We've customized our icons to add the last two digits of the version number. This helps to tell them apart in the taskbar, desktop shortcuts, etc. (especially since 14-16 were so similar). However, it would be really helpful if we could have the version number appear in the "R" application icon also (in the top left, when Revit's running). This would be helpful when switching back and forth between versions.
Well besides the 2017 and 2018 icon looking exactly the same. Why cannot we have each version its only color? Typically I have a few versions open and would be nice to be able to know what version is what only from its color
There is no association between the icon graphics and the Revit version. They are more or less distinquishable if they sit beside each other, but it is impossible looking at an isolated icon to tell what Revit version it starts.
My idea is: Put the version number in the top-right corner of the icon.
It looks good enough even for the small size icons:
As an option it can be one digit only. Keep the same icon design (the R letter and the background color) for a decade. And put the version number in the top left corner for the sequential year in the decade (i.e. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.). Next decade change the icon design and start numbers with 0.
I've just realized that numbers for icons are not acceptable. Because all Revit files in the system will appear with icon displaying the last-installed Revit version, let's say 18. But every file can be done with a various Revit version (i.e. 15) and displaying the number 18 for it will confuse users.
If so we can play with icon graphics only. Here is the proposition:
A year decade (20010, 2020, etc.) starts with a "solid" color icon.
Then we count years with "dots":
Hope it's easy to guess which number each icon represents.
With the next decade the icon turns to another "solid" color:
Could we have the application icon on new releases stamped with the year so it's easier to identify on our desktop, so we know if that R icon we about to click will start Revit 2017, Revit 2018 or what-have-you?
The same could be said for other Autodesk programs e.g. Navisworks.
And I know I can make my own custom shortcut icons (already do), but if you guys sort it out at your end, then I won't have to hear people complaining at me
Just to play devil's advocate, you do realize that they'll then have others complaining about time wasted on "pretty pictures" when there's "real bugs" to fix...
There's no code changes needed so dev's time to fix bug wouldn't be affected. The icon is designed by different teams, I'm pretty sure. Implementing this would take them all of 5 minutes every year
Icon design takes a weeee bit longer than 5 minutes (code updates are simple compared to icon design). Keep in mind we're dealing with perceptions here, reality has a hard time intruding.
Not disagreeing, it would be nice. I'd just like to ensure some user support for when the inevitable "Why did you waste time on that instead of ____" arguments start flying afterwards. It may be a different department but it's all the same budget.
While I'm not claiming to be a graphic designer, I know that it took me less than 5 minutes to find Revit.ico, edit it (IN PAINT!), and slap a 17 in the top corner.
It's not going to break the bank for Autodesk to do it properly.
You're right. But, since we know Autodesk has to do MUCH more important improvements, right-click the icon, select properties, and choose yourself another icon... It might take you a search on your computer to find where you have any "*.ico" files (will tame me some time, anyway), but you can give the older versions the picture of your granny...? Or your beloved one, with a new pic every year?
I suggest adding the version number to the Revit Windows icon. With versions being put out so quickly, we have many project in each version of Revit from the past couple years and we do not always upgrade to the latest version. The icons on the Windows taskbar all look the same from Revit 2017, 2018, and 2019. This would cause less confusion in opening projects in the appropriate version of the software.
Anonymous
09-17-201801:26 PM
09-17-201801:26 PM
I made these a while ago (as you can tell from the years). It wasn't that hard, but it was time consuming with all of the conversions between file types and everything. I can't believe no one's made a simple pack of these to download.
It's a long thread and goes off topic in the middle, but read all the way through. It comes back at the end
Anonymous
10-10-201812:22 PM
10-10-201812:22 PM
I really Like this idea! We have multiple versions of ACA, Navis and Revit on our machines. My users sometimes get confused and we have to quickly cancel an upgrade. This would be helpful, but I'm sure mistakes will still happen.
Anonymous
10-10-201804:40 PM
10-10-201804:40 PM
It would certainly be very helpful - i only have 4 versions of Revit on this PC.
The only work around ATM is to HOVER over the icon for the version to appear, prior to launching the application.
Yes it would be helpfull! Thank you dplump for the alternative it works fine.
Anonymous
11-20-201802:16 AM
11-20-201802:16 AM
This would be useful, or at least change the colour of each 'R' logo. as the small year number may not be clear enough depending on your resolution or where your icon is paced….desktop / start bar etc.
I’ve done what’s mentioned above as have 15 to 19 installed....(15 standard, 16 standad,17 green, 18 red, 19 standard...so far!!))
Aaand with the 2020 release it once again looks like the previous years. This wouldn't be a problem if didn't all have 2, 3, 4 versions of Revit on our computers...but we all do.
We have various projects which are in different version of revit and as the revit icons are all similar, it's very confusing which revit to open. I usually open pinned icons from taskbar. Of course, we have changed the icon file to different color and adding 18,19,20 etc to differentiate the versions, we would suggest autodesk to make it offically different.
I recommend using the approach Gordon mentions (on the pragmaticpraxis.com website), which is also the tool i use for automating the icon replacement. If you simple relace the icon in the shortcut itself, it only replaces it for that ONE shortcut. If you swap the ICO file in the INSTALLERS directory, it replaces it everywhere that program has a shortcut: Start menu, QL bar, Shortcuts on desktops, etc.
Also, we had to add a few more platforms, recently. Maya is now in there, as well as a few others. Not everyone agrees with the colors or the organizational methods (all of the autocad verticals are subsets of A, including C3D), but thats the beauty of it not being a public project... i just dont care. Haha
Hello, Do you can change the color of the revit icon in the next version? it is now unclear which version of revit you have open, especially if 3 different versions are open next to each other.
The link for these is dead. I have google searched high and low. I can only find this link but the google drive within only contains Revit and AutoCAD. Does anyone still have these available to share?
@Prlx_AaronM That link in the Twitter above and Revit forums are both dead/broken. I have looked at all the options posted here, that is why I am inquiring.
@Prlx_AaronM That is not what I am able to see, I have checked a few different ways and on two machines.... after filling out the sign in form I get this page
@twiceroadsfool Can you please update your link to change the Icons? I keep accidentally opening Revit 2019 instead of 2022. This would be so helpful to have!!
Tenk så fantastisk det hadde vært om skrivebordsikoner for hver versjon, 2019, 2020, 2021, hadde hatt egne farger så jeg slapp å trykke og åpne feil hele tiden
Would be amazing if the Revit App icon was updated to show the year. This would be nice change for the icon that sits on the taskbar. For example: Regular "R" logo, with a little 22' in the bottom right corner.
Autodesk should change the Revit icon to show the version year in place of "RVT" for easier use for people who have to use different versions. I had to create my own for easier use for working on multiple projects in different versions of Revit. An example of what it can look like can be seen below.
Currently, all revit versions share the same .rvt file extension, though the files are not backwards compatible, and initiate upgrade process if opened in a later version. This makes it impossible to tell which version to open the model in, and opening every version of revit is lengthy process.
It seems most logical to have different file extensions, such as .rvt23, .rvt24, .rvt25, which correlate with the different versions.
Additionally these different versions would have a different program icon such as the example shown in the attached image.
@Andres_Jimenez : Different icons with year numbers seems like a great idea. But different file extension seems a bit too much. You would also need different extensions for .rfa, rft, rte, pat files. It's just too much to maintain so many file extensions.