Its the Little Things - Default 3D Views

Another subtle 2011 change.

Problem

In every release of Revit going back to the start we've had the concept of the "Default 3D view".  You click the little house icon and get a 3D axon view named "{3D}".  Renaming this view preserves it and allows another one to be created using the same method.

When worksharing came into the picture the {3D} view started to become a source of contention.  A project team member would manipulate the view and it would be signed out to them.  This then caused other team members to receive a permissions warning when they tried to manipulate the same view.

Workaround

The work around was to save off individual views for each user but the convenience of the Default 3D View tool continually caused the situation to reoccur.  Several customers had brought this issue to our attention.

Solution

Now in 2011 the Default 3D view is user specific and works the same as it would in a non workshared file. 

When the little house icon is clicked it looks for a view named {3D - username}. Username is defined in the application "Options" "General" tab available from the "R" application menu.

If this view exists it is opened, if not it is created.

The system always directs people to their own default view so the previous contention is eliminated.

 

_erik

 

 

Comments

[Rafael Alvarez]

I wish we had this same "automatic" user view management available for other types of views. We usually create work views and plot views. It would be useful if work views could be created dynamically to match the username as well.

[Jeffrey McGrew]

This is one of my recent favs. We usually too have Working and Plot views, and for everyone to get their own 3D working view automatically has been great!

[Tim Waldock]

Yes it is a very welcome new feature, so our users don't have to fight over the default 3D view.
I also like that if you try to save a default 3D view (Right-click on view cube) it prompts you to give the view a name (ie duplicates it).