Just like last year, Autodesk have opted for a mid-life release in the form of Revit 2016 R2 but a few less structurally orientated tools than last year’s Revit R2 release! Never the less, some of the Platform tools are very useful and make the user experience even better. Let’s take a look at some of these new features in a little more depth. I have opted just to show the most relevant tools for the structural workflow. Before we start here is a list of all the new features.
Multi-Disciplinary Enhancements
- Global parameters
- Cancel Print and Export
- Family visibility preview
- Filter Voids and Solids
- Performance Enhancements
- Occlusion Culling
- Export to DWF/DWFx
- Colour Fills
- Background Processes
- Object Styles
- Revisions
- Sheet Issues/Revision Dialog Box
- Revisions on Sheet Dialog Box
- Revit Links
- Work sharing
Architectural Enhancements
- Perspective Views
- Spot Slope
- Wall Joins
- Railings
- Autodesk Raytracer Rendering
- Energy Analysis
MEP Enhancements
- Fabrication
- Insert Part
- Connect as Tap
- Rotation Tools
- Show Service
- Electrical Settings
- Assigning a Distribution System
Global Parameters
This is probably the most interesting of the new features as it now allows control of multiple elements with a single parameter. In the example below I have used two Global Parameters to control the floor to floor levels in a structure. I have the typical Floor to Floor height of 3600mm and a service level of 4000mm.
The first stage is to create the levels and dimension these levels with Aligned Dimensions.
You then select the dimensions that you would like to assign a Global Parameter and then click the Label tool on the Options Bar (Similar to the creation of parameters in a family)
You can then control the various values of each parameter by first selecting the dimension and then clicking the small ‘pencil’ icon or using the Global Parameters Icon on the Manage Ribbon.
You will then see the Global Parameters Dialog where you can create new parameters, edit existing parameters or delete parameters. What is quite interesting is that you can use Reporting Parameters to control your own user parameters.
A good use for this is possibly setting steelwork to the base of a floor slab. In the image below you can see that a reporting parameter has been added to the floor slab (225) and this has been referenced by a Global parameter (Beam Control). You can then assign this parameter to the beams offset in the Properties Palette.
Linking Revit Models
A simple but useful new feature is to link Revit Projects from Project Base Point to Project Base Point. This can be useful when each model has set the geometry out from this point.
Some of the other features are more ‘cosmetic’ in nature but all add to a good user experience in the day to day use of the software.
Here is the reworked View Range dialog box which is ideal for new users who wonder about the various settings such as View Depth, Top Range etc.
The Filters dialog box has had a bit of reorganisation by separating Rule Based and Selection Filters to reduce the amount of filters displayed in the dialog box.
Reference Planes can now be renamed directly within the graphics screen for ease of use.
You can also select multiple sub categories in the Object Styles dialog box which increases productivity when creating project templates.
So there’s a very quick ’round up’ of the new features. Again, not too bad for a mid year release.
LawrenceH