOG.md file with release notes for all past versions.
 - Add creation of vspscript test code from API documentation examples.
 - Add SplitWingXSec to API.
 - Calculate MAC for wings.
 - Calculate Scurve, a Sref that includes curved LE/TE.
 - Make MAC & Scurve available as reference quantities for VSPAERO.

Library Updates:
 - Update Code-Eli to support calculation of MAC.

Build system:
 - Build on MacOS with LLVM/CLang, not XCode.
 - Now build VSPAERO on MacOS entirely with CLang & libomp, not GCC.

Fixes:
 - Fix view inconsistencies with ManageViewScreen open.
 - Fix view updating from API.
 - Fix problem with OpenGL detection on startup.
 - Clean up verbose search for Help files.
 - Silence echo of reference parameters from VSPAERO API Analysis.
 - Fix conformal components on custom components.
 - Fix many issues with API example code - both Python and C++


---


# [OpenVSP 3.41.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.41.2)

2024-12-03

While there are some microfeatures in this version, it is really about
fixing some specific bugs in some relatively recently developed
capabilities.  As it gets put to use, some issues crop up, so here are
the fixes.

This version fixes a number of issues when using the GUI from the Facade
and the API.  If you are a plain GUI user or a non-GUI API user, you
shouldn't see any difference with this version (with some very minor
exceptions).

Fixes:
 - Improve displayed precision in User Parm sliders both int and float.
 - Add VSPCrash() to API to help test Wrappers.
 - Update on-screen file label when file name changes from GUI.
 - Make relative paths passed to SetVSP3ileName absolute.
 - Make vsp online help work from Python API, include files in package.
 - Improve finding python from facade.
 - Setup vspaero path from facade.
 - Make InitGUI() stand-alone and automatically call it.
 - Allow changes to GUI from API before it is open for first time.
 - Fix problems opening and closing GUI from API.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.41.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.41.1)

2024-11-10

Some API facade fixes were accidentally left out of 3.41.0.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.41.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.41.0)

2024-11-10

Four months in the making, this release is one that almost didn't happen...
At least not now and not like it is.

You might think that four months without a release would mean things have
been quiet on the development front -- you'd be wrong.  Work was
steadily progressing on a few big long-term projects when a few
high-priority bugs came to light.  Initially, I planned on quickly pushing
out 3.40.2.  However, when I stepped back, there were a lot of other things
that were also ready to go out the door.

So this amounts to a pretty big release -- with probably two big releases
coming in the near future.

Even though this release is pretty large, most of it can be considered
fixes and cleanups.  So the 'features' list is going to be sparse this
time around.

ParmIDs are now transferred when you change an XSecCurve type.  So, if
you've identified Height and Width on an Ellipse (in Advanced Linking,
Linking, FitModel, Design Variables, Saved Parameter Settings, etc) and
you change to a Rounded Rectangle, everything should 'just work'.

The structures capability received quite a bit of attention by addressing
issues identified by James Joseph and Bryan Sandoz.  The structures
mesher should be noticibly more robust.  When things do fail, they should
less frequently crash the whole thing.  Parts (including trims) no longer
extend across the symmetry plane to the other side.  Mass of assemblies
are now calculated.  Assemblies can now be written to STL and GMsh files.
Several lagging graphics update issues were fixed.

Note, a wing used in Structures should always be self-watertight.  I.e.
tip caps should be used in the model.  However, if you don't want to
include the tip caps in the structural skin, there is now an option to
turn them off.

ScreenGrab from the API should be fixed. Several issues with the new API
facade have been resolved.

The Set Editor now has some online Help -- thanks Jason W.

Many typo fixes across the code base -- thanks Luzpaz.  Lots of general
code cleanups.

Fix CompGeomp when a subsurface line lies exactly on top of a
tessellation line.

There are a number of build system improvements, it should be easier
to build on Arch and Debian now.

Added VSP_NO_API_WRAPPERS and VSP_NO_HELP build options.  So if you
only want a bare-bones build, or are working around build problems,
you have more options.

Several libraries were updated (Clipper2, Pinocchio, Triangle and
Delabella).  Consequently, the Libraries sub-project will need to be
re-built.  Most of this was to address cross platform build issues, but
the Triangle updates also include fixes to avoid some crashes and
an infinite loop.

So there you have it -- a heap of stuff from all over the place.
Everyone should update at least to make sure you still know how to
download a new version for when the next big feature updates are
ready.


Features:
 - Re-map ParmID's when changing XSecCurve type
 - Add link loop breaking message to advanced links
 - Write structure assemblies to STL and GMsh files
 - Calculate structure assembly mass

Library Updates:
 - Clipper2, better match packages available in Linux distributions
 - Pinocchio, build fix for some platforms
 - Delabella, build fix for some platforms
 - Triangle, avoid crashes and infinite loops, avoid namespace issues

Fixes:
 - Fix base airfoil scale when setting airfoil points via API.
 - Make API ScreenGrab() and UpdateGUI() blocking.
 - Fix ScreenGrab from API.
 - Fix StopGUI behavior from GUI within facade.
 - Fix GUI and Server shutdown from facade on MacOS.
 - Fix need for sleep() on facade GUI API startup.
 - Fix Conformal Component memory error identified by Jason Le.
 - Fix Conformal Component update lag when parent symmetry changed.
 - Fix bug of copying Parm instead of Parm value
 - Fix Structures handling of symmetry for parts including trims
 - Fix Structures meshing issues, should reduce crashes
 - Fix Structures trimming at the center line


---


# [OpenVSP 3.40.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.40.1)

2024-07-24

Quick release to fix bug when reading in props with less than three blades.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.40.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.40.0)

2024-07-19

This version may not be huge, but it is certainly worthy.  It includes
a few small features, some quality of life improvements, API additions,
and a bunch of bug fixes.

Whether you'll be at AirVenture, Aviation, the OpenVSP Workshop, or none
of the above, this version should be exactly what you need for your
mid-summer modeling needs.

There are two cool additions to the propeller component.  Individual
blade folding control allows you to model stowed blades the way
rotorcraft typically do it rather than the more symmetrical approach
usually taken by folding propellers.  Also, there is now support for
non-uniorm blade spacing.  Non-uniorm spacing is a technique to reduce
the noise level of a prop / rotor.  In addition to allowing the user
to dial in the spacing, OpenVSP will automatically calculate the
positions of the final two blades to maintain rotor balance.

If you've been thinking that OpenVSP needs extensive online help -- and
you've been wishing there was a way you could contribute to OpenVSP as
a project -- have I got a deal for you.  OpenVSP now has the
infrastructure to make it incredibly easy to add a help screen to any
screen in the program.  There will be a presentation about this at the
Workshop, but if you want to give it a go before then, let me know and
I'll get you started.  Check out the new help on the Advanced Linking
screen as an example.

When switching to a multi-view mode, the default view selections were
not great.  Now the default 4-view mode matches the traditional choices
for an engineering drawing.  Some additional hot keys have been added
to make working with multiple views easier.  Try shift-F, shift-C, and
shift-R.

There are a bunch of API additions all around.  Some to improve automation
of graphics, materials, and screen shots.  Some to improve working with
FEA structures and generating meshes automatically.  Some to work with
the image files associated with 3D backgrounds.  It is great to see
what people are accomplishing with the API.

I've updated the build system to build packages for Ubuntu 24.04 -- and
I'm consequently dropping support for 20.04.  It should still work fine
if you need it, but you'll need to build for yourself.

There are a variety of bug fixes all around, but the one that the most
users will probably notice is that grid and tick lines have been
restored in the VSPAERO and Wave Drag plots.


Features:
 - Individual blade folding
 - Non-uniform blade spacing
 - Blade balance calculation and control
 - Online help infrastructure
 - Help cheat sheet for advanced linking
 - Improved 4-view view selection
 - Multi view control hot keys
 - FEA Mesh API additions
 - View and material setting API additions
 - 3D background file API additions

Build system:
 - Add support for Ubuntu 24.04 / drop 20.04
 - Update FLTK to latest 1.4.pre version

Bug fixes:
 - Fix grid lines not drawing on Windows
 - Adjust tolerance in MergeBorderEndPoints
 - Fix build system for facade generation
 - Use ParmContainer::EncodeXml/DecodeXml when writing simple links
 - Fix missing inputs for parasite drag analysis


---


# [OpenVSP 3.39.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.39.1)

2024-05-14

Quick bug fix release that helps with 3D background relative paths on
Windows.  The fix looks correct, but if this works, it doesn't make sense
how the other platforms worked without this.  Oh well.

Bug fix:
 - Fix 3D background relative path bug.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.39.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.39.0)

2024-05-12

Coming less than a month after the prior release, I thought about holding
off on this release until there was more to go with it.  After all, this
release really consists of just one feature and a handful of bug fixes.

However, when I've shown the new feature to users, they want it released
yesterday -- or sooner if possible.  Who am I to argue?

OpenVSP (and its predecessors) have long had the ability to place a 2D
image as a background to be used as a guide when setting up a model.
This version takes that idea to the next level.  Instead of the image
appearing as a static background, it is placed in the model such that it
can pan and zoom appropriately.  Likewise, there is no limit to the
number of reference images that can be used.

Describing this feature doesn't succumb to the written word -- so look
for a video from me or Brandon in the near future.

Aside from that, there are a couple of bug fixes mixed in.  We're still
working through the aftermath of the DrawObj m_GeomChanged enforcement
from a few versions back.  A CFDMesh tolerance has been tightened
so cusped airfoils won't get smooshed.  And some continued build system
improvements to help with portability to more diverse platforms.

We've also updated (again) to the latest FLTK 1.4.0-pre release.  The
FLTK dev team is on a big push to 1.4 and I'm trying to make sure there
aren't any surprises when it goes final.

Features:
 - 3D Background images

Library Updates:
 - Update to latest FLTK dev as they approach 1.4.0
 - Build LibXml2 with -PIC
 - Update GLEW build integration to match modern GLEW

Bug Fixes:
 - Move Documentation build to MacOS from Ubuntu to get latest Swig
 - Drop MacOS-11 build, move to MacOS-12
 - Use gcc-11 on MacOS for ADEPT and OMP builds
 - Fix MeshGeom DrawObj issue
 - Tighten tolerance in MatchBorderNodes - Thanks Andy.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.38.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.38.0)

2024-04-17

Coming just a month since the last release, you won't be surprised that
this version is somewhat small overall.  It includes some more fixes
that I thought about releasing as 3.37.3.  However there is also a
broad variety of quality of life improvements that this release
deserves a .0 update.

In the Geom Browser, the Show Only, Show, and NoShow buttons now work
like the other things (like Hidden, Shade, Feature lines) with respect
to applying changes recursively.  I.e. now they only recurse a collapsed
tree.  When you Show or NoShow a parent entity on an expanded tree,
the visibility change only affects the selected entities.

The number of Sets is now user-adjustable.  Go to the Set Editor,
click the arrows at the top of the window.

Measure (probe, ruler, protractor) now works for non-surface Geoms.  This
is mostly for blank and hinge geoms, but works in a rudimentary way
for Mesh and HumanGeom (it always measures from their component origin).
So users who use Blanks extensively as intermediate coordinate systems
can now use them for all their Measure needs.

Several improvements around advanced links.  Unique variable names are
now enforced when renaming variables.  The variable renaming buttons
were re-worded for clarity.  Multi-line error messages are now displayed
when links break.

The full-path filename at the bottom of the screen is now displayed
in a larger font for better visibility on high resolution screens.
The filename (without a path) is now displayed in the title bar
at the top of the screen.

The integrated flowpath engine extension has a pair of improvements.
First, streamtubes are now extended to a constant X value -- even
when the start of the streamtube is not at a constant X.  There is also
a new option to auto-determine the extension distance based on the
overall dimensions of a selected Set.

Height/width/area/aspect sliders are now displayed for CEdit type
XSec curves -- even when the detailed editing window is not displayed.
This should allow for quick adjustments without having to get deep
every time.

Better patch names are assigned to wing patches when exporting STEP
and IGES files (Thanks Jeff V.).  This should make it easier to identify
wing trailing edge, upper, and lower surfaces in meshing tools.

There is also now an option to merge the lower and upper trailing edge
patches together (and leading edge too).  Some meshing tools did not
appreciate that we output split TE patches -- so now we'll merge them.

As usual, there are a few bugfixes too -- mostly related to graphics
glitches that were introduced in 3.37.0.

I don't think there are any high risk changes in this -- and hopefully
the graphics glitches introduced in 3.37.0 are calming down.  Everyone
should update.


Features:
 - Show Only, Show, NoShow buttons now recurse like everything else.
 - User adjustable number of Sets
 - Measure works with non-surface Geoms (blank and hinge)
 - Unique variable names enforced when renaming advanced link vars
 - Re-worded variable renaming buttons
 - Output multi-line error messages when links are broken
 - Bigger filename at screen bottom
 - Filename in main title bar
 - Integrated flowpath modeling extension now extends to constant X
 - Integrated flowpath modeling extension distance auto determined
 - Height/width/area/aspect sliders for CEdit XSecCurve now displayed
 - Better patch names for unintersected STEP/IGES surface export
 - TE surface merging for STEP/IGES export

Library Updates:
 - Update to latest FLTK dev as they approach 1.4.0

Bug Fixes:
 - Fix invisible subsurfaces
 - Fix XSecSurf highlights that won't go away
 - Expand ranges for AR and Span - should fix some odd wings seen in Group
 - Fix some odd scattered indexing bugs
 - Fix some problems with CFDMesh sourcing


---


# [OpenVSP 3.37.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.37.2)

2024-03-22

Version 3.37.0 had a handful of blemishes.  One lead to the release of
3.37.1 a few days later -- and today I'm releasing 3.37.2 with a few
more fixes.

No new features or other big improvements here.  Just bug fixes.  So,
everyone should update as soon as they can.

This version includes another FLTK update.  This update should make it
a tiny bit easier to build OpenVSP on some unusual computers that some
folks may have.

Features
 - None

Library updates
 - FLTK Updated to latest pre-1.4.0
   . Eliminates -no-pie flag from build, helps with Python API on RHEL9

Bug fixes
 - Fix a handful of crashes in/around structures
 - Fix a handful of 3D graphics glitches


---


# [OpenVSP 3.37.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.37.1)

2024-03-10

This patch changes a compiler flag that makes a new dependency build
properly on Windows.  This in turn fixes CFDMesh and FEAMesh on Windows.

Without this change, 3.37.0 will quickly crash if you try to use either
mesher.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.37.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.37.0)

2024-03-04

This version is dedicated to the X-57 Maxwell.

I remember the joy and excitement the team had as they watched
Administrator Bolden announce the program and the first piloted
NASA X-plane designation in more than a decade.  I was in the
audience at Aviation 2016 poised to upload the model to the Hangar
as soon as the announcement was made.

OpenVSP played at least a small part in the early stages of the
program.  Fit Model was used to build the fuselage model for the
Tecnam.  Nick used OpenVSP for the configuration studies.  Jeff used
it for the wing design.  Brandon designed the signature folding props
and nacelles.  He went on to maintain the definitive geometry that
would be the basis for all the CFD studies you've seen.  There are
other uses and users that I am regrettably leaving out.  It was an
honor to support their work and to have OpenVSP make a contribution.

This week, I'll join those friends and many others at the X-57
Closeout to glean what I can from the vast learnings of this team.
I know this didn't turn out the way you'd all hoped.  I also know
that you've made a big contribution to aeronautics.  You've changed
the design space.  You've moved the needle forward.  Congratulations
on your collective success.  Thank you for all your work.


Once again, this release has been a long time in the making.  There are
only a handful of main themes here -- and while you might not think they
apply to you, I strongly encourage everyone to upgrade.  In addition
to some really cool advances (that you might not need), there are a ton
of smaller improvements and fixes that will benefit everyone.

So go ahead and start your download before you finish reading this
message.  I'll wait here until you come back.

Thomas Nascenzi & the team at M4 Engineering and I teamed up on an SBIR
for the Navy starting a bit over two years ago.  While lots of smaller
features from this effort have already been released, this release
marks a milestone in this project -- the general release of what was
originally the 'big ask'.  Don't worry, there will be a lot more
progress from this project to share in the future, but this is an
exciting development for everyone involved.

The Navy uses a couple conceptual design tools (ADAPT and AIDEN)
that can use OpenVSP as a geometry engine.  They talk to OpenVSP
through the Python API.  These tools have a GUI front-end that the user
spends most of their time with.  The Navy wanted to be able to have
the OpenVSP GUI open and interactive at the same time as their other
aircraft design tool's GUI was open and actively manipulating the OpenVSP
model.  Change something in ADAPT, see the change in OpenVSP and
vice versa.

This may seem straightforward, but there is a lot of magic that has to
happen for this to work.  Making it work took a lot of Python magic as
well as a lot of C++.  Thomas and I worked together on this -- with
Thomas handling all the Python (and the good ideas) and me supporting
with whatever was needed on the C++ side.

So, you can now have an OpenVSP GUI open and interactive while your
custom Python application pounds away.  At a minimum, you'll be able
to visualize and interact with a 3D model of your concept as your
optimization study progresses.  I have no doubt that users will come
up with many more applications for this capability.

Of course, having a fully-featured OpenVSP GUI open while another
program is manipulating the model may seem like running with flaming
scissors.  It might be.  To address this, we've added some
'parental control' API routines.  These calls allow you to disable
certain features and capabilities in the OpenVSP GUI.  For example,
you can Nerf the OpenVSP GUI to a view-only interface for a
model.  We'll see how this works out in practice and if more is needed.

We've moved the API documentation from being specified where things
are registered in AngelScript to their native C++ home.  This also
allows us to generate a parallel set of Python documentation for
the API.  Going forward, the OpenVSP website will host both Python
and C++ / AngelScript documentation for the API.  The Python docs
are also now included in the openvsp package and should be available
in your IDE when you're using OpenVSP.

Among all of this work, there are some small changes to the Python
API.  It should be pretty harmless and generally more Pythonic, but it
might cause API users a few headaches.

One of the C++ changes to support using the GUI from Python affects
how 3D objects are updated to the graphics card.  We now attempt to
update these objects less frequently.  This should also provide a nice
performance boost, but at the risk of losing things once in a while.
If you find that something vanishes where it was previously visible,
mention it on the Google Group.



Next, some bad news.  In addition to lots of good stuff, 3.33.0 also
included some lousy regressions.  These regressions made FEAMesh and
CFDMesh both slow and crashy.

If you aren't into sausage making, skip a few paragraphs...

   The performance regression was super subtle.  The regression was
   actually over in Code-Eli (50487cc2bbfe).  Notice how I nonchalantly
   say "This does mean that a copy of the surfaces must be made because
   they are no longer const.".  Yep, that was it right there.  I even
   knew I was doing it at the time.

   Something I did to improve the accuracy and reliability of a
   surface-surface intersection algorithm inadvertently caused us
   to copy and destroy a giant complex data structure a bazillion times.
   All the time was spent allocating and releasing memory.

   The fix (c53f910aa2e4) was to allow a shift to be incorporated into
   the surface evaluation on-the-fly and switching back to a const
   reference.


   The crash-causing regression was something else entirely.  When
   our mesher (CFD or FEA) generates an initial mesh (InitMesh), it
   transforms every surface patch into flat 2D space and generates
   the initial mesh there.

   You might be wondering why you can't just use the surface's U,V
   parametric coordinates for generating the initial mesh.
   Unfortunately, a square in U,V is not guaranteed to look anything
   like a square on the surface.  The closer we can get to flattening
   the surface without distortion, the better.

   For years, we've used an algorithm based on Mysticism and Voodoo
   to map surfaces from U,V to 2D space.  It generally worked, but it
   was a dark place that will make you see things that aren't there.

   In our next regression (47e5744550eb), I tried to replace the
   old approach with something I thought would be an improvement.
   Spoiler alert, it broke things.  In particular, it would distort
   surfaces near degeneracies in a way that fine meshes would turn
   out hosed.

   As it turns out, this flattening problem is something that computer
   graphics researchers have been working on for years, so it made
   sense to drop the custom code and use an off-the-shelf solution
   instead (OpenABF).  It does a great job and should provide all
   the benefits I was hoping to achieve when I 'upgraded' the
   algorithm earlier.


The good news is, not only are these regressions fixed in this version,
I spent a bunch of time profiling FEAMesh under some extreme use
cases (thanks James Joseph) which revealed some unexpected slowdowns.
I was able to re-write several algorithms providing dramatic speedups.

If you previously grew tired of wondering how long ConnectBorderEdges,
BuildFeaMesh, and BuildChains could possibly take, you'll like what
you see here.  In addition to these three, a bunch of other speedups
were made across the meshing workflow.

While I was in there, I was able to fix a bunch of bugs in and around
FEAMesh.  Most of these were reported by users - thanks James & Bryan.


The other big item you'll notice in this release is we finally have
full Apple Silicon M1/M2 processor support.  The holdup had been our
scripting language - AngelScript.  AngelScript does some low level
stuff such that it includes some assembly code that needs to know
exactly how compilers on a given operating system and processor
platform send data to a subroutine.  This includes things like
do you pass arguments LtoR or RtoL, how many registers there are,
how do you use the registers, what do you do when you run out of
registers, etc.  The main AngelScript author doesn't have an Apple
Silicon machine and has had to rely on others to do this work
(which is outside my range).  Someone finally came along to make
it work, so here we are.  I helped track down one bug that turned
up along the way.

So, if you've purchased a Mac in the last three and a half years or so,
you'll want to check out the new download option.  It should be faster
for you, but everything else should be the same.


You may have noticed that there are a bunch of library updates along
the way.  In addition, there are a bunch of updates to the CMake build
system.  If you build OpenVSP yourself, you'll probably want to blow
away your build directories and start over.  Sorry for the hassle.  If
you typically use -DVSP_USE_SYSTEM_FLTK=TRUE (likely for Linux users),
I suggest you don't do that now.  The FLTK project is about to release
version 1.4.0 and I've bundled a cutting edge version here.  It includes
many improvements that won't be available in a system-installed package
until the final release happens and then the Linux distributions update
to it and then your machine is updated too.  Just use the one I bundle,
you'll get the latest.


Beyond that, there are a good number of small fixes and features tossed
in.  As mentioned earlier, everyone should update.  It is the right thing
to do.

Features:
 - OpenVSP GUI available from Python API
 - Facade allows OpenVSP API to run transparently on separate process
 - GUI parental controls
 - Python API documentation
 - Surface Intersecion, CFDMesh, and FEAmesh much faster
 - Add surface names to Intersect, CFDMesh, and FEAMesh progress output
 - Native Apple M1/M2 support

Library Updates:
 - New AngelScript - full M1 support
 - Removed local modifications to AngelScript for documentation
 - Moved AngelScript build to Libraries, better CMake integration
 - Updated FLTK to 1.4.0-preview version
 - Updated FLTK integration to Modern CMake
 - Added OpenABF - Angle Based Flattening
 - Updates to Code-Eli, performance improvements for meshing
 - Update how Eigen is included in project

Bug Fixes:
 - Fix meshing performance regression from 3.33.0
 - Fix meshing crash regression from 3.33.0
 - Fix on-the-fly updating of meshing lengths with model unit scale
 - Fix not scaling fixed points with model scale
 - Fix not scaling trim planes with model scale (thanks Bryan)
 - Fix FEA crash with subsurfaces and trims (thanks Bryan)
 - Fix FEA crash with empty trim part (thanks James)
 - Fix corruption of Quad Meshes
 - Fix FEA Individualize Rib and Plane routines (thanks James)
 - Fix scroll wheel zoom on Windows
 - Fix Wing insert section update from API.
 - Fix error in K to F unit conversion (thanks sladesladeslade)
 - Fix VSP icon in Ubuntu (thanks Cibin)


---


# [OpenVSP 3.36.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.36.0)

2023-10-27

It has been almost three months since the last release.  Tons of
work has been going on, but mostly on a big change that still isn't
quite ready yet.  While I have been focused on the big stuff, a ton of
other features and fixes have accumulated.  In fact, some of them are
pretty big in their own right.  So clearly we're past due for a release.

If you compile OpenVSP yourself (particularly on antiquated platforms),
updating to this version is going to be painful for you.  One of the
libraries I need for the next round of changes requires we move
to C++17 (we've been on C++11).  In turn, that requires that we move
to CMake 3.24 (we previously only required 3.1).  These changes cause
a nightmarish ripple through the toolchain continuum.  I'm sorry.

I've stopped builing and packaging for Python 3.6, moving support to
Python 3.9 and 3.11.

You can now choose to use your operating system's native file open/save
dialog window instead of OpenVSP's custom one.  Go to File... Preferences...
and make the change.  You will lose access to your list of favorite
folders, but it will act like most every other program on your computer.

There are many improvements to the user experience around advanced links.
You can now sort advanced link variables.  Variable names can be generated
automatically.  Unique names are suggested when you try to use conflicting
names.  You can rename a variable and the code will be updated too.
Advanced link actions are now available from the API.

When a circular link loop update is stopped, a warning message is issued.

A spanwise fraction 'eta' coordinate has been introduced for wings.  This
is available for specifying control surfaces, attachment to wings, and
conformal components based on wings.  This should be more natural than
U, R, and L for wings.

A protractor angle measure has been added to the Ruler and Probe measure.
It can be used to measure and mark angles and projected angles.

A classical lamination theory (CLT) calculator for composite materials
has been added.  Now you can build up a ply schedule in OpenVSP for your
structures.

Structures can also now include off-body fixed points.  These can be used
to build connections or to apply boundary conditions and loads.  Unlike
on-body fixed points, these float in space outside of the FEM mesh.

Several structures tweaks were provided by Bryan S.

There are lots of bug fixes all around.  Lots of help from users finding
and tracking them down.

Two bugs were fixed that caused long-running API cases to have heavy
memory growth.  If you still encounter memory-growth please help out with
a test case so I can get it fixed.

A subtle problem with IGES and STEP files was fixed.  Many downstream
programs didn't seem to care, but perhaps this will improve interoperability
for some of you.

OpenVSP should work on Apple Silicon again (still via Rosetta2).

Features:

 - Native file dialog
 - Advanced Link UI improvements
   .Sorting variables in link
   .Suggest when conflicting name used
   .Automatic naming
   .Variable renaming w/ code search
   .Advanced Link API
 - Issue warning message when a link loop is stopped
 - Protractor measure
 - Wing eta coordinate for control surface, attach, and conformal
 - Classical laminate theory for materials specification
 - Off-body fixed points for FEA Mesh
 - Write template NASTRAN executive and case control sections
 - Change NASTRAN files to use RBE2 instead of RBAR1
 - Improved error message when OpenGL will not load
 - Various cleanups to build system
 - Build Pyhton 3.9/3.11 instead of 3.6/3.9

Libraries:
 - Pinocchio moved to Libraries
 - Update Pinocchio to C++17 version
 - Update Clipper1 to Clipper2, move to Libraries
 - Update Delabella

Bug fixes:
 - Fix knot values in STEP and IGES files
 - Improve greying-out of 4-digit CLi parameters for prop
 - Improve adherence to 6-series airfoil nomenclature
 - Fix memory leak and growth plaguing long-running API users
 - Fix order of Calculix dependent/independent connected nodes
 - Fix planar slicing behavior with just one slice


---


# [OpenVSP 3.35.3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.35.3)

2023-08-01

Disable feature that is causing problems with CFD and FEA Mesh before
the Workshop.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.35.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.35.2)

2023-07-28

Quick fix to prevent inf and nan values from propagating to delabella
where they can cause a crash.

These inf values likely come from the tri-tri intersection code.  Fixing
them there would be preferable, but this remains a reasonable safeguard.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.35.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.35.1)

2023-07-26

Quick fix to help DegenGeom and VSPAERO thin surface work with
changes to Mass Prop.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.35.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.35.0)

2023-07-23

This release is a little modest, but there is still enough here to
warrant a release before the Workshop.  I'm looking forward to seeing
some of you in two weeks -- unfortunately, if you aren't registered,
the registration is full.

The most user-visible change here is an update to the Mass Properties
capabilities.  Before, only a Blank component could be assigned a
point-mass value (and only a mass, no inertias).  With this update,
any component can be assigned mass properties -- including mass, local cg,
and inertias for the component.  (What do you call a point-mass with
non-zero inertia?)

These component mass properties will be included with the overall mass
properties calculation along with the volume-based and wetted area-based
calculations already performed.

Existing files with point-mass assigned to Blanks will be converted to the
new system -- this is not a backwards compatible change.

Blank components can now have symmetry (like all other components).  That
way, you can easily add a symmetrical copy of a Blank's mass properties.

The under-the-hood mass properties calculations have had some small changes
that should slightly increase accuracy (in ways that nobody will really
care about, but that make me happy.)

Most of the rest of the changes are very much behind-the-scenes.

Some API calls have been added to enable creating/deleting User Parms
from the API.

OpenVSP's PMARC 12 file writing was slightly improved and some Python
scripts for working with PMARC input/output files are now included.

The ability to read an existing VSPAERO run from disk was added to the
Analysis Manager -- exposing it to the API.

The biggest under the hood change should be invisible to users (except
for hopefully fewer crashes).  I've begun replacing a fundamental
library with an alternative.  The old library has a great reputation
(and we've used it forever), but when things go bad, it does not fail
gracefully -- it crashes the entire program.  This new library seems
robust and reliable so far -- but I'm hoping that if there are problems,
it will fail much more gracefully.

You will mainly see this difference in CompGeom and friends.  If this
goes well, we will later also switch to this new library in CFDMesh and
FEAMesh.  It isn't quite ready for that yet.

There were a few improvements contributed from the community.

Thanks Cibin Joseph for a bug fix when writing Degen Geom files.

Thanks to Jeff Allen for making it possible to delete multiple parameter
links at one time -- making the Add-All buttons much more useful.

All that and a few bug fixes here and there.

If you can't make Oshkosh this week, download a new OpenVSP and make
yourself an airplane.

Features:
 - Specified mass properties extended to all components
 - Point masses can now have inertia specified
 - Blanks can now be assigned symmetry properties
 - User Parm management added to API
 - pyPMARC added to python package

Libraries:
 - Use Delabella CDT library for CompGeom & friends

Bug fixes:
 - Fix missing fields in DegenGeom file.
 - Fix halfmesh bug for VLM with vspgeom files to vspaero.  Thanks Tim.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.34.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.34.0)

2023-06-04

Although I've been furiously working on lots of things, I hadn't planned
on making a release because I didn't think I had enough stuff ready. I
stepped back and took another look and realized that most of the in-work
stuff was actually ready and only one big thing (that won't be ready for
a while) was not.  So here is a pile of stuff for everyone to enjoy.

It was previously very challenging to get satisfactory results from
V-trimming of conformal components.  This was partially due to inherently
complex behavior -- but was exacerbated by terrible default settings.
Default values for V-trimming have been improved, hopefully making the
existing capability more usable.  In addition, a simplified Side 1,2,3,4
approach to V-trimming has been introduced.

In addition to simplifying V-trimming, the V-parameter speed of a
trimmed surface used to be very non-uniform.  This erratic behavior made
features like UV attachment to trimmed conformal components impossible.
It also made subsequent analysis of conformal components more difficult.

This behavior has been fixed.  The V-parameter speed of a trimmed
conformal component is uniform and the V-origin does not shift.  The
V-parameter of un-trimmed portions of the component remain unchanged.
This improvement has a perhaps unexpected effect -- end capping is now
supported for conformal components with U trimming.  Most significantly,
this means a trimmed conformal component can now have a rounded end.

Jason Welstead had contributed some improvements and cleanups to the
CHARM Automation Python tools.  While these are relatively minor changes,
this serves as proof of concept for navigating the NASA release process.
Look for more updates to come from Jason.

The primary meshing controls for CFDMesh and FEAMesh have been augmented
with non-dimensional alternatives.  The maximum edge length can now be
specified as a fraction of model size (as determined by the bounding box
diagonal).  The minimum edge length and maximum gap can now be specified
as a fraction of the maximum edge length.  These changes should make it
easier to get to an initial reasonable mesh and to better build intuition
in the meshing parameters.

CFDMesh and FEAMesh have been augmented with visualization of the local
mesh edge length criteria.  Mesh parameters are determined by the
interaction of multiple criteria -- it is not always obvious which
criteria determines the edge length at any particular location.  This
new visualization mode illustrates the active criteria and should make
adjusting meshing parameters more intuitive.

The under-development adjoint version of VSPAERO has been ported to
Windows (it was previously only available on Mac and Linux).  Now that
it is available on all platforms, the developers will be able to start
making its capabilities generally available.

U-direction clustering control has been added to fuselage and stack
components.  This can be used to tailor the wireframe mesh representation
or to compensate for a distorted mesh caused by skinning.

Limits on end-cap tessellation requirements have been relaxed.  Before,
only odd values greater than or equal to three were possible.  Now, both
even and odd values greater than or equal to two are possible.  This
will allow finer control of mesh resolution and also allow coarser
representations of end caps and trailing edges.

While technically a bug fix, one fix is significant enough to almost be
considered a feature.  OpenVSP has long behaved erratically when more
than one chord value of a given wing were updated at the same time.
Although this is impossible through normal interactive use, this occurs
commonly when automating some sort of design process via Design Variable
support or the API.  Various incantations have been tried in the past,
most involving frequent calls to Update() -- severely slowing any
design process that involves changes to the wing chord.  This issue has
been fixed -- or at least an official workaround is now supported.

If you need to change wing section chords from a design process, use the
following recipe:

1) Set all wing section drivers to root-chord, tip-chord, span.
2) Use the tip-chord to set every chord value possible.
3) Use the root-chord of the first wing segment to control the root chord
     of the entire wing.

This recipe should work and will only require a single call to Update()
after all Parms have been set.  Let me know if you have any trouble
with this.

There are a few small bug fixes in this release, but this one was
dominated by new features.  Download and enjoy.

Features
 - Improved V-trimming defaults for conformal components
 - Side 1,2,3,4 V-trimming for conformal components.
 - Improved skinning of V-trimmed conformal components.
 - End caps for U-trimmed conformal components.
 - Improvements to CHARM automation scripts (thanks Jason Welstead)
 - Non-dimensional CFD/FEA Mesh controls
 - Visualization of CFD/FEA Mesh criteria
 - Windows support for VSPAERO adjoint version
 - U-direction clustering control for Fuse and Stack
 - Relaxed limits on end-cap tessellation

Fixes
 - Setting multiple chord values in design context.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.33.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.33.1)

2023-04-30

Fix problem attempting to calculate RST/LMN attachment parameters to
parents that don't have surfaces - and therefore don't have these
coordinates defined.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.33.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.33.0)

2023-04-28

Earlier this year, the world lost a brilliant light far before its time.
Alex Stoll was a kind and gentle soul, a visionary aircraft designer, and
a good friend.  Alex committed his career to eVTOL far before it was a
thing -- he helped create the revolution.  Thank you for everything you
brought to the world.  This version is for you Alex.


A lot of recent development time has gone into long term work that isn't
ready for release yet.  However, this release includes some cool features
and a stack of good bug fixes.  Everyone should update

The often imitated wing tip-cap feature introduced in OpenVSP 3.6.0
provided a simple way to create rounded (and other) wing tip treatments.
Instead of wrestling with CAD, you got what you wanted with just a few
clicks.  Since then, I've spent a lot of time looking at airplane wingtips.
In that time, I've noticed that the rounded tips of 3.6.0 don't quite
match how many aircraft do it.  This version introduces a new
extended tip cap type that should better match some of these cases.

This change had some unexpected ripple effects.  The new tip caps are
constructed with a challenging surface topology.  OpenVSP's mesher had
to be improved to handle them robustly -- and those changes should
improve meshing for all shapes.

OpenVSP's parent-child attachment is used to simplify building complex
models by allowing the designer to express intent instead of values
in positioning.  This version adds two new coordinate systems that
can be used to define attachment.

The RST coordinate system is a volumetric coordinate system defined within
an object.  This is perfect for packaging studies -- where you're working
to place all the stuff you need inside the aircraft.

The LMN coordinate system is like RST -- but instead of varying with
parameter speed, LMN is linear in arc-length along the RST directions.
Use RST if you want to position something on the third bulkhead.  Use LMN
if you want to position it one third of the way along the fuselage.

RST coordinates had previously been exposed via the API for some users
doing cool structural MDO work.  Take note, the S coordinate has been
redefined to be double what it was before.  Before, it existed in the
range [0, 0.5] -- now it exists in [0, 1.0].  If you stored old S values
and you need to use them with a new version, just multiply by two.

Finally, 'dimensional' forms of the U, R, and L coordinate can now be used
to specify attachment.  This should make it easier to achieve certain
results (attach to the third bulkhead) without doing any pesky algebra.

In addition to those features, there are some VSPAERO updates (mostly
fixes) and a stack of general fixes.  This includes patching a few
memory holes that users had found -- if you're still seeing memory leak,
reach out and we can work on building a better test case.

If you're in doubt, you need this version.  Download it now.


Features
 - New extended tip-cap geometry
 - Convert CFDMesh 2D mapping to arclength based mapping.
 - Handle potential no-volume corners in CFDMesh.
 - RST and LMN Attachment
 - RST S re-defined.
 - Dimensional U,R,L attachment.
 - Visualize wake edges on vspgeom export.

Fixes
 - Clean up behavior of pull-down menus with special characters
 - Fix remaining issues from snprintf conversion
 - Fix syntax errors in master aero V&V script
 - Fix some quad-mesh bugs in FEAMesh.  Hopefully fixes needle meshes.
 - Make beam elements obey trim zones in FEA Structure generation.
 - Expand height of ExportScreen
 - Fix memory leaks from CreateParm() being called.
 - Fix memory leak in MeshGeom::Flatten...
 - Fix wake identification.
 - Handful of VSPAERO fixes.
 - Silence VSPAERO viewer checks for VSP_NO_GRAPHICS build
 - Silence cgx/ccx not found errors on Windows
 - Fix MeshGeom not scaling on load problem.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.32.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.32.2)

2023-03-22

While 3.32.1 fixed the most egregious issues with 3.32.0, it was still
a bit of a hot mess in its own right.  This release helps tame the chaos,
hopefully it gets people back on track.

Of course, I couldn't help myself and stick to _just_ bug fixes.  So,
if you use CFDMesh & Co, you will find that the 'f' and 'r' keys work
like they do in the rest of OpenVSP.  These are UX candy -- go ahead
and indulge.

(For those of you that are wondering what pressing 'f' or 'r' does --
try it!  If you can't try it right now, pressing 'f' will 'f'it all the
visible stuff onto the screen by auto zoom, pan, and setting the center
of rotation.  Pressing 'r' presents a bunch of green points.  Click one
and it will be set to the center of rotation and moved to the center of
the screen.

Other than that, it should mostly be a bunch of fixes.  The migration
from sprintf to snprintf broke a few things.  Those have been fixed and
an audit has been conducted, so hopefully we're through with that.

Fix lingering problems with CompGeom half meshes and tag files.  Previous
fixes broke things like Wave Drag and Parasite Drag.

Fix error validating subsurface structures properties on structures
data transfer.  Was preventing analysis of structures with subsurfaces.
Improve error messages while we're at it.

Attempt to set property length unit when converting an old file.
Unfortunately, I can't see a way to convert

Some of the VSPAERO output files were updated, our parsing of those files
has now been updated to match.

Fix some small VSPAERO issues that were causing hangs and crashes when
slicing planes were active.

Overall, not a ton of stuff -- but everyone should update because the
problems these fixes address were hitting a bunch of users.  Hopefully
we'll keep things under control for a while going forward.

Features
 - Make 'f' and 'r' keys work with CFDMesh & Co.
 - Allow parasite drag to use a reference wing not in the active Set.
 - Print missing command line when calling CpSlicer.
 - Clean up mesh from repeated mass properties analysis.
 - Attempt to set property length on import of older structures files.

Fixes
 - Fix validating structures subsurfaces
 - Fix visual artifacts in orthotropic material GUI in structures.
 - Fix double fee in Cartesian plotting library that shows up with bleeding
   edge versions of FLTK.
 - Fix parsing of VSPAERO output files.
 - Fix wave drag, parasite drag, half mesh, tag files issue.
 - Fix snprintf conversion issues
 - Silence snprintf warnings
 - Fix VSPAERO with slicing planes active


---


# [OpenVSP 3.32.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.32.1)

2023-03-01

Fix VSPAERO DOA problem.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.32.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.32.0)

2023-03-01

Perspectives could vary on this release -- some may say too soon, others
may say long overdue.  I suppose it depends on what features you're most
interested in.

Note:  If you use the OpenVSP structures capability, make backup copies of
your files before updating to this version.  There are a bunch of file
format changes that will not be backwards compatible.  There is a chance
of bugs in the new version.  So, make a backup to be safe and then help
me shake out any bugs in this version.

The last release was three and a half months ago and while there could
have been a release sooner, it did not seem like there was enough progress
to warrant an update.  Now that it is all pulled together, this release
looks huge.

FillMass is a feature that was developed in 2016 and never got released.
It computes running totals of mass properties (mass, volume, cg, and
inertias) as the slicing integral progresses.  Along with an option to
allow choice of direction for mass slicing, this feature can be used to
compute the volume, mass, cg, and inertias of the fuel in a tank as it
progresses from empty to full.  You probably don't need this feature, but
if you're worried about fuel driven cg movement and want to generate a
cg envelope, then this is for you.

Mousewheel zoom behavior has been changed to be a zoon/scroll rather
than a pure zoom.  Give it a try.

VSPAERO has been updated, but mostly updates and fixes to the adjoint
capability that is under development.  Not much for normal users this
time.

There is a new mode for Stack and Fuselage components to better allow
modeling of engine flowpath.  Before, one could build a model with a
single representation of the engine flowpath (one of several).  This
representation is usually tied to the needs of some analysis tool.
Changing to a different representation was very difficult.  The new
integrated flowpath modeling feature makes it easy to build a model once
and then change the flowpath representation at a later time.

In related work, the area slice tool was given the MeasureDuct option that
will calculate the cross sectional area of a negative volume inside a
positive volume.  While this may seem like a strange request, it will
allow calculation of the flow area through an engine modeled with
negative components.  Hopefully this works for Andy.

The Analysis and Results managers worked on a basis of name-value pairs.
These have been extended to name-value-documentation triples.  An API has
been created to provide access to the documentation and all analysis
inputs and results outputs have been documented.  This should make it
easier for API users to access OpenVSP analysis capabilities in a general
manner.

I've received some great feedback from users of the improving structures
capability (Thanks Bryan, Jeff/Sandra/Marc, and James).  Also a big
shout-out to PyNastranGUI for providing a means for me to check a lot
of these changes.  It is developed by OpenVSP user Steve Doyle.

As this release came together, I decided I would spend a week fixing as
many of the small issues they have found as I could.  After the end of
that week, one of these users asked for 'one more fix' for something I
have been avoiding.  Instead of a quick fix, this one required a
significant design change.  Eventually I decided to spend a day to see
how bad it was -- a week and a half later, I finally have it sorted.

That said, there is a chance I missed something or messed something up.
These changes required incompatible file format changes (structures only).
So, make backup changes and then give this version a good shakedown before
committing fully.

Most of the small structures stuff was on the NASTRAN side and CalculiX
users might not even notice a difference.  Some data fields were not
written correctly, elements and nodes were not indexed from one, material
property orientation was calculated wrong, BCs written using a different
form, split output to *.dat and *.bdf files, etc.

Structures subsurfaces could not be used to keep a limited area of skin
while deleting the rest (say for an aileron).  This has been fixed,
but the previous (shell, beam, shell and beam) option has been separated
into two options (keep or delete shell) and (generate beam T/F).  When
combined with the subsurface (inside, outside, none) option to control
how it is applied, this should enable all desired modes.

Structures fixed points should now appear first in the output files and
should appear first in the node index order.  Furthermore, they should
appear in a consistent order as changes are made.  This should make it
easier to work with the files for things like applying point loads.

The FEA output files (to NASTRAN or CalculiX) can now be prepared in
a different scale than the primary aircraft model.  This will allow
the aircraft designer to work in one set of units (say ft or m) and the
structures designer to work in a different set (say in or mm).

Material properties and shell/beam properties can now be input in
user-defined units on a per-quantity basis (not just selecting a
consistent set).  This will allow density to be input in familiar units
like lbm/in^3 instead of slinch/in^3 (lbf sec/in^4).

The built-in properties for metals have been updated to correspond to a
more appropriate source of aerospace data.  Material's now have a
description field where the user can add an extended set of notes about
the applicability and validity of the data.

Material and Property association (part X uses beam Y made of material Z)
is now done with permanent ID's instead of array index position.  Users
had been experiencing bugs where these associations would (seemingly)
randomly change.  This new approach should resolve any such problems.

OpenVSP will attempt to map your material/property index values to the
new ID based approach.  However, this might not be perfect.  When you open
an old file in this version, be sure to check your part/property/material
associations.

There are too many other changes to detail, check out the list below and
give it all a try.

Everyone should update.  Structures users will see a lot of benefit -- but
they also have some risk with this version.  If you use structures, make
backups of your files before moving to this version.  Once you make the
change, give things a thorough once-over before trusting everything.  Let
me know if you run into issues.


Features
 - Add new engine representation modes to Stack and Fuselage
 - Add documentation to AnalysisMgr and ResultsMgr
 - Add MeasureDuct option to measure negative inside positive area
 - Add subsurface tagging option to Export non-intersected files
 - Add thick/thin flag to vspgeom files -- disabled for now
 - Add degen surface support to CFDMesh
 - Add FillMass to mass properties calculations
 - Change MassSliceX to MassSlice - direction independent
 - Merge degenGeomMassSliceX into MassSliceX, eliminating duplicate code
 - Improved mousewheel zoom/scroll functionality, thanks iforce2d

Structures Improvements
 - Write fixed points before other nodes
 - Start node numbering with fixed points
 - Clean up NASTRAN file headers
 - Be less aggressive calculating node/element offsets
 - Improve shell/beam options to clearly enable all combinations
 - Write NASTRAN constraints as SPC1 instead of as part of GRID points
 - Separate NASTRAN output to *.dat and *.bdf
 - Allow FEM units to differ from OpenVSP Model units
 - Allow materials and properties to be input in independent units
 - Track material and property associations by ID instead of index
 - Add description field to material properties
 - Update metal properties to more authoritative aerospace reference
 - Consolidate FeaPart to use simplified subsurface shell flags

VSPAERO Updates
 - Fixed VSPGeom viscous drag calculations for wings in VLM mode
 - Unsteady ADJOINT bug fixes, including derivatives wrt rotor RPM
 - Added rotor efficiency as an explicit adjoint objective function
 - Exposed Forward and Adjoint solver matrix – vector, RHS to API
 - Exposed Adjoint partial wrt mesh and wrt solution components to API
 - Replaced if statement cut-offs in Biot-Savart law for near-zero
    radius distances with a 'smoother', core 'like' model
 - Kill off dead code in Viewer
 - Move sprintf to snprintf to silence clang warnings

Library Updates
 - Updated stb image library

Fixes
 - Expand max cl design for 6-series airfoils
 - Add vspaero binaries to MANIFEST, should help Python install
 - Fix example Python scripts for Swig change affecting ErrorMgr getInstance()
 - Fix conformal component with area parameterization of XSec
 - Fix CFDMesh file export extensions
 - Cleanups and fixes to MeshGeom
 - Empty meshes not written to key files.
 - Change sprintf to snprintf to silence clang warnings
 - Typo fixes from Luz Paz

Structures Fixes
 - Fix crash when clicking on Structure header
 - Fix NASTRAN material theta calculation
 - Fix NASTRAN MAT8 density written to wrong field
 - Fix NASTRAN PSHELL MID2 value
 - Always start FEA element counting at 1
 - Eliminated use of BuildIndMap, switching to nanoFlann instead
 - Fix bug visualizing QUAD8 elements
 - Don't write un-used nodes to FEM files
 - Do not allow spaces in material names for CalculiX *.inp files
 - Better handle -0.0 in NASTRAN formatted output
 - Ensure NASTRAN grid points are never -0.0
 - Fix various GUI crashes


---


# [OpenVSP 3.31.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.31.1)

2022-11-10

A handful of bugs quickly cropped up in 3.31.0 that justify this .1
release.  While there are always more bugs to be fixed, hopefully these
fixes help some people out.

There are a few new features in this release, but they're really small.
In a normal (larger) .0 release, these features probably wouldn't even
get mentioned here.

The real story of this release is the bug fixes - and it is a story mostly
about structures.

As it turns out, CalculiX B32R's are better than B32's and per-element
normal vectors don't work (they are still the default).  An option to
disable beam element per-element normals has been added -- it should be
used until CalculiX fixes their bug.

Features:
 - Add ResetMeshDisplay button to StructScreen
 - Structural assemblies can now be inserted with rest of vsp3 file.
 - Measure probes and rulers can now be inserted with rest of vsp3 file.
 - Drop Ubuntu 18.04 from automated build system.

VSPAERO Updates and Fixes:
 - Adding sensitivities for reference quantities.
 - Improve setting CpSteadyMin/Max in steady flow.
 - Bump and synchronize versions to 6.4.5.

Bug Fixes:
 - Improve Calculix handling of beam elements.
 - Fix crash when writing *.vspgeom file from imported mesh.
 - Fix Vinf activation with stability choice.  Thanks Daniel R.
 - Fix tags for CompGeom half-mesh.  Fixes *.vspgeom half-mesh panel mode.
 - Fix consistency of StructScreen current structure choice.
 - Fix StructAssemblyScreen height for various recent changes.
 - Fix writing of ghost nodes for half-geom *.vspgeom files.
 - Fix ID handling for copy/paste and insert of structures. Thanks Bryan.
 - Fix subsurface tagging bug with quad meshes.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.31.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.31.0)

2022-10-31

OpenVSP Halloween Edition!

For those of you keeping track, this ominous release was foreshadowed
back in the 3.28.0 release notes.  Like that release, this one is all
about structures.  There are a few other things, but mostly structures.

That isn't to say if you don't use OpenVSP's structures capability you
shouldn't update -- you most certainly should.

This release includes one very subtle feature that should impact every
single user.  It is worth updating for this feature alone!

The catch?  I'm not going to tell you what it is.  We'll see who is
the first to figure it out.  Post your guesses on LinkedIn or the
Google Group.

First, some of the non-structures updates...

NACA 6A Series airfoils will now be restricted to the modified a=0.8
camber line.  Although in many cases we go beyond the strict NACA airfoil
definitions and allow things their creators did not intend, in this case
it seems appropriate to restrict ourselves.  If you consider this a bug
fix, it has been with us since the first 6-series support added in RAM
v2.1 in the early 2000's.

The Analysis menu has received some re-organization and renaming to
facilitate all the structures work.  There are now "Structure" and
"Aero" sub-menus.  Hopefully everyone's muscle memory will adjust
without too much trouble.

The CMake build system has been extended to build RPM files for RedHat
type distributions.  We are not yet providing pre-built RPM's as our
CI build servers only run Ubuntu.  This should be useful for anyone
supporting multiple RPM based machines.

There are a bunch of VSPAERO fixes and cleanups.  Nothing really major
here, but a whole bunch of little things from the team.

And the structures updates...

The FEA Mesh workflow has been broken apart.  You can now generate
a mesh without writing it to file -- and write a previously generated
mesh to file at a later time.  This added flexibility was required for
some of the later improvements, but come as a nice addition on their own.

Structural boundary conditions can now be specified for each structure.
BC's are applied to mesh nodes.  The user selects which DOF to restrict
and also how to identify which nodes to apply each BC to.

Structural assemblies have been added.  Each assembly is made of one or
more structures.  These structures can be connected with rigid links
between Fixed Points in each structure.  Assemblies are written out to
a combined FEM file with node and element offsets automatically generated.

A VSPAERO / CalculiX based Aero-Structure workflow GUI has been added.
This GUI helps guide the user through a process of generating loads,
applying them to a structure, and then analyzing the result.

Note:  This is the final release where an Ubuntu 18.04 package will be
built for download.  Please update to 20.04 or 22.04.

Features:
 - Trick or treat?  Halloween mystery feature...
 - Add structural assemblies made from multiple structures.
 - Add rigid connections between structures in assembly.
 - Add boundary condition specification to structures.
 - Add aero-structure coupled problem GUI using CalculiX and VSPAERO.
 - Split FEA Mesh generation from writing to file.
 - Also split FEA CAD file generation and export from Meshing.
 - Keep FEA Mesh in-memory, allowing more flexible workflow.
 - Re-arranged menus to group structures and aero analyses.
 - Build RPM packages for RedHat-based distributions.  Thanks Jeff A.
 - Add aerodynamic center stability mode to GUI.
 - Force NACA 6A series to use a=0.8 camber line.  Thanks Daniel M.
 - Remove VSPAERO single analysis from API - reduce code duplication.

Bug Fixes:
 - Allow non-unique names in pull-down menus.  Thanks Brandon.
 - Make environment.yml match Python version.  Thanks Jason W.
 - Fix component IDs passed to *.vspgeom.  Fixes propellers.
 - Write NORMAL at all B32 nodes, not just the first.
 - Fix exporting symmetrical propeller at origin to STL.  Thanks Brandon.
 - Insert FixPoins before InitMesh -- guarantee Fix Points
 - Lots of VSPAERO fixes
 - Lots of structures fixes


---


# [OpenVSP 3.30.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.30.0)

2022-08-27

Coming just a month since the last release, this one is small, but you'll
want to update.  A few handy features and some nice fixes all around.
Quite a few of the fixes were identified by users at the Workshop.  It was
a great meeting.  I hope to see you there next year.

If you look closely, a bunch of the changes may seem like they don't
accomplish much beyond deck chair rearrangement.  Many of these changes
lay the groundwork for some bigger features that aren't quite ready yet.
However, it is helpful to get the smaller bits out so development
can continue with them included.

In preparation for the Workshop, I made a bunch of presentations.  I got
pretty tired of having to crop all of my OpenVSP screenshots, so this
version includes an automatic crop feature added to the built-in
screenshot.  Next time, it'll be much easier.

Superellipses have long been ugly for large exponent values.  They aren't
anymore.  The maximum exponent has been raised from 5 to 20 and the
issues that used to start appearing around 5 have been eliminated.  If
you need a superellipse with exponent greater than 20, you probably want
to use a rounded rectangle.  If you really need it, let me know.

I've decided to drop the Win32 build from the normal set of builds.  I was
mostly keeping it around in case any problems came up with the Win x64
build.  There have been none, so away it goes.  Let me know if you
desperately need the 32-bit build for some reason.  Otherwise, step up
to the 64 bit version.

The Ubuntu 18.04 build is next on the chopping block.  The CI server has
started warning of its deprecation.  Speak up now if you need it to
stick around.

Features
 - Added automatic crop for built-in screenshots.
 - Increased precision for subsurface parameters.  Thanks Andy
 - Enabled subsurface line parameterization by [0,N] basis.  Thanks Andy
 - Drop Win32 build

VSPAERO Updates
 - Improve CMake build to copy binaries to Python packages and vsp build
 - Fixed Unsteady Cp calculation for panel solves.
 - Fixed test for wake TE points that lie on a wing/body intersection.
 - Inclusion of some developer test cases.
 - Updates to the API for time accurate gradients.
 - Bug fixes in the time accurate gradients.
 - Added in adjoint gradients wrt to inputs (M, AoA, Beta,P, Q, R, & RPM)
 - Inclusion of wing optimization test case.
 - Overhaul of Makefile system.
 - Started adding VSPAERO API Doxygen documentation.
 - Started building CI workflow based on Makefiles
 - Fixed nans for the fem load file
 - Fixed built-in screen grab on high-res displays.  Thanks Rich.
 - Fix no -label case for adb2load
 - Make adb2load understand CalculiX files with ORIENTATION information
 - Fix change to *.history file that broke OpenVSP's parsing.  Thanks Cale
 - Add Y=0 slice automatically to VSPAERO runs
 - Change default wake iterations to three at Dave's recommendation

Python Integration
 - Python package includes VSPAERO binaries
 - Python package should auto-detect VSPAERO binaries
 - Virtual environment set up for Python development and testing
 - Analyses should be available when package is loaded.  Thanks Brandon.

Bug fixes
 - Fix advanced link crash when clicking on browsers.  Thanks AJ.
 - Make some API calls work with any Container, not just Geom. Thx Brandon.
 - Fix area parameterized XSecCurve Scale.  Thanks Cale
 - Remove remnant triangles from CompGeom half model.
 - Make CalculiX files print either tris or quads, not both
 - Fix GUI for finite beam structure parts
 - Probe GUI would go crazy with singular points.  Thanks Juan.
 -


---


# [OpenVSP 3.29.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.29.1)

2022-07-27

Revert some changes to AngelScript.

These were intended to help with the Apple M1 architecture, but they
have broken something else on x86-64.  Revert the changes until we can
work out a proper fix that moves all systems forward.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.29.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.29.0)

2022-07-26

In many ways, you could say that the modern history of OpenVSP started
with a conversation I had with Mark Moore at Oshkosh 2005.  I'm not at
the show this year, but why not release OpenVSP 3.29.0 to mark
the occasion.  If you're there this week -- have a great time.

This release is mostly about a small number of things that took a large
amount of work rather than a large number of small things.

The biggest OpenVSP change is the ability to generate quadrilateral
meshes using CFDMesh and FEAMesh.  These are not high-quality quads.  They
are trivial conversions of tris to quads.  If you need quads, they in fact
have four sides.  If you are picky about your quads, they may not meet
your needs -- except that they have one more side than triangles.

Rather than convert tris to quads at the last possible moment (say as
the files are written to disk), the conversion process was performed
somewhat earlier.  This allowed the inserted points to be added _on_ the
surface (or intersection curve).  It also means that all the internal
data structures were modified to work with quads as well as tris.  This
should mean that most of the infrastructure is in place if someone were
to come along and want to work on quad mesh improvement algorithms
to generate higher quality meshes.

The other big change is a long-awaited update to VSPAERO.  Many changes
across the board -- although many are not user-visible.

The OpenVSP side of the VSPAERO GUI has been updated to integrate these
changes, but many of the new VSPAERO capabilities are not yet supported
from the GUI (some may never be).

Force summation calculations in VSPAERO have been improved.  Accuracy and
consistency should be improved - particularly for unsteady cases.

There are now adjoint and complex step derivative versions of the VSPAERO
solver.  API hooks have been added to allow tight integration with
OpenMDAO and structural analysis tools.  These capabilities are only
available on Linux and MacOS.  These capabilities are not available from
the GUI.  There is no new documentation for these capabilities.  If you
want to use them, you will need to be comfortable with C++ and be able
to figure it out yourself.  There will be papers, examples, and
documentation for this stuff in due time.  This is still being actively
developed.  Do not ask for hand holding at this time.

The VSPAERO GUI has made *.vspaero files (previously marked experimental)
the default for panel models.  The DegenGeom files are still default for
thick surface models.  The option now says 'Alternate file format' instead
of 'Experimental'.

Work has begun on porting OpenVSP and VSPAERO to the Apple M1 chip. I have
moved my primary development machine to a M1 Mac, so hopefully progress
will be quick.  It is now to the point where it will compile, it will run,
and it will crash.  If you want to help progress this port, you will need
to compile OpenVSP on your own M1 machine and start debugging problems.
The port is not yet ready for non-developers to try out.  If you are a
'regular' user, you can continue using the x86-64 version through the
Rosetta 2 translation software.

Unfortunately, some of the differences in the chip architectures are going
to lead to subtle problems that will take a long time to hunt down and fix.
For example, when converting "int i = (int)((float)INFINITY);" will result
in i = 2147483647 on the M1, but i = -2147483648 on x86-64.  We should not
generally be relying on float to int overflow behavior, so this sort of
thing represents a bug that should be fixed no matter what. One such case
has already been found.

Quite a few build system changes (mostly VSPAERO) including addition
of an automatic differentiation tool for the VSPAERO adjoint version.
These changes warrant a version bump.

Features
 - Optional quad meshing for CFDMesh and FEAMesh
 - Option to turn off high-order elements in FEAMesh

VSPAERO Changes
 - Improved force (especially drag) calculations, and bug fixes there in.
 - Adjoint solver, stand alone now works for steady and usteady
 - Adjoint solver + solver = Optimizer with an API. (Steady and unsteady)
 - Initial API hooks for integration with OpenMDAO
 - Initial API hooks for tightly coupled structural solves
 - Complex step version should anyone care
 - Fix for thin/cusped trailing edges on panel meshes.
 - The degen geom and vspgeom files are both supported equally in terms
     of comp ids/surface now... it was a mess before
 - Sticking with DengGeom for default VLM solves
 - VSPGEOM for Panel solves as default
 - Some of the output files have changed as folks were asking for more
     info in things like the span loading data, etc.
 - Cut planes added for solution visualization
 - Span loading for thick geometries
 - Preliminary supersonic panel support
 - Bugs.  Some fixed, some added.

Bug Fixes
 - Fix control surface addition for Wing Geoms
 - Silence echo of BEM file on read
 - Fix airfoil thickness scaling problem with blended wings
 - Fix VSPAERO Viewer movie creation on Windows (hopefully)
 - Fix int to float conversion overflow in InterpDistTable in CFDMesh


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.28.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.28.0)

2022-05-30

Lots of work on structures modeling and FEA mesh generation - with a few
other small things too.  If you aren't into structures, you could be
forgiven for skipping this version.  On the other hand, there is no
downside, so why not update and stay current.

If you're into structures and your wish isn't fulfilled by this release,
I expect a lot more work in this area in the next few months.  Expect
some larger changes in this area by late fall.

There are other changes in the works that aren't ready for this release,
so it isn't all structures either.

Enough vagary, lets get specific...  I'm going to try something a little
different here (let me know if it is a positive) -- I'm going to paste
in the SHA of the approximate end to each feature.  So, if you're
following along at home, you can see what is up.  I'll do this summary
in order of the commits, so the start of each range is the commit after
the previous range.  Occasionally other things slip in, so remember
this is approximate.

Also, a lot of the progress in this release was actually done in
Code-Eli (our surface library), so check that out if you want to see
how the sausage is made.

6a37ad The Update process when structures are involved has been improved.  Think
the faster update changes a few versions back -- but for ribs and spars.
This should mean that interacting with a structures model is _much_
faster.

32b0ee Finite line subsurfaces have been added -- and added to structures.  You
can now add a subsurface line that starts at (Us,Ws) and ends at (Ue,We).
These lines do not enclose an area and can not be used to tag tris, but
they do enforce a line in a mesh and can be used to form beam elements
in the FEM.  This allows stiffeners to span a limited distance of a model.

b57244 Initial support for orthotropic materials -- adding them in the GUi,
writing them to NASTRAN and CalculiX files, etc.

21682e Add API calls to evaluate RST volumetric coordinates and also
invert XYZ points back to RST.  This is intended to support structural
optimization - including cases where the structure and mesh come from
outside of OpenVSP.

f6ab38 Add support for writing material orientation information to
CalculiX files.  Previously, NASTRAN files included information that
oriented each element with the parent surface's U direction.  CalculiX
gets orientation data on a per-part basis (not per-element).  Orientation
can now be specified in more than a dozen ways and both NASTRAN and
CalculiX files will do their best to represent the user's intent.

d0e54a User supplied offsets can now be applied to node and element
numbering for NASTRAN and CalculiX files.  This is useful when combining
two files into a larger assembly.

597f9a The ability to add fixed points on both skins and other structure
parts was fixed.  An un-needed complex iterative algorithm was removed
from this process.  Some crashes should be avoided.

3e47ad Add the ability to trim FEA structures by groups of FEA parts.
This makes it easy to trim the ribs and skin in front of the front spar
or to remove the skin and rib tails from where an aileron or flap goes.
This only applies to the mesh (not the STEP/IGES files) at this time.

ed0051 A variety of bug fixes and cleanups.

486e23 Make mesh generation process more verbose.  The added messages
should be useful in cases where things go wrong.

5253d6 Update to the latest version of the nanoflann nearest neighbor
library.  No particular need, but since an additional use of nanoflann
was going to be added, it seemed appropriate to check for the latest
version.

50751a Refactor MergeBorderEndPoints algorithm from mesh generator.
The MBEP algorithm was usually not a problem for CFDMesh, but could
become very expensive for complex FEA meshes.  It was fundamentally
re-written to be faster.  My test case went from 7.5 minutes to
20 ms.  Nothing like a 20,000x speedup.

86af9e Modify Triangle library to avoid infinite loop.

53d4d5 Add locking to meshing console output.  This prevents crashes
due to race conditions of output to the console.  This became prevalent
after the earlier added verbosity changes.

b1ccea Add a bunch of debugging output for intersection and meshing
processes.  Will be helpful tracking down issues in the future.

4724f9 Clean up structures GUI code a bit.

32a518 Implement save/restore of trim parts.  Trim parts were added
earlier, but save/restore was skipped.

0fc9fc Misc. changes to improve structures

367269 Add API call with ray-shooting based inside/outside test.  The
algorithm is based on the one from CFDMesh, but it has been re-implemented
in Code-Eli so it can easily be called from OpenVSP.

699a1e Add API for conversion from LMN to RST coordinates and reverse.
LMN is similar to RST, but it is linear in distance -- where RST's
behavior is determined by the UW parameter speed.

0849a3 Beautify laminate material notation displays.  Also only write the
utilized materials to the CalculiX and NASTRAN files.

6b9132 Changes to speed up FindRST API call.

0b4265 Update AngelScript to latest version

dcce24 Fix problem with airfoil points API call from Python

390bc8 Fix CompGeom behavior with half-mesh and negative volumes.
Discovered by Andy Hahn.

Features
 - API RST volumetric coordinate evaluation XYZ=f(RST)
 - API RST coordinate inversion RST=f(XYZ)
 - API LMN/RST coordinate conversion
 - API for component inside/outside check
 - Structures GUI much faster
 - Finite line subsurfaces - also in structures
 - Orthotropic material support in GUI
 - Write orthotropic materials to NASTRAN and CalculiX
 - Specify material orientation method on per-part basis
 - Write material orientation information for CalculiX
 - Node and element offsets for FEA files
 - Add FEA part and mesh trimming by other structural parts
 - Increased verbosity of output during intersection and meshing

Library Updates
 - AngelScript updated to 2.35.1
 - nanoflann updated to 1.4.2

Bug Fixes
 - Fix specification of fixed points in FEA mesh
 - Rewrite MergeBorderEndPoints to be fast
 - Prevent infinite loop in Triangle that would cause crashes
 - Fix crashes from intersection / meshing console
 - Add more debugging output for intersection / meshing process
 - Fix default Calculix file extension
 - Only write utilized materials to CalculiX files
 - Fix setting airfoil points from Python API
 - Fix problem with CompGeom and negative components with half mesh
 - Many small bug fixes and cleanups


---


# [OpenVSP 3.27.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.27.1)

2022-03-18

A new winner for the smallest OpenVSP release ever.  A single line changed.

As it turns out, the skinning GUI does not work in 3.27.0.  Some may find
this to be an improvement, but unfortunately it does count as a regression
and it was unintentional.

With much embarrassment, we will push out this .1 and hopefully everyone
can pretend like 3.27.0 never happened.  I hear people don't like .0
versions anyway.

Features
 - None

Fixes
 - Make skinning GUI work again


---


# [OpenVSP 3.27.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.27.0)

2022-03-17

A few modeling features, bunches of usability tweaks, some tiny performance
improvements, and an equal dose of bug fixes.  Something for everyone here,
enjoy an update.

I generally get (very limited) positive feedback from these release notes.
Would you prefer something more concise -- or more detailed?  Perhaps you
love mystery and would rather read the source to find what has changed.
Let me know on social media or come to the Google Group to discuss your
preference.

The most user-visible changes in 3.27.0 are some new modeling capabilities.

You're most likely to use Edit Curve corner rounding.  Cubic Bezier and
Linear Edit Curves can now apply corner rounding to any sharp corners in
the curve.  Simply specify the radius and the corner will be replaced with
a circular rounded corner.  This reduces the number of parameters needed
to represent many shapes -- while improving shape precision and making
control much easier.  This seems like a small change, but will have
big impact for those who make use of it.

OpenVSP bodies (Stack, Fuselage) have traditionally been made from 2D
curves placed in 3D space and then skinned or lofted to form a surface.
Have you ever wondered what you could do if the curves were 3D?  There
are now two ways to do so.

First, 3D Edit Curves.  In the curve editor, you now have freedom to
control the out-of-plane dimension of curves too.  You can also change
the view perspective to work with the curves from top and side views.

3D Edit Curves are extremely powerful -- but my experience shows they
should be used sparingly.  If you don't _need_ them, don't use them.

They are most effective when a body doubles back on itself -- like the
lip of an inlet.

I have a feeling that there are going to be tons of new user questions
on this feature where the answer is "don't use it".

The second way to achieve 3D curves is with the new Chevron capability.
Chevrons allow a wave-like perturbation to be applied to any curve type.
A short description does not do this feature justice.  It allows easy
parametric generation of extremely complex shapes.

Most of the rest of the changes are less obvious.

The chevron work and edit curve corner rounding led to another round of
improvements to the corner rounding work -- you may notice that rounded
rectangle corner rounding limits have been relaxed.

The Measure tool can now be constrained to construct axis-aligned rulers.
Mike R. will enjoy this.

The Bezier surface intersection algorithms have seen several improvements.
These should improve quality and robustness of CFDMesh, FEAMesh, and
intersected STEP/IGES exports.  Thanks to William C. for the help finding
some of these problems and to AJ for providing a test case that found
some problems with the fixes.

A small step to improve our testing framework has been taken.  Tests
written in AngelScript and Python can now be added to a centralized
testing framework.  This seems simple and obvious -- but was quite complex
to achieve.  Hopefully next time there will be a host of tests added
because of this.

View clipping Parms are now linkable and discoverable.  Precision has been
added to the parameter linking GUI and to any files written by ResultsMgr.
Thanks to Andy H. for pushing for those.

I was convinced by Jeff V. that our transformations for wing dihedral and
twist were applied in the wrong order.  This has been fixed. Unfortunately,
this will result in a slightly different shape for identical inputs.  I
don't like to make changes like this, but it is the right way to go.

Rotate foils to make dihedral is now a per-XSec variable along with a
global setting.  There is also now an option to correct airfoil thickness
for airfoil rotation due to dihedral.

Advanced link editing and broken link behavior has been generally improved
thanks to input from AJ.

The Edit Curve control point browser now resizes thanks to Anwarmou.  They
also contributed a handful of code cleanups and bug fixes.  Thanks much.

Irian O. found some problems with v2 import while doing an archaeological
dig through ancient supersonic VSP files.

Another large round of source code typo fixes by Luz Paz.

The vspaero viewer save movie path problem should be fixed -- hopefully I
didn't make it worse.  Testing appreciated (particularly on Windows).

Plenty of other bugs were fixed too.

No changes to the VSPAERO solver in this drop.  I expect the next release
will be heavy on VSPAERO updates.

Features
 - Edit Curve corner rounding
 - 3D Edit Curves
 - Chevrons
 - Improvements to corner rounding
 - Ruler measure single-component mode
 - Numerous improvements to surface intersection calculations
 - Set up unit test framework based on AngelScript scripts
 - Set up unit test framework based on Python API
 - Make view clipping Parms visible for linking and discovery
 - Increase output precision of ResultsMgr CSV files
 - Increase displayed precision in simple parameter linking
 - Rotate foils to match dihedral is now a per-xsec option
 - Add option to scale airfoils to correct for dihedral thinning
 - Add pop-up warning when a link becomes invalid
 - Mark advanced link as red when invalid
 - Protect for duplicate Var names in AdvLink when drag-n-drop creating
 - Populate var browser when variable selected in Advanced Link
 - Pass script return value to command line in batch mode
 - Make control point list resizable - Anwarmou

Fixes
 - Scale of FileFuse XSecs when importing v2 file
 - Fix sign of wing twist on v2 import
 - Feature line DO pre-allocation performance bug
 - Make VSPAERO GUI automatic time stepping calc match VSPAERO
 - Correct order of dihedral and twist transformations
 - Fix treatment of propellers by parasite drag tool
 - Make XSec Cut behave as expected with Linking
 - Do better job showing group edit screen
 - Cache hyperbolic tangent stretching calcs -- insignificant speedup
 - Fix spelling error in VSPAERO GUI - Brandon L.
 - Add GetVSPVersion() to C++ API - was in AngelScript - Jason W.
 - Fix lots of typos - Luz Paz
 - Fix botched assert - Acxz
 - Handful of bug fixes & source cleanups - Anwarmou
 - Drop comma from Selig airfoil export - Anwarmou
 - Fix propeller cylinder projection problem
 - Fix VSPAERO viewer save movie path name issue


---


# [OpenVSP 3.26.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.26.1)

2022-01-05

If 3.26.0 wasn't new enough for you, here is one better.  No new features
here, but a couple of bug fixes that are pretty essential.

If you weren't on 3.26.0, you should because it has lots of good stuff,
If you're on 3.26.0, you should move to 3.26.1 because it has some
important fixes.

Most importantly, a list-moment change to 3.26.0 disabled a few buttons
and other things in the GUI -- Wing Airfoil Copy/Paste, changing which
Prop Curve you were editing, and two new Prop curve features
Approximate All and Reset Thickness.  These fixes alone are worth
the price of admission.

In addition, I've finally (knock on wood) fixed the issues that were
making actuator disk not work from the GUI with thick-surface files,
thin-surface via the experimental format, and general odd behavior
when using the Shown set.

Plus a fix for a bug that might be impossible to hit.

Also, some more spelling corrections from Luz Paz -- for people who care
about spelling errors in the comments of source code.  Is my mother
watching?  Thanks for the contibution.

Features:
 - None

Bug Fixes:
 - Fix broken GUI functions (Wing Airfoil copy/paste & Prop curve stuff)
 - Fix actuator disk broken cases with VSPAERO
 - Other small fixes

Cleanups:
 - Another round of source comment spelling fixes - thanks Luz Paz


---


# [OpenVSP 3.26.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.26.0)

2021-12-31

Happy New OpenVSP!  A new version for the New Year.

This version is long overdue.  First expected to contain a small number
of minor features -- the fixes are what really stand out in this
release.  2022 looks like a good year for OpenVSP, expect more frequent
releases on a variety of fronts.

There will be an OpenVSP overview paper presented (virtually) at SciTech,
unfortunately I will not be there in person.  Have a safe conference
and look for the new paper.

There are no significant VSPAERO updates here -- but I know Dave has some
in the pipeline that we will try to get out soon.

There are a few significant geometry changes.

First, XSec Curves (think super-ellipse, rounded rectangle, etc) can now
be parameterized by any combination of Width, Height, Area, and
Height/Width ratio (pick two).  It takes some magic under the hood,
but it should 'just work' for the user.  Next time you're designing an
internal flow passage, set your area and adjust other parameters as
needed.

Second, Propeller section curves can now be lofted onto the cylindrical
surface they are on instead of a flat plane.  This will be useful for
anyone designing ducted propulsors with finite tip-gaps, or if you think
a curved foil will better match your blade-element theory design.

Third, Rounded Rectangle corner rounding has been fixed for non-orthogonal
corners.  It astounds me that nobody has noticed and complained about
this before -- it has been broken for years.  Sometimes I wonder if
anybody uses this stuff.  Tap tap tap...  Is this mic on?  The radii are
correct now and the corners should be much more circular in extreme cases.

There are a few analysis improvements - open meshes are allowed for planar
slice, and single slicing is now allowed (useful for FitModel workflows).

Two changes should greatly improve the performance of the GUI.

First, the Faster Update changes from a few versions back were extended
to prevent a full Update when changing the active XSec or Airfoil
(clicking arrows at the top of the XSec, Skin, Modify, Airfoil, or
Blend tabs).  This should be nearly instant now.

Second, the GUI update was doing something foolish that really slowed
things down in some cases (mostly complex propellers).  General interaction
should be much faster now.

One particular bug fought dirty and made it personal.  I feel like it is
one of the most challenging bugs I've ever fixed.  I'm fairly sure
that it only affected me on my development machine -- but it may have
been the source of random seeming problems for other users too.  The
symptoms looked like memory corruption (it wasn't).  You may know that
OpenVSP uses unique identifier strings extensively.  The bug caused us
to sometimes generate non-unique identifiers -- this is bad.  One of
the libraries we use was resetting the random number generator seed without
our knowledge.  Sometimes it would get reset to the start of the identical
sequence of random numbers we were using.  Other times it would start
on a fresh sequence.  When reset to the same sequence, collisions would
occur.  Changing to a new RNG with a private seed cleared this right up.

Chasing this bug provided motivation to perform lots of cleanups across
the code base.  While none were critical or likely substantial, they
represent good progress to prevent future problems and improve the signal
to noise ratio when using various diagnostic tools.

Justin Gravett helped out with this release in a number of ways.
Announcement of his departure in the last release was slightly premature.
Jason Welstead make a handful of improvements to the CHARM automation
framework.  Luz Paz corrected typos throughout the source code.
Julius Quitter and anwarmou both contributed tweaks to how VSPAERO
presents results or how OpenVSP reads them in.  Thanks also to
everyone who reported bugs and made other suggestions.

There are lots more updates and fixes in here, but the performance
improvements and bug fixes should provide enough motivation for
everyone to update.

Features:
 - Area parameterization of 2D body-type curves
 - Cylindrical projection of propeller sections
 - Allow slicing of open meshes
 - Allow planar slicing to do just one slice
 - Increase sig-figs in Prop Edit Curve GUI
 - Add Approximate All button for Prop Curves
 - Add Reset thickness button for Prop Curves
 - Improve behavior for deleted variables with Advanced Links
 - Optimize ScreenBase update -- much faster now
 - Improvements to CHARM Automation from Jason Welstead
 - Add missing Body of Revolution API Calls
 - Add GetVehicleID() to API
 - Draw arrow icons for symmetrical props and disk-mode props
 - Allow Wedge airfoils to be inverted (GUI addition)
 - Scroll wheel to zoom
 - Calculate T/C for CST and VKT airfoils
 - Remove remnants of v2 drag TSV file output from CompGeom

Bug Fixes:
 - Fix RNG problem that could result in ID collisions
 - Don't trigger full update when changing active XSec or Airfoil
 - Fix rounded rectangle for non-orthogonal corners
 - Improve accuracy of circle approximations
 - Fix crash in FEA GUI when attempting to delete OML skin
 - Make 2D View screen work with Body of Revolution
 - Call ToBinaryCubic before interpolating airfoils, prevents crashes
 - Limit ToBinaryCubic recursion level
 - Improved support for reversed props and disks

Cleanups:
 - Make curve editing GUI code common across users
 - Various typos in source thanks to Luz Paz
 - Move Util.cpp/h to VspUtil.cpp/h to avoid name collisions
 - Myriad general source cleanups suggested by static analysis and Valgrind
 - Make sure all Parms have a non-null ParmContainer
 - Move non-Vehicle Parms registered to Vehicle to be Vehicle Parms
 - Make LightMgr proper singleton, eliminate VehicleGuiDraw


---


# [OpenVSP 3.25.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.25.0)

2021-08-09

About five years ago, Justin Gravett made his first contributions to
OpenVSP.  He has had his hands in pretty much every version since 3.9.0
and has been the source of most of the progress for about the last
three and a half years.

Justin started by adding the 2D SVG and DXF export followed by XPatch
export support.  He expanded our API coverage to be far more complete,
also writing API documentation with examples for every routine.

Justin has kept the VSPAERO GUI up with Dave Kinney's continuous
progress, also developing the VSPAERO V&V script.  The OpenVSP v3
Incarnation of FEAMesh structures capability was written by Justin.
It represented a huge capability leap from what was in v2.

Justin developed our capability to export intersected STEP and IGES files
including BREP solids.  He also developed the Generic XSec lending great
freedom to geometry modeling.

I'm sure I'm missing other contributions.  All along the way,
he has found and fixed countless bugs across the codebase.

OpenVSP isn't losing Justin - but we are going to see less of him.  He
is moving on to the next adventure in his life where OpenVSP will be
more of a side hustle than his main gig.  We wish him luck and extend
the greatest of thanks for all he has done for OpenVSP.


On to the 3.25.0 release...


This version is mostly bug fixes, but also has a significant update to
VSPAERO.  Everyone should upgrade.

We have dropped the pre-built binaries for Win32.  Our build system was
having trouble finding Python for Win32, so we're going to drop it and
see if anyone notices.  If this is a problem for you, ask on the Google
Group and we'll figure something out.

We hopefully have finally resolved the Python version issues we've had.

Win64 should be at Python 3.6.8
MacOS should be at Python 3.6.14
Ubuntu 20.04 should use 'apt-get install python3' which is 3.8.10
Ubuntu 18.04 should use 'apt-get install python3' which is 3.6.9

If the consensus is that we should move our Windows/MacOS Python support
forward, we should be able to do so easily -- help us form a consensus
on the Google Group.

Is anyone out there using OpenVSP Python API with Python 2?

VSPAERO v6.2.0 comes with lots of bug fixes and improvements including
span load distribution plots for thick-surface solutions.  The
VSPAERO viewer now does screenshots with PNG files and adds some
animation generation support across platforms.  Generating
a movie requires ffmpeg somewhere in your path.

The force/moment calculations are all re-written to use the
Kutta Jukowski theorem for lift and drag, but explicit downwash
calculations at edge centers (instead of loop averages).  Some differences
are seen in drag, so Cd is calculated from the KJ theorem, but it
also writes out Cdi as calculated from a TE / Trefftz-type method.
They should generally match for steady cases.

We now include OpenVSP and VSPAERO support for the experimental
*.vspgeom file.  There are features to add and bugs to work out, but
this will eventually be the only way of communicating geometry from
OpenVSP to VSPAERO.  Think of it like a free development preview.

Features:
 - Updated VSPAERO Solver, Viewer, and CPSlicer to v6.2.0
 - Support for ReCref sweeps in VSPAERO
 - Adds reading of VSPAERO *.polar results
 - Improves behavior of vertical scroll bars
 - Add Mach and set name to Wave Drag output and file name (thanks anwarmou)
 - Improves drag and drop for skinning parameters (thanks anwarmou)
 - Improves detection of feature line and planar part intersections
 - Improves Debian installation instructions (thanks Cibin Joseph)

Bug Fixes:
 - Fixes for Total Wing Parameter Calculations
 - Fixes crash with exactly aligned Prop XSecs
 - Fixes upper/lower design mode for BORGeoms
 - Fixes multiple issues with parameter links
 - Fixes memory leaks in FEA Mesh and resizable columns
 - Updates shell property specification in NASTRAN export
 - Fix clearing of VSPAERO CpSlicer results
 - Fixes Python version specification in GitHub Actions build
 - Fixes update issue for Variable Presets
 - Fix problem with VSPAERO viewer not launching

Other:
 - Increases minimum CMake version from 2.8 to 3.1


---


# [OpenVSP 3.24.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.24.0)

2021-06-02

While initially planned as a patch of primarily bug fixes, this release
has ended up with enough new material to justify a minor version increase.
Primarily, this is due to a large number of library updates that have been
included. With these new libraries comes an increased risk in new issues,
especially if you’re compiling yourself, so please report any problems to
the Google Group or GitHub.

This release includes many substantial bug fixes. In particular, a variety
of issues that were still lingering from 3.22.0’s Faster Update.
Clustering was not being applied to exported geometry files and therefore
was not being applied in VSPAERO either. Imported meshes would not display
until another update was triggered, leading many users to believe they
were doing something wrong. Similarly, Fit Model and Snap To results would
not display after the tools finished executing. Parm Containers were not
being completely linked, causing API functions to not be able to find
certain Parms. These and a handful of other update issues have been
addressed in this release. Additional changes to the Faster Update code
have been made to help ensure there are no additional bugs remaining, but
as always please report anything that seems odd.

Many improvements have been made to the API with the help of a *.vspscript
that is exported alongside the API documentation. This script contains a
standalone function for each snippet of example code. Executing this
script has allowed for a large number of errors in the documented examples
to be fixed. General improvements were also completed for the API tests
and various API functions. Jason W contributed to the Python API
integration with CHARM and Cibin J further improved the VSPAERO API
example. API scripts that iteratively execute VSPAERO no longer need to
compute the geometry input files (DegenGeom or Cart3D) each iteration if
changes are not being made to the geometry. This may allow you to speed
up your APi script.

Propellers can now be specified for Blade Element Analysis through the
API, as has already been supported through the GUI. These types of
discrepancies between GUI and API inputs, outputs, and capabilities often
occur when a feature is first added. We strive to identify and address
these differences, so please report if something seems missing in the API.

Almost half of OpenVSP’s libraries have been updated in this release. Some
may differ from their previous version by only a few commits but others
have much more substantial changes. The FLTK update is one of them, as
we’ve switched to an entirely different development path. The new FLTK
version is a unofficial development branch that contains a significant
number of new features and fixes compared to the official stable branch.
One of the most noticeable will be a higher resolution display on Windows.
Since FLTK 1.4-Pre has not yet been officially released there may be
undiscovered issues, so please report any found. Similarly, AngelScript
and Eigen are included as unofficial releases that include a large number
of changes since the last time we updated them.

EDIT_CURVE now has an option to flip the background image in order to
align a cross-section with either a front or rear view. Rounded Rectangle
XSecs now support skew in two directions and control of each corner radii.

Many of the other changes listed below have come from issues or
suggestions reported by users. For example, ExportFile now returns an ID
if a mesh is generated in the export, allowing for the MeshGeom to be easily
deleted or manipulated from the API. Parasite Drag calculations for grouped
components is now done correctly. Many thanks to the users that bring up
ways to improve OpenVSP or contribute directly, like with Peter M’s
support for *.poly surface tagging.

This release includes too many other small fixes and features to be
discussed. While there are no big new capabilities in this release, it
fixes numerous bugs that have been hitting users.  This version is in
the must-update category.

Features:
 - Option to flip background images in EDIT_CURVE editor
 - Color specification for EDIT_CURVE points
 - Improvements to API tests
 - Maintains VSPAERO geometry data in memory after VSPAERO execution
 - PropGeom ID input added for Blade Element API analysis
 - Each API documentation example extracted as standalone *.vspscript
 - All example code has now been fixed to run successfully
 - Improvements for Python API and CHARM integration (thanks Jason W)
 - Windows build instructions added to README (thanks Jason W)
 - Vertical skew and individual radii specification for Rounded Rectangle
 - Negative TE caps (Experimental)
 - Return MeshGeom ID from applicable export functions (Issue #183)
 - Surface tags in CFD/FEA Mesh *.poly output (thanks Peter M.)
 - General code cleanup
 - Various additional API improvements

Library & Build Updates:
 - Update GLM to 9.9.8
 - Triangle modified for CMake 2.8 compatibility
 - Eigen updated to 3.4-rc1
 - Code-Eli updated to support new Eigen
 - STB image updated to 2.26 and image_write to 1.15
 - LibXML2 updated to 2.9.10
 - GLEW updated to 2.1.0
 - Angelscript updated to 2.35.1 WIP – 2021/04/15
 - CMinPack updated to 1.3.8
 - FLTK updated to 1.4-Pre - supports higher resolution Windows display
 - Planar Entity Type 108 added to libIGES

Bug Fixes:
 - Geom dropdowns in Parasite Drag GUI
 - Parasite Drag calculations for grouped components
 - Crash in Wave Drag GUI when selecting flowthrough SubSurfaces
 - Bookkeeping for negative volumes in CompGeom
 - Issue of points moving while zooming in EDIT_CURVE editor
 - Reading & writing VSPAERO control surface stability derivatives
 - Update DegenGeom preview (issue #174)
 - Update Snap To results
 - Update clustering for all Prop blades
 - Update clustering for export (issue #180)
 - Update MeshGeom after import
 - Update Fit Model results
 - Update Parm Links
 - EDIT_CURVE update issues
 - Coincident Stack XSec crash
 - GCC 4.8 compile issues (issue #179)
 - Deleted control surfaces left in control surface groups (issue #175)
 - VSPAERO Propeller uniform RPM issues
 - Unsupported parent for ConformalGeom crash
 - Fixes for VSPAERO example scripts (thanks Cibin J)
 - Various issues with resizeable columns
 - ControlSurface grouping API function
 - Other misc. bugs


---


# [OpenVSP 3.23.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.23.0)

2020-12-12

This version fixes some critical bugs that have been hounding users.
If you're using 3.22.0, you certainly want to grab this ASAP.

3.22.0's Faster Update changes came with significant risk of breaking
things.  Sure enough, that risk was realized.  Users have been hitting
a handful of update bugs that have made 3.22.0 difficult for some to use.
This release fixes all the known Update related bugs.  There may be more
hiding in the corners, but they'll be the less frequently encountered
type.

There are also some updates and features included here.  Users of the
(relatively new) general XSec capability will enjoy a nice overhaul that
factors in lots of user feedback.  It barely missed the last release, but
even more improvements there have come along in the meantime.

A point-projection algorithm was added and exposed to the API at the
request of the M4 Structures Studio developers.  Hopefully it meets their
needs to improve their toolchain.

These changes alone probably wouldn't warrant a version bump, but there
are some library and build process changes that raise the level here a bit.
FLTK has been updated to hopefully fix some problems that show
up on the brand new MacOS Big Sur.  The Triangle library has been
replaced with a version modified for better error handling and a more
C++ API.

The last change is process rather than code.  Our automated build system
has moved from Travis-CI and Appveyor to GitHub Actions.  This change
was forced by an account policy change by Travis-CI.  So, the builds
may be done with slightly different versions of the OS, compiler,
system libraries, Python, etc.  So, things that worked before might break.
Hopefully it isn't too much and we can sort out any issues.  This is
the way forward.

Overall, you'll want to get this just to fix all the annoying update
problems.

Features:
 - Add point projection along an axis algorithms to API.
 - Improved background image for Edit XSec type
 - Improved re-parameterization of Edit XSec types
 - Improvements to Edit XSec GUI

Library & Build Updates:
 - Update Code-Eli to support axis projection and other cleanups
 - Update FLTK to fix problems seen on MacOS Big Sur
 - Update Triangle to version with proper error handling
 - Build system moved to GitHub Actions

Bug Fixes:
 - Update w/ clustering
 - Update of Point Cloud Geom
 - Update with non-intersected MeshGeom
 - Update wing after paste airfoil
 - Update of axis markers for HingeGeom
 - Update AxisLength
 - Thickness issue with file-type airfoils imported from v2 files
 - Radius scaling of corner radius of rounded rectangles on wings
 - Errant documentation of vspgeom file format
 - Differentiate active airfoil name and active XSec name
 - Various issues with Edit XSec types
 - Other misc. bugs


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.22.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.22.0)

2020-11-08

After more than three months of cooking, we have a little big release...

OpenVSP generally follows a version of the major.minor.patch versioning
system.  Major numbers are reserved for really big  changes -- like the
first open source release, or fundamental re-writes that cause
input file incompatibility.  Minor numbers typically accompany a bunch
of features and also updates to the packaged libraries.  Patch updates
mostly contain bug fixes, but some features always creep in.

It may not look like it to everyone, but this release has a lot to it.
Even so, I nearly released it as a patch release 3.21.3 - mostly because
a lot of what is here is building to more things down the road.  My
excitement for what is to come makes me see these changes as a bit less.
However, this release does include a small update to Code-Eli, so
anyone building it themselves needs to watch for that.

The big change that most users will notice is that OpenVSP should now
update significantly faster for complex models.  The model Update()
routine has been substantially restructured to be much smarter about
what needs to be updated depending on which Parm was changed.  It also
caches more intermediate results to allow a variety of shortcuts when
warranted.

This change required major surgery.  This does not come without risk.
Several volunteers have been testing this for a while, but there is still
a chance that something is not right.  The most likely problem to watch
out for is something doesn't update when you think it should.  Keep an
eye out and if you have any problems, please post a bug report to the
Google Group.

BTW, if you aren't aware (or subscribed) to the Google Group, it is the
best place to ask questions or discuss OpenVSP.

Another big change is a big update to MeshGeom & Friends. (CompGeom,
Mass Properties, Area Slice, Wave Drag, etc.  These now support 'negative'
components.  The user can designate one or more Geoms as 'negative' and
instead of contributing to the OML as a union (addition), they contribute
as subtraction.  CFDMesh has had this capability for some time and CAD
export recently joined in the fun.  Now MeshGeom & Friends can poke holes
in your model too.

Negative component support for MeshGeom was actually a step towards another
feature in this version.  The ability to meaningfully handle
non-watertight surfaces.  Some may view non-watertight surfaces as a bad
thing -- but they don't have much imagination.  OpenVSP has long used
non-watertight surfaces to represent things - actuator disks and wakes
in CFDMesh, structures in FEAMesh, etc.  CompGeom can now work with
thin (non-watertight) surfaces mixed with thick watertight bodies.  The
thin surface representation is derived from the plate or camber Degen
representation.  So, CompGeom can now process a geometry with (for example)
the wing, tail, and propeller surfaces modeled as thin camber surfaces
and the fuselage and other things modeled as thick bodies.  If this
doesn't excite you, that is OK.  Wait for the next version, it will be
cool.

A new file format has been defined and set up for export from MeshGeoms
and CFDMesh.  The *.vspgeom file is similar to a *.tri file, but it
adds some information.  The surface u/v parameter values are provided at
polygon vertices.  This means they can be multi-valued where two
objects intersect.  Although files currently will only contain triangles,
the format will represent arbitrary polygons.  Furthermore, wake edges
are explicitly defined in this file, so downstream analysis programs
don't have to use heuristics to detect them.

For those of you still reading, one cool update is that various tables
throughout the GUI now have resizable columns.  So no more frustration
because the columns are all the wrong size.  Just resize them.

Features:
 - Faster Update complex models should update more quickly than before.
 - Negative components to MeshGeom & Friends.
 - Thin (non-watertight) surface support for CompGeom.
 - vspgeom file export.
 - Enhanced wedge airfoil type (requested by Mike W. and Liam M.).
 - Print out search path for VSPAERO (thanks Jason W.).
 - Expand API to set VSPAERO search path.
 - Updates to Python tools from Uber team.
 - General code cleanups.
 - API test framework for CFDMesh.
 - Build support for Matlab API.  Adds VSP_ENABLE_MATLAB_API CMake flag.
 - Improved FEA Structure spar parameterization (suggested by Mischa P.).
 - Option to rotate FEA Structure ribs with dihedral.
 - Lots of API additions and cleanups.
 - Tables now have resizable columns.
 - Trimmed CAD intersection curve tolerance control.
 - Automatic actuator disk hub diameter.

Bug Fixes:
 - Improvements to automated build process.
 - Fix cross platform browser launching.
 - Fix bug in unit conversion in Python tool.
 - Tag CFDMesh surfaces even when SubSurfaces are not intersected.
 - Fix problems with SuperEllipse XSec Type.
 - Bookkeeping for point masses in Mass Properties.
 - Fix API update issues for VSPAERO, Wave Drag, and Parasite Drag.
 - Many other fixes.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.21.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.21.2)

2020-07-27

By definition, polishing is a process of making ever smaller changes.
While we'll never be finished, this release serves to further polish
OpenVSP.  There are tons of fixes and small features.  There might
not be one huge feature - but then again, maybe we made that one tweak
that will make your life better.  Either way, you should update
right away

Welcome Gary Gray to the development team.  Gary is interning with ESAero
and his first contributions are all over this release.

Look no further than a total Refresh of the Set Editor -- should be much
nicer to work with now.  This also entailed converting the Set Editor
from a *.fl file to a code-generated GUI.  This won't mean much to
users, but this is great from a developer point of view.

Gary also converted all other *.fl based GUI's in OpenVSP to code-generated
GUI's.  OpenVSP proper no longer depends on FLTK's fluid executable
(the VSPAERO viewer still does).  Gary converted Set Editor,
Mass Properties, Planar Slice, Type Editor (now an export option),
Texture Manager, and the File Dialog!  Justin killed off
the pickSetFlScreen.fl to finish the job.

I am often more excited about lines / files removed than those added.
This is no exception.

You can now re-load VSPAERO results into the GUI for later visualization.
VSPAERO is further updated with a number of improvements inspired by
user questions on the Google Group.

Trimmed CAD export got a lot of improvements (keep the testing and
feedback coming).  It now supports negative and transparent components.
So, if you want to poke a hole in something, you can.  Also, you can
include an actuator disk or wing wake in your CAD export.

Nobody was using the error checking while using the API, so errors are now
printed out by default.  If you really don't like this, you can call
SilenceErrors() or PrintOnErrors() to toggle this feature off and on.

Too many other small features and fixes to list.  Download and give
it a try.


Features:
 - Update of Python files developed by Uber.
 - Negative component support for CAD export.
 - Transparent component support for CAD export (disk and wake).
 - Improved labeling for CAD export.
 - User contributed VSPAERO API tutorial.  Thanks Cibin.
 - Make double-click association of .vsp3 files possible on Linux.  Thanks Cibin.
 - Read prior VSPAERO results into GUI Results Manager
 - Updated tri-tri intersection routine, more robust.
 - Print errors during API by default, can be silenced.
 - Updated VSPAERO isolated rotor example to use GUI where possible.
 - Many varied code cleanups identified by automated analysis.
 - Extension of FEA Structures API functions.
 - Extensions to API for Copy/Paste of Sets.
 - Renamed surface intersection to Trimmed Surfaces.
 - Echo vspviewer command to console at launch.
 - Include list of merged and removed meshes from CompGeom and friends.
 - Allow negative offset conformal geoms.
 - Make HingeGeom obey Scale().
 - Added info to Line SubSurf display.
 - Loosen limits on General XSec type.
 - Readjust column widths when resizing windows.

VSPAERO to 6.0.4:
 - Improved agglomeration routine at creating coarse meshes.
 - Updated the viscous airfoil model.
 - Fixed the spikes near the centerline in the loading.
 - Fixed a bug in the ground effects implementation.
 - Various bug fixes.
 - Fix crash with multiple disconnected bodies in panel code.
 - Fix problem with zero wake iters on unsteady cases.
 - Fix problem with Cp hot-spot near small chord tips.
 - Some fixes for V&V script.

Bug Fixes:
 - Fix surface identification for FEA Fixed Points.
 - Fix Surf ID and Surf Index mixup for Trimmed CAD Labels.
 - Fix crash on FEA Mesh if no structure selected.
 - Fix wake attachment line for curved trailing edges.
 - Fix GUI Update for Stack Loop policy.
 - Fix memory leak in cppexecv (Mac / Linux only).
 - Fix smart input for both inputs of FractionParm.
 - Deactivate width/height parm for CEdit XSec for Wing and Props.
 - Various fixes to CEdit GUI.
 - Fix problems with initial flow condition on VSPAERO sweep analysis.
 - Fix crash for intersection curve refinement for CAD export.
 - Allow XSec insertion after last XSec for Stacks.
 - Fix name identification for 67 series airfoils.
 - Improve API error messages.
 - General fixes for Shown / NoShow Sets
 - Fix bugs with generic XSecs
 - Many other fixes.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.21.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.21.1)

2020-05-10

Coming just a month after the previous release, this release is heavy
on bug fixes with just a couple features thrown in.  The fixes are
widespread -- everyone should update to take advantage.

Not a lot else to say -- just go download it!

Features:
 - Rearrange Prop gui to accommodate recent additions
 - Background image support for XSec editor
 - API support for number of actuator disk and unsteady groups
 - Edit cross section in dimensional or scaled form.
 - Plot rotor distributed loads in Results Manager

VSPAERO to 6.0.3, mostly bug fixes
 - Line contour drawing option
 - Fixed the centerline issue for cases with symmetry OFF
 - Fixed the side slip at the symmetry plane jump

Bug Fixes:
 - Restore writing degen stick on Matlab
 - Write all fields to BEM file
 - Correct writing pre_cone to BEM file
 - Fix variable preset screen update
 - Remove GUI and API support for removed VSPAERO options
 - Clean up last VSPAERO result before each run
 - Fix smart input on Windows
 - Don't allow spaces in unsteady group name to VSPAERO
 - Fixes with rotors to VSPAERO
 - Fix pressure unit conversions in parasite drag GUI
 - STEP file fix to help SolidWorks
 - Fix bug with CFDMesh half meshes very slow.  Fixes #116
 - Fix auto time step with nothing moving
 - Fix actuator disk rotation direction and reversal
 - Fix edit XSec type use with propeller
 - And more


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.21.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.21.0)

2020-04-10

Have you checked out the OpenVSP Ground School yet?  You should.
https://vspu.larc.nasa.gov/

When Justin suggested we should pull together the pending changes and roll
another release, I don't think either one of us expected there to be this
much.  While the world is social distancing, enjoy this release - it has
more than expected.

The significance of the first change can not be over stated.  OpenVSP can
now output trimmed surfaces to STEP and IGES files.  This can form a
watertight BREP solid!  This capability extends to the structures models
though those aren't technically BREP solid models.

This capability is very tricky to get right and different programs import
these files with varying degrees of success.  So, please try it out and
report any success or failure to the Google Group.  With your help, we can
make this feature the best it can be.

The second big change is the extension of the VSPAERO GUI to cover all the
features of the recently upgraded VSPAERO v6.  This includes built-in
support for unsteady rotors and props.  Analyzing your VTOL multi-rotor
has never been easier.

A bunch of propeller improvements -- new shape functions for axial and
tangential (alternatives to rake and skew) as well as precone.  Props
designed in a BEM code and imported often have blade curves with many
control points.  There is now a way to approximate those curves.  Also,
improvements to prop skinning when TE thickening and certain airfoil
types are used.

Lots more improvements across the board -- too many to detail here.

There are some things to keep an eye out for.  The default Set is now the
Shown set instead of All.  This change should be more intuitive for
general use.

The recently released smart edit feature relies on the std::regexp library
which has only been supported by gcc since version 4.9 (ca 2014).  So, if
your machine can only have a compiler older than that (you know who you
are), this feature is now conditionally compiled to support those
machines.

Many bug fixes  all around while we're at it.

This version has exciting features for just about everyone.  Pull it down,
try it out, and stay safe.

Features
 - Add export of trimmed CAD files for structure and OML
 - Update VSPAERO GUI to support recent improvements
 - Update VSPAERO to 6.0.2 see cc0786863868
 - Default Set is Shown instead of All
 - Mass properties includes HumanGeom
 - Calculate volume and density of HumanGeom
 - HumanGeom and MeshGeom support for DegenGeom via MESH_TYPE
 - Axial and Tangential blade shape control for propellers
 - Precone shape control for propeller
 - Approximate Cubic Bezier operation for propeller blade curves
 - Add simple Plot3D import
 - Change order of modifications in WireGeom - patch after skip and stride
 - Misc. additions to the API
 - Full CST support for Stack, BOR, and Fuselage
 - Expand Parm info in link screen
 - Improve link editing and highlighting
 - Resize parm link browser columns
 - Add current Geom name to Geom screen title bar
 - Smart edit conditional compilation to help on gcc <4.9

Library
 - Update LibIGES to fix NURBS curve problem
 - Update Nanoflann to 1.3.2

Fixes
 - Many improvements to surface intersection quality and robustness
 - Improvements to STEP/IGES output
 - Fix problem with prop surface waves due to thickness and airfoil mods
 - Improve scale independence of curve approximation
 - Fix problem with Python tools on Windows
 - Do not load variable preset on file load.  Only on Apply.
 - Account for vertical scroll bar width in CurveEditor
 - Fix airfoil extraction for BEM files.
 - Clean up fineness ratio use in drag buildup
 - Fix errors in Schmenesky form factor in drag buildup
 - Fix labels and table headings in parasite drag file
 - Fix CEDIT aspect ratio load from file
 - Silence compiler warnings
 - Fix colorchooser behavior when entering numbers
 - Fix for VSPAERO viewer with new MacOS and retina display


---


# [OpenVSP 3.20.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.20.1)

2020-01-20

OpenVSP 3.20.1 includes a few bug fixes.  Most importantly, one that fixes
a problem introduced in 3.20.0 that causes some models (saved in 3.20) to
open up wrong.  The other bug fixes are a bit more longstanding and subtle.
But there is nothing to be scared of -- everyone should update.

Bug Fixes:
 - Wing projected span as Parm did not have unique name.
 - Number of sets assumed in some GUI's not updated for recent expansion
 - Error in Bezier evaluation (Code-Eli)
 - Error in surface point projection (Code-Eli) will help intersection code


---


# [OpenVSP 3.20.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.20.0)

2019-12-28

OpenVSP 3.20 just in time for 2020!  Start off the new year with a new
version with one really cool feature (Smart Input) and a bunch of fixes.

Overall, this update is very small.  It wouldn't cause a .20 bump except
that the new feature also adds a new library dependency and that warrants
a little more attention.

You may be asking, "What is Smart Input?".  Input boxes (the white box
with parameter values) are now smarter.  They can now can do simple math
(+-*/^).

Maybe you want to nudge a parameter by 0.375 -- just click in the input
box and put '+.375' after the current value.  Maybe you want to double
something '*2', increase by 10% '*1.1', convert units on the fly '/2.54'.
This is a really handy feature that will find many uses.

In addition to Smart Input, there are a handful of build fixes, code
cleanups and improvements to the automation of the build process.

Features:
 - Smart Input for simple math in input boxes
 - API examples in documentation
 - Draw cg from mass prop screen
 - CEDIT improvements
 - Make wing section projected area an output Parm
 - Add get parent/child to API
 - Fix VSPAERO crash for Uber CRM example case
 - Lots of cleanups identified through static analysis
 - Travis deployment
 - Update Travis MacOS build to match release builds

Library Updates:
 - Include expparse simple expression parsing library

Bug Fixes:
 - Don't crash structures STEP/IGES output when no structure defined
 - Parasite drag for identically named geoms
 - DegenGeom crash when subsurfaces extended beyond [0,1]
 - CEDIT fixes


---


# [OpenVSP 3.19.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.19.1)

2019-11-17

Right on the heels of .0, 3.19.1 is mostly about tidying up a few loose
ends.  There are a few bug fixes and some documentation improvements.

Most significantly, if you're interested in using VSPAERO to analyze a
case with rotating blades, this version fixes an issue with DegenGeom
and also includes some example cases for you to try.

Not much for everyone else, but no reason not to have the latest either.

Features:
 - Add rotating blade examples for VSPAERO
 - Let vspviewer accept *.adb in file name passed, helps with double-click
 - Use less precision in M,A,B list from GUI to VSPAERO -- long command lines
 - Clean up some warnings in VSPAERO code
 - Update VSPAERO command line documentation

Bug Fixes:
 - Fix field ordering in DegenGeom file -- this broke VSPAERO
 - Fix problem with image backgrounds
 - Remove XS_BEZIER reference from Python test
 - Improve Ubuntu package to remove prior version
 - Fix PathToExe for FreeBSD


---


# [OpenVSP 3.19.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.19.0)

2019-11-09

This release comes with three highly anticipated new features:
VSPAERO 6.0.0, the Generic XSec Editor, and Doxygen-generated API
documentation. Dozens of smaller improvements and fixes are included as
well, so upgrading is highly recommended. A significant portion of this
effort can be attributed to ESAero, funded by the Air Force Research
Laboratory.

The latest VSPAERO jumps an entire major version, offering countless
improvements and fixes over 4.4.1. Significant effort was taken to
ensure cross-platform support, accuracy, and robustness. We encourage
anyone currently using VSPAERO to rerun models in 6.0.0 and report if
any issues are found. While the changes to the VSPAERO GUI are minimal,
users are free to use the command line interface to access all of the
new advanced capabilities. The most significant is the ability to handle
mulitple unsteady rotating bodies. In time, GUI support will catch up to
the latest capabilites.

The Generic XSec Editor allows for modeling of any arbitrary 2D cross-
section shape. For more details, see the wiki page available here:
http://openvsp.org/wiki/doku.php?id=genxsec.

The API documentation, automatically generated through Doxygen, has been
posted to the OpenVSP home page here:
http://openvsp.org/api_docs/3.19.0/. Users that compile
OpenVSP themselves can generate the documentation offline by building
the "doc" solution (requires the Doxygen executable).

Last, this release comes with a Debian package for Ubuntu (thanks Cibin
Joseph), along with Windows 64-bit binaries for users with models
approaching maximum memory limits. As always please report any problems
with the new features in this release.

Features:
-VSPAERO 6.0.0
    -Fully unsteady, time accurate analysis
    -PSU-WOPWOP coupling for noise predictions
    -Significant speed improvements
    -Support of rotors in hover through Vref
    -Improved vortex core model
    -Local Prandtl Glauert correction
    -Improvements to Karman-Tsien model
    -Remove broken vortex lift & LE suction
    -Better force and moment calculations
    -More viewing options for wakes
    -Lots of bug fixes
-Generic XSec Editor
-Automated API documentation
-Propeller blade curve editor GUI improvements
-API functions for VSPAERO control surface grouping
-Set transformation API functions
-MeshGeom color specification
-Lots of code analysis recommended cleanup and improvements

Bug Fixes:
-VSPAERO V&V script fixes
-Fix 0 chord length airfoil modifier crash
-Pinoccio build fixes
-Update MeshGeoms from MeshGeom GUI
-Fix crash caused by empty control surface groups
-Adds missing VSPAERO analysis inputs (i.e. Rho)

Other:
-Debian package for Ubuntu
-64-bit Windows binaries
-Migration of STEPCode to Libraries
-Update cpptest to 2.0.0


---


# [OpenVSP 3.18.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.18.0)

2019-09-02

One major feature, lots of tweaks, quite a few fixes.  This release comes
a bit before the Workshop (see you then).  Expect another release in the
reasonably near future with a bunch more features in the works from
ESAero.

In this release, OpenVSP finally gets a built-in human figure to act as
pilot, passenger, or whatever you need.  Although it isn't perfect, it
should be better than past attempts (sorry PodMan and Male90Pct) in just
about every possibble way.  Note that this component is implemented as
a mesh (not a Bezier surface), so you can't CFDMesh, FEAMesh, or export
it as STEP, IGES, or a few others.

Lots of user-requested tweaks -- more Sets (20 for now), different color
highlights for XSec editing, (near) eradication of non-adjustable sliders.

All good stuff -- but the reason to update is to improve the pilot/pax in
your models.  You know you want to.

Features:
 - New anthropomorphic pose-able human model
 - More sets by default (20)
 - Blue and green highlights for wing/fuse/stack editing
 - Convert non-adjustable sliders to adjustable
 - Improved Cpslice visualiation
 - Other small cleanups

Fixes:
 - Fix some API Error messages
 - Don't draw Prop XSecs when in disk mode
 - Fix memory leak


---


# [OpenVSP 3.17.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.17.1)

2019-07-07

Perhaps sooner than expected and perhaps less feature rich than expected.
This release is almost all bug fixes -- you'll certainly want to make
the jump.

Not a lot of details this time around -- I'll let the short descriptions
speak for themselves.

Features:
 - Calculate average and weighted chord and solidity for props
 - Expand API coverage
 - Improve CMake to help FLTK build on Linux
 - Add names to exported STEP files.

Library Update:
 - Update GLM to 0.9.9.5

Fixes:
 - Fix skin friction equations
 - Multiple FEA GUI Fixes
 - Don't assume FEA skin is first component
 - IGES Structure Parm Name Collision (Thanks Jim Fenbert)
 - STEP Structure missing options
 - Overlapping Prop XSecs
 - Register missing attachment enums w/ API
 - Protect 4-dig airfoils from out of bounds parms
 - Improve ResetRemapID behavior
 - Fix problems with prop and file airfoils
 - Add missing GUI handling of read-file XSecs for body of revolution
 - Silence a bunch of warnings
 - Use equal arc len parameterization for super ellipses


---


# [OpenVSP 3.17.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.17.0)

2019-03-28

Once again, it has been about half a year since the last release -- that
seems to be about the cadence these days.  This version includes some cool
features and fixes some longstanding bugs.  Hopefully it will be a good
step up for everyone.

conformalOpenVSP to CHARM export scripts.  This release includes a set of Python
scripts that will generate the geometry input files to run CHARM - the
comprehensive rotorcraft analysis tool.  These scripts debuted at the
OpenVSP/CHARM/PSU-WOPWOP eVTOL acoustics short course at the VFS
conference earlier this year.

Transparent screenshots - we now export screenshots with the background
made transparent (no more off-white box screaming VSP).  Even translucent
components maintain their translucency.

Cutting planes that define a structure can now be exported as STEP and IGES
files.  Note, these are accessed through the main File-Export menu, not
the FEAMesh menu.

Improvements to STL export for unintersected geoms with better tags.  Also
allow export of propellers relocated at the origin -- these options were
preferred for some CFD workflows.

Support design lift coefficient for four-digit airfoils.  The design lift
coefficient is now calculated -- and the option exists to set the camber
to achieve a desired design lift coefficient.  This brings a more useful
and modern parameterization to the old classic airfoil set.

Lots of propeller improvements -- Instead of discrete airfoils at stations,
propellers can now be defined in terms of distributions of
thickness-to-chord and design lift coefficient.  This will result in
smoother propeller lofts better able to match design intent (and to
recreate the geometry of many published props).  Also calculate integrated
design lift coefficient for props (already calculates activity factor).
Add control of feather axis location and feather offset - should help with
modeling rotors and some novel prop designs.  Also add the option of a disk
model for every propeller.

Faster surface evaluation -- a few improvements to the way surface points
(and normals) are evaluated to speed refreshes.  OpenVSP should be
noticeably faster feeling.

Two really significant bug fixes (along with a bunch of smaller ones).
The 'Unexpected ResetRemapID' warning with models including conformal
geometry is fixed.  This should also help fix the destruction of links
when opening models.

The file corruption bug where the decimal separator was switched to a
comma has been fixed.  This only happened for users with a non-default
locale, who saved the VSP file after exporting an IGES file.  It was a bug
in the IGES library.  Sorry for the pain this one has caused.

Overall, this should be a great release -- and perhaps the only one for
six months or so.

Features:
 - CHARM Python export scripts
 - Transparent screenshots
 - Border toggle in menu
 - Improved show axis toggle
 - Export structure surfaces to IGES and STEP
 - Design lift coefficient support for four-digit airfoils
 - Propeller definition by thickness and CLi distribution
 - Calculate integrated design lift coefficient for props
 - BEM files in terms of thickness and CLi distribution
 - Feather axis and offset control for propeller
 - Implicit disk model for propeller
 - STL solid names include tag number
 - Tag unintersected triangles for STL export
 - Increase tessellation limits
 - Option to export props at origin (unintersected STL and STEP/IGES)
 - Batch evaluation of Bezier surface points and normals (faster refresh)

Library updates:
 - FLTK to 1.3.5
 - Eigen to 3.3.7
 - LibXml2 to 2.9.9
 - LibIGES to version that respects locale
 - Code-Eli to version that supports latest Eigen and other improvements.

Fixes:
 - Restore visualization of CFDMesh sources and wake
 - Don't crash when BOR XSec changed to Bezier
 - Don't crash when reading Lednicer airfoils
 - Import v2 multi-section wings properly
 - Make key-corner default for rounded rectangle
 - Reverse props with shifted construction line built correctly
 - Don't allow insertion of XSec at negative index from API
 - Don't allow comma as decimal point marker; fixes file corruption.
 - Fix writing excressence drag label to XML file
 - Fix unexpected ResetRemapID in files with conformal geometry


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.16.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.16.2)

2018-10-28

This version has been long in coming -- it doesn't really contain anything
monumental -- but enough small things built up to make this release
overdue.

The most significant geometry changes are some new airfoil types --
NACA 4-digit modified, 5-digit, 5-digit modified, and 16-Series.  Also
easy GUI access to add nose/tail end caps to Fuse and Stack.

Lots of improvements to the API -- picking up things that were left out
or were inconsistent between AngelScript and C++/Python.  It isn't perfect,
but it is better.

A crude animation capability has been added to the API.  This includes
some example scripts to get users started.  Animation scripts must be run
from inside the GUI.

Beyond that, a ton of small fixes across the board.

Features:
 - DegenGeom additions
 - API Animation support
 - Four digit modified airfoils
 - Five digit & modified airfoils
 - 16 series airfoils
 - Fuselage and stack end caps
 - BOR support in API
 - General API cleanups

Bug Fixes:
 - Many small fixes
 - Fuse file xsec symmetry problem
 - Fix point clustering on airfoil export


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.16.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.16.1)

2018-03-26

Bump version to .1 for quick propeller parm fix.


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.16.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.16.0)

2018-03-25

This version is long overdue, but it has lots of good stuff -- should be
well worth the wait.  Not much of a theme here, but bits and pieces all
over the place.

We're in the process of migrating the www.openvsp.org web server.  If the
site goes down in the next few days, don't dismay, it'll come back soon.
Hopefully this doesn't cause problems with obtaining this version.

VSPAERO gets a big update to version 4.4.1.  The binary file format has
changed, so you must use the new viewer and slicer.  There is also a
VSPAERO test script that has received a lot of work.

New export types/formats -- airfoil stack, simple PMARC 12 files, OBJ from
MeshGeom.  DegenGeom now available from API.

To round it out, some propeller modeling improvements, and significant
speedups to the improved intersection curves recently released.

Features:
 - Airfoil stack export
 - Simple PMARC 12 export
 - MeshGeom OBJ export
 - DegenGeom support to API
 - Structures small improvements and bug fixes.
 - Propeller modeling improvements (sweep and construction line)
 - Update VSPAERO to version 4.4.1
   . ADB file format change.
   . Supersonic solutions should work again.
   . New surface pressure calculation method
   . Fixed a 2 floating around in the unsteady aero forces
   . Fixed a bug in the time accurate wake code.
   . Steady state rotor calculations.
   . UnSteady rotor calculations.

Bug Fixes:
 - Faster Intersection Curves
 - Many fixes to VSPAERO test script


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.15.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.15.0)

2017-12-31

Happy New Year!  And Happy New OpenVSP!  One significant new feature and
a bunch of fixes and cleanups make this release worthy of a .0 milestone.
I hope to see you at SciTech or AHS this year.

The new feature is support for stand-alone calculation of intersection
curves (without running CFDMesh).  The curves can be visualized and
exported to GridTool and Plot3D formats.  These changes also afforded an
audit of the surface intersection code -- resulting in many improvements.

These improvements should significantly improve the quality of the curves,
which will hopefully improve the robustness and quality of the CFDMesh and
FEAMesh processes.

Unfortunately, the improved algorithms are potentially noticeably slower.
If you notice CFDMesh pausing for a longer period during 'Intersect', this
is why.

There are a bunch of changes to the organization of the Structures data.
This should make all of the Parms available through the API or as design
variables.  However, this will also likely mean that structures currently
saved to a *.vsp3 file will not read into versions going forward.

We try to avoid this sort of thing, but this one slipped by -- very sorry
for the inconvenience.  However, I am certain that the best time to fix
this issue is now.

The VSPAERO GUI has been extended to support unsteady stability runs.

There are a handful of bug fixes.  Most significantly, a bunch of fixes
related to saved views, the openness of the adjust view GUI, and the
preset views from the View menu.

Overall, lots of good stuff.  Download right away.  Enjoy in moderation.

Features:
 - Stand-alone curve intersection generation, visualization, and export
 - VSPAERO GUI integration of PQR unsteady stability stuff

Bug Fixes:
 - Structures data organization to make Parms available to API
 - View adjust bugs


---


# [OpenVSP 3.14.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.14.2)

2017-12-16

Mostly a bug fix release, but a few treats thrown in for good measure.

This release fixes a bunch of issues that cropped up in 3.14.  So far, no
problems have been reported that relate to the structures support in .1,
so only one release will be made here.

In addition to the fixes, two 'features' are included.

First, we're including pre-built Python bindings!  Nothing here that
you couldn't do yourself before, but now that we're doing the heavy
lifting, a bunch more people should be able to Python their OpenVSP
to their hearts content.  These bindings will only work with the
Python they were built against.  These were built against Anaconda3.6.
(The 32-bit version on Windows.)

Second, there is an update to libIGES that allows naming of the exported
surfaces.  We use Entity 406 Type 15 names -- this allows names to be
of arbitrary length.  You might want simple names derived from the
component names -- or you might want something guaranteed unique that
identifies all split surfaces with their parent - and symmetrical copies
with their master.  The IGES export GUI now has a bunch of optinos to allow
control of the name fields and delimeter.

The MacOS release has been built with a new compiler on a newer machine,
please report any improvements or problems.

The fixes are important too, a couple of nasty ones in there.  You'll want
to update.

Features:
 - Python bindings now included - Anaconda3.6 based.
 - IGES surface names

Bug Fixes:
 - Parasite drag SWet showing as zero (thanks Corrado)
 - Fix crash when pasting components to top level (thanks Jasper)
 - Fix VSPAERO GUI layout problems (thanks Marco)
 - Fix problem reading line subsurfaces from file (thanks Nat)
 - Scattered other fixes


---


# [OpenVSP 3.14.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.14.1)

2017-12-07

Two servings of OpenVSP Pi on the same day!

This release is very exciting and it contains just one thing - the
long-awaited structures modeling and meshing capability.  OpenVSP v2 had
a structures layout capability that only worked for wings.  That wasn't
brought forward to v3 because we'd learned enough from that and wanted
to do it better.

Shout out to Justin Gravett who did most of the work to make this happen.

All the lessons from v2 wing structures have been applied and this new
capability should be an exciting step forward.  It supports all component
types (including custom geoms).  It supports multiple structures per
model (and even multiple per geom).  It supports many more structure parts
- full-depth ribs/spars/bulkheads/frames/floors, zero-depth beam elements,
key points, and pressure domes.

If you like structures, dive in.

The structures update is a huge set of changes that touches many parts of
OpenVSP (including CFDMesh).  Just in case it breaks something that usually
works, we've separated the 3.14.0 and 3.14.1 releases.  We encourage
everyone to use 3.14.1 -- but if something is broken that you need, you can
try 3.14.0 to see if it works there.

This structures capability is a huge set of changes.  It has been in the
works for a long time and was previewed at the OpenVSP workshop.  There are
likely issues that we haven't found.  Help us make this the best we can.

Features:
 - OpenVSP Structures Capability


---


# [OpenVSP 3.14.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.14.0)

2017-12-07

'Tis the season for OpenVSP Holiday Pi.  Partake heartily.

It has been far too long since the last release.  This one started out
small, but then had to wait for some things to finish.  While waiting,
it grew.  Then it had to wait on something else -- and it grew more.  Now
that it is finally out the door, it is no longer a small update.

Lots of great features and bug fixes for both VSPAERO and OpenVSP.  Too
many things to highlight just one or two.  Download the latest, check out
the release notes, and enjoy.

Features:
 - VSPAERO Update to 4.3
  . Matrix based preconditioner is now default
  . Vortex lift on by default
  . Leading edge suction a separate option
  . Option to disable 2nd order Mach correction
  . Multiple Re support for CDo (not supported yet by OpenVSP GUI)
  . Some small changes to calculating the surface pressures on the body.
 - OpenVSP updates to support VSPAERO 4.3
 - CPSlicer GUI
 - VSPAERO Automated Test Script
 - SubSurface API Extensions
 - Improvements to DegenGeom representation of control surfaces
 - Wireframe import of *.hrm files for CompGeom/DegenGeom based analysis
 - Measure, point probe in GUI
 - Surface query API routines
 - U,W Line Sources for CFDMesh
 - Some outputs now handled as Parms and can be used in linking.
 - Defer Update() in CreateGeom

Bug Fixes:
 - First (instead of last) wake iteration plotted in VSPAEROPlotScreen
 - Fix VBO buffer size and increment to prevent crashing on complex models
 - Scale rounded rectangle corner radius.
 - Scale root section of multi-section wings.
 - Remove dangling panel method mesh every time VSPAERO is initiated.
 - Fix counter-intuitive behavior pasting components onto hinges.
 - Fix hinge GUI name update.
 - Misc. other bugs
 - VSPAERO 4.3 Bug fixes
  . Fixed a bug with forces/moments for propulsive cases - vlm and panel
  . Various other bug fixes..


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.13.3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.13.3)

2017-09-16

Lots of fixes, a few features, and some tweaks all around.  Much of this
came up at the workshop -- too bad you missed it.

VSPAERO is updated to 4.2 -- this version includes a leading edge suction/
vortex lift model as well as a bunch of fixes.

I'm also updating the compiler used to build the Windows releases.  It may
make some things faster, but it may also cause problems on some old
machines.  Please report any problems.

Features:
 - VSPAERO 4.2
  . Vortex lift model / leading edge suction model integrated.
 - DegenGeom enhancements
  . LE radius, thickness, and location from curve not mesh
  . Handle prop like wing in DegenGeom
 - Change Prop blade duplication to speed updates
 - Add invert airfoil for VKT airfoils
 - Add UpdateGeom to API to facilitate rel vs. abs positioning in scripts
 - Allow control surfaces to be in multiple groups
 - 'AJ' usability improvments / fixes
  . Edit min/max value of User Parms
  . User Parm adjust screen wider for long names
  . Advanced link screen wider for long names
  . Fix odd _0 appended to user parm group names
  . Sort and divide user parm adjust tab by group
  . Clarify parm linking GUI
  . Sort parm links

Bug Fixes:
 - VSPAERO 4.2
  . Ground effect, wakes and CG location
  . Various updates and fixes in viewer
  . Control surface fixes - multiple controls on a single wing
  . Large control surface deflection improvements
  . Changed calculation of CpMin
 - BOR diameter was radius
 - Make BOR parms linkable
 - Initial position of children of hinges
 - Parasite drag crashing with blanks
 - Cf equation inputs and defaults
 - Cf calculation for mixed laminar/turbulent flow


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.13.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.13.2)

2017-08-28

Just in time for the workshop an update with some features and lots of bug
fixes.

This adds a built-in body of revolution -- in case the Duct custom
components were not enough for your needs.  Also includes Spin control for
fuselage and stack geoms.

Lots of updates to VSPAERO -- ground effect and some viewer updates, but
mostly a whole host of bug fixes for issues that people have been running
into.

Plenty of good stuff here.  Everyone should update.

Features:
 - Body of revolution component
 - Spin control for fuselage and stack
 - VSPAERO Update to 4.1.1
  . Added ground effect model
  . Reflect symmetric half geometry in viewer
  . Show XYZ planes in viewer

Bug Fixes:
 - Clean up logic in STEP/IGES export - may help some importers
 - VSPAERO GUI now creates half-mesh for panel method with symmetry
 - VSPAERO Update to 4.1.1
  . Fix drag integration inconsistency for alpha vs. rotation
  . Fix memory crash w/ periodic wakes (ducts)
  . Fix pressure anomaly w/ periodic wakes (ducts)
  . Fix problem with symmetry calculations
  . Fix high AR Cp near centerline
  . Fix high AR Cp out span
  . Fix slicer on Windows
  . Set minimum Mach to 0.001 -- fixes Cp min/max range in viewer


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.13.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.13.1)

2017-08-02

This release is all about bug fixes and cleanups related to the recent
VSPAERO updates and GUI improvements.  Most of these problems have been
encountered by users -- so update and don't have the problems.

Features:
 - Remove temp num points to 1 for VSPAERO calculations

Bug Fixes:
 - Correctly visualize control surface within VSPAERO
 - VSPAERO will read wings with any amount of subsurfaces correctly
 - Fix crash caused by out of bounds index for rotors in VSPAEROScreen
 - Fix build problems for FreeBSD
 - Fix case problems with #includes


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.13.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.13.0)

2017-07-22

This release is mostly about updating VSPAERO to version 4.1.  This
includes an unsteady formulation for control derivatives and some general
speed and robustness improvements.  The GUI integration of VSPAERO has
been updated to match v4.1.

New geometry modeling options in this version include ellipsoids and
von Karman Trefftz airfoils and CST airfoils are now available for
Fuselage and Stack.

In addition, lots of bug fixes all around.  Too many to list to VSPAERO
integration and the parasite drag buildup tool.  In addition, a tricky
bug in IGES/STEP export and a really old bug that nobody has ever noticed.

All around, you'll certainly want to update.

Features:
 - Update VSPAERO to v4.1 -- unsteady formulation and lots of fixes
 - Update VSPAERO integration to support v4.1
 - Add ellipsoid geom type
 - Add von Karman-Trefftz airfoil type
 - Add CST Airfoils to Fuselage and Stack

Bug Fixes:
 - Fix bugs in parasite drag
 - Fix split surface problem for IGES/STEP export
 - Fix VSPAERO rotor induced velocity terms
 - Fix VSPAERO integration issues
 - Simplify file insert to avoid crashes
 - Fix bug where DisplayNames sometimes don't get updated


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.12.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.12.1)

2017-06-19

This quick bug fix release takes care of a bug caused by using different
compilers for release from development.

Our Windows developers use VS2015, while the releases are prepared with
VS2010.  VS2010 doesn't support some newer features that were used.


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.12.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.12.0)

2017-06-17

This version of OpenVSP does much to ease use of VSPAERO -- especially for
complex cases.  You no longer need to edit/tweak the setup file yourself,
everything is controlled from the GUI.  Generating the DegenGeom file has
been streamlined, so you don't have to explicitly write the geometry
either.

Visualization of the thin-surface VLM geometry has been added, this should
make it easier to understand how VSPAERO will interpret your geometry.

The parasite drag buildup tool is finally included.  It allows the user to
conduct a traditional form-factor/wetted area based drag buildup.  Many
options are available to match your preferred methods.

Control surface subsurfaces have been enhanced to produce more realistic
shapes matching designers intent.

Don't forget the OpenVSP Workshop Aug 30-Sept 1.

Expect 3.13.0 soon.  It will include VSPAERO 4.1, incorporating bug fixes
and an unsteady mode.

Features:
 - Parasite drag buildup tool
 - Full control of VSPAERO from OpenVSP GUI
 - DegenGeom preview visualization
 - Advanced control surface modeling

Bug Fixes:
 - Advanced links not loading from file with 'Loop' policy geoms
 - Crash conformal components with some file airfoils
 - CompGeom when subsurfaces fall on tessellation line
 - DegenGeom handling of tip caps with blended wings
 - CustomGeom name matching GUI mismatch


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.11.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.11.0)

2017-03-08

This release is one of the most feature-packed updates yet.  It includes
two long-requested features that will transform how OpenVSP is used.  There
are another half dozen smaller updates that would justify the version
number bump on their own.  There is something here for everyone -- you are
going to want to update.

Blended wings are finally here.  OpenVSP v2 had a BWB component that I was
never happy with for many reasons.  It is one of the things that didn't
make the cut for v3 because I didn't want to support an ugly hack forever.
There have been two significant attempts at blended wings in the v3 era.
The first was based on early skinning and was a total disaster.  The second
brought us slew control in skinning; while improved, it mostly proved
that a skinning-based approach wouldn't work.

Wing blending works by giving the user enhanced control over the leading
and/or trailing edges of a wing section.  Instead of a straight line, the
LE/TE can become a smoothly varying curve.  Through suficient application
of magic, the rest of the airfoil follows along.

The most simple way to modify a LE/TE is to change its local sweep or
dihedral angle.  You can also set a LE/TE direction to 'match' an
adjoining wing section.  These options should enable the user to quickly
build their design intent into a blended wing with a minimum of parameters.
A brief video tutorial on the blended wing component is available to
get you started https://youtu.be/bGRYZr7rS94 .

Conformal components are an entirely new addition to OpenVSP.  Where most
OpenVSP components' shape is independently defined, conformal components
derive their shape from their parent -- they conform to their parent.
This makes them ideal for modeling fuel tanks and payload bays.  Users
will soon find myriad application including layout and mass properties
problems.  To create a conformal component, select the desired parent
component and 'Add' a conformal component.  Then adjust the offset and
U/W trim as desired.

Other new features include XPatch export of triangle meshes and SVG export
for 2D drawings.  CompGeom (and related tools) should be faster in one
step.  CompGeom now calculates and reports the area of subsurfaces.

Lots of little bugs were fixed too -- but if you weren't convinced to
update by now, I doubt they'll do it for you.  Just go ahead and update,
trust me.

Features
 - Blended Wings
 - Conformal Components
 - XPatch export
 - Improved DXF 2D export (outlines)
 - SVG 2D export
 - SubSurface areas in CompGeom
 - CompGeom faster
 - IGES/STEP surface splitting along U/W-Const SubSurface lines
 - Mesh STL files can write surfaces and/or slices

Bug Fixes
 - WaveDrag set choice glitch - thanks Alex Ziebart & Mike Raber
 - Set editor conflict
 - CFDMesh with Shown set
 - Update CFDMesh when meshing fails
 - Prop curve indexing problem when enforcing order (possible crash)
 - WaveDrag reference area flag Parm in wrong group
 - Set VSPAERO analysis method from API
 - CFDMesh threading console update
 - Highlight Selected Set in Set Editor


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.10.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.10.0)

2017-01-07

Just in time for SciTech, this release has been a long time coming.  A few
things had to be dropped at the last minute and there are a bunch more
features pending in the wings...  So expect more exciting releases in the
near future.

There are no huge features this time, but enough significant changes to
warrant the bump to .10.  The FLTK graphics library has been updated to
1.3.4-1, the first stable FLTK release in years.  The Angelscript scripting
language has also been updated to the lastest version.

The clustering function for wings and propellers (LE/TE and root/tip) has
been changed to one used widely by structured meshers. It gives more
gradual point spacing growth resulting in much higher quality surface
meshes.

The minimum clustering parameter is now 0.0001 instead of 0.0.  Such a
small value will likely be too small.  You will need to play with existing
models to get satisfactory results.

I've done some profiling to identify some slow spots and have made
changes to speed things up.  Hopefully it is noticible, but results may
differ by platform.

There is also now an option to omit blunt airfoil TE panels from IGES/STEP
surface export -- I won't name names, but users of a particular CFD meshing
tool have asked us to add this option to make our surfaces less watertight.

Features
 - Improved tessellation clustering function
 - Tessellation spacing quality metrics
 - Option to omit blunt TE patches from STEP/IGES surface export.
 - CFDMesh faster
 - FitModel faster
 - Propeller, wing, & fuselage components faster
 - Move CFDMesh to separate thread to improve console updating

Bug Fixes
 - VSPAERO integration fixes
 - CloseTE tolerance scales with chord to fix behavior on small models.
 - Tighten degenerate curve test in tesselation and surface export.
 - Fix PrintAnalysisInputs and PrintResults API functions
 - Fix bug editing propeller spline points


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.9.1 with VSPAERO 3.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.9.1)

2016-09-05

This release is all bug fixes.  Some of the bugs are longstanding, but most
relate to the big VSPAERO and integration update in 3.9.0.  Everyone
should update.

Bug Fixes:
 - Fix bugs with unenforced limits of propeller curves
 - Fix feather/collective angle for reversed propeller
 - Fix false camber for blunt TE/LE airfoils in VLM VSPAERO analysis
 - Fix problem where custom materials got re-written to file on insert
 - Fix error writing supersonic VSPAERO results to file
 - Fix various errors with VSPAERO integration


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.9.0 with VSPAERO Version 3.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.9.0)

2016-08-21

Just in time for the Workshop, this release has something for everyone.
VSPAERO, Hinges, Group Transform, AutoCAD Export, and bug fixes.

VSPAERO v3.0 is the most significant update to the VSPAERO solver to date.
It includes a thick-surface panel method, control surfaces in VLM mode,
built-in batch runs, improved speed, and more.

The VSPAERO integration into OpenVSP has been updated to support the new
version of VSPAERO.  API support also updated.

A one-axis kinematic joint has been added.  This is like a blank component,
but that can translate or rotate.  Its children are forced to be attached
to the joint.  This component simplifies modeling control surfaces,
landing gear, folding wings, and similar common major assemblies.

Group transformation/modification has been added.  Select a group of
components and you can translate/scale them as a group.  You can also
change their material or color, or rotate them about their own origins.
This is one of the last v2 features that was missing in v3.  Thanks much
to Alex Gary for getting this going.

Feature lines can now be exported as an AutoCAD DXF file.  This traditional
drafting file can be imported into just about any Drawing or CAD program
as a starting point for a general arrangement or inboard profile drawing.
Welcome ESAero intern Justin Gravett to the development team.

Of course a few bug fixes are thrown in too.  Mostly some API updates that
broke Python or introduced features that never worked correctly.

Features:
 - VSPAERO v3.0 - Panel method, batch runs, control surfaces, much more
 - Improved VSPAERO integration
 - One-Axis Kinematic Joint (Hinge/Slider)
 - Group Transformation/Scale -- Thanks Alex Gary
 - 2D AutoCad Export of feature lines

Bug Fixes:
 - Change to Geom type name lookup instead of type ID number
 - Fix Python API
 - Fix VarPresets API to built-in scripting


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.8.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.8.1)

2016-08-01

Propellers for all!

This release adds a new propeller component and fixes a pair of unrelated
bugs.  Though it may seem like a small change, the propeller component
constructs its surface differently from other components.  It represents
a surprisingly large amount of work.

Instead of defining the blade shape (chord, twist) at specified stations,
these are instead specified as continuious curves.

The propeller component comes with a bunch of related accessories -- the
blade activity factor is calculated on-the-fly, there is a one-click option
to switch to a counter-rotating prop, propeller folding is built-in -- with
a user-defined fold axis, there is a blade element export/import
capability, and the BEM data is available through the API.

Features:
 - New propeller component
 - Blade element import/export and API

Bug Fixes:
 - Fix DegenGeom crash on Matlab export
 - Fix GUI output of mass properties calculation


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.8.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.8.0)

2016-07-15

Don't forget to register for the OpenVSP Workshop (Aug 23-25)!

This version is more focused than many of our releases.  It is really
all about upgrading the VSPAERO integration (and one bugfix).

The VSPAERO GUI has been comprehensively updated.  You can now run alpha/
beta/Mach sweeps from the GUI.  Results are automatically parsed and are
ready for review from the GUI.  VSPAERO is now available through the
Analysis Manager in the API.  The results are parsed and are available
through the Results Manager in the API.

In addition, a bug fix for files saved since version 3.7 that use super
ellipse cross sections.

Features:
 - Overhaul of VSPAERO integration
 - VSPAERO alpha/beta/Mach sweeps from GUI
 - Visualize VSPAERO results in GUI
 - VSPAERO available through API
 - Changed default wing LE/TE clustering to 0.25
 - Build on OSX on Travis-CI
 - Improve automated testing

Bug fixes:
 - Duplicate parameter name in superellipse cross section


---


# [OpenVSP 3.7.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.7.2)

2016-06-24

Another quick couple of bug fixes associated with the variable presets
capability.  Not quite as critical as the 3.7.1 fixes, but everyone should
update nonetheless.

Bug Fixes:
 - Fix crash when deleting empty var presets group


---


# [OpenVSP 3.7.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.7.1)

2016-06-24

This release fixes a major bug that slipped into 3.7.0.  Everyone must
update to this version.

Bug fixes:
 - Fix crash caused by reading file without VarPresets field.


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.7.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.7.0)

2016-06-23

This version includes two significant new features that have been in the
works for some time.  These are the estimation of supersonic wave drag
by the area rule and a capability to save sets of variable settings in a
given model.

The wave drag capability has been much requested and long awaited.  Since
its demonstration at the 2015 Workshop, a number of slick improvements have
been made.  Thanks to Michael Waddington for all the work and to Sriram
Rallabhandi for the C implementation of the Eminton Lord calculations.

The variable preset capability has a number of use cases; it allows you to
save the model state and return to that state quickly and easily.  Perhaps
you have a model with takeoff, landing, and cruise configurations.  Perhaps
you adjust the tessellation for VSPAERO, but want different resolution for
mass properties, and different again for Cart3D.  Or, if you're doing a
design study, you may want to save the baseline model and different
optimal solutions (weight optimal, fuel optimal, cost optimal, etc).
Thanks to Bryan Schmidt for all the work on this feature.

Features:
 - Wave drag estimation by area distribution and Eminton Lord calculation
 - Variable presets for saving model state


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.6.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.6.2)

2016-06-10

A small bugfix update just in time for AVIATION.  This release fixes
three problems that have bitten users.  Get it now and don't get bit!
See you in DC.

Bug Fixes:
 - Projected area direction setting from API.  Thanks James Haley
 - Crash in 3.6.1 with zero-width cross sections.
 - Crash exporting split-surface IGES files with degenerate patches.


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.6.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.6.1)

2016-05-29

One big feature, a handful of enhancements, and a bunch of bug fixes make
this version well worth the update.

The big feature is a projected area calculator.  Use it to calculate
the projected area of a component or a set of components.  Project in the
X, Y, or Z directions -- or along an arbitrary vector -- or along a
vector normal to the u=0, w=0 point on a given component.  You can also
bound the projected area by a component or a set.

The resultant area is triangulated and added to the model as a MeshGeom for
visualization or export to STL.  Although only the final area is reported
in the GUI, component areas and the area outline are available in the
output file or via the API.

So, whether you want frontal area for a drag estimate, rotor downwash area
for a download calculation, or you just want the projected area of a
complex wing made of multiple components -- you're in business.

The super ellipse and rounded rectangle cross section types have been
enhanced to creation of a bunch more related shapes.  Thanks to Frank
Zhang for those enhancements.

The bug fixes include some old and some new.  All good stuff.

Features:
 - Projected area calculator with many use cases
 - Enhanced superellipse curve type - Frank Zhang
 - Enhanced rounded rectangle curve type - Frank Zhang

Bug Fixes:
 - Protect against NULL pointer dereference from API or Custom Components
 - Fix crash with airfoils trimmed at barely different spots (thx Jason W.)
 - Fix longstanding bug with handling of rounded corners for General XSec
 - Fix deactivated sliders not updating
 - Set unused capping parameters to value of least surprise


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.6.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.6.0)

2016-05-05

It has been a while since the last release, I'm sure you'll find that this
version has lots of things to make it worth the wait.  There are a lot of changes here--and there may be some lingering bugs.
Please dig in and report success/failures to the Google Group.

Many of the embedded libraries have been updated, so if you compile
yourself, you'll need to refresh your build.

SnapTo has been added.  This feature lets you adjust any parameter until
the part snaps to a collision (or offset) with another part.

Leading edge modifications options matching the trailing edge modifications
have been added.  Likewise, leading edge control surface subsurfaces.

Multiple kinds of edge treatment have been added (not just flat).  So, if
you ever wanted to make a diamond airfoil with finite-radius LE/TE and
an edge wingtip, now you can.

Plenty more features - and too many fixes to detail.  The only logical
step is to download it and give it a try.

Features:
 - SnapTo, drive parameters by component collision/offset
 - Thicken airfoil LE like TE
 - Trim airfoil LE like TE
 - Round, edge, and sharp LE and TE closeout
 - Round, edge, and sharp wingtips (incl. v2 import round tips)
 - Option for rectangle XSec corner parameters to match
 - AnalysisMgr to streamline API additions
 - Leading edge control surface subsurfaces for wings
 - Write X,Y,Z intersection curves to SRF file for GridTool users

Bug Fixes:
 - Make all parameters linkable
 - Flip normal vectors for Plot3D as appropriate (thanks Joe Derlaga)
 - Many and various build fixes (thanks Carmine, fernape, George, et. al.)
 - Fix 0/1 subsurface indexing in DegenGeom for Matlab
 - Updates to Python wrapper (thanks Santiago Balestrini-Robinson)
 - Fix handful of OpenGL errors
 - Fux null pointer dereference (thanks Richard Harrison)
 - Fix flaky drag-n-drop in FitModel


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.5.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.5.2)

2016-02-13

Another collection of small fixes and features, with one or two that are
sure to be crowd pleasers.  Get it now and don't be left out!

Most of the changes fall into two categories.  Sub-Surfaces and the main
GUI.

The first sub-surface work allows multi-surface geoms (common with custom
components) to assign sub-surfaces on a per-surface basis (rather than to
all surfaces).

In addition, sub-surfaces are now output to DegenGeom files.  This kind
of extension of the DG file format was always expected, so hopefully
parsers have been written to 'just work'.

Sub-surfaces are output as a u,v polyline, it is up to the DegenGeom user
to figure out what that means for their stick or plate representation.
Sub-surface names are also written out as well as a flag indicating which
side of the polyline is the 'inside' of the subsurface.

The main window has been refactored such that it is now generated on the
fly.  This will make future updates much easier.  While I was there, I
made a bunch of other improvements and cleanups.

The Undo button is now located under the Edit menu, and Ctrl-Z
(Cmd-Z on Mac) will trigger Undo.  Lots of menu commands now have sensible
shortcut keys that make common actions easier and also document some
little-known capability.

On Mac, the main menu bar now appears in the top window bar like other
native applications.  This may take some getting used to.

If you're still looking for a reason to update, here it is.  With this
version, a press of the 'f' key will fit the visible model (zoom and
center) to the screen (and change the rotation center to the center of
the visible model).

Features
 - Per-surface sub-surfaces
 - Sub-surfaces written to DegenGeom files
 - Programmatic main window
 - Fit visible model to window with 'f' key
 - Menu rearrangement with lots of shortcut keys

Bug fixes
 - Fix CFDMesh problem with vertical tails (thanks Carmine Vassallo)
 - Fix problem passing shortcut keys to all listeners


---


# [OpenVSP 3.5.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.5.1)

2016-01-23

This version has lots of fixes and a handful of features.  There is
something here for everyone, so update -- you don't want to be left out.

The addition of tessellation clustering control for wings (chordwise and
spanwise) will be important to lots of users.  This only affects the
wireframe and things related to it (DegenGeom, VSPAERO, CompGeom, etc).
It does not affect the underlying shape or the surface parameterization.

To do this, NACA 4-digit and CST airfoils types had to be re-parameterized
to an equal-arc-length basis.  This will change loft with mixed airfoil
types and possibly attachment points.  An option to recover the old
behavior is included.

Cluster is controlled with two parameters (LE/TE or Root/Tip).  If you
set them =1.0, you get uniform spacing (the default).  Smaller numbers
cluster, larger numbers spread things out.  Feedback on the level of
control and the growth rate is appreciated.  This may need tweaking down
the road.

The libJPEG library has given us no end of trouble over the years and I've
finally had enough.  I ripped it out and have replaced it with a smaller
and simpler library.  Hopefully this fixes all the problems users have
had with image files.  This will be mostly user invisible, but you can
no longer do JPEG screenshots -- PNG only.  Also, you now have your choice
of image formats for background images (JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TGA).

Features
 - Chordwise tessellation clustering control
 - Spanwise tessellation clustering control
 - Equal arc length skinning for four digit and CST airfoils
 - Add selection Show Only button.  Suggested by Jason W.
 - More file formats supported for background (jpg, png, bmp, gif, tga)
 - Make XSec highlight curves adaptive
 - Improve polygon offset to improve feature line rendering

Fixes
 - Fix update custom components change position/rotation. Thanks Erik O.
 - Fix problem with wing list update in VSPAERO GUI
 - Fix recent problems with logslider
 - Fix fuselages with many file XSecs
 - Fix O(n^2) problems in fuselage import and read
 - Get rid of libJPEG


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.5.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.5.0)

2016-01-02

A little late for New Years, but just in time for SciTech!  I hope to see
you in San Diego next week.

OpenVSP 3.5.0 has a bunch of features across the board that should improve
usability for a lot of you.  High on the list is the ability to import
files from OpenVSP v2.  This import isn't perfect*, but it should do the
lions share of moving a model from v2 to v3.

On the good looks side of things, this version adds support for Retina
display on MacOS, PNG format screen shots, and also saving screen shots at
greater than on-screen resolution.  This should help improve publication
quality figures from OpenVSP.

Features:
 - v2 Import
 - Retina display on MacOS
 - Super-resolution screen shots
 - PNG format screen shots
 - Improved and quantitative view control (repeatable views)
 - Geom Browser converted to programmatic GUI

Bug Fixes:
 - Change how point cloud files are saved, prevent out of memory on read
 - Fix O(n^2) bugs with points and triangles in XML (copy/paste and save)

* Components that don't yet exist in v3 can not convert.  Also, some
parameters like skinning tangent strengths don't convert 1:1, so a
reasonable approximate value is assigned.


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.4.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.4.1)

2015-12-13

This bug fix release takes care of handful of problems that some users
have hit.  One recent bug, the others have been around a while.

Thanks to Jason Welstead for characterizing one bug and to Alex Gary for
fixing it.

Bug fixes:
 - Negative volume flag not working for Custom Geoms.
 - Crash on minimize/restore of main window on MacOS.
 - Mixed tolerances in CompGeom causing removal of watertight shapes.
 - Force true closure of six-series airfoils.


---


# [OpenVSP 3.4.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.4.0)

2015-11-17

CST for everyone!

OpenVSP 3.4.0 comes with native support for Brenda Kulfan's CST Airfoil
representation.  This is an oft-requested and long awaited feature by
those doing aero optimization.

CST support is limited to the airfoil class (N1=0.5, N2=1.0) and is only
available for Wing-type components for now.

CST airfoils can be promoted exactly or demoted to the closest possible
approximation of reduced order.  Existing VSP airfoils can be converted
to CST using a least squares fit of a specified order.

Airfoils may now be modified via scale, shift, and rotate.  These mods
are used by the CST fitting to allow the CST curve to be defined on
x=[0,1] with start/end at y=0.

These modifications will also allow some interesting alternative uses.
With great power comes great responsibility.  Do not use these mods
to achieve wing shapes possible through 'normal' parameters -- you will
come to regret it.

Features:
 - CST Airfoil class support
 - Airfoil scale, shift, rotate modifications
 - Promote/demote CST airfoils
 - Best least squares CST conversion of existing airfoil types
 - Extend API to support CST airfoils

Bug fixes:
 - Write 1/0 Type parameter for *.hrm files
 - Modify SuperBuild to auto-build *.zip package every time


---


# [OpenVSP 3.3.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.3.2)

2015-11-05

This is a quick release to fix a bug with 6-Series airfoils on Windows
introduced by 3.3.1.

Bug fix:
 - Fix problem indexing past end of vector in 6-Series.  Thanks James Haley.


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.3.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.3.1)

2015-11-02

Small but mighty!

OpenVSP 3.3.1 may 'only' be a bugfix release, but it fixes some really
big and longstanding bugs.  The fixes are so significant that I
considered calling it 3.4.0 -- or even 4.0.0!

Whatever you do, update to this version, you'll be glad you did.  Shaded
rendering is significantly improved, a few performance improvements, and
the problems with 6-series and file airfoils have been fixed.

Bug fixes:
 - Fix various problems with 6-Series and File Airfoil types.
 - Multiple normal vectors at corners and edges for better shading.
 - Improve feature line rendering to reduce artifacts.
 - Eliminate transparent surface rendering artifacts.
 - Tweak adaptive feature lines to improve consistency of results.
 - Add OpenVSP version number to output IGES files.
 - Tweak target mesh length calculation to speed CFDMesh.


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.3.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.3.0)

2015-10-09

October surprise!  OpenVSP can now export IGES files!

OpenVSP 3.3.0 is the latest feature release of everyone's favorite
parametric modeling tool.  IGES support was made possible via libIGES, a
small library created by Cirilo Bernardo.

I've bumped the version number not because this change is monumental,
but because it will require special attention for anyone building VSP
themselves (they must re-build the Libraries to build libIGES).

Unfortunately, IGES file export will not be a CAD-interchange-cure-all.
IGES files will be subject to many of the same pitfalls as STEP files, but
hopefully this will provide another avenue to work with other modelers and
downstream tools.

In addition to IGES files, there are some other features and bug fixes,
everyone should update and enjoy!

Features:
 - IGES file export made possible by libIGES github.com/cbernardo/libIGES
 - Adaptive feature lines (Should be prettier)
 - Visualization of blank component axes (Turn off feature lines to hide)
 - Split surfaces by default for STEP files (Match IGES, more compatible)
 - Add STEP/IGES export units enum to API

Bug fixes:
 - Wing root incidence not updating (thanks Travis, Michael, and Brandon)
 - Wing twist limits too limiting (thanks Michael and Brandon)
 - Symmetrical diagonals for CompGeom & friends (thanks Dave Kinney)


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.2.3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.2.3)

2015-09-20

OpenVSP 3.2.3 is a periodic update.  Nothing huge here shoving it out the
door, but enough good things have accumulated in the last month that a
release should be useful to people.  Both fixes and features, everyone
should update.

Features:
 - Added slew control to skinning.  Slew controls the direction of surface
    curves 'in' the surface - where Angle is 'out' of the surface.
 - Change default skinning parameters to simulate v2's Fuse2 component.
 - Export wireframe as Plot3D file (thanks Joe Derlaga)
 - Improve nearest point search algorithms in Code-Eli
    should help CFDMesh and FitModel.
 - Cache derivative calculations in Code-Eli - should speed CFDMesh some
 - Added reversed triangle detection and removal to CFDMesh
 - Tweaked CFDMesh tolerances and parameters for robustness

Bug fixes:
 - Refactor remove interior tris.  Fix complex negative volume cases.
 - CFDMesh source names not saving (thanks @SteveDoyle2)
 - Feature line update.
 - Fix API specification causing problems for SWIG (thanks Alex & Travis)
 - Misc. code cleanups (thanks elfring)


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.2.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.2.2)

2015-08-18

OpenVSP 3.2.2 is another bugfix release.  Some small, but a few that have
been longstanding problems.  Everyone should update to get the benefit of
these fixes.

Features:
 - Specify units when writing STEP files.
 - Specify dimensional tolerance when writing STEP files.

Bug fixes:
 - Fix wing updating with zero tip chord, zero taper, etc.
 - VSPAERO Remove additional swirl component in front of actuator disk.
 - Fix airfoil trimming bug introduced in 3.2.1
 - Eliminate divide by zero for trim/closure parameters with zero chord.
 - Fix bug introduced when DegenGeom GUI was made programmatic.


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.2.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.2.1)

2015-07-31

OpenVSP 3.2.1 is a release of mostly bugfixes.  Most of the fixes are small
items expected to accompany a big release like 3.2.0.  However, the most
significant fix has been a problem with all of v3.  So, although it is
small, everyone shoudl go ahead and update.

Improvements:
 - Background control GUI converted to be programmatic

Bug Fixes:
 - Fix inconsistent orientation of triangles from CompGeom
 - Fix orientation of symmetrical actuator disk normal vectors
 - Improve feature lines and XSec highlights with blunt trailing edges
 - Don't write un-needed Matlab DegenGeom file for VSPAERO


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.2.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.2.0)

2015-07-24

OpenVSP 3.2.0 is the first feature release in a while -- there is a lot
of great stuff included to make it well worth the wait.

Blunt trailing edges -- Wing section TE's can now be blunt.  Airfoil files
with a gap between the TE points will be left that way (re-read your files
on existing models to get this behavior).  Airfoil curves can be modified
to thicken or sharpen the TE; they can also be trimmed to blunt the TE.
The sharp corners have parameter values W=0.001 and 0.999, use these values
when creating subsurfaces or attaching to the corner.

A negative volume flag has been added to components to cause them to poke
holes in CFDMesh.  In all other cases, these components have normal
behavior.  This should be useful for modeling engine flow-through.

Actuator disk support has been added.  The disk is described in DegenGeom
for VSPAERO and a thin membrane is meshed in CFDMesh.  Some volume meshers
should be able to mesh up to both sides of the disk.  The actuator disk
is immune to negative volume, so you can put a disk in your flow-through
duct if you want to.

VSPAERO has some great improvements as well.  Easy actuator disk
integration, velocity surveys, and some load integration bug fixes.

Improvements and additions since 3.1.2:
 - Blunt TE airfoil support
 - Negative volumes for CFDMesh
 - VSPAERO auto-setup of actuator disks
 - VSPAERO field velocity survey calcualtions
 - Actuator disk component (example custom component)
 - Improved actuator disk integration with VSPAERO
 - Control surface subsurfaces
 - Drag-N-Drop for picking parameters
 - Save/Import for FitModel optimization problem formulation
 - Programmatic GUI for CFDMesh, Parameter Linking, CompGeom, and DegenGeom
 - Custom component support for actuator disk and negative volumes

Bug Fixes:
 - VSPAERO Fix some pressure integration bugs
 - Split symm plane to improve CFDMesh mesh quality with huge domains
 - Tweak tolerance for short intersection edges in CFDMesh
 - Set z-buffer distance dynamically to handle large models

One last note, with this version we also add two new developers to the
team, thanks much to Brandon and Mitch for their contributions.


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.1.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.1.2)

2015-05-23

OpenVSP 3.1.2 fixes a few bugs and makes the API more complete.

Features and additions
 - Add control of wing root incidence.  Thanks Jeff Viken.
 - Add container routines to API for User Parms.  Thanks Erik Olson & James Haley.
 - Add file airfoil routines to API.  Thanks Yohann Delannay.

Bug fixes
 - Fix problem with slashes in file names.  Thanks Bill Fredericks.
 - Include OpenMP dll's on Windows.  Thanks Bill & Brandon Litherland.
 - Fix VSPAERO problem with long path -setup.  Thanks Brandon.
 - Fix nonexistant component IDs in VSPAERO Manager.  Thanks Brandon.


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.1.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.1.1)

2015-05-02

OpenVSP 3.1.1 fixes a bunch of small issues that quickly cropped up in
3.1.0.  Thanks to everyone who helped find and diagnose these problems.

Bug fixes
 - Built-in favorite paths not appending trailing /.  Reported by Alex Gary.
 - Correct omission of SECSWEEP_WSECT_DRIVER from API.  Reported by Yohann Delannay.
 - Fix issue of displaying duplicate custom components.  Reported by Jim Fenbert.
 - Force static linking of GCC supplied libraries.  Reported by Bryan Morrisey.
 - Improve status checking and button de/activate for VSPAERO.
 - Properly quote Windows commands with spaces.  Reported by Alex Gary.


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.1.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.1.0)

2015-04-28

OpenVSP 3.1.0 brings the much awaited release of VSPAERO, the new vortex
lattice solver that has been developed to be a part of OpenVSP.  There
are a few other improvements and fixes, but I'm certain everyone will
want to update to get their hands on VSPAERO.

VSPAERO is a thin-surface code for inviscid subsonic and supersonic
aerodynamics.  It is multithreaded to make the most of common multi-core
computers and uses a mesh agglomeration scheme to improve scaling with
large meshes.  The matrix is solved with an iterative GMRES solver.
VSPAERO includes a simple actuator disk model to represent propulsion-
airframe interaction and also the ability to calculate common stability
derivatives.

Improvements and additions since 3.0.4
 - VSPAERO vortex lattice solver and viewer
 - VSPAERO integration into OpenVSP GUI
 - Initial use of Travis-CI continuious integration build/test server
 - Search multiple paths for CustomScripts, working, home, then vsp's location
 - Add home and vsp's location to favorites pull-down in file select dialog

Bug fixes
 - Reading wings with sweep location=1.0 from file (reported by Nick Borer)
 - Wing parameter limits now allow tiny segments (reported by Nick Borer)
 - Fix Linux build problem introduced at the last moment before 3.0.4


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.0.4](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.0.4)

2015-02-17

OpenVSP 3.0.4 is mostly a bug fix release.  This should fix a bunch of
issues with DegenGeom in preparation for things to come.  Also fixed
are a bunch of problems with 6-series and file airfoil types.  Anyone
using v3 should certainly update.

Bug fixes in this release include:
 - Six series leading edge creep
 - Crash for very thin six series airfoils
 - Fix problem copy/pasting file airfoils
 - Update overall wing aspect ratio display
 - Don't deselect Geom when executing DegenGeom
 - Fix sign assumption in z camber of DegenGeom for reflex or inverted foil
 - Make export file names match primary file name
 - Save Vehicle level parameters including file save options
 - Fix wing updating when total parameters changed
 - Enable extracting point cloud from slices
 - Write out slices to STL file
 - Increase upper bound on Wing Area parameters to support aircraft in mm
 - Don't write out flat wing caps to DegenGeom
 - Don't drop point data for symmetrical DegenGeom
 - Build fixes for Linux
 - Fix mismatched limits for 4-digit airfoil parameters
 - Update X3D export for materials and flipped normal vectors
 - Add version check to ReadXMLFile
 - Add base file name getter to API


---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.0.3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.0.3)

2015-01-23

OpenVSP 3.0.3 includes a handful of bug fixes and small improvements to
the 3.0 series.  Versions 3.0.1 and 3.0.2 included quick fixes for urgent
last minute bugs -- but they did not include a complete release note.

API Users Note:
The calling arguments in four functions were changed: CutXSec, CopyXSec,
PasteXSec, and InsertXSec.  See Wiki for details.

Improvements since 3.0.0 include:
 - Extend API to allow changing Wing Driver Groups
 - Add VSPExit to API to return exit value to host batch environment
 - Add DegenGeom to API / Scripting
 - API now references Cut/Copy/Past/Insert XSec to Geom not XSecSurf

Bug fixes since 3.0.0 include:
 - Fix crash caused by dynamic Parm GUIs and undo-friendly sliders (3.0.1)
 - Fix crash when mixing 4-digit airfoils with other XSec types (3.0.2)
 - Fix ability for API to find parameters in XSecSurfs (3.0.2)
 - Fix update of FractionParms in FuselageGeom
 - Fix updates of Wing Geom through API, Design GUI, Links, or FitModel
 - Fix handling JPEG image skew for non multiple of 4 pixel widths
 - Fix JPEG background scaling behavior to maintain image aspect ratio
 - Fix problem with Python wrapper build on Windows


---


# [Bump version to 3.0.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.0.2)

2015-01-06

Release new version with a couple of quick fixes.


---


# [Bump version to 3.0.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.0.1)

2015-01-06



---


# [OpenVSP Version 3.0.0!](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_3.0.0)

2015-01-03

Version 3.0.0 compared to version 2.3.0 includes too many changes and
improvements to list.  OpenVSP v3 is a near total re-write that has
been three years in the works.  Many thanks to the entire core OpenVSP
team.  This is what you've all been waiting for!

Since 2.9.7, version 3.0.0 has a handful of small fixes and features,
and one major new feature that has long been in development.

Improvements include:
 - Fit Model tool to perform least squares fit of VSP model to points
 - Point Cloud Geoms to support Fit Model
 - Import of point clouds as well as conversion from MeshGeom
 - Improved Undo, where slider actions are not recorded
 - SubSurface support in API
 - Improvements to advanced parameter linking.


---


# [Bump version to 2.9.8 as prelude to 3.0.0.](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.9.8)

2015-01-03

Otherwise identical to 3.0.0, 2.9.8 exists to serve anyone who may have
some sort of issue with the major version number change.


---


# [OpenVSP 2.9.7 fifth Beta for version 3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.9.7)

2014-12-11

This version includes some nice improvements, but also a bunch of small
bug fixes that have been preventing people from getting work done.  If
you've been hitting these, you'll certainly want to update.

Improvements include:
 - Issue error when you try to set secondary & primary sweep location equal
 - New NACA 4-Digit airfoil code, much improved representation of shape
 - Custom components now support scaling
 - Custom components now support default sources
 - Custom components now support set center of rotation
 - Custom components now support surface type flag setting
 - Can now edit name, group, description of user parameters

Bug fixes include:
 - Fix scripting on Linux - scripting, custom components, advanced links
 - Improve robustness of triangle splitting (CompGeom, DegenGeom, etc)
 - Use strict IEEE FP on Windows for Triangle, fix crashes in CompGeom
 - Initialize strings to \0, fix DegenGeom crash on Windows
 - Advanced parameter links force update on compile
 - Prevent AWave slice angle from going to 0 (Mach=infinity).
 - Set file name when opening files from command line.  Thanks Jim.
 - Remove assumption on # of user parms.  Thanks Erik.


---


# [OpenVSP 2.9.6 fourth Beta for version 3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.9.6)

2014-10-29

This version includes more small fixes and feature refinements as we inch
closer to version 3.0.

Improvements include:
 - Symmetry about ancestor's coordinate system
 - Default Source support for CFDMesh
 - Rearrange Geom Browser tab to show larger geom trees
 - Added Delete, Set Show/NoShow/ShowOnly, and surface None buttons
 - Expand custom geom #include statements and save with geom
 - Added GetCustomXSecLoc/Rot and GDEV_SCROLL_TAB

Bug fixes include:
 - Numerous surface parameter [0,1] bugs that could cause crashes.
 - Consistent triangle orientation for NASCART import/export
 - Fix skinning bugs & tweak GUI
 - Fix wing scaling


---


# [OpenVSP 2.9.5 third Beta for version 3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.9.5)

2014-10-07

This version includes a large number of changes both features and fixes.
Some of these fixes took longer than expected -- and one of the features
is pretty big, so this release took much longer than anticipated.  Look
for subsequent releases to be smaller and more frequent as the bugs are
chased out.

Warning:  One bug fix required an incompatible change in how skinning is
calculated.  If you have used a Fuselage or Stack component with skinning,
you will need to adjust your tangent strengths -- the geometry will be
wrong when you open it.  I am very sorry for this inconvenience.

Note:  The file extension for custom components has been changed from
.as to .vsppart.  Similarly, the file extension for scripting has been
changed from .as to .vspscript.  These changes should prevent future
confusion.

Significant improvements include:
 - Add Advanced Parameter Linking
 - Add STEP file options for compatibility with SolidWorks and Pointwise
 - Add multi-solid STL file options for tagged meshes to Pointwise
 - Add command-line script mode
 - Add no-graphics vspscript executable
 - Add Adjustable center of rotation for Wings
 - Add 'Loop' mode for Stack components

Notable bug fixes include:
 - Major redesign of how CFDMesh handles underlying surface fixing bugs
 - CFDMesh GUI Source and Wake geom handling
 - Saving Wake and Far Field settings for CFDMesh
 - Scaling of Custom Components
 - Zero chord wing crashes
 - DegenGeom and wing cap crashes
 - CFDMesh source crashes
 - Small errors in DegenGeom files noticed by Erik Olson
 - Fixed lots more bugs


---


# [OpenVSP 2.9.4 second Beta for version 3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.9.4)

2014-08-19

This version includes a whole host of small bug fixes and tweaks over
2.9.3.


---


# [OpenVSP 2.9.3 first Beta for version 3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.9.3)

2014-08-14

This version has pretty much all the features that are targeting 3.0.0 and
should be getting close to a generally usable state.  It still has some
rough edges, but is getting much closer.

Significant improvements include:
 - Run scripts from command line and/or GUI
 - Expansion of Custom Component capabilities
 - Fuselage XSec ordering policies -- better support for nacelles.
 - Closed wing end-caps
 - STEP file output
 - Material editor
 - Feature detection for CFDMesh
 - Feature visualization
 - Lots of GUI usability improvements
 - New secondary sweep wing driver
 - Lots of bug fixes.


---


# [OpenVSP 2.9.2, third public alpha for version 3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.9.2)

2014-07-27

Long in coming, but worth the wait.  This third alpha has many and vast
improvements from 2.9.1.  While there are still bugs and small feature
holes, all the major features are in there.  This is getting close to what
3.0.0 will be.

Major improvements include:
 - Degenerate geometry support to enable low-order analysis tools.
 - Fuselage and stack component skinning
 - View clipping
 - Subsurface visualization and polishing
 - Active XSec highlighting & view
 - Saving CFDMesh settings
 - Custom geometry improvements
 - Start of advanced parameter linking
 - Fix wing sweep/twist interaction, fix dihedral implementation
 - Fix problems with JPEG files

The 2.9 series will be the alpha and beta versions leading to 3.0.0, which
will be the first production release for this branch.


---


# [OpenVSP 2.9.1, second public alpha for version 3.](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.9.1)

2014-05-28

Long overdue, this second alpha has tons of changes from 2.9.0.  This
version still has lots of bugs and missing features, but it should be a
dramatic improvement -- or at least a much better preview of 3.0.0.

Major improvements include:
 - Subsurfaces
 - Custom Components
 - Greatly expanded API
 - Preliminary Wing and Stack Geom types
 - Airfoils and other XSec types implemented
 - Pick Geom (p) and Pick rotation (r) modes
 - Rulers, materials, and lighting
 - Lots of bug fixes

The 2.9 series will be the alpha and beta versions leading to 3.0.0, which
will be the first production release for this branch.


---


# [OpenVSP 2.9.0, first public alpha for version 3.](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.9.0)

2014-02-12

For the past two years, a dedicated team has been re-writing VSP from
the ground up.  This is the first public release from that effort.

The core v3 team responsible for this work so far is:
Alex Gary, J.R. Gloudemans, Yue Han, David Marshall, and Rob McDonald

The 2.9 series will be the alpha and beta versions leading to 3.0.0, which
will be the first production release for this branch.

Unfortunately, this development was done in a way that the development
history is not a meaningful continuation of the 2.X history.  Consequently,
this commit starts a new history from the beginning.  Do not try to work
across the branches, no good can result.


---


# [Bump version to 2.3.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.3.0)

2013-12-10

Version 2.3.0 contains one significant feature and a small bug fix.
Version 2.3.0 is likely the last 2.X feature release for VSP.  We will
continue making 2.3.Y bug fix releases for a long time.

For some time, almost all developer effort has been focused on the pending
3.X project.  VSP v3 is a near total rewrite keeping everything you love
about VSP, but ushering in new features galore and a more maintainable
code base.  We hope to release a not-for-production-use alpha version of
v3 for users to begin testing soon.

Fixes/features in this release:
 - Add ability to model outer domain boundary in CFD Mesh.
 - Match multi-body edge shares in CFD Mesh.  (Thanks Sriram R.)

You can now generate a CFD Mesh including the outer boundary.  Some volume
grid generators need to start with a fully enclosed mesh, so we now support
that mode of operation.  The outer boundary can be either an explicit VSP
component or a box generated for you.  You can model the full domain, or
just the +Y half domain -- VSP will mesh the symmetry plane for you.  There
are separate mesh size controls which apply to the outer boundary.

In CompGeom, VSP tries to match pairs of non watertight geometries to form
a single watergith geometry.  In CFD Mesh, VSP tries to pair and stitch
any perfectly coincident boundary edges.  In cases where there were three
or more components that daisy chained together, VSP do this incorrectly.
With this bug fix, you can now daisy chain an arbitrary number of
components to form a watertight body -- so long as the boundaries match
exactly.


---


# [Bump version to 2.2.5](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.2.5)

2013-09-24

Version 2.2.5 contains a collection of bug fixes and small features.  Some
of the features look like bug fixes -- and some of the fixes look like
small features.

Fixes/features in this release:
 - Save CFD export options
 - Automatically add *.vsp extension when saving
 - Add *.ram files to file-open dialog.
 - Write propellers to XSec *.hrm files
 - Fixed PovRay *.inc file bug
 - Fix FEA elements not getting written
 - Fix 64-bit GLFont support and embed font in executable
 - Fix parameter linking and design files for propeller


---


# [Bump version to 2.2.4](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.2.4)

2013-06-14

Version 2.2.4 contains a collection of bug fixes that improve the CFD
mesher.  Various users have run into these problems, so if you use
CFDMesh, you should certainly upgrade.

Bug fixes in this release:
 - Guarantee attachment of wakes to constructing edge
 - Relax tolerance to better match wakes down body splits
 - Rewrite curve tessellation integration for quality in extreme cases
 - Introduce curve split sources for mesh quality near intersections
 - Size curve distance table to match underlying topology

The wake changes should help guarantee mesh topology when wakes are turned
on.  There were certain cases that could arise where a wake would not
properly attach to the generating trailing edge, or the edge of a body
that aligned with the wake.  Both of these situations should be improved.

The rest of the changes affect the quality of the tessellation along
intersection and border curves.  The VSP mesher first lays out the curves,
and then the surface mesh is generated without changing the curve points.
Consequently, poor quality curve tessellation means a poor quality surface
mesh.  If you have experienced strange unexplained mesh quality problems,
these fixes should help.


---


# [Bump version to 2.2.3](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.2.3)

2013-04-10

Version 2.2.3 contains a triplet of small bug fixes that have bitten
some users.  I have been putting these off waiting for an upcoming
feature release, but now seems to be the time to get these out there.

Bug fixes in this release:
 - Threaded version check
 - Fix CG contribution of point mass components
 - Fix CFDMesh half models when a surface is actually cut

Placing the version check in its own thread allows VSP execution to
continue during the version check.  This is significant for situations
where the computer has internet connectivity, but the VSP web server is
experiencing problems.  The HTTP library used by VSP does not let you
change the timeout from 60 seconds, so in these situations, VSP paused
for 60 seconds on startup.

The CG contribution of point mass components was calculated using their
local translation -- ignoring the translation of any components they were
attached to.  This fix makes their contribution use their actual global
x,y,z position.

When the half model option is selected for CFDMesh, VSP makes two passes at
eliminating geometry in the -Y domain.  First, before any meshing occurs,
surfaces which fully lie in that domain are eliminated.  Then, the
remaining surfaces are sliced by a Y=0 plane.  That intersection line is
obeyed by the mesher, and any triangles whose center point lies in the
wrong domain are eliminated after mesh generation (when interior triangles
are culled).

The second process needs the cutting plane to be a fully-fledged plane,
including a curvature based target map.  Prior testing had only exercised
the first code path (which could complete with an incomplete cutting plane).
This bug basically amounted to some null pointer dereferences and improper
allocation/setup for the cutting plane.


---


# [Bump version to 2.2.2](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.2.2)

2013-02-18

Version 2.2.2 has been a long time coming.  I have been waiting on a few
features to make a 2.3.0 release, but finally decided it was better to get
these fixes out sooner than later.

The mesh growth limiting step of CFDMesh 'Build Target Mesh' has been
totally re-written.  This new version should be _vastly_ faster for just
about anyone out there.  The new BTM algorithm follows the surface
topology rather than doing a full spatial search.  For the rare cases
where a full spatial search is still required, there is an optional flag
to enable it.  Even that mode should still be much faster than before.

Bug fixes in this release:
 - Don't close already closed file in readVspAirfoil (Linux crash)
 - Fix MS_Wing chord update on scale
 - Fix warnings on various compilers
 - Update example files to silence warnings on load


---


# [Bump version to 2.2.1](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.2.1)

2012-12-06

Version 2.2.1 contains a number of small bug fixes.  One of thes fixes is
particularly important -- everyone should upgrade.

The nastiest bug caused components added from the 'external' default
component set to have the ID number of that component.  If multiple such
components were added, this could cause duplicate IDs in the model.  IDs
are expected to be unique, so this causes significant problems.

The external BWB defaults that ship with VSP include a MS_Wing component
with ID 42078344.  This is the most likely number to be duplicated.

If your model has duplicate IDs, you may see strange behavior including
problems with parent/child relationships, parameter linking, and wetted
area/volume totals from CompGeom.

In addition to a fix to prevent this from happening, a check for duplicate
IDs has been added to VSP.  If you open a model with duplicate IDs, a warning
message will be printed to the console and new IDs will be created for your
model.  Unfortunately, this may cause some parent/child and parameter links
to be broken.  If you see this message, check your model carefully.

Bug fixes in this release:
 - Bug when editing a propeller that could crash VSP
 - Parameter linked fuselage variables could mysteriously take wrong values
 - Components created from 'external' default components could have duplicate IDs


---


# [Bump version to 2.2.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.2.0)

2012-09-13

Version 2.2.0 includes many features and improvements in all corners of
the program.  There should be something here for everyone, so go ahead
and upgrade.

My favorite feature is the 'r' key.  Place the mouse over the model and
press 'r' to change the center of rotation.

Many users will appreciate that we can now read both of the file formats
used in the UIUC airfoil database.  Please let us know if you find any
airfoil files in the database that you can't read.

Users doing trade or optimization studies will want to check out the
design and XDDM support.  These features should make it very easy to
use VSP in your next design study.

In addition, there were a whole host of small fixes and improvements.
Some of these bugs were long standing and quite annoying -- it is great
to see them gone.

Major features of this version include:
 - User interface improvements
    Add axis orientation arrows
    Center view menu option (or c key)
    Set center of rotation (r key)
    Added help menu for mouse/key usage
 - Read Lednicer airfoil files from UIUC database
    (in addition to Selig and VSP format airfoil files)
 - Add support for design files to facilitate trade/optimization studies
 - Add support for Cart3D Optimization Framework XDDM files
 - Wake improvements
    Visualize wake
    Write wakes to separate solid in STL files
    Separately tag wake components in TRI files
    Orient wake normals consistently

Bug fixes and minor features include:
 - Calculate viewpoints and add them to X3D files
 - Fix angle calculation for co-linear vectors
 - Make component ID's persistent
 - Increase wake tag increment from 100 to 10000
 - Increase precision in XSec files
 - Fix rounded-tip flap/slat bug
    (https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/issues/11)
 - Prevent CFDMesh from adding lots of tiny triangles when short edges
    are forced by surface topology
 - Change 'Twist' label to 'WashOut' to better indicate sign convention
 - Use fast nearest neighbors to merge duplicate nodes
 - Expand propeller cone angle limits
 - Add test for Vorlax to prevent entry to VorView menu
 - Fix fuselage edit cross section bug
    (https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/issues/8)
 - Sane defaults for user views
 - Fix MSWing blended cross section bug
 - Increase file load speed by replacing dyn_array with deque in ms_wing


---


# [Bump version to 2.1.0](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.1.0)

2012-07-02

Major features of this version include:
 - CBAero Wake modeling
 - Curvature based meshing
 - Re-worked CFD mesh GUI
 - X3D file output
 - Online version check

Bug fixes and minor features include:
 - Scale wing area by linear dimension instead of area
 - Don't write commas in Cart3D files
 - Batch mode mass properties calculation


---


# [Bump version to 2.0.3.](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.0.3)

2012-02-22



---


# [Bump version to 2.0.2.](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.0.2)

2012-02-21



---


# [Bump version to 2.0.1.](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.0.1)

2012-02-02



---


# [Add community web site to About box.](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.0_Community)

2012-01-10



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# [Official initial release of OpenVSP.](https://github.com/OpenVSP/OpenVSP/releases/tag/OpenVSP_2.0.0)

2012-01-10



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