New in Revit 2018
Contents
- 1 From Revit 2017 to Revit 2018
- 2 Architectural Enhancements
- 3 General Enhancements
- 3.1 Expand/collapse the Project Browser with right-click commands
- 3.2 Streamlined family loading
- 3.3 Remember column widths in the Family Editor
- 3.4 Fill Patterns dialog
- 3.5 Updated graphics and hardware options
- 3.6 Dynamo Player supports input for scripts
- 3.7 Schedule model groups and RVT links
- 3.8 Add parameters to model groups, RVT links, and schedules
- 3.9 Subcategories for reference planes
- 3.10 Symbols in text notes
- 3.11 Rich text in labels
- 3.12 File tab
- 3.13 Verification of family constraints
- 3.14 Imported 3D shapes
- 3.15 Tag All Not Tagged
- 3.16 Parameter Tooltips
- 3.17 Quick Access Toolbar
- 3.18 Photographic exposure
- 3.19 Use geographic data from a linked DWG
- 4 Architecture
- 5 Structure
- 5.1 New Precast Content
- 5.2 New family content
- 5.3 Precast parts and assemblies
- 5.4 Free form rebar
- 5.5 Additional steel connections
- 5.6 Steel connections to support custom framing families
- 5.7 Steel element priority in a connection
- 5.8 Structural section geometry properties
- 5.9 Rebar placement in free form concrete objects
- 5.10 Varying rebar distribution improvements
- 5.11 Rebar placement in imported concrete elements
- 5.12 Graphical rebar constraints in 3D Views
From Revit 2017 to Revit 2018
This page describes the main changes for students between Revit 2017 and Revit 2018. The information in this article is from:
Architectural Enhancements
The following new and enhanced features apply to Revit Architecture and Revit in the Autodesk Building Design Suite.
Stair by component
The new component-based stair tool provides the capability to assemble a stair using individual run, landing, and support components. Direct manipulation controls are available for in-canvas stair modification. Customize stair documentation, including the symbolic representation, annotation, and graphic display.
Selection sets
Revit Architecture now offers selection sets, a feature that was previously available only in Revit Structure. Using this feature, you can create a selection and isolate, hide, or apply graphic settings for the elements in the selection. You can also load the selection later to select the elements again.
General Enhancements
The following new and changed features apply to these Revit applications: Revit, Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, and Revit Structure.
Expand/collapse the Project Browser with right-click commands
Quickly expand or collapse all or part of the Project Browser using new right-click commands. For example, right-click Views and select Expand Selected to expand the Project Browser to list all views. Or right-click any top-level node or white space in the browser and select Collapse All to quickly collapse all nodes in the Project Browser. These commands allow you to more quickly navigate the Project Browser to locate the items you want to work on.
Streamlined family loading
To streamline the process of loading families into the current model, Revit remembers the last folder from which you loaded families during the current session. When you want to load another family into the model, the Load Family dialog points to the most recently accessed folder. This improvement means you don't need to navigate to the same location each time, thus streamlining your workflow and improving productivity.
Remember column widths in the Family Editor
To better support customization of content in the Family Editor, Revit remembers column sizing in the Family Types dialog for the current session. This regression appeared in the 2016 release, and the functionality has now been restored. Resize the width of the Formula column and other columns in the dialog to make changes to the formulas and other parameters. Then test the content. When you return to the Family Types dialog to make further tweaks, the columns retain the sizing that you specified earlier.
Fill Patterns dialog
The dialog is reorganized and improved to streamline the workflow and achieve consistency with other areas of the user interface. A new Search field allows you to quickly locate patterns. And if you need to rescale imported patterns, you can do so without re-importing the file.
Section Box shape control
The Section Box shape control has been improved so you can more reliably adjust a section box.
Browser organization for schedules
To support the way you work, customize the Project Browser to filter, group, and sort schedules, in addition to views and sheets. Define up to 3 levels of filtering, 6 levels of grouping, and sorting criteria for schedules/quantities based on their properties or custom parameters.
Updated graphics and hardware options
The Graphics tab of the Options dialog is reorganized to clarify the impact of graphics-related options. A new Hardware tab provides more meaningful information about your hardware setup.
Dynamo Player supports input for scripts
Expand the power of scripts by giving Revit designers and engineers the ability to provide values for Dynamo scripts within the Dynamo Player interface. Revit users can quickly change input values to adjust a script for the current model.
Schedule model groups and RVT links
To better document models, you can select Model Groups or RVT Links as categories when creating a schedule.
Add parameters to model groups, RVT links, and schedules
To support organizing additional data in models, you can create custom parameters for one of these new categories from the Project Parameters dialog. Custom parameters can also be associated to global parameters where applicable.
Subcategories for reference planes
Use the Subcategory tool to add a subcategory to a reference plane.
Symbols in text notes
Enhance annotations by adding symbols and special characters to text notes without interrupting your workflow. Select from a list of commonly used symbols on a context menu, or type a key sequence that includes the symbol's Unicode decimal value. For infrequently used symbols, access the Windows® Character Map® from within Revit, and copy and paste symbols into the text note.
Rich text in labels
To produce more consistent drawings in documentation, labels now use rich text format to better match text notes.
File tab
The File tab replaces the application menu.
Verification of family constraints
To help ensure the reliability of families within your models, Revit now checks the status of constraints when you open a family in the Family Editor. If Revit detects potential issues, a dialog offers further information.
Imported 3D shapes
Imported 3D shape elements can be tagged. The cut edges of 3D shapes can be dimensioned. 3D shapes imported into a family can have MEP connectors placed on the geometry.
Tag All Not Tagged
The Tag All Not Tagged dialog has been modified to be more consistent with the user interface.
Parameter Tooltips
Tooltip information has been added to instance and type properties for a number of elements.
Quick Access Toolbar
The Print command has been added to the default Quick Access Toolbar.
Photographic exposure
Tone mapping for materials was enhanced to improve photographic exposures when rendering.
Use geographic data from a linked DWG
Architects and civil engineers often need to maintain consistent geographic location (geolocation) data between models that are managed using multiple BIM products. To simplify this workflow, when you link a DWG file to a Revit model, you can import grid coordinates from the linked file for use in the model. See Linking DWG Files with Grid Coordinates.
Architecture
New family content
To support the work of architects, new content is available for the following Revit family types: windows, furniture systems, and domestic appliances.
FormIt Converter
Materials applied to elements in FormIt will transfer to Revit when importing.
Model fidelity is improved when importing a FormIt model into Revit.
Railings
The sketch of a railing that has been re-hosted to an element will be displayed on the level of the host when editing.
The process for modifying a railing is improved to provide access to the type properties for the top rail and handrails (continuous rails) directly from the railing Type Properties dialog. You can also view your changes in the Preview pane of the railing Type Properties.
Sketched railings can now be hosted to a topographic surface. This functionality allows you to use the Railing tool to model elements such as a fence or road barriers.
Railings hosted to a stair now use improved attachment behavior. You can control the start points and endpoints of railings to match your design intent.
Note: For existing models containing railings that are hosted to stairs, when the model is upgraded from a previous version, the railings must be un-hosted and re-hosted to the stairs to enable new controls and behaviors.
Railings hosted to multistory stairs will be grouped with the stairs and can be edited as a group.
Multistory stairs
You can create a multistory stair from a component-based stair by selecting the building levels. Multistory stairs automatically adjust if level heights change. See Multistory Stairs and upgrade information for existing multistory stairs. You can tag individual stair elements in the multistory stair.
Coordination models
To streamline coordination with models created using other software, link a file from Navisworks® and use it as an underlay for a Revit model. This feature provides context for the design, allowing you to compare your Revit model to a non-Revit model for coordination purposes.
Improved support for CAD imports
Revit has enhanced its support for CAD imports. Specifically, the import process is now more tolerant of tiny details, which in previous releases would generate error messages. Many of these CAD files can now be imported into the model without problems.
Structure
New Precast Content
New Precast families for beams, columns, slabs, and foundations are available. The extended range of parameters that control their geometry allow for faster and more precise modelling of Precast concrete structures. The German version is based on Fachvereinigung Deutscher Betonfertigteilbau specifications. New content can be downloaded from the Autodesk Knowledge Network.
New family content
To support the work of structural designers, new content is available for the following Revit family types: structural steel column and framing shapes, structural steel families for Steel Connections, updated bolt spacing values, and structural steel shapes.
Precast parts and assemblies
The Structural Precast for Revit is a powerful BIM-centric offering for modeling and detailing precast planar elements that improves productivity for engineers, detailers and fabricators. It will be available soon at the Autodesk App Store.
Free form rebar
You can now model and detail reinforcement, either planar or 3D, in complex civil structural elements or challenging architectural models.
Additional steel connections
The Steel Connections for Revit add-in has added over 100 new connections for steel detailing.
Steel connections to support custom framing families
To better integrate structural connections, Revit now analyzes custom framing elements and generates structural section geometry parameters for the element. Steel connections are then more easily implemented with in-house framing elements.
Steel element priority in a connection
Specify primary elements and the order of secondary elements within a steel connection.
Structural section geometry properties
The Type Properties dialog and the Family Types dialog now group parameters used to create fabrication geometry for structural framing elements. Additional parameters were also added to better define structural section shapes and help analyze custom framing elements when placing connections.
Rebar placement in free form concrete objects
You can now place rebar in concrete elements with complex geometry such as curved piers and decks.
Varying rebar distribution improvements
To enhance productivity and detailing intent, varying rebar sets can now distribute along curved surfaces, including free form objects.
Rebar placement in imported concrete elements
You can now reinforce imported concrete elements from SAT files or InfraWorks.
Graphical rebar constraints in 3D Views
The graphical rebar constraint editor is now available in 3D views. Use in canvas tools for enhanced and accurate rebar placement.