Revit Architecture 2011 User Interface

Dan Stine, CSI, CDT
Registered Architect and Author

The user interface (UI) is an important aspect of any program. Learning the basics is essential to mastering features and becoming efficient. In last year’s 2010 release of Autodesk Revit, Architecture, Structure and MEP, the UI changed significantly. Gone were the toolbars, menus and design bar and in came the Ribbon. This created quite a stir among many seasoned Revit users. Many have now managed to get used to the new UI, similar to the transition most had gone through with Microsoft Office 2007.

With the 2011 release of Revit, Autodesk has made many improvements to the UI. Some of these changes undoubtedly are in response to user feedback. This article will highlight the changes made to the 2011 UI in comparison to the previous release.

The following image is an overview of the 2011 user interface, with its various components identified.

Properties Palette

The most notable change in the Revit 2011 UI is the Properties Palette, which is docked on the left side of the screen, above the Project Browser, when the application is first opened. This information was previously accessed by selecting Element Properties from the Ribbon or right-clicking. The new modeless palette replaces the Instance Properties dialog (modeless means you may continue to use the software while the palette remains open). The Properties Palette is also the only place you can access the Type Selector, which is convenient as it will always be visible. Previously it was possible to switch to a different tab on the Ribbon and hide the Type Selector. The only possible problem now is that the Properties Palette can be closed. However, you can just type “PP” to restore it.

It is unlikely that most users will keep the Properties Palette docked above the Project Browser. On a large project the Project Browser can have hundreds of views to sift through and the tall height is a must. Some might opt to place the Properties Palette alongside the Project Browser or on the other side of the screen. It is not necessary to have the full height of the screen available for the Properties Palette; however, it needs to remain open for access to the Type Selector as well as other useful options such as the ceiling height while placing ceilings. Both the Project Browser and Properties Palette can be placed on a second monitor if you have one.

When nothing is selected in the model, the Properties Palette displays the current view’s properties—scale, view range, etc. So the Properties Palette also replaces the View Properties dialog found in previous versions of Revit.

When elements are selected in the model, the Type Selector works the same as before, shown on the left side of the image below. However, below the Type Selector is a new element filter drop-down list. As shown in right side of the image below, you see the category and quantity is listed. Selecting from this list narrows the parameters listed in the Properties Palette down to just one category. However, the other elements are still selected. This new Type Filter functionality is different from the traditional Filter tool which changes the selection set.

It should be noted that any changes made in the Properties Palette are not applied to the model until the Apply button on the palette is pressed or the user moves their cursor back into the drawing window.

Quick Access Toolbar

The Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) in Revit 2011 has been populated with several high demand tools, as shown below. This gives users instant access to these tools regardless of which tab is current on the Ribbon.

As before, additional tools can be added if required. In 2011, it also possible to reorganize the location of tools on the QAT. This is done using the Customize Quick Access Toolbar dialog, which is accessed via the down arrow at the right of the QAT. As you can see, there is also the option to move the QAT below the Ribbon if required.

Changes to the Ribbon

The Ribbon was introduced in the 2010 version of Revit, and as we all know, the first version of any software implementation is not perfect. The second version may not be either, time will tell. Several changes have been made to the Ribbon in Revit 2011. These changes include revised graphics, button size and locations, and how the contextual tabs work. Also, as already mentioned earlier, the Type Selector has been moved away from the Ribbon.

A few of these changes will be highlighted here. The images shown below are specifically for Revit Architecture, but the impact is similar in Revit Structure and Revit MEP.

Home tab

The Home tab has been changed to take advantage of the screen resolution available with the high resolution monitors common to any CAD/BIM stations today. All of the tools have been expanded to full size buttons. Also, each tab on the Ribbon starts with the Modify tool, which has been removed from the QAT. The Opening tools have grown from a fly-out button on the Modify tab to their own panel on the Home tab. (Note: The version of the 2010 Ribbon shown below is the latest build plus the subscription advantage pack, which added a structural tab.)

Modify tab

The Modify tab has changed the most in Revit 2011. The modify tools that only appeared when an element was selected, Mirror, Rotate, etc., are now always accessible on the Modify tab. Furthermore, you can select those tools prior to selecting elements. Gone are most of the text labels for the tools on this tab, you now have to rely on the graphics when selecting a Modify tool. One icon that may be hard to find at first is the Paint tool. It is located on the right side of the Geometry panel—it looks like a circle pointing at a cube.

When an element is selected, the contextual tab now temporarily merges with the Modify tab, as shown above. This keeps all the modify tools front and center. Previously, some modify tools (Align, Trim, etc.) were on one tab and others (Mirror, Rotate, etc.) were on another tab. This is why the Modify tab was moved to the end of the row of tabs, so it can grow without ribbon flicker. I have not tried to load any add-ins yet, so it is not clear if the added tabs will occur before or after the Modify tab.

The Properties buttons shown on the left of the ribbon in the new 2011 UI do the following: the top opens the Type Properties dialog and the bottom toggles the Properties Palette on and off. The Type Selector has moved from the contextual tab to the Properties Palette as previously mentioned.

Annotate tab

The Annotate tab really only has button size changes, as do the remaining tabs that have not been shown here. When the resolution is low or the Revit application window is made smaller than the width of the Ribbon, the buttons will automatically change to smaller buttons so they fit on the screen.

Right-click Menu

The right-click menu has a few changes in Revit 2011. First, Element Properties and View Properties have been replaced with a single Properties option which simply toggles the Properties Palette on and off. Also, you now have an option to repeat the last command or select a fly-out to select from a list of recently used commands, as shown on the left of the image below.

When an element is selected, as shown on the right of the image below, you have a great new option in the right-click menu: Select All Instances > Visible in View. In the past you could only select all instances in the entire project. Some users were not aware of this and created big problems!

Status Bar

Finally, the status bar has a few changes. On the View Control Bar, you have the new Sun Path toggle. This shows the path of the Sun in the sky as well as a compass, as shown below. You can drag the Sun along its daily or yearly path right on screen.

The Visual Style icon has two new options: Realistic and Consistent Colors, as shown below. The Realistic option maps the Render Appearance materials on the surfaces without the need to do a full rendering, as shown in the image on the right. It is not as good as a full rendering, of course, but nice nevertheless. Of course, this slows things down, so its use will be limited on large projects.

Consistent Colors is similar to what one sees in SketchUp. It produces a clean look without the darker surfaces produced by an implied light source, shade and shadow. While in this mode, the Sun Path and Shadows options are disabled. This should prove to be a popular setting for many. A comparison between the Shaded with Edges visual style (top image) and the Consistent Colors visual style (lower image) for the same model is shown below.

Another change in the 2011 UI is that the controls for Worksets and Design Options functionality have been moved to the Status Bar, as shown below. This allows the user to see this information at all times, regardless of which tab is current on the Ribbon.

Reseting the User Interface

If you want to reset the UI and undo any customization to the Ribbon, QAT or Project Browser in Revit 2011, you can find step by step instructions on how to do this online at Autodesk's knowledge base; search for "resetting the Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011 user interface". The site has several other 2011-related support notes already posted to help users get ready for the upcoming release. Things like creating network deployments and post installation tasks can also be found.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this overview has given you information you can use to jumpstart your use of Revit 2011. You should now have more time to explore the new features—a few were mentioned here but many others were not, as they do not relate directly to the UI. Enjoy!

About the Author

Dan Stine, CSI, CDT is a registered Architect with eighteen years experience in the architectural field. He currently works at LHB (a 160 person multidiscipline firm) in Duluth Minnesota as the CAD Administrator, providing training, customization and support for two regional offices. In his current and previous positions, Dan has participated in collaborative projects with several other firms on various projects (including Cesar Pelli, Weber Music Hall – University of Minnesota - Duluth).  Dan is a member of the Construction Specification Institute (CSI) and the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) and also teaches AutoCAD and Revit Architecture classes at Lake Superior College. Additionally, he is a certified Construction Document Technician (CDT) and certified Revit Architecture 2011 Professional.

Mr. Stine has also written the following textbooks (published by SDC Publications; www.SDCpublications.com):

Design Integration using Revit 2011 (Architecture, Structure and MEP): includes DVD
Residential Design Using Revit Architecture 2011 : includes video instruction on DVD
Commercial Design Using Revit Architecture 2011 : includes video instruction on DVD
Residential Design Using AutoCAD 2011 : includes video instruction on DVD
Commercial Design Using AutoCAD 2011 : includes video instruction on DVD
Chapters in Architectural Drawing (with co-author Steven H. McNeill, AIA, LEED AP)

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