New in Revit Architecture 2011

New in Revit Architecture 2011

The following features are new or enhanced for Revit Architecture.
For additional detail and a more interactive listing of New Features for Revit Architecture, go to the following: http://www.autodesk.com/revitarchitecture-features.

User Interface Enhancements

• Modeless Properties Palette
• Repeat last command / Repeat Commands recently used
• Quick Access Toolbar (QAT):
  • Single QAT per application
  • Increased number of default commands in the QAT
  • Customization options via dialog box: move command up/down, add separator, remove command
• Improved access to Worksets and Design Options on status bar
• Ribbon Enhancements:
  • Redesigned Modify tab:
    • Consistent modify tools - panels and buttons are always in the same order on the left side of the Modify tab. Buttons enable/ disable as necessary.
    • Modify tab name updates to reflect the active contextual tab appended.
    • Contextual tab content is appended to the right side of the Modify tab when active.
    • Modify and contextual contents are separated by a gray visual bar.
  • Persistent access to core modify tools (Object-Action commands):
    • Move
    • Copy
    • Rotate
    • Mirror - Pick Axis
    • Mirror - Draw Axis
    • Delete
  • Type Selector Enhancements Type Selector is combined with the Properties Palette. Open at all times; can be opened/closed using the Properties Palette button available in the Properties ribbon panel.
    
  • Group Edit Mode access Panel is removed from the ribbon and will float in drawing area when invoked. Default is upper left corner of drawing area and can be moved.
    
  • Model In-Place Project ribbon replaced with the family ribbon when an in-place model is started or edited. When you finish editing in-place, the ribbon will revert to the project ribbon.
    
• Improved icons based on user feedback

Large Team Workflow: Linked Models

• Enhancements to the Visibility Control of Worksets in workshared files:
  • Visibility by Default for Worksets
  • Ability to open/close Worksets for linked models
  • Ability to control visibility of linked models according to host model
  • Ability to apply View Filters to linked models from host model
• Ability to tag elements in linked files, with the exception of rooms, spaces, and areas
• Ability to automatically generate a ceiling grid from walls in a linked model
• Ability to apply View Filters to linked files

Graphics

• Realistic materials available in editable views
• Hardware acceleration (DX9) on by default
• Levels of Details (adaptive to zoom)
• Ambient occlusion
• Display performance improvements (over 30%)
• Significant performance improvement in display of mechanical and electrical drawings (up to 200%)

Materials

• Protein 2.0 appearances, in single project library
• Increased interoperability with 3ds Max through:
  • Export of FBX files to Max with Protein 2 appearances
  • Import of DWG files and ADSK files with Protein 2 appearances
  Note3ds Max/Design 2011 is required for materials to transfer.
• Support for new realistic display style through Protein 2 materials
• New material classes available in Protein 2, including procedural appearances

Inventor Interoperability

• Support for oval duct, cable tray, and conduit connectors
• Support of new electrical properties (such as Motor)
• Improved performance when importing ADSK files
• Improved AEC Exchange functionality
• Support of Protein materials

Performance Improvements

• Graphics
• MultiCore Operations
• Sync with Central
• Model Open
• User interface reaction time
• Linked Models

DWG Export

• Increased visual fidelity when exporting Revit files to DWG
• Export option for True Color
• Export option for Text treatment

Family Editor Enhancements

• Interactive exploration of parameter values in Revit families
• Ability to lock labeled dimensions
• Reporting Parameters

Parameter Enhancements

• Default parameter type (length vs. text)
• Parameters groups automatically set

Temporary Dimension Enhancements

• Remembering witness lines
• Family Editor: right-click permanent dimensions to select labels
• Ability to control temporary dimension font size and background (transparent or opaque)

3D Alignment Enhancements

• Align tool now works on an element's node, vertex, edge, surface, form, or level

Expanded Region of High Geometric Accuracy

• Previous versions of Revit were unable to maintain the expected level of geometric accuracy at locations farther than 1 mile from the project origin. Revit will now maintain a high level of geometric accuracy for elements placed within 20 miles of the project origin.

Selection Enhancements

• Select All Instances in the current view or in the entire project

Text Notes Enhancements

• Additional leader attachment points: Top Left (TL), Middle Left (ML), Bottom Left (BL), Top Right (TR), Middle Right (MR), and Bottom Right (BR).
• Ability to adjust leader end distance
• Ability to show box around text
• Ability to create bullets and numbering

Sheet Enhancements

• Create new sheet list rows to create placeholder sheets
• Convert placeholder sheets to project sheets
• Grid guide for sheets, enabling consistent sheet creation

Floor Enhancements

• Ability to set span direction for metal deck floors

Analysis

• Sun Path Interactive tool for visualizing the impact of natural light and shadows on buildings and sites
  

Conceptual Design Environment (CDE) / Conceptual Form Making and Editing Tool Enhancements

• Solid-Solid Cut: Ability to cut one solid from another solid
• Dissolving Forms: Ability to dissolve a form back to the curves from which it was created.
• Generic mass template
• Flexible component mass
• Sketch Edit mode for Form Profiles

Surface Rationalization Enhancements

• Dividing Surfaces with Intersects by:
  • Intersecting levels, reference planes, and lines on reference planes
  • Combination of U or V grids and intersects

Subscription Advantage Pack

NoteThe following items were previously released exclusively to Subscription customers.

• Conditional Formatting in Schedule
• Element Section Area and Linear Weight in Schedules
• Span Direction Tool
• DWG Export enhancements (Index color and True Color support)
• Beam Coping for steel beams framed into joined beams and columns
• Text Formatting Shortcuts (Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, and Ctrl+U)
• Beam System Tags
• Split Walls with Gap
• Keyboard Shortcut UI
• Find and Replace Text in Notes
• Convert between Line Types: Model, Detail, Symbolic
• Export to DWG with correct RGB colors
• Linked File Performance Enhancements
• New API for slope angle and elevation for x,y location in given slab with choice of top and bottom
• Structural Components and Modeling:
  • Slanted Columns
  • Beam Placement using 3D CAD Geometry
  • Curved Beams
  • Structural Trusses
  • Metal and Structural Deck Assembly
  • Control beam length tolerance
  • Beam Coping Tool

Revit Extensions

• Shared Parameters Converter
• Model Review
• Autodesk Revit DB Link
• Road and Terrain modules
• Wall framing enhancements:
  • New method to choose the location of the studs (wall layers are exposed)
  • Multi-selection of walls and openings

User Assistance (Documentation)

• Transition to Web Help, which includes improved search capabilities
• Streamlined Help reference content
• Short Tutorials in video format
• Additional Enhanced Tooltips
• New animated ToolClips
• Improved First Experience

Other Enhancements

• Custom elevation tag
• List sheets not in a project on drawing list
• Background images in renderings
• Repeat last command
• Sheet layout grid
• Removal of 4 core rendering limit
• Google Maps™ mapping service interface (Location dialog) lets you visualize project locations