Mastering Autodesk Revit 2021
Autodesk introduced Revit 2021 on April 8, 2020, with several new features. With
these new features, you can explore and ace different designs of data-driven
algorithms. They improve collaboration, productivity, visualization, data exchange,
and generative design.
1. Slanted Walls
This feature has been in demand for years. Revit 2021 allows you to create slanted
walls without using mass or model-in-place commands. You can also develop slanted
doors and windows. Using the new instance parameter, you can select the wall to be
slanted at a specific angle, and it will automatically adjoin the adjacent walls.
To make a wall slanted, you need to set the Cross-Section instance parameter to
Slanted. After doing so, an adjacent angle, called Angle from Vertical, becomes
available. Developing a positive angle will slant the walls to the exterior, while a
negative angle will do the same to the interior. To align the windows and doors to
the slanted walls, click on the Orientation parameter and click Slanted.
2. Generative Design
Generative design has been a buzzword for years, and in this new release, Autodesk
brings its first-ever generative design toolkit within Revit. This functionality comes
from the Project Refinery public beta. You can still access earlier versions of these
tools and Revit through the beta site.
This tool is available in the Manage tab. Clicking on the Create Study option will
reveal three pre-built examples: Maximize Window Views, Three Box Massing, and
Workspace Layout. You can also customize your own.
Maximize Window Views calculates scores that represent the quality of views to the
outside. It generates various viewpoints. Three Box Massing calculates floor and
facade area. It creates simple massing models by alternating the heights and relative
positions of the three boxes. Workspace Layout calculates the average distance to
exits. It generates rows of desks in a room and maximizes the average score for the
number of views outside each desk.
3. Link Raster Images and PDF Files
Earlier, integrating images in Revit was not easy. You could only import images,
resulting in the models becoming much bigger. Revit 2020 allowed you to import
PDFs, but there was still no option to link them. With Revit 2021, you can easily link
raster images and PDF files from local or BIM 360 locations. Using this new feature,
you can use drawings and images as references for modeling without affecting the
size of the file.
To link images and PDF files, click on the Insert tab. There will be two options - one
for linking and one for importing. The process for linking images and PDF is the
same as importing, with the difference being that linking keeps your models clean
and light. The Manage Links menu now includes separate tabs for images and PDF.
4. Rotate Tags with Components Improvement
In the older versions, you could only rotate tags horizontally and vertically. Revit
2021 controls the rotation of symbols, tags, etc., to match the rotation angle of an
element. Check the Rotate with Component option inside Tag Family. Once you have
rotated the tag, you need not rotate the room, area, and space tags manually. The
following tags respond to the Rotate with the Component setting:
1. Curtain Wall Tags
2. Door Tags
3. Casework Tags
4. Foundation Tags
5. Furniture Tags
6. Furniture System Tags
7. Casework Tags
8. Curtain Panel Tags
9. Window Tags
10.Walls Tags
11.Ramp Tags
12.Railing Tags
13.Property Boundary Tags
14.Property Line Segment Tags
15.Path of Travel Tags
16.MEP Equipment Tags
17.Specially Equipment Tags
18.MEP Element Tags
19.Structural Column Tags
However, you cannot rotate the tags horizontally or vertically once the Rotate with
Component setting is enabled.
5. Void Cut Family Geometry
Within the Family Editor parameter, void elements now have a criterion known as
Cuts Geometry. Earlier, you had to use methods like parametrically moving the void
away from the geometry so that it is not cut. With this update, you can control if the
void cuts geometry or not. This only works on geometry within the family and not
on all the elements within the project.
When you generate a void, it only affects the existing geometry. This feature allows
the void to cut solids that are created after the void. When you use this option, the
material of the second picked object is applied to both objects. You cannot cut detail
families, system families, and profile families with solids.
To cut geometry with voids, follow these steps:
1. Create solid geometry in the Family Editor
2. Create a void through the solid geometry
3. Make another solid geometry and add it to the existing one
4. Click on the Geometry panel in the Modify tab and then click on the Cut
drop-down. Select the void you created. Here, the cursor will change its shape
5. Now, select the second solid geometry you created
6. If you want to cut more than one element using the void, select Multiple Cut
on the Options bar
6. Enable/Disable View Filters
Before Revit 2021, if you wanted to see a view without the filters, you would have to
remove it from the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog, and this would lose various
settings linked with that filter. If you wanted to bring back the filter, you would have
to set the overrides all over again manually.
Revit 2021 gives you the option to activate or deactivate a filter in a view without
having to remove it completely. You can do this by clicking on the Filters Tab in the
Visibility/Graphics dialog and then selecting the Enable in View option. When you
select that option, the filter exists in the view and does not override elements that fit
the criteria.
7. Row Striping for Schedules on Sheet Views
In Revit 2020.1, Autodesk introduced the striped rows feature. Unfortunately, it did
not work when the same schedule was placed on sheets. With the release of Revit
2021, this feature has been expanded to be included in Sheets. It lets you control the
appearance of the schedule in sheets by using the Appearance Menu of the schedule.
8. Enhanced Realistic Views
With Revit 2021, Autodesk offers new quality and performance experience. It has
replaced ‘Realistic’ and ‘Ray Trace’ visual styles. The new Enhanced Realistic view is
a perfect amalgamation of the material characteristics of the Realistic view style and
the lighting features of the Ray Trace style.
It allows you to envision designs in real-time. Using Automatic Exposure Controls,
you can explore your model from the inside out without changing the settings. Using
Enhanced Realistic Views, you can:
1. Have a smooth view navigation
2. Change the appearance of a light releasing from a fixture
3. View navigation in a realistic view
To achieve the best results, apply material appearances, lighting and exposure
effects, and composition of the view.
9. Path of Travel
This allows you to modify the start and endpoints, and insert or remove waypoints
along a path. It helps you assess travel distances and times between two selected
points in the model.
To place a path of travel, follow these steps:
1. Open a Plan view
2. Click on the Route Analysis Panel in the Analyze tab and then on Path of
Travel
3. Select the starting point of the path of travel by simply clicking on it
4. Choose the ending point
The selected path is the shortest travel distance between the two points, avoiding
model element obstacles.
10. BIM 360 Enhancements
Due to current work-from-home arrangements, there has been a significant increase
in BIM 360 designs.
Homepage enhancement: Revit 2021 has upgraded the BIM 360 Designs project
access and the ability to search from the Homepage. This includes a link to the BIM
360 via your browser.
Functionality change: The support for the Plans folder has been deleted. The only
place available for Revit models now is the Project Files.
European-based servers: Only Revit 2021 and newer projects are supported for
BIM 360 servers situated in Ireland.
11. Customized Workspace
This new feature helps you create a user profile in Revit. Based on your preferences,
the Revit interface changes. After it has been updated or installed, the Ask Profile
dialog appears. It consists of questions about your job role and the discipline for
which you are using Revit.
When you state the disciplines, the ribbon tabs and tools related to other disciplines
are hidden. Your workplace is customized to simplify the user interface by showing
only what you need. If you want to use the hidden tabs and tools, click on the File
tab, go to Options and then click on the User Interface tab.
12. Circuit Naming
Revit 2021 allows you to customize the Circuit Number property of a circuit. To
assign a default circuit naming scheme for your model, follow these steps:
1. Click New Scheme to create a circuit naming scheme. Select the prefixes,
suffixes, separators, and parameters to define the scheme.
- By moving the parameters between the panes, you can add and remove them.
You can even include a shared parameter.
- Click on Add Parameter.
In the Parameter Properties dialog, click on Select and choose the parameter you
wish to add. Click OK twice.
2. Select a circuit naming scheme from the list and click Edit scheme to edit a
circuit naming scheme and Delete scheme to remove it.
Revit 2021 has added new algorithm-aided design tools that allow you to make
data-informed decisions with visual-friendly graphics. Autodesk has managed to
deliver excellent values in its annual update. You must check out the Autodesk Revit
2021 course offered by NetCom Learning to familiarize yourself with the required
tools and understand the basics of a complete structural project.
