14 June 2021
Revit 2022: Top 10 Features with Architectural Appeal
Over the last few years, Revit® has taken some criticism from architects who weren’t happy with the software’s growing cost of ownership coupled with what they perceived as unimpressive development from Autodesk®. In July of 2020, a group of those architects published an open letter to Autodesk, expressing their concerns. Autodesk responded with an impressively updated version of Revit, delivering an array of over 35 new features and improvements, plus bug fixes and overall performance refinements. Here are ten user favorites.
- Phase Parameters in View Filters
That may not be the sexiest subheading ever written, but for many of us, this feature is a pretty big deal. In earlier versions, the Phasing Graphic Overrides affected all categories of elements. On some projects, that overall effect was neither needed nor wanted.
Sometimes, one wants to make changes to everything, and sometimes not. The new update, however, allows you to select Phase Created and Phase Demolished view filter rules. In other words, you can specify what you want changed — either all of it, or some of it. Also, in earlier Revit versions, with the Graphic Override menu, you were unable to specify different effects for different phases of a project. In projects with multiple phases, that was an annoying limitation. In Revit 2022, you can set up your view filters to display each phase in a different color, which is a handy way of keeping the phases visually separated and avoiding confusion.
- Tapered Walls
The 2021 version of Revit introduced the new Slanted Walls feature. The 2022 version improves upon that significantly, giving you access to tapered walls (you know, slanted on both sides or straight on one side and slanted on the other), which should prove to be incredibly useful for things like retaining walls, for example.
. . . Revit 2022 looks set to appease the architectural gods (as well as the gods of engineering and construction).
- Multi-Leader Tags
In Revit 2021, if you had multiple identical elements next to one another, you had to create separate, individual tags. That’s no longer the case in Revit 2022. After a tag is created, you can access the Add/Remove host tool in the contextual tab. Simply select the tool and then add the elements you want assigned to that existing tag. Ah, sanity-saving simplicity, literally with a click or two.
- Native PDF Export
In older versions of Revit, you had limited choices in this area. Either you used a paid PDF printer, or you scrounged for a free one online. In Revit 2022, that’s nothing but a distant memory! Revit has a brand new PDF export button. If you can use a printer, you can use this feature, as the export settings are familiarly similar to the printing settings.
- View Filters Multi-Selection
This one is a straight-up time-saver. Do you recall how view filters had to be selected, adjusted and moved one-by-one? No more! Now you can select multiple filters all at once (simply by using CTRL or SHIFT). This means you can add graphic overrides to multiple view filters, instead of repetitively adding them one at a time. This speeds up the process a lot and could possibly result in longer lunches for you.
- Revisions Numbering Flexibility
You probably remember the frustration of being limited to either numeric or alphanumeric numbering options for sheets. Now? Thanks to Revit 2022, you can also create your own tailor-made, numbering sequences — a simple, yet handy option-increasing upgrade for custom numbering.
- Improved Parameter Type Identification, Filtering and Search
Do you recall how in the scheduled fields sections, you may have had a huge list of parameters, but no way to search for them? Well, this menu has been seriously revamped.
Now you can select to view either type or instance parameters, or filter by discipline, parameter name or type. Additionally, the total number of available fields is handily displayed. (And it’s available in Project Parameters as well as in schedules. Pretty cool.)
- Shared Parameters in Key Schedules
If you ever wanted to add shared parameters to key schedules in Revit 2021 or earlier versions, you know it was only a dream. You could use Project Parameters, but not shared. In Revit 2022, that limitation is no more. Shared parameters in key schedules is finally possible. This is a relatively simple feature, but with big potential for clarity and accuracy.
. . . get those imports done in literally one simple step — and with flawless formatting — saving you a ton of time and eliminating a boatload of frustration.
- System Families in Multi-Category Schedules
Previously, Revit 2021’s multi-category schedules would only show loadable families such as doors, windows, furniture and so forth. Now, Revit 2022 adds to those with nine new categories (wall, roof, floor, railings, ramps, stairs, ceilings, curtain wall mullions and building pads), plus four new subcategories you can schedule: walls (wall sweep); roof (fascia, gutter, roof soffits); floor (slab edge) and stairs (landings, runs and supports). The increased capability of having almost all elements in a schedule is helpful when managing large models.
- Split Schedules across Sheets
In Revit 2021, you could split schedules to fit on a sheet, but you couldn’t have parts of the same schedule on different sheets. That was annoying and something Autodesk addressed in Revit 2022. If you go to the modify tab of the schedules, you’ll find a new tool called Split & Place. This will allow you to select the sheets onto which you want to split and place your schedule.
Does New & Improved Mean “Perfect”?
With over 35 new features and improvements, Revit 2022 looks set to appease the architectural gods (as well as the gods of engineering and construction). Realistically, though, we all know that “new and improved” doesn’t necessarily mean, “perfect.” One area that still generates frustration and complaints is the process of importing data from Excel spreadsheets or Word documents into Revit.
Whether it’s schedules or general notes that you desire (and your client requires), we can help you get those imports done in literally one simple step — and with flawless formatting — saving you a ton of time and eliminating a boatload of frustration.
