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A request for help
As we push ahead to try and complete development on LSS v9.80 we wanted to take this opportunity to invite all of our users to sample some of the delights of LSS v9.80. The more people we can get testing the program before we do a run of almost 3,000 program CDs the better it will be for us and, you never know, you might find something that no one else has.

It's a bit cheeky of us to ask, but Microsoft manages to get away with recruiting millions of its customers to trial new operating systems, except with LSS you can express your opinion and you know that it will be listened to and not just ignored. As many of you already know, we do respond to every single call, request and suggestion, even if we are not always able to tweak the program to suit your particular needs. Our pre-release program is called 'LSS Beta' for those who are new to LSS.
Go ahead, please visit www.dtmsoftware.com and follow the 'Downloads' link to start the LSS Beta experience

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"Perfectly Formed"

Initially thought of as a way to create formation level models for machine control equipment, the new command 'Output Surface Boundaries' is so much more than that. Let's explain what it actually does and go from there.

In simple terms, this new command generates a series of points (and links) just inside the outer edge of each nominated surface feature. Then, when you choose 'Output / Survey' you have the option of dropping all points within a surface to the base of that surface, thereby generating the formation model. Of course, this also works for surfaces which have a height. In that case, the points are drawn up to the top of the surface in which they reside.

But more than this, the command itself does other things. It is capable of automatically adding links where none exist on the edge of surfaces. It can also be used just to create parallel offsetted links inside surfaces. In this instance it can be used as a design tool.

There is a tutorial on this subject and is available to download from HERE

Our Mode-jo
Ever since LSS was re-written for Windows the 'Mode' button has sat quietly at the bottom of the screen, gently inviting the user to press it whenever the text turned from grey to black. It allows you to change the way you select items within the graphics area of LSS, such as by mouse, or keyboard, or maybe changing the way LSS gets the level for an observation.

A bit of a shrinking voilet, some LSS users have never even noticed the Mode button and certainly don't use it that often. Well, we have decided to give it a makover and it's become much more extrovert in the process. Now, next to the Mode button is a small box which displays, in the form of icons, the currently selected location and level options. You can click on either button to access Mode. The new graphics are also displayed in the Mode menu itself to make selection quicker and more intuitive. We hope you like the result. And don't forget, 'Mode' is one of the settings available with the right mouse popup.

SDF Profile including level difference
When a pipeline design company became an LSS user they immediately asked us if we were able to show certain additional information on our section plots. They were interested in 'profile' distances, slope values and level differences. Fortunately, it was possible to integrate this into the SDF command structure and now we have a new command 'Profile'. Even if you just use the level difference functionality it should prove really useful in a wide range of situations.

Getting Cross

When we finally fix LSS version 9.80 it will be sent out together with a new Tutorial CD in what is termed a 'Maltese Mailer'. When unfolded it's in the shape of a cross. Please look out for this, it's been designed to stand out!

XCES Exhibition

Last year we decided to attend the XCES exhibition run by the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors. It was held in York in April and was a success, with quite a good visitor footfall. We had supported the 'GEO' series of shows run by PV Publications for several years, but their refusal to move the event around the country to make it accessible to more potential visitors meant that we boycotted it. This year we are again supporting XCES which is at Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey on the 2nd & 3rd March. We'd love to see you there if you can make it. Visit HERE for details and registration.

EIG 2010

The 16th Extractive Industry Geology Conference will be held at Portsmouth University between the 8th and 11th September 2010. This hugely successful series of conferences is always over subscribed, so if you are interested in attending you should visit the conference website at www.eigconference.org Once again we will be exhibiting in the trade area and look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

0845 numbers - a warning
When we set up our 08456 444244 'Lo-Call' number several years ago most of our customers were calling from landlines and most were BT landlines. This meant that calls to us were charged the same as local calls, wherever you were in the UK, so they were as cheap as they could be.

Things have changed somewhat in the intervening years. One thing is that most callers now use mobiles and a large proportion who use landlines may not even be with BT anymore. With Non-Geographic Local Rate numbers now attracting a premium from non-BT lines we would strongly recommend you using our main number from now on which is 01452 864244. We haven't yet worked out who makes money from 0845 numbers. Ours actually costs us money to rent each year! O2 for instance charge 20p per minute to their pay monthly customers and 25p per minute for PAYG customers. Most other mobile providers do the same. The phrase 'Rip off Britain' springs to mind. "It's good to talk - just do it quickly!"

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