That Time of Year Again - Revit 2016

The media embargo has been lifted for Revit 2016 so we're beginning to see some information surface on blogs and other sites. Fwiw, people involved with activities that carry an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) aren't permitted to discuss things they are aware of until their particular agreements are lifted. Naturally Autodesk would like to manage what is being said about their products when they release new versions, or at least be the first to start the conversation. The internet increasingly makes this impossible.

Dan Stine wrote a nice article describing the rendering changes we'll find in 2016. It will seem a little like deja vu all over again if you remember the transition from Accurender to Mental Ray. Read Dan's article, he explains it all quite well.

Luke has been sharing links to download different versions of Revit 2016 (and other Autodesk products). I'm refraining from doing so until I'm free to do so. In general Revit, on its own, gets released a bit earlier than the versions that are considered part of the Building Design Suite. I'm waiting for the latter personally.

Jeffrey (aka The Revit Kid) wrote a post earlier today about this subject too.

If you visit Autodesk's Revit pages you'll find new information is trickling in. For example there are some new Feature descriptions HERE now. Here's the Revit 2016 versus Revit 2016 LT COMPARISON. No such thing as LT for MEP users still, sorry...you're not considered light-beer drinkers.

This is also the time of year when the wailing and gnashing of teeth begins with renewed vigor. I think Autodesk manages to stub their toe each year by not adequately preparing their customers for their longer term plans and goals. Seth Godin weighed in on Hope and Expectation with his timely thoughts. Maybe it isn't possible to do that with as many customers as they have, or their frequently stated restrictions on forward-looking disclosures made by publicly traded companies? Seems to me they could do better.

As such this means each year we manage to build up hope that this year will be more awesome than the last (or the skeptic thinks less awesome). For example if we think that Revit 2016 is going to be transcendent then consider (it's my understanding) that, if you've got an active subscription and installed 2015 R2 already, you've already seen a percentage of 2016 features. The 2015 R2 is/was an early release of features slated for 2016, released early for subscription customers only.

Less surprise for you...because you're already on the inside track...

Based on what is published on their site so far, the big push with 2016 is:

A360 Collaboration for Revit (aka C4R)
Performance (more fasterer Reviting)
IFC Interoperability
Dynamo Integration
Fabrication and MEP
Structural Analysis and Modeling
Site Designer (part of R2 release only, now formally released to all 2016)
Online Analysis Feature Enhancment/Improvements
View and Tools enhancments (Reveal Constraints, Perspective View editing, PDF Exporting)

I have been quite pleased with the significantly improved performance experience with the 2015 release all year. I found myself resenting any work that required 2014 (or worse...earlier releases) very quickly. If 2016 stands on 2015's shoulders the way I've been hearing it does, then I'll be really happy to use 2016 too, right away.

Also keep in mind that, if Autodesk keeps to their timeline, next year, around this time, it will cease offering what they call Perpetual Licenses. They'll honor existing contracts/subscriptions but all new purchases will either be what they are calling Desktop Subscriptions or Cloud Service Subscriptions. Check out their BUY page for details.

I'm looking forward to getting to work with 2016.

Revit 2015 R2 - Perspective View Changes

It is not uncommon for a new Revit user, that is already familiar with Sketch Up for example, to be a bit surprised that we can't do routine modeling work while using a perspective view, called a camera view. I liken Revit to having been raised by parents with different beliefs than other software's parents have. In this instance Revit's parents didn't think it was necessary or important to let their kid model around in perspective views. Most users react to this as if they've just found out their friend's parents ground them for practically any infraction. How sad, your parents are tough!!

Good news on this front, 2015 R2 begins reducing this restriction!

The following are available in perspective views now:

• Editing tools: Move, Align, Pin and Unpin
• Reset Target tool: Restores the position of the camera target to the center of the field of view
• Toggle between the perspective and parallel representations of the 3D view

Reset Target is a new button when the view's crop region (perspective views) is selected. It places the camera target back at the center of the crop region. It may be useful if the changes you made switching back and forth between view modes has altered the view in a confusing way.

Toggling between view modes is possible through the View Cube and right click. CLICK TO find out more about these enhancements.

The online help documentation specifically notes these items when switching from parallel to perspective view modes.

• If you add elements to the parallel view that are not supported by a perspective view (such as annotations or displacement sets), and select to toggle to the perspective view, a dialog displays.
  You have the option of duplicating the view without the non-supported elements and opening the duplicate view in perspective.
• The Toggle to Perspective 3D option is only available from the parallel view if the Crop Region Visible property is selected for the view.
• Some modes are not supported in the perspective view. For example, if you are in Reveal Constraints mode in the parallel view, this mode is automatically closed when switching to perspective.
• Changes made to the View Scale in the parallel view are reset when switching back to perspective.

It's not quite the 60's, the era of free modelling, but it's a start.

Revit 2015 R2 - Default Setting for Import Positioning

This is a welcome change, one many users have been asking for a long time.

The default positioning setting is now Auto - Origin to Origin, pause for the sound of applause (and comments like "finally") in offices around the globe...

If you change the default setting, the option you select for Positioning becomes the default instead for your current Revit session. Revit will also remember a different setting for Revit models and CAD files. For example, this will make it easier to use Auto-Origin to Origin for Revit models and Auto - Center to Center for CAD files.

Glad to see this subtle but heavily wished for change.

Revit 2015 Help is Online

I saw a tweet this morning that said the Revit 2015 Online help is ready to go. I noticed this bit regarding the eTransmit for Revit add-in.

When you transmit a model, you can now select to:

• Include supporting files such as documents and spreadsheets
• Disable worksets
• Delete sheets
• Include only views that are placed on sheets
• Include or exclude types of views such as detail views or sections

Luke (What Revit Wants) provided links to download the various versions of Revit 2015 as well as the fact that there is already a web update 1 for Revit 2015. If you want to use a custom Assembly Code file you'll want to make sure you install the update (per Aaron Maller).

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2014 Essentials

The release of this book introduces a new team of authors; Tobias Hathorn, Tessa Reist Hathorn and Ryan Duell. They have taken over the book from the team that first introduced it a couple years ago; James Vandezande, Eddy Krygiel, and Phil Read. You are probably already familiar with their other book, "Mastering Autodesk Revit Architecture 20##", the bigger brother to Essentials and the "Introducing" book that was discontinued after the 2012 release.

The Wiley site for the book tells us:

Beginners will get comfortable with Revit's core features and functions. Current users will have a valuable reference to refresh and hone their skills. And everyone can use this practical book to help prepare for the Revit Architecture certification exams. Essentials gets readers up and running on Autodesk Revit Architecture 2014, Autodesk's industry-leading building information modeling software:

• Explains core Revit tools, features, functionality, real-world workflows, and BIM concepts
• Covers schematic design, modeling, families, views, creating drawing sets, and more
• Features best practices, rendering and visualization, worksharing, documentation, and annotation
• Provides downloadable starting and ending files, so readers can compare their work to that of the pro's 

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2014 Essentials is your perfect introduction to the powerful industry-leading BIM software.

Useful Links:
Description
Table of Contents
Author Information
Downloads

If you are just getting started out with Revit this book may be just what you need. If you have an office of Revit users it might just be a great addition to your library too!

Congratulations to the new team on the release of their book!

Download Manager

I started this process about noon today, this post is 8 hours later. In my opinion this does not define a good download experience :(

At 37,216 days I don't think the extra detail of 15 hours is worth mentioning? At this rate I'll be checking out the new features for Revit 2115? Oh, I may not be around in 101 years...drat, double drat! 

New Stuff in Navisworks 2014

If you happen to use Navisworks as well as Revit then you might want to visit Lee Mullin's post at Beyond Design, another Autodesk blog. Check it out!

New Stuff in Revit 2014 According to David

Up to his usual "What's New..." summary, read all about it at David Light's blog.

Revit 2014 Features on Autodesk Site

If you visit the Autodesk Revit site you can discern for yourself what new features might be showing up soon.

New for 2014 - Autodesk Presentation

Autodesk will host a presentation tomorrow at 11 AM (EST) via the web. If you'd like to see and hear what they is on offer for 2014 Revit products check it out. Once that's over I expect the blogging and tweeting will begin in earnest.

2014 Predictions

It's nearly that time, the time when people starting asking, "When is the next release coming out?" or "What's going to be in the next release"? The LARUG blog announced two meetings next week (one in LA live streamed, the other in OC not) to discuss new features in 2014. That can only mean one thing, that the media blackout on the new Autodesk products is nearly over. Well it could also mean that they are going off the reservation and plan to discuss the new features without the blessing of Autodesk marketing...maybe but probably not.

So get your batteries charged, your reader cleared out because next week sometime Revit 2014 will trend on Twitter. :)

My prediction for 2014? It will still be called Revit.

Tekla's BIMsight 1.4 Released

I've not mentioned subsequent updates for this IFC based model viewer since my original post when it first became available. I received an email the other day letting me know that they released version 1.4.

This release includes enhanced presentation tools and they are really pleased to provide a new dedicated UI for Windows tablets! That should help focus effort on field applications?

A day late and dollar short, they ran two webinars yesterday...should have mentioned this sooner, sorry!

If you'd like to check out some images, CLICK HERE.
Want to read their PRESS Release?

Revit 2012 Available for Download via Subscription

In the North American market the 2012 products can be downloaded via the Subscription site, which presumes "you" have access to the subscription site. I've read posts in the forums at AUGI and RevitForum that say that the Australasian market is able to download the software too. Only the English versions are available right now. The other language versions will be released over the next few months.

Revit 2012 New Features via WikiHelp

Not everything at Autodesk is ready for 2012 products, for example when I click on Free Trial where the nice new package for RAC2012 is pictured I get an opportunity to download 2011 (at least that's what it looks like. There is a nice note saying that 2012 will be available soon.

Here's a VIDEO about the new Construction Modeling tools:

Revit 2012 Draws Nearer

Hearing reports that Revit 2012 software is available in some markets via the subscription center. Might be worth checking during the next few days to see if it becomes available in your market. As of tonight I'm not seeing it here yet.

The rumored release data, meaning "boxes" shipping is April 11th. That means, if the past is any measure, that the online access to it will be some days prior. Essentially once the final compiled version is turned over to the media preparation side of operations it can be posted online. Just a matter of file transfers, and web page preparation and voila...the download "meters" go wild for a few weeks at Autodesk!

KarelCAD Revit Release Comparison via PDF

The gang at KarelCAD have shared some pdf documents that provide an overview of what features set each release apart, for Revit 2010, 2011 & 2012.

Revit Architecture 2012

Revit Structure 2012

Revit MEP 2012

Autodesk Building Design Sweet

This image is part of what appears on the Autodesk web page for this new product bundling configuration

A lot to digest so you'll need to contact your reseller to see how the pricing and crossgrade options will play out for your firm.

New Release Slides - RAC - RST - RME

These are just the appetizer slides for the hour long blogger demo of the new features. They appeared briefly and each presenter chose to work directly in Revit instead of flipping slides. As you can imagine, one hour could not have possibly covered every item in great detail.

They only had time to discuss these items in more detail:

RAC 2012

• Parts/Assemblies and dividing elements (construction features)
• Visualization
• Point Clouds

RST 2012

• Analytical Model and Tools
• Concrete 3D Reinforcement

RME 2012

• System Browser Enhancements
• Duct/Pipe Systems
• Placeholder Ducts/Pipes

These are the slides that list the big items for each release.

RAC 2012

RST 2012

RME 2012

Each version shares platform improvements naturally so there is overlap. Also mentioned in the webcast was substantial improvements to the API which opens the door to further improvements to existing and as yet to be created 3rd party applications. There are also numerous candidates for my Dept. of Subtle posts to deal with later.

Dept. of Echo - Revit 2012 via David Light

David stays up all night working on his "What's New" posts so I don't have to! ;)

Wander over to his blog for a very nice recap of what is going to be "in-the-box" in the next release! Nice job David!

Oh, there is more but these are the biggies...

Revit 2012 - Wish Granted - 3D Connexion

Revit 2012 products will support 3D Connexion devices!! My recent post and my earlier wish come true!

Autodesk 2012 Product Suites

Per the ongoing web preview:

The new Autodesk Building Design Suite is available in three editions:

Standard, Premium and Ultimate

Standard (includes)

• AutoCAD 2012
• AutoCAD Architecture 2012
• AutoCAD MEP 2012
• AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2012
• Autodesk Showcase 2012
• Autodesk SketchBook Designer 2012

Premium (adds to Standard)

• Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012
• Autodesk Revit MEP 2012
• Autodesk Revit Structure 2012
• Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2012

Ultimate (adds to Premium and Standard)

• Autodesk Navisworks Manage 2012
• Autodesk Quantity Takeoff 2012
• Autodesk Inventor 2012

Now I'm curious about delivery...will packages still be separate installations? Still hoping for single installation for a Revit "Sweet" Suite or Complete!

It IS still possible to buy individual versions without the "Suite" options.