k3d

Release Notes 2.9.0

Changes since 2.8.0

Features

• Added internal Architecture toolkit with parametric elements:
  • Wall, Slab, Stair, Add Hole, Window Frame, Door Frame.
• Added dedicated Architecture toolbar and Architecture Settings panel for defaults and per-element parameter editing.
• Internalized Polyline and Double Line tools (migrated from external Groovy plugin to Kotlin).
• Added internal Polyline Settings panel (command palette: View> Polyline Settings) with:
  • arc resolution by max segment length,
  • double-line size,
  • double-line offset.
• Added Face Outline tool (build outlines from selected faces).
• Added Line Offset tool (offset selected line chains and build connecting faces).
• Added Cut Out 3 cutting pipeline and exposed it as Cutout button.
• Added Construction Line tool (single segment placement, tool stays active).
• Added Export> SVG (View) command (camera-view vector export path).

• Added Edit> Cut Rect Hole command.

• Added voxel modeling core:
  • new voxel-group object kind with internal voxel store,
  • voxel group explode support (Ctrl+Shift+G) to static faces/lines,
  • per-voxel selection and operations in voxel mode.
• Added voxel tools:
  • Voxel (single placement),
  • Voxel Volume (fill box by 2 corners),
  • Voxel Frame (box edges only by 2 corners).
• Added Edit> New Voxel Group command.
• Added Edit> Voxelize Faces command and Voxelize Faces toolbar action.
• Added auto-create behavior: voxel tools create and enter a voxel group if none is active.

Improvements

• Architecture editing workflow improvements:
  • architecture parameters are editable from selected architecture element/group context (no forced in-group editing for parameter changes),
  • wall/slab/stair/frame colors and defaults exposed in panel controls.
• Wall generation improvements:
  • improved wall-to-wall joining for slanted walls in full 3D (not only at ground projection),
  • improved clipping behavior at joins and better continuity of upper edges.
• Stair generator overhaul:
  • stair creation from contour polyline + open tread polyline,
  • per-step orientation follows segmented tread path,
  • automatic collapse to triangular step section when side lines intersect before contour hit,
  • support ribbon/backface generation refined for first/last step behavior,
  • optional left/right stair rail grids with panel toggles.
• Frame generation improvements:
  • window/door frame construction aligned to picked construction plane (not only ground plane).
• Refactored built-in tool UI into floating grouped toolbars:
  • Construction, Modification, Voxel, Actions.
• Toolbar UX polish:
  • icon-only buttons,
  • delayed hover popover labels,
  • active-tool marker dot overlay,
  • horizontal button layout,
  • top-left initial placement,
  • wrapping to next row on resize,
  • persisted toolbar positions.
• Voxelize Faces action moved to the Voxel toolbar and mapped to the dedicated voxelize icon from assets/icons.mapping.csv.
• Improved measurement overlay for line-like tools:
  • unified dimensioned line rendering,
  • length + relative coordinates display,
  • improved orientation/flip behavior for reversed screen angles.
• Improved explode performance path for voxel groups:
  • reduced transfer overhead,
  • status feedback shown before heavy explode operation.
• Selection workflow improvements:
  • Alt forces 2D window selection and skips direct picking.
• Group workflow improvements:
  • grouping replaces current selection with new group instance,
  • ungroup replaces selection with resulting exploded entities.
• Scale tool improvements:
  • preserves axis/plane-constrained behavior (X, Y, Z, XOY, XOZ, YOZ),
  • signed component scaling enabled (mirror-capable),
  • zero-crossing guard (|scale| >= 0.1) to prevent unstable blowups.
• Line workflow updates:
  • Line now creates edges only (no auto face fill),
  • Enter finalizes line chain, Esc exits to Select.
• Polyline/double-line meshing improvements:
  • contiguous contour behavior,
  • ribbon-style meshing for paired double-line rails.

Fixes

• Fixed stair support/side face orientation issues (winding/normal corrections).
• Fixed last-step stair support closure to avoid open support skirt.
• Fixed stair rail placement to use offsets above step top edges.
• Fixed wall hole orientation on joined walls to stay face-perpendicular instead of drifting with join bisector.
• Fixed multiple polyline/double-line commit/finalization issues where geometry was not reliably added to model.
• Fixed missing final closing segment behavior in polyline/double-line closure cases.
• Fixed double-line runtime crashes around finalize/close path.
• Fixed plugin/runtime integration issues from legacy polyline Groovy script and removed legacy plugin source.
• Fixed plugin panel collapse behavior (title bar anchor no longer “drops downward” on collapse).
• Fixed UI focus/input routing:
  • typing in panel text/number fields no longer leaks keystrokes to canvas tools.
• Fixed canvas key regression:
  • Esc (clear/cancel) and Delete (delete selection) restored reliably.
• Fixed Ctrl+N numeric popup robustness:
  • reliable reopening,
  • stable lifecycle,
  • positioned near cursor and clamped to viewport.
• Fixed voxel cube winding/backface orientation (normals now oriented correctly).
• Fixed toolbar sizing/alignment startup issues (snug size + proper initial layout).
• Fixed icon mismatch for voxel actions by using mapped voxel icon set.

Architecture Tools Changelog (Detailed)

• Wall:
  • chained wall construction and in-place rebuild on parameter edits,
  • improved slanted wall join clipping in 3D,
  • improved consistency of top-edge intersections at joins.
• Add Hole:
  • restricted to compatible wall architecture groups,
  • selected-wall targeting when available, nearest-wall fallback otherwise,
  • improved hole-side orientation on joined/slanted wall contexts.
• Stair:
  • switched to contour+thread polyline definition (closed contour + open thread),
  • step orientation derived from segmented thread path,
  • triangular-step fallback when side intersection occurs before contour,
  • support ribbon and backface logic refined (first/last-step handling),
  • optional left/right rail grids controlled from Architecture Settings,
  • rail lines generated at +1/+2/+3/+4 units above each step top edge.
• Window Frame / Door Frame:
  • frame generation aligned to picked plane,
  • depth/width/color controlled from architecture settings.
• Architecture Settings panel:
  • defaults persist for new architecture construction,
  • selected element parameters shown and editable directly from panel context.

Removed / Changed Behavior

• Removed legacy scripts/polyline.groovy plugin path from active workflow.
• Removed unused Eraser placeholder tool.
• Kept Cut Holes and Cut Holes 2 as command-driven (not toolbar buttons).

Documentation Updates

• Updated docs/USER_MANUAL.md with detailed usage for:
  • architecture tools brief and full tool-by-tool chapter,
  • wall/slab/stair/hole/frame workflows and architecture panel editing model,
  • stair rail-grid options and contour+thread stair definition,
  • floating toolbars and interaction model,
  • voxel selection semantics and workflows,
  • voxel tools (Voxel, Voxel Volume, Voxel Frame),
  • Voxelize Faces,
  • explode voxel-group workflow.
• Updated shortcuts and behavior references for focus-aware input and current tool key flows.
• Release notes reorganized by Features, Improvements, and Fixes, ordered by impact.

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