Stardraw Design 7 offers more versatility to system integrators

The modular package enables system integrators to custom configure the software to suit their particular specifications and budget.

Using a new codebase, Stardraw Design 7 accesses a single project- and product-centric database, accessible via task-oriented drawing environments such as 'Block Schematics' and 'Rack Layouts' in addition to a new grid-based product selector, so that each environment is simply a 'view' of the central project database that contains all of the data relating to the project – a change in one environment ripples through to all of the others. Furthermore, a new feature in Design 7 enables products that are not being used in the current drawing for ensuring nothing is overlooked during the building of racks or design of the system schematic. Other improved features include fully integrated project reporting, compatibility with the latest versions of AutoCAD (R12 — 2010) and Visio, a built-in PDF-generator and a Product Wizard for creating a product with all of its associated symbols and data.

In order to communicate with third party hardware, device drivers are required and new drivers are needed for new or previously unsupported products. Stardraw Control includes a number of tools including a Driver Wizard to help people to write their own drivers, but in situations where users don't have the time or skills to create their own, Stardraw.com now offers the Driver Request Forum. The free service is available to all registered Stardraw Control users.

Meanwhile, Stardraw.com has announced a further level of integration with IT devices in the form of System Events for Stardraw Control 2010. The control system can react to anything that is recognised as a System Event on the host PC, such as 'Resume from Standby', 'Virtual Memory Low', 'Email Received', 'Network Cable Unplugged', 'Logon', 'Shutdown' and such like. The control software can be programmed to instigate any other action such as send an alert or perform any device function when any particular system event is detected.

Shipping: Q4

Web: www.stardraw.com