Official Release of FDS and Smokeview Version 5

["Kevin McGrattan" <kevin.mcgrattan@nist.gov>]

All

We are officially releasing version 5 of FDS and Smokeview this week after an extensive beta testing period.  Thanks again to all of 
the beta testers who did a tremendous job exercising almost every possible feature of the software.  A list of the beta testers is 
included in the new FDS User's Guide.  If we have left anyone out, please let us know, and also let us know if we have made a 
mistake with your name or organization.

The new FDS/SMV website is the same address as before:   http://fire.nist.gov/fds/

For those Windows users who have participated in the beta test, uninstall old test versions of FDS/SMV before installing the 
official package.  Check that your Start menu does not contain references to old files.  FDS 4 users do not need to uninstall. 
FDS/SMV 5 is being installed in a different directory and will not conflict with the old version.

Throughout the week, we will send out emails to talk about various aspects of the new version.  As you know, the input file format 
has changed significantly for a number of reasons.  There is also a new system of reporting bugs, discussing issues, controlling 
versions, verification, validation, and much more.  For now, we ask that you take a look at the new site, download the new software, 
and start becoming acquainted with our new system.

Thanks

Kevin McGrattan
Glenn Forney
Bryan Klein
Jason Floyd
Simo Hostikka
Timo Korhonen