Navisworks 2012 is coming!

I am sure a number of you have heard the buzz for weeks now. Navisworks 2012 is on its way and now I can talk about it! So, what features does this new version bring? How about switchback to Revit! Yes, you heard me correctly. The switchback feature that works oh so well for Autocad based files (and Microstation) now works with Revit 2012! Wahoo!

As you can see to the right, like Autocad, you will need to launch Revit 2012 and have an empty project open so ou can launch the switchback feature. In Autocad based products, as you are well aware, yo u need to launch Autocad (or Autocad MEP, Architecture, etc.) and then type NWLOAD at the command line to get it talking with Navisworks.

After loading the model, if you select an element in Navisworks and right click, you will see the switchback option on the menu as shown below.

Another huge improvement is also Revit related. You can now export linked files from Revit to Navisworks. Again, this is a setting inside of Revit, but linked files now read through which means you will not have to open up every link in Revit to get it to export to Navisworks. This will solve quite a number of long standing issues, especially in regards to project work points, dataset alignment and project hours spent opening and re-exporting files. You will also note that construction parts ( a new feature in Revit 2012) is also supported.



















Other features you may want to investigate:

• Timeliner Improvements (Gantt view is now editable and more integrated into the tool)
• Clash Detection Improvements (you can now assign clashes, export to a tabular html format and have a wire frame option in the Clash Detection viewer when looking at clashes)
• Improvements in 2D file support (including Archicad, Sketchup, Pro/Engineer).
• Project Browser (more on this in another blog posting).
• Appearance Profiler (last year a subscription tool, this year it is integrated in the software)
• Additional Avatars other then T-Shirt Guy and Hard Hat Guy (last year through subscription, this year it is integrated into the software).
• Vault support
• Timeline Options (formally known as Global Options)

You can download a free 30 day trial for Navisworks and Revit 2012 here when they becomes available:

http://usa.autodesk.com/navisworks/trial/
http://usa.autodesk.com/revit-architecture/trial/

Note: You will need Revit 2012 to test the switchback feature.

Happy trails...er...Trials!