Revit 8 Impressions?

[aaronrumple]

All of the Revit releases up to this point have wowed my and I've uttered nothing but praise the speed of development and user friendly features.

So far I'm not as impressed by rel. 8...

Groups. No change. I re-created one of my groups used in a student housing project. It failed with the typical "ungroup and regroup" which is not a solution when you have dimensions in multiple views that would need to be redone. (This feature will force me to recommend we go back to AutoCAD if our next project of 1000beds of student housing is a go. )

The darn elevation symbols. Users have been complaining about these for multiple releases. They are still highly unmanageable in a large project whit lots of interior elevation symbols. It doesn't seem that it would be so difficult for the elevation symbols to inherit some of the characteristics of the section symbol. And it is still ugly.

Wood structures seem better behaved. Of course this being the "structural" release - I expected at least this. I'll need to do some more testing with past projects to make sure we can get the framing we want to work well.

Generic models with materials can now be joined to walls without losing the surface materials. So that's been fixed.

There is much to-do in the help of course about DWF and Buzzsaw. 3D DWF... as posted elsewhere - nice toy. But doesn't sell me on DWF as a format. DWF still doesn't let me create the custom sheet sizes we need. I've still no need for Buzzsaw.

This is the first installation where Revit hasn't installed flawlessly. Of course there is the accompanying Autodesk work around TS document which looks much like what one would expect from AutoCAD and ADT.

And now corrupt files which can't be opened.

Maybe I'll have a different impression once I crack open the API.

[Mr Spot]

Sorry to hear that Aaron.

I wasn't really expecting advancements to the same extent as version 7. After all, it was an extremely short time between releases. And as such am happy with the changes/tools that have been implemented.

If there happens to be a point release where the revision schedule allows for letter issues as opposed to numbers then I'd be a happy man...

[Alex Page]

I like the 3d dwf format, but yeah, the things I thought would be sorted out are as follows:
1. Elevation Symbols
2. Site tools
3. Steel structural joints
4. Way the 'equal-equal' dimensions work, should be able to have them to each side of an object

Seems to me that this release is a small increment, I guess the marketing guys wanted it as a new release to tie into AutoCAD 2006....

By the way, the 3d dwf format doesnt work with linked models, so there goes one huge benifit of it (ie: multi-unit housing)

[Bill McLees]

To date, I know I have Revit 8 because of the splash screen when it opens. I have to read the PDFs to discover the changes, because nothing I actually use seems different. I used the beta as long as it was available and hoped that there would be something more in the final release.

Autocad/ADT 2006 let's you know quickly that it's different from 2005. Maybe the zooming, pre-selecting, etc. don't really do anything, but you at least realize you're using a new release.

I'm completing my first two "pure Revit" jobs and in some ways, Revit is remarkably efficient. On the other hand, I am having to create an extraordinary amount of content that does come with ADT and Archicad and should come with Revit.

[beegee]

Looks like someone got out of bed on the wrong side....

• Edit Loaded Families: This feature alone makes 8.0 invaluable.
• 3D DWF Export: Won a new job with that ( because of that ? ), so I'm stoked with that new feature.
• Graphic Control of lines in walls roofs: Great new useful feature.
• Schedule Nested Families: Excellent feature.
• Midpoint Snapping for Doors and Windows: A terrific time saver.
• Import DWF Markups. Good collaborative feature.
• Export sheet views as a single file: Say goodbye to unwanted XREFs
• File Name Options for Exports: Couldn't live without that now.
• Auto wall dimensioning finds Grid Intersections: Try going back to 7.0, after using that.
• Draw Order maintained for Groups: Bliss.
• Default View templates: Wouldn't be without em.
• Orientation Control for Underlays: Thanks Revit Team !
• 360° Bearing Input: Ahh, you've won me.

... and there are heaps more I haven't even mentioned.

I'm happy !

[Chad Smith]

If there happens to be a point release where the revision schedule allows for letter issues as opposed to numbers then I'd be a happy man...

I commented to Autodesk about the same thing. I thought with all the comments on revision functionality that something (it only had to be small) may have been improved.
But there are certainly a great deal of other small enhancements, which are appreciated for such a short time frame.

3 cheers for 360 degree site boundary inputs, that one has been number 3 on my wishlist since forever.

[Joef]

I think the amount of time that is going to be saved being able to load a family from the family editor is significant. The dimensional lumber now works great. I think it is a pretty impressive release for what is basically the equivalent of Revit 7.1.

Joe

[Marek Brandstatter]

Pure speculation - but I would would imagine that developing the Revit API would have absorbed plenty of the Factory's programming resources. IMHO the Revit API is a MASSIVE enhancement which we are already coding with and it looks very promising.

The future's so bright I gotta wear shades

(moderator's note: )

[luigi]

Let's not forget that now you can export 3D Revit to solids. For people that only use revit it isn't a big deal, but when you need someone else to take the 3d model and work with it, it is a great feature, no more faces

[nrenfro]

I want more improvements too!!! But I think that for the span of time between this and the last release I am very Happy with what new gizmos have been added. As for not noticing the changes instantly I applaud the Revit team for this. The format and manor in which the user interface may not satisfy all but it dose show a solid planning effort as the new features gust plugged right in as if they were always their. I think this will reduce training and orientation time as well. It's much like how I think subscription should work small improvements that are almost naturally integrated into my workflow. with that said I would still like to see more than one release a year.