What’s New in Revit 2017?

*Preview: full application and features released April, 18th*

Autodesk announced several key new and enhanced features for its flagship Revit software designed to increase software performance and help users better model and communicate design intent. Available starting April 18, 2016, Autodesk Revit 2017 software is the latest version of its software purpose-built for BIM offering an all-in-one solution for architectural, MEP and structural engineering,and construction professionals.   Enhancements in Revit 2017 will help drive more efficient processes within an extended, multi-discipline Building Information Modelling [BIM] workflow.

Work faster: Fasten your seat belt – Revit 2017 is the fastest and best-performing release yet.  New behind-the-scenes optimizations and improvements to more than 100 functions help the software keep up with the most demanding users, even as they work with large, complex models. More operations running with multi-threaded capabilities improve overall software performance by as much as 20%. Revit 2017 also works faster by displaying only the visible elements of a view and not drawing elements that are hidden.The result of this occlusion culling is view refresh and user navigation that is up to 4.5 times faster than before.

Revit 2017 features improve view refresh and navigation performance. Image courtesy of Autodesk.

With multiple improvements and user-requested updates that simply help make features easier to use,Revit 2017 further contributes to user productivity.

Revit expert, author and trainer Paul Aubin experienced this running Revit 2017 for more than six days straight commented. “At the end of the week I realized, wow I never had to restart, and I fully suspect it would have kept running”.  

Get more into— and out of— a Revit model

Revit 2017 gives users tools to create models that even more accurately and completely represent what will ultimately be built, connecting design and fabrication workflows. The Global Parameters feature helps encode and capture design intent within a model by enabling users to define relationships between building elements and to use parameters to drive dimensions and values across a project.

Embed design intent in a model by using Global Parameters to drive dimension and element instance parameters.Image courtesy of Autodesk

 “The potential for global parameters is huge,” adds Aubin. “You can start creating design relationships between objects that aren’t even next to one another. They could be in totally different areas of the building, but you’ve got a global point of control.”

With Revit 2017 designers can include the higher level of detail needed for downstream fabrication and building, modelling projects of any size and complexity.   Mechanical detailers can automate the fabrication model layout and convert design level of detail model elements to fabrication level of detail elements. This helps contractors more quickly prepare a model for detailed coordination fabrication and installation.  Structural engineers can improve the definition of design intent, or the level of detail for reinforcement modelling and documentation, to better connect steel design to detailing workflows.

Convert design level of detail model elements to construction level of detail elements using the Design toFabrication tool.  Image courtesy of Autodesk.

Communicate better:
Revit is at the core of effective BIM processes for many architects, engineers, and construction professionals, as well as owners and facility managers as they capture, document, and share project design data. Revit 2017 helps users to document a project’s details more effectively with the new WYSIWYG Text Editor and new options for text placement providing the text control they’ve been asking for.

Communicate designs more effectively with new “what you see is what you get” editing and features that give youmore control over text.  Image courtesy of Autodesk.

Revit 2017 elevates communication capabilities in ways that help users to share data both within Revit and in extended BIM workflows. Data sharing within Revit 2017 has been improved with new tools that simplify the reuse of schedules.  

Data sharing within Revit 2017 has been improved with new tools that simplify the reuse of schedules.  Image courtesy of Autodesk.

Facilitating BIM interoperability and data sharing in a connected workflow beyond Revit, Revit 2017 is one of the first BIM tools to support IFC4.  With the new Autodesk FormIt 360 Converter provided with Revit, users can convert FormIt, Revit Families (RFA), and Sketchup (SKP) files and continue to develop designs in Revit. The Autodesk A360 Collaboration for Revit service installs with Revit 2017, enabling easier use of this subscription service for project team collaboration via cloud worksharing.

When it comes to communicating design intent with compelling 3D visualizations, Revit 2017 makes it possible to add depth and pop to elevations and sections in either architecture or coordination views with the new Depth Cueing option.

Add depth to elevations and sections to create stunning visuals that better communicate your design.  Image courtesy of Autodesk.

Render more quickly and accurately with Autodesk Raytracer rendering engine, the default visualization engine in Revit 2017.  Featuring efficient settings, video card agnostic CPU operation, and excellent use of image-based lighting, Raytracer provides quick, more photo realistic results for architectural rendering.  

Render more quickly and accurately with Autodesk Raytracer, the default visualization engine in Revit 2017.  Image courtesy of Autodesk.

Coinciding with the release of Revit 2017, Autodesk is discontinuing Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Revit Structure, and Autodesk Revit MEP software, replacing them and providing current subscribers to each solution with a single, all-in-one version of Revit that includes all functionality of the individual titles now available as a standalone product.

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If you weren’t able to attend AU2015 in Vegas in person, it will be well worth catching up on any classes which take your interest.

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Continued.. “No suitable geometry found” when exporting from Revit to NWC

If you are getting the “No suitable geometry found…” error message when trying to export to NWC, there may be a number of causes.

Luke Johnson has posted a blog with a number of different workarounds which you can find here:

There are also various forum posts and an Autodesk solution page, where you can find more potential causes.

In my case, none of these workarounds were applicable to the issue.

A small bit of background info on my case:

• Revit model recently upgraded from Revit 2013 to Revit 2014
• Had exported to NWC without an issue before upgrading
• In-place families were used for some Façade elements

When I turned off ALL categories via the Visibility/Graphics (VG) menu, I noticed there were still a number of elements which were visible. This shouldn’t be the case, as all elements in Revit are categorised under the categories listed in the VG menu, so therefore when you turn off all categories, you’d expect to see an empty screen.

I then deleted these elements, turned all the categories back on and tried to re-export to NWC – finally, successfully.

When I mentioned this to the consultant I was working with, he looked into it further and noticed that the ‘Profile’ category, which was a selectable option in Revit 2013 when creating an In-Place family, had been removed in Revit 2014.

During the upgrade procedure, Revit had changed these ‘Profile’ category elements (which no longer exist in Revit 2014) into a category called ‘Other’, which is not a ‘properly defined’ category inside of Revit. Therefore, these ‘uncategorised’ elements were causing the NWC export to fail.

The consultant was then able to re-model these elements under the ‘Wall’ category, and all was well again!

Autodesk Revit 2016 R2 Released with a bunch of new features

Autodesk Revit 2016 R2 builds on the speed and project performance improvements that distinguish Revit 2016 and includes more than 25 updates, many requested by users. With further improved software performance and scalability, plus new features, the family of Revit 2016 R2 releases enables subscribers to more effectively and efficiently capture design intent.

Revit 2016 R2 is fully compatible with the existing Revit 2016 releases and has no file format changes so users can install the update without disrupting existing ongoing work in Revit 2016.

Revit 2016 R2 represents significant incremental value for Autodesk Maintenance and Desktop Subscription customers who get immediate access to the most current Revit capabilities. Here is a view into just some of what Revit R2 delivers:

Faster: Revit 2016 R2 features continued improvements to software performance and scalability:

• Orbit, pan and zoom more quickly with the new Draw Visible Elements Only option. Revit improves navigation speed by working only on displaying the visible elements of a view. This occlusion culling is especially beneficial with complex files and views in which regeneration of a significant amount of content is suppressed.

Orbit, pan and zoom more quickly with the new Draw Visible Elements Only option. Image courtesy of Autodesk.

• Keep working during update of color schemes and the associated color fills with Color Fill Background Processing. Revit 2016 R2 updates room, space, HVAC zone, duct, and pipe color fills using multiple CPUs, which alleviates model interaction delays associated with these computations.

Revit 2016 R2 updates room, space, HVAC zone, duct, and pipe color fills using multiple CPUs. Image courtesy of Autodesk.

Smarter: Revit 2016 R2 has new and improved tools to help users better-capture and embed design intent in a model.

• Embed design intent in a model by using project-wide parameters to drive dimension and element instance parameters with the Global Parameters feature. A global parameter can measure dimensions and calculate formulas to drive dimensions and parameter values in other elements in the project.

Embed design intent in a model by using project-wide parameters to drive dimension and element
instance parameters with the Global Parameters feature. Image courtesy of Autodesk.

• With Family Visibility Preview, get a better view of design intent by filtering out geometries that are not viewed. Work more quickly by previewing geometries and making adjustments before loading a Family into a project.

Better: We’re always striving to improve Revit based on user feedback. Over 20 user-requested enhancements include:

o Unload links per user to increase performance and improve memory usage without affecting other project team members
o Copy/Paste commands in perspective views
o Cancel print or export of multiple views and sheets with one click
o Filter solids/voids in separate entries to more easily multi-select the geometries to make bulk changes
o Enhanced rotation controls and insert part option in fabrication part modeling

Unload links per user to increase performance and improve memory usage without affecting other project team members. Image courtesy of Autodesk.

As an incremental install, Revit R2 can be less disruptive for users and administrators by spacing out changes vs. incorporating larger annual updates. Any downtime or disruption to work processes can be more easily out-weighed by the gains in performance, usability and stability.
Availability

Autodesk Revit 2016 R2 is available to Maintenance and Desktop Subscription customers worldwide starting today, October 22, in the following languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish and Traditional Chinese.

Autodesk Stingray Real-Time Visualisation Engine

Building designers can use Stingray to make their BIM-informed visualizations interactive in real-time through a direct link from the engine to 3ds Max
Autodesk Stingray Real-Time Engine Takes Design Visualization to a New Level for AEC Industry

Building designers can use Stingray to make their BIM-informed visualizations interactive in real-time through a direct link from the engine to 3ds Max

Today, at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) Europe 2015, Autodesk announced the release of Stingray, a real-time engine that can be used to create high quality 3D games, or be applied in the AEC industry to make BIM-informed 3D visualizations in 3ds Max fully interactive in a real-time environment. It means going anywhere in the model and seeing everything as you would in the physical world. The Stingray engine is built on the powerful, data-driven architecture of the Bitsquid engine, which Autodesk acquired last summer.

The new Stingray engine has profound implications for building designers, as it creates connected workflows with Autodesk 3D animation software like 3ds Max, which already supports a BIM process. The Stingray engine features a live link ability with the latest version of 3ds Max, which makes it possible to have changes made in 3ds Max happen immediately in the Stingray engine. To understand the impact of this new capability within 3ds Max, let’s take a look at the state of a BIM workflow using Autodesk solutions before today’s announcement.

The Stingray engine allows designers, owners and stakeholders to access and visualize a building model in real-time to fully understand the scale, feel and experience of the building before construction starts.

Building designers using Autodesk Revit software have had the ability to easily import models into 3ds Max to create stunning, photo-real images and animations to communicate design intent. It’s a workflow that’s been widely accepted in the AEC industry and plays an integral part in the design process. Now, with the Stingray engine, Revit models can be brought into 3ds Max to be made visually stunning and then imported to the Stingray engine to be made fully interactive, allowing users to explore “what if” design changes in a compelling visual environment not unlike a first person walk-about in a physical building. The real advantage of this is that it allows designers, owners and stakeholders to access and visualize a building model in real-time to fully understand the scale, feel and experience of the building before construction starts.

The Stingray engine features a live link ability with the latest version of 3ds Max, which makes it possible to have changes made in 3ds Max happen immediately in the Stingray engine

As a powerful real-time rendering engine, Stingray will help power Autodesk’s vision for connected visualization within a BIM process. The abilities that Stingray offers are the first step towards a connected future where software like Revit, 3ds Max and 3D environments like the Stingray engine, work seamlessly together to allow users to truly understand a design. By allowing real-time control, design changes and challenges may be quickly communicated in a compelling, visual way.

“We are opening a new door in the way buildings will be designed now and in the future that allows a live, interactive connection to designs,” said Amar Hanspal, Senior Vice President, Autodesk. “Imagine being able to meet your stakeholders for a tour of your building design model in a virtual space while collaborating to inform the design process. We are excited about this technology as it will help enable better decisions to be made prior to construction, where it gets really expensive to make changes.”

More Information, Pricing and Availability
For more about the Stingray engine and how it is fueling a new design process for AEC professionals, visit http://autodesklivedesign.com. Be sure to also check out this video and podcast with Angi Izzi, Senior Strategy Manager for Architecture, Autodesk and Rick Davis, Design Visualization Industry Manager, Autodesk.

Stingray is expected to be available as a desktop subscription download starting August 19. For more about Stingray, including availability and subscription pricing information, visit http://www.autodesk.com/stingray.

 

Using Dynamo to create a facade on an existing Revit structure

Check out this awesome playlist by Andrzej Samsonowicz, showing you how to “Panelise Existing Revit data with Dynamo” Thanks to Zach Kron for the heads up. There are also a large amount of ‘beginner’ tutorials on the Dynamo BIM website which are a great place to start.

Revit Online – in your browser!

Note: Revit 2015 software will be available soon. But you can try Revit 2014 now.

Revit 2014 is now available online and can be accessed directly in your browser as a 30 day free trial. This is a real game changer for software use in the cloud. This will enable users of older and low end machines to get the same quality and speed out of Revit as those with a high spec machine. More importantly this will eventually open up a whole new level of live collaboration on projects. Watch this space!

This online trial for Autodesk® Revit® 2014 and Autodesk® Revit LT™ 2014 software is an instance of Revit and Revit LT hosted in the Autodesk cloud. The online trial, in combination with Autodesk 360, enables you to experience and evaluate Revit and Revit LT without large downloads or sophisticated computer hardware. Note that the online trial is running on a remote server. Keyboard and mouse input are streamed to the remote server and graphics are streamed back to your machine. The online trials are compatible with Windows® XP SP3, Vista, 7, and 8 on both 32- and 64-bit.

Revit trial only: Worksharing is currently not supported in the online trial for Revit 2014. Attempting to use worksharing or opening projects where worksharing has been enabled in this environment could result in file corruption.

There is also a 30 day desktop trial available on the Autodesk website so you will now have a chance to test out some of the new features I posted last week in the “Videos: What’s New in Revit 2015” post.* Edit – The online trial is Revit 2014 only – This will be updated shortly.

For more information, view the official Autodesk release regarding the online trial here

Videos – What’s New in Revit 2015

Below are a few videos from my colleague Adam Ward from Gunslingers 2013 – Here are some of the new features you have to look forward to in Revit 2015. More info coming soon!

Why can’t I check Revit file version before opening?

If you find yourself asking the above question, you are most definitely not alone. It would make most sense to either be given a warning when trying to open (for example) a Revit 2012 file in Revit 2014, rather than going through the sometimes lengthy process of a file upgrade which you didn’t even require!

The other logical option would be that, if you click on a Revit 2012 file (and have Revit Arch 2012 installed) it would open in the correct version of the software, rather than always trying to launch in the most updated version of Revit (2014). If Revit 2012 wasn’t installed, it would give you an option to upgrade the file to a format which you could use.

Fortunately, our friend Harry over at BoostYourBIM has yet again come up with the goods, and like most of his work – He shares it with the community at absolutely no cost!

When you open a Revit file that was last saved in a previous version, would you love it if Revit asked “Do you want to upgrade?” And would you want a “No” button?

If so, the free File Version Reporter from Boost Your BIM is for you!

1. Check the ‘last saved version’ for a single file
2. Check the ‘last saved version’ for all files in a folder
3. Get a notification dialog when starting to upgrade a file from a previous version with a “No” button

Download the free tool at http://gdurl.com/Mnfv/download

You may have seen in the past that Harry has created a file version check tool for Revit projects, he has now put this on steroids and come up with “File Version Check – now with the ability to search all subfolders“. This means you can set a directory (project server?) and it will report back with file versions for every one of your Revit models on the server, very useful!

Although this is a free tool, you may wish to submit a small (or large, your choice!) donation, to say thanks for the hard work.

Copy / Monitor in Revit – Example

Here is a short video briefly demonstrating how the Copy / Monitor function works in Revit 2014. It is a very useful tool to use for multi disciplined projects where worksharing is enabled.

Copy / Monitor allows users to link in other Revit models into their project, and monitor them for any changes which are made to the model, ensuring the latest changes are reflected in their own project.

In this example, I have monitored the grid lines, and for demo purposes, moved a grid line to show how this effects the model that the file is linked in to.

Find the position of real world coordinates

Are you looking to find the eastings and northings points for a specific location in the UK?

Here is a good way to roughly check the coordinated location of a Revit project in the UK. The website UK Grid Reference Finder is an excellent website to use to cross check that your model is situated in roughly the correct coordinate system. You can search either by location, Eastings and Northings points or longitude and latitude.

This tool should be used with consideration as it will not give you a completely accurate reading, but can be used to double check the coordinates of others models when you are having issues with models aligning through shared coordinates.

Naviswork Switchback with Revit

Trying to find those saved viewpoints from Navisworks in your Revit model?

Navisworks switchback is an excellent and very simple tool to use, to find referring views from Navisworks in your Revit project.

When making issue reports / clash views it is sometimes difficult to find the same referring view in your Revit project – Navisworks Switchback makes this seamless. Below is a short video showing how it works.

If you are using someone elses model you may find that you may need an additional step of locating the Revit model as the original file is being referenced from the authors server – Simply browse for your local version of the Revit model.