HELIOS 3D New Version 2026.0.1.3
New: In the electrical structure tree, for inverters with defined connection schemes (e.g., Huawei SUN2000 330KTL), "Scheme" is now displayed after the assigned connections if the strings on this device have been connected using a predefined scheme.
New: In the device list of manual electrics, for inverters with defined connection schemes (e.g., Huawei SUN2000 330KTL), "Scheme" is now displayed after the assigned connections if the strings on this device have been connected using a predefined scheme.
New: During automatic placement of inverters in manual electrics, the balancing dialog is now displayed after placement if applicable. This dialog can also be accessed via a new button in the toolbar.
New: Additional attributes for project data, table statistics, fences, and roads have been added via the placement statistics:
- Project number/name and drawing number/description are listed as project nodes in the Total view section.
- Attributes for tables have been extended by a two-level counter for both, the selection view and the total view. The first counter is for the table definition, and the second for the requirement type. This allows custom attributes to be created per table variant and also per requirement type, depending on whether you want to count the same table definition only as such or separately per requirement type.
- Fences and roads have also been given a counter inside the total view so that, among other things, name, length and area per object can be listed in a block.New: The grading dialog now additionally shows a context menu with the commands from the toolbar that are useful there.
New: When starting a drawing, a check is now performed for invalid table insertions. If such tables are found, a message is displayed, and these tables are marked with a red cross.
These tables are shown on the statistics page. There is also a new toolbar switch to call up this check again at any time. By double-clicking on a table, it will be zoomed in. The context menu offers various delete commands.- Change: The behavior of table placement with a start point adjustment line has been revised. The algorithm has been simplified, and the option has been added to place array groups away from a street when using a start point adjustment line with the option "Align only row startpoint". *
Due to this change, it may be necessary to adjust the options "Align only row startpoint" or "Align each array" in order to reproduce previous allocations. However, the modifications should fix allocation errors while at the same time providing more flexibility. Change: The shadow calculation settings of the following functions are now saved in the respective DWG:
- Shadow projection of shadow objects onto the terrain
- Alternative shadows of the tables
- Shadow visualization on modules.Change: If multiple records are preselected when starting the project or article export, they are now all checked for export.
HELIOS 3D New Version 2026.0.1.2
New: For module markers within the analysis, a new option has been added that colors the modules based on the maximum distance from their rear edge to the ground, in order to visualize conflicts with the maximum permitted overbuild height. The module markers can now also be restricted to either the foremost or rearmost module row.
New: A new Excel list can now be generated under “Output” that provides an overview of cable runs (strings to a target device and between devices). This list is intended to replace the old cable report.
New: A “Requirement Type” column has been added to the table overview in the bill of materials.
HELIOS 3D New Version 2026.0.1.2
New: Snapshot functions have been added to the Placement tab of the ribbon to permanently insert the temporary markers for gaps in table placement due to placements conflicts into the drawing.
New: The shadow display on modules in the Tools area can now also be permanently inserted into the DWG via a snapshot. However, there is no separate snapshot button in the Tools module.
New: Manual table placement can now also be accessed via the context menu of an inserted table. Only a single table object may be selected, which will then be preset as the reference table.
New: The string generator now displays a help tooltip for the currently selected string variant, showing which click options are available.
New: The Excel exports under "Output" have been extended:
Placement Statistics: A separate command now also adds table entries to the field page, not just the row statistics.
Electrical Structure: An overview page showing the used articles has been added.New: Two new efficient module-to-DTM analysis modes for table layouts:
:"Just analyze lowermost module row" (minimum distance only on bottom row)
:"Just analyze rearmost module row" (maximum distance only on top/rear row)
Both modes are toggleable via checkboxes in the existing Marker Analysis dialog.Change: Every use of a snapshot function (create/delete) now takes into account all objects, regardless of whether they originate from table placement, analysis markers, or electrical components.
Change: When the table configuration of a requirement type area is modified from its definition, the previous bold formatting was unclear. Now, only the table name and either the module selection and/or the number of posts are shown in bold — never the entire row.
Change: When creating a new string definition, the string generator now tries to load the module layout and module definition from the most powerful table placed in the drawing. If this fails, it will use the most powerful table from all requirement type areas.
Previously, a default module layout was always used and no module was initialized.Change: Project and article exports now ensure that the XML file is always saved with the .xml file extension.
HELIOS 3D New Version 2026.0.1.0
*** Now Autodesk Civil 3D 2026 is supported. ***
New: Leapfrog strings can now also be created as custom strings in the String Generator and distributed using the automatic placement feature.
New: When using manual electrical design and selecting an inverter node with predefined connection schemas, those schemas will be used when connecting strings, provided the inverter has no connected strings yet
and the selected number of strings matches a schema.New: In manual electrical design, there are 2 new buttons in the toolbar. With these two new functions, you can assign strings to specific cable trenches or remove such assignments.
New: The Excel output list for the electrical structure has been extended with new values (total input cable length per device, modules per string, string input numbers, total cable lengths in the DC section extended to include positive, negative, and in between cables).
Change: In the electrical structure tree, the numbering from the drawing is now displayed for strings / collectors / inverters / transformers.
HELIOS 3D New Version 2025.0.1.4
New: During electrical placement, no message is now displayed if tables exist that have not been assigned a string definition. Instead, only the tables with a string assignment receive strings.
Change: Some checks / messages when using manual electrical mode have been removed.
HELIOS 3D New Version 2025.0.1.3
- New: In the electric settings, you can now set that all strings parts should show the label with string numbers and if the label should be centered to a string part, instead of showing at the plus node.
- New: In AutoCAD, the "Module" page that includes the call of Project Management in the Helios3D ribbon can now always be accessed, even if no drawing is open.
- New: When placing arrays using row start points (e.g., after using the "Freeze" command), if two start points are detected as being too close together, you will be prompted to delete one of them.
- New: Device areas and device hierarchies can now be edited even if they are already in use.
- New: In manual electrical design, all devices/MPPTs now display their inputs, allowing direct connection to a specific input.
- New: In manual electrical design, each node now has a context menu that allows devices/strings to be attached or detached from a specific input.
- New: In manual electrical design, individual strings of an array can now be deleted and redrawn without having to remove and redraw an entire group of strings.
- New: In manual electrical design, strings/devices can now be moved across multiple inputs/MPPTs using drag & drop with the mouse. You can drop the selected item, when the target node turns bold.
- New: In manual electrical design, inverters with multiple MPPTs can now be replaced. Previously, this was only possible for devices without MPPTs.
- New: All devices now display their input numbers in the electrical structure tree and in manual electrical design using the format *"PVxx"* at the beginning of the label.
- New: When drawing strings in manual electrical design, visual feedback is now provided regarding string length and string voltage.
- New: In the string editor, pan/zoom and module selection for voltage calculation are now allowed, even if the string definition is already in use.
- New: In the item master, inverters with predefined connection schemes can now be configured for any number of connectable strings in the dialog.
- New: In the balancing dialog for electrical layout, inverters with multiple MPPTs are now assigned in a balanced manner. Free inputs are distributed evenly across all MPPTs, starting from the last MPPT.
- New: In the balancing dialog for electrical layout, connection schemes stored for inverters in the item master are now evaluated and applied based on the number of connectable strings.
HELIOS 3D New Version 2025.0.1.2
- New: New dialog for creating/editing selection sets. It is now possible to determine directly via string length/device input settings how the strings fit onto the selected tables.
- New: Results can now be inserted into the drawing as an SLD (Single Line Diagram) via the electrical structure tree.
- New: A new column has been added to the statistics page. It lists the names of the attributes that can be replaced with the values from the second column using the new "Assign Attributes" function.
- New: New toolbar on the statistics page. Added "Assign Attributes" and "Excel export" functions.
- New: New function for populating the attributes of a block with the values from the statistics page for table placement. All values currently displayed on the statistics page can be matched with the corresponding attribute names.
- New: New context menu entry "Insert attributes" on the statistics page. This allows only the attributes of the selected node and all its subnodes to be matched. For example, specific table data can be reconciled.
- New: The new prototype drawing "Helios 3D 2024 - Template ENU.dwg" includes corrected table style settings that previously led to poor representations of automatically generated tables.
HELIOS 3D New Version 2025.0.1.0
Read the full description
- New: In the project management, individual DWGs can now be checked out (and later checked back in) from the list of drawings. This is useful when working from home, as large drawings can then be edited locally.
Other users can only open checked-out drawings in read-only mode. - New: The component management now includes an export and import feature, allowing any article data to be exchanged between different databases via XML file.
- New: The project management now includes a new export and import feature, enabling the exchange of any project data between different databases via XML file.
The previous import function for project exports from older versions can still be used. To do this, hold down the Ctrl key when selecting the import function. - Change: When copying projects, "- Copy (s)" is now appended to the project number if the "Generate project numbers automatically" setting is not active.
- Change: When copying projects in project management, all files and directories within the project directory are now also copied.
- Change: The old bill of materials (parts list) as a report has been removed and replaced with a direct Excel export. This option is available in the multifunction menu of the Helios 3D palette under "Output."
HELIOS 3D Update 2024.0.1.8
- New: Strings of different lengths are now connected to different devices/MPPTs.
- New: The number of modules is now displayed after the string number in the electrical structure tree.
HELIOS 3D Update 2024.0.1.7 Release !
- New: Significant improvement when working from home via VPN. The first start of a drawing now loads all database entries and caches them temporarily. This should make work much faster.
- New: Civil3D can now also be started directly via a desktop shortcut that includes the Helios3D profile without having to start the Helios3D database application first. All drawings that are entered in the database can then be opened directly via AutoCAD.
- New: The project and component management can now be called up on the new “Modules” ribbon page. All drawings can be opened in the project management.
- New: The PV tables can now be displayed in different versions as 2D polylines. In addition to the previous “Module area” version, the “Substructure area” can now also be displayed. Also new is the option to display all modules individually.
HELIOS 3D launched the new website with best user experience and a Blog.
HELIOS 3D Update 2024.0.1.6 Release !
DWG file compatibility in Helios 3D: DWG files saved with Helios 3D version 2024.0.1.6 can no longer be opened and changed in older Helios release versions. It is recommended to create a copy of the drawing before continuing to work with the new patch version!
Old versions may be able to continue working, if all requirement types are renamed and all fields and requirement type zones are clicked once, so that the assignment between the elements is updated.
New PV table placements might lead to different layouts:
The layout may be changed if a value was set for the following functions in existing drawings but deactivated by removing the check mark (hook): Minimum row distance, array distance, overhang at the end of the row.
Project Export:
The export of projects is no longer possible and will be completely removed shortly. DWGs can be transferred directly and imported into any project in another database using drag & drop.
Article data must then be transferred from the DWG file to the database.
- New: If the "Electrical structure tree" page is active on the palette, clicking on a single string number label in the drawing displays and selects the corresponding node in the tree and shows the cable ways in the drawing.
- New: If you click on a PV table entry in the placement structure tree, it is also highlighted in the drawing.
- New: A different module can now be assigned to each table in the table list under request types, provided the length, width and thickness are identical to the module from the array generator. A changed module is displayed in bold,
The standard module from the table generator is marked with an '*' at the front and back. It is therefore no longer necessary to create a new table for each module.
- New: The table height from the array generator can now be overwritten in the field placement parameters. It is therefore no longer necessary to create a new table for each table height.
- New: In the electrical structure, strings that are not directly connected are now listed in an extra node.
- Precise Local Grading:
Utilizes high-precision local grading
Under each solar rack, reducing earthwork and optimizing resource use, with user-defined tolerances for "Cut" and "Fill".
- Electrics now handles string inverters with multiple MPPTs and checks for overload Read more about: Multiple MPPT support
- Swap cables to adjust you losses to the loss limits you defined. See immediately „What if“ when you change cross sections. Read more about: Swap cables to meet loss limits
- Use Y-connectors supported to facilitate parallel connections of solar strings for versatile design options. Read more about: Y-Connectors
- Extended Excel export for all HELIOS data available.
Enhanced sheet for electric export and statistics
- New VR-Viewer
The newly developed VR viewer is integrated now in HELIOS 3D. Ready to analyze your project or create great presentations.