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      Release notes - April 2025

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      Release summary

      We're excited to announce the latest update to Chalkstring, featuring several improvements requested by you, our wonderful users. This release focuses on enhancing your estimating workflow and improving navigation throughout the application. 

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      New features

      Default Product Appearance Settings in Rate Build Up 

      • Set default takeoff colours and appearances for products within the rate build up, ensuring consistent product visualization across multiple drawings without repeated configuration.
      • Saves time during takeoff by automatically applying your preferred appearance settings whenever a product is added to a drawing. 
      • Easily identify products in your rate build up with colour indicators matching your default takeoff settings. 
      • For more details, see article 'Default product appearance settings'

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      Xero Export Format Option 

      • New "Export to Xero" button in the Accounts Export area allows you to export invoice batch data in a format compatible with Xero accounting software. 
      • Eliminates the need to manually reformat data before importing into Xero, saving time and reducing errors. 
      • Correctly handles credit notes as negative values, formatted specifically for Xero requirements. 
      • For more details, see article 'How to create an accounts batch/CSV file'

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          Improvements 

          Enhanced Rate Build Up Navigation 

          • Added pagination controls to the top of the product list, allowing you to navigate through large product lists without scrolling to the bottom of the page. 
          • Replaced the delete icon with a clearer "Delete products" button, making it easier to identify and use. 
          • Increased the size of pagination controls for better visibility and ease of use. 

              Resources Icon in Side Menu 

              • Reinstated the Resources icon in the main black side menu, providing quick access to product templates and other resource management features. 
              • Reduces the number of clicks needed to access frequently used Resources area. 
              • Maintains the option to access Resources through the settings menu if preferred.

                  Performance Improvements for Material Bills 

                  • Significant speed improvements when loading and scrolling through material bills, especially for large projects. 
                  • Introduced partial refreshes when scrolling, eliminating the need to reload all visible cells. 
                  • Reduced loading indicators to improve readability while data is loading. 
                  • Note: This feature will initially be enabled for select users and rolled out more widely after the release. 

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                        Questions or Feedback? 

                        If you have any questions about these new features or need assistance, please contact our helpdesk at help@chalkstring.com. 

                        Thank you for your continued support and feedback that helps us improve Chalkstring for your business needs. 

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