What's New in Autodesk Revit Structure 2011

The new Autodesk Revit Structure 2011 release has streamlined a lot of day-to-day functionality of modeling structure. Autodesk has enhanced the appearance of the Revit user interface to make common practices easier for the user. The ribbon interface has become more accepted among users and is widely known to boost production and ease of use.

One of the main noticeable user interface enhancements is the static properties box. This gives the user the ability to have the properties box remain open for editing while selecting objects. Multiple objects can be selected and changed faster and easier with this new feature. Reduction in button clicks is always beneficial to the designer and helps with increasing deadline demands.

The properties box will be docked above the project browser as a default and can be undocked or turned off.

The User Interface button on the view tab can be easily selected to turn the properties box on and off if more drafting area is required.

Revit Structure 2011 also provides a new dialogue box that enables the user to set up keyboard shortcuts from the User interface button!

Tooltips in Revit Structure 2011 have been enhanced with video files that play to animate the action of the commands!

The Quick access toolbar has been expanded and has more customization abilities!

You will notice that many panels on the ribbon have been added and grouped together in a more practical manner. Text functionality has been increased. Bullets numbering can now be controlled in text to better manage paragraphs. There is also a new Find/Replace command that helps make changes easier and faster!

Revision management can now be accessed through a button on the ribbon. A Demo button is added for easier designation of objects that need to be on the demo phase.

The Worksets and Design Options functionality can now be accessed directly from the bottom of the screen in 2011.

Modeling Structural columns in Revit Structure 2011 has been enhanced. Slanted columns can now be placed with two clicks in the plan views. The connection relationship between column ends, floors and beams has more control functions accessible through the properties box.

Perpendicular

Horizontal

Vertical

Concrete joins are immediately cleaned upon modeling in 2011.

Working with beam systems in Revit Structure can be a time-saving function while modeling. However, if changes to individual members after placing beam systems need to be made, there have been hurdles in the past to get the configuration exactly the way we like them. Revit Structure 2011 has a new feature that allows us to remove the beam system and leave the individual members in place. This makes changes and tweaking easy without having to remodel the complete system.

The same functionality has been added to Trusses as well!

As the industry continues to adopt Revit Structure as a leading tool for the BIM process, Autodesk continues to innovate and create ways to produce a user friendly tool.

Good luck. I wish everyone success in their designs!

This page last edited on Monday, February 14, 2011