by Lachmi Khemlani

This software review takes a detailed look at Revit Architecture 2011 in two parts, continuing here with design productivity, visualization and rendering tools, performance improvements, and other tools and changes, along with an overall analysis of the 2011 release. —Editor

Design, Documentation, and Family Editor Enhancements

Revit Architecture 2011 includes several enhancements for improving design productivity on everyday tasks. Users now have the ability to specify the text size of the temporary dimensions — also commonly referred to as "heads-up dimension display" — as well as choose whether their background should be displayed as transparent (the default option) or opaque.

Also, if the witness lines of the temporary dimensions are relocated, the application remembers their new locations for the rest of the working session, making it easier for users to model accurately in reference to specific objects or points. Another useful modeling enhancement is the ability to use the Align tool independent of the active workplane and even across non-coincident surfaces.

Several features formerly available only in Revit Structure software are now available in Revit Architecture as well, such as the ability to create curved beams, slanted columns, beam copings, trusses, metal deck profiles, and some other structural elements. Also, export of AutoCAD DWG drawings is now accomplished through the same methods Revit uses for display and printing, leading to greater visual fidelity between the exported DWG file and the generating Revit view.

There are also several improvements in the documentation tools, most of which have been engineered directly in response to user requests. Custom elevation tags can now be created based on office standards — they can have any shape and any number of arrows pointing in non-orthogonal directions relative to the tag body.

Several improvements have been made to the text tools including the ability to adjust the location of the leader relative to the text block, control text offsets from the border, format text with bullets and numbering, and the ability to use the Find & Replace Text tool, which is very helpful for large text blocks such as notes.   >>>

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SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE The Align tool in Revit Architecture 2011 can be used to align patterns on non-coplanar vertical surfaces in a 3D view. Image: AECbytes Extra Large Image SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE In Revit Architecture 2011, it is possible to batch-create new drawing sheets by selecting placeholder rows in a list of user-defined sheet names. Image: AECbytes Extra Large Image   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.