Give the project browser tabs for: views, legends, schedules, sheets,families,groups,links,assemblies. This would greatly reduce the amount of scrolling/collapsing/uncollapsing
I included a sketch on how it could work (very similar to the 3ds max command panel). There are others ways off course (custom tabs for example similar too the cad palettes where you get to decide how many tabs there are and what is put on them) but I guess this way is easier and accomplishes 95% of the goal.
Just to make sure my previous comment is clear I updated the sketch. It's not very graphically pleasing but I'm sure autodesk will have a way to fix that.
This isn't the first time this idea has come up, and you could argue that we really need a separate built-in family browser... but as a baby step towards a better user experience.
The Problem:
When you're working on a project with a large model - such as a tower or a building with complex levels, the number of floor plans, elevations, sections, and so on can become quite large. In the day-to-day "active work" on a model you're often switching between these views. When you want to print a sheet to review it, or make/modify a family for a new condition, you have to close up all of your trees (or scroll endlessly) to get to the lower parts of the tree - sheets, views families.
The Solution:
Instead of having everything in one long, cascading list that gets really difficult to navigate,it would be nice to have tabs for families and sheets in the Project Browser. Groups and Schedules too, if you can swing it! The icons currently used for each could be put in a horizontal line along the top of the Project Browser, and clicking each would switch between Project Browser views.
Existing Solutions:
Kiwicodes Project browser is OK, but it's expensive for a large office and it's not "in tune" with the interface of Revit. As any BIM manager knows, consistency across machines is important for troubleshooting with users and training people, and Kiwicodes' solution is totally open-ended. Having a basic function built into Revit would be a solid first step, and hopefully open the door to more refinements (such as a better Family Browser) down the road.
Thanks for your submission and votes on this idea! We are evaluating where this request falls into our roadmap and will provide an update when we have made a decision.
We've completed our review of this idea. After investigating the effort required to implement this request, we unable to add it to our roadmap at this time due to other priorities. However, we think this is a great idea so we will reconsider it as we made adjustments to our roadmap in the future. Thanks for the submission and keep voting!
Hopefully there's some way of improving the project browser in the current roadmap. It would be nice to be able to format the text in the project browser, like make some views bold or different colors; or be able to filter to only the open views... similar to what I've seen in the Kiwi plugin.
Revit is really behind on this regard. AutoCAD Sheet Set Manager and AutoCAD Architecture Project Navigator have had this kind of organization for over ten years.
Anonymous
11-20-201601:29 AM
11-20-201601:29 AM
Hi,
it would be nice to have different dock able window for family browser, Revit link browser, sheet browser as well as all views.
Most of our project we have different file for documentation that case once views are created we doesnt required to see views in the project broswser.
so in the various stage of the project we required only particular groups in the Revit model.
Like Navisworks docukble window for various elements, good to have following separate browser.Same time it good to have in one browser when required.
Revit Model Views Browser. (Views are created from model)
Annotation Views. (Legend view and Drafting VIew)
Sheets Browser.
Families Browser.
Revit link browser.
Group Browser
Have good day..
Regards
Sheik Uduman
RSP Architects Planners and Engineers
UAE
Anonymous
11-30-201608:05 AM
11-30-201608:05 AM
The "one window to rule them all" approach revit has had with the project browser has got to go. there needs to be a much more intuitive, faster way to quickly move between sheets, families, views, schedules, etc, that doesn't involve scrolling up and down an interminably long list all house in one window. the collapsing hierarchical approach is not sufficient.
separate the windows for views, sheets, families, and schedules/legends. offer a quicker, more intuitive way to navigate each that isn't a simple scrollbar window. offer bookmarks for quick access between views or windows. create the ability to quickly cycle through bookmarked views so i can switch quickly back and forth between two or three views without closing every single other view i have open. add a thumbnail preview browser for sheets so i can quickly navigate or tell if something egregious is wrong with a sheet without having to manually open it. give me the option to create a custom project browser window that only has the elements i want at that moment, and which i can customize on the fly. give me the option to better customize and tweak my workflow (quickly and effortlessly) and users can adjust as necessary. right now, its a slog. by far the weakest point of revit is its UX/UI. it impedes workflow rather than helps it along. Improve this and you will save companies millions of dollars in saved time.
Instead of having the project browser as one big tree, can't we have at least a few tabs where the main branches are located (views / sheets / schedules / families)? Since sometimes you have to switch between all of this, one gets tired of scrolling up and down...
Justed wanted to add that the current UI already has the ability to dock palettes on top of each other to create tabbed panels. Perhaps the factory could use this to reduce the work that's needed to implement this feature:
1) split the project browser up into discrete panels (one for views, one for legends, ...)
2) adjust visuals (show the symbols instead of text on the tabs + move the tabs to top of panel instead of bottom)
3) in the default UI dock all the panels of the previous PB on top of each other ]
Anonymous
03-24-201710:30 AM
03-24-201710:30 AM
I like the idea of having individual browsers for plans/elevations/3d views, for sheets, and families, since each of these lists can become long and constantly scrolling up and down is a pain.
I don't think having a separate browser for families only is not enough.
Project browser contains a long list of items and one has to scroll up and down several times to locate particular view or family. Even for a small project, list gets long and it is a problem to click and scroll up and down so often.
I think Project browser should be split within the project browser itself in to couple of tabs to reduce this tedious problem. You can have separate tabs for Families and Views. Further View tab can be split in to other tabs for Plan views, 3D views, Rendered views etc. . This will reduce scrolling a lot.
@pieter1 This is an evidence of how serious this problem is because so many people think alike in the same direction. But, alas, Autodesk doing nothing on it.
There are so many views in the list that whatever system of naming you adopt you forget what view contains what. For example, if you have to open a particular rendered image and you forget ( which is quite normal ) the name of the view, you need to open all the rendered images to see the desired image.
This is another tedious task. I think it should show a thumbnail of the view when you hover the cursor over the view name. So that one does not need to open all views to find the desired view.
I would like to add that Drop Down Tabs as suggested by @pieter1 should be made available in the Ribbon. There is a lot of space lying vacant in Ribbon where it can be adjusted. It is far easier to use it there.
In fact, AutoDesk can completely done away with the Project Browser. List of Families is not used much. Every thing in the Project Browser can be very well adjusted in the Ribbon itself.
With that dropdown, I actually meant a dropdown in the project browser to switch between browser organization options. That way I could quickly change how the views/sheets are sorted. For example: only show views that are assigned to specific phase, are on a sheet, etc...
You can do that already, but it's quite hidden (you have to right click on the header) so a lot of users don't realize it exists. A dropdown would make it much more discoverable (not to mention quicker to switch back and forth between options).
It's a pain to keep scrolling through long lists of items in the Project Browser. My suggestion is to divide and rule, with access to items in the browser dictated by need.
1) Separate Browser windows for Views, Sheets, Schedules, Legends, Families, Groups, Links. That way we have access to whatever we need when we need. This would be OOTB and not customizable
2) Once in the window, we should be able to set up tabs. For instance, in Views and Sheets we set up categories. So if I want to see my Detail category, I should be able to create and access a tab for that. Or I should be able to view my Door families without having to scroll through a gazillion items.
This would allow us to further customize the Project Browser per our workflow and model standards, while enhancing productivity and reducing frustration.
Since this has been dubbed "Future Consideration" (one year ago), do we need to repost it (like for "Archived" ideas) to get Autodesk to consider it again?
No, there is no need to post the idea again. We will reconsider projects in the "Future Consideration" state as we adjust our roadmap. We will typically not reconsider things that are archived, although I'm sure there will be exceptions.
Bro, This important thing is not in their future road map. They are working on something much more important things for our benefits. So, chill, do not fret. Have 'faith' in Autodesk and get used to the current UI.
What more important things? I am curious, but once received a survey asking whether we wanted the cancel buttons left or rather in the center... That didn’t help the faith in what’s important for them...
@sakar_deepak did you not just say "Bro, This important thing is not in their future road map. They are working on something much more important things for our benefits. So, chill, do not fret. Have 'faith' in Autodesk and get used to the current UI."
@sakar_deepak I was also curious about what it is that you consider to be "much more important"... but then you're curious, too? Huh?
@peter_vanorshoven You can get hints by looking at the accepted ideas here as well as the current roadmap, but (due to the NDA) if you want to know specifically (and even try it out yourself - no install required), sign up for the beta program (beta.autodesk.com) and give your input on the new features (to make sure they're done right the FIRST time)!
@sakar_deepak LOL. Never underestimate the potential for miscommunication. You sounded so serious, I didn't know what to make of it... That, and I immediately thought of one major UI improvement, so I thought you were referring to that.
Improving Revit browser is much needed and was already suggested here and received much support. I would like to be more specific. I suggest adding another level of editing to the browser that allows the creation of tabs for the main titles and any other sub-families as needed. The idea is to avoid the tedious scrolling down and up in the current browser. Do not decide which are the tabs that are necessary to all of us. Let us custom decide about our needs.
Anonymous
03-07-201809:22 AM
03-07-201809:22 AM
In some projects the Project Browser is very extensive. A good idea to optimize the query of projects views and list of families would be to have an additional tab for each of the items.
Revit 2019 has a lot of great new features, but no tabbed project browser unfortunately.
The latest roadmap doesn't mention any updates on the project browser, but Autodesk will often adjust the roadmap based on user feedback so it's definitely worth replying on the roadmap page.
Seems project browser is seperated by Views, legends, schedules, panel schedules, families, groups, revit links, and assemblies
How about tabs on the side that would jump you to a catagory quickly, we have this in Cadmep to switch between groups of fabrication elements (see image)I find myself scrolling up and down all the time, that would be a nice change
Anonymous
08-09-201811:14 AM
08-09-201811:14 AM
Considering where the chatbot technology is headed, does it make sense to replace the project browser with a chatbot? You type what you are looking for in plain English, chatbot looks at your current project and provides a list of relevant matches. For e.g. you could type Level 1 floor plan and it will return you a link. When you click on that link, it will open the level 1 floor plan. This is just a very simple example, but your query that you type in plain English can be more complicated. For e.g. in future, you could type "section views that has a ceiling" and it will search through all the sections views that show a ceiling and return a list. Then you can click on any one of the sections.
@Anonymous Sounds like a great idea - voice search would be great too (and learning, so that if you call a certain view something, even if it's not in the title, you can still go to it). You should make a separate Idea post to be voted on - who knows, maybe 30 years from now we'll be able to tell Revit "Open the second floor overall plan"!
Idea proposal - to upgrade the full project browser to a more convenient form of project navigation. The goal of the upgrade is to unload the tree structure of the browser itself. When large volumes of navigation is complicated, so if you break into tabs, it will help facilitate and speed up the work. Navigation is tabbed: - views - all project navigation in drawings; - legends - the legend tab used in the project; - Representation - new tab. Allows you to save everything after rendering images and videos in the project itself; - schedules/quantities - tab of specifications, quantitative characteristics and sheets of materials to determine the quantitative characteristics and analysis of the components and materials used in the project; - sheets-sheet organizer tab for outputting finished documentation - families - all used families; - groups - tab of the combined elements; - links - related projects tab Such a hierarchy in the dispatcher will facilitate navigation during design. Additionally, the search register is built into the browser itself. When using the search, all information entered is filtered and highlighted. A search occurs on all tabs. The browser organization tab is added next to the search query. When merging dispatchers, a navigation bar appears at the bottom. If there are any other suggestions, you can include it in the post itself.
Surprisingly, when I was looking for similar information on the browser, the search did not give out. And then it turns out there was already a subject. After reviewing the content of the topic, the developers paid attention to it, but did not pay due attention. In the branch itself there are also interesting navigation solutions, I can refine the concept of how the browser would look better and all the whims of users were involved.
I decided to work out a more pleasant dispatcher interface at my leisure.
Dispatcher exampleAn example of a dispatcher when pinning propertiesFor the most capricious - dispatchers separatelyDispatcher exampleDispatcher exampleDispatcher example
Anonymous
11-19-201801:13 PM
11-19-201801:13 PM
Honestly, coming from another BIM authoring software, I've always found the project browser absolutely ridiculous. Nobody has ever benefited from having their families, views and revit links in the same window.
I'm assuming they were simply dumped there when Revit was first developed, to be resolve/reviewed later and then it was forgotten for 15 years.
I do like the idea of tabbing them but we also have to be able to separate them if needed and we should be able to drag a view and drop it on a sheet on browser to place views on sheets. Ideate apps already does this and it literally says: "How much time do you spend scrolling through the Revit project browser?" on their page.
I think right mouse click and search is already quite useful to get around the browser. Perhaps this context menu could be enhanced by entries like 'jump to sheets' or 'jump to <user defined>'. The menu could also have a tag for allowing/forbidding auto-collapse of the hierarchy.
Anonymous
11-11-201910:18 AM
11-11-201910:18 AM
I would like to be able to open multiple arborescence windows. One for my sheets layouts, an other for groups, etc. So, I could look at the groups and at the sheets without scrolling all the time.
We have been waiting for a reasonable browser for decades. It is high time to get one from Autodesk. I beleive that the best one would be customizable. For us it is important to create separate tabs for the following: Project stage (shared parameter), Families and so on. If you create a fixed form of browser you will again be the right solution for some and the wrong solution for others. The idea of using parameters is to allow you to customize the interface according to your mode of work. But even what you suggest will serve as a great improvement to the current situation.
Mystified that this issue has been dormant for so many years at Autodesk. The benefits to the designer are obvious and huge.
The majority of users are straight ahead design techs, architects and engineers. Little interested in designing or involved with an I M Pei project where the building looks like a fishbowl. The majority are designing buildings, not space stations.
Understood that Revit does have some issues important to the product build but this request is menial and was provided, to a degree, in Autocad years ago.
A little less on the "cool" functions in the pipe for Revit and more emphasis on the real world in the grit functions to improve expediency and organization will be greatly appreciated by the vast Revit community.
Autodesk is paid a fortune for this product. Time to stop thinking like 1965 IBM.
Save any snarky replies. Whether or not Autodesk, or it's champions, like me or not is immaterial. You're getting paid to develop, not just shuffle the same screen around and reissue.
To reorganize and consolidate our Revit Ideas for ease of use to both our customers and our product teams, we are no longer using the "Future Consideration" status for Revit Ideas. All Revit Ideas are always under review, and consolidating posts (and Kudos!) will give weight to topics previously spread across many posts. We are continuing to evaluate where this request falls into our roadmap and will provide an update when we have made a decision.
I know we all hope that Autodesk would fulfill our wishes. But that might take some time. In the meantime, check out this addin, maybe that could help you.
This should have been implemented years ago. I would add that you should be able switch tabs with hotkeys and go to a specific tab using a hotkey. In sheets, the views tab should be open by default to ease placement of views and reduce mouse clicks.
Haha you wish! It's 2021, Autodesk's revenues are going through the roof, but Revit is still the same software with awful and ridiculous UI.
I don't know who is in charge of 'developing' UI in Revit, but I guess it's someone who just 'likes the things they are' and won't allow ANY improvements.
There's so much which could be changed and which could save thousands of people thousands of hours of tedious clicking, scrolling, searching....
I guess this thread will be lot longer in few years' time , with the same issues still debated in vain. Only hope is that the building industry will wake up and will move to a competitor. That and only that will make autodesk to start innovate. So far they've just been acquiring software, milking it for few years and then letting it slowly die without even basic interest in its development.
@jiri_polacekIf only there was someone on the UI team, this wouldn't have been this way for such a long time in the first place. Maybe there needs to be an idea to hire a UI specialist, just like there is a community manager now thanks to a user idea.
Great to see this post gatherd so much votes, i really mis this split browsing function coming from Archicad in college, where i was used to have layouts(sheets), views, split up in diffrent tabs.
Hope they make it like this so there is less redicoulus unnecessary scrolling. (maybe even giving people the choiche in what way they want it, like a list or tabed )
I often exerience navigating through the Project Browser very tedious when I have a large project when I have expanded certain subjects like (Views, legends, schedules. etc.). Of course I can collapse all the subjects, but in some cases I would want to keep certain subjects expanded. It is my belief that the main subjects deserve a tab above in the project browser like the attached screenshot. That way I can switch between subjects a lot more efficient without the loss of specific expanded tiers. I would have the option to select a single subject or to view them all.
Nice app the one you created but it is far from what we need. We are currently developing a new browser for Revit and as soon as we are ready we will post it's purchase options on the app website.
As there was no progress from Autodesk for quite some time we decided to make our own project browser, with its first version available on the App Store:
Please give it a try, with enough users I can enhance it even more. Your suggestions are very welcome (and this thread here is a real treasure I have to say!)
The project browser was created by people who organize their closet by putting all their clothes in a pile, but also include their groceries in there too.
Think about this idea almost weekly when endlessly scrolling trough the project browser, or clossing down and opening tabs...
Note to Autodesk: Please when you guys decide to implement this idea, think of making this into an UI update for older versions as well, in our firm for example they have the habbit of always using a versions older then the latest update.
This has to do with our partners (structural engineers and MEP) who do the same...
Also i would be really usefull to be able to use this on older projects.
By my knowledge the API and UI are mostly seperate so it shouldnt be a big problem to make this into an UI only update ( i can be wrong but i thought it was that way).
If you guys are interested, I can also make a concept version about the project manager, more improved than I did before if you find it above. Then maybe we can force Autodesk to develop the latest project manager.
We have given up waiting for Autodesk to answer to our needs. We are developing a new tabbed browser with RVM software developers. You can contact them via e-mail: oleg@rvm.co.il or avia@rvm.co.il
We created a versatile browser that can be customized using shared parameters and Revit categories.
@Zwielehner It's a good start, but what I'd like to see is added Families Tab also with some sort of Favourites where we could add families which we use often. Also a dark theme (dark grey background) would be nice as Autodesk's parody on dark theme just makes me laugh.
I know lots of people who would be willing to pay for such an add on.
Of course you can have a families tab. Notice that there is one in the tabs shown here. You can choose the family categories you wish to include in the tab according to your needs. Since we are architects we know what are the real needs of users...
@FinearcLtd - yes I know, I was responding to the previous comment. I've already contatcted Avia on email. Is this product availalbe as an add on in the Autodesk App store?
In that case, I am also hoping for F2 Rename and F3 search hotkeys. I personally place the project browser to the right of my screen and would need the tabs to be flipped to the left for ease of access. Is this plugin going to end up as an open source Revit UI improvement project? Because that would be really nice if the community could finally address all the UI related issues (which Autodesk and its developers clearly won't). This could then, hopefully, also be used in previous Revit versions.
I am afraid this is not up to us. We came up with the ideas and specifications. Any further requirements and improvements will be decided by the software developers. It is still in Beta stage but should be in apps store very soon. It's holiday around here right now and you better contact them next week and bombard them with requirements. It really depends on the amount of clients for this I suppose.
We experienced that users rarely use the family list in the project browser, mainly because it is so cumbersome and families are listed last. Mostly users start with the corresponding category command (wall, component, ...) and choose the type afterwards. Also, as this allows for using shortcuts. In our opinion, families should be treated differently than sheets etc.
Families are not necessarily existing in the "project" as views are. They are simply stored in the Revit file, and some are placed. That are different concepts, and the reason why we separated them.
If you know many users willing to use our project browser please send them in ;). We are happy to improve our tools further.
@Zwielehner I understand and appreciate your efforts, but this would not be of use for us without families. I have 12 memebers in my team and we would all use the tool if the above were implemented.
FWIW, the main time we open the families in the project browser is when using Slab Edges (to edit the profiles) since that's the only (clunky) way to get to them. Otherwise it's just the rare management task.
I really hope this is still under future consideration at least, having the views, legends, schedules, scheets, groups and revit links split out as tabs.
Seems like a small thing but this would enhance the workflow so much by decreasing the time needed to scroll or collapse etc...
Would it be possible to add a families tab to the Browser Organization options window? Specifically for system families. Since system families cannot be deleted from a project or template it would be beneficial to hide ones we do not intend to utilize.
AutoCAD Map 3D and ArcGIS (Desktop & Pro) have something similar; "Task Pane" and "Content Pane", respectively, that looks really good (the one from ArcGIS Pro), and in Revit will save thousands of clicks and scrolling.
Merely need to duplicate the project browser, so that one does not lose their place in the long list of drawings and sheets. Even better to create separate browser for sheets.
Congrats! We think this is a great idea, so we've decided to add it to our roadmap. Thanks for the suggestion!
To follow the progress of features in development, please see the Revit Public Roadmap and join the Revit Preview Release to participate in feature testing. (Note that Accepted Ideas may not be immediately available.)
@kimberly_fuhrman-jones did my cheeky wishlist item in this years The Superb Guide To Easy Revit Strikes Again help to turn the scales? I’d like to think so!
Wow, now it's on the road map, so we can expected this un-heard of, almost-impossible-to-implement feature, when? In 2025?
I'm sorry autodesk, but after the years, you completely lost the users' trust.
And yes - Revit is a laughing stock of the desing industry, with the fact that the joke would be actually funny if it werent for Autodesk complete monopoly - Our only hope is that there will be new player which does not sell up to autodesk, or that Autodesk will be finally broken up..
Anyway, rant over, keep the 'good' work going in The Factory, and listen to your echo chamber feedbacks, because clearly that's the only thing you chose to listen to.
p.s. If you think I'm wrong, look when this tread started - in 2016!!!
Glad to see that this will (hopefully) happen soon.
And yea, Revit certainly has a lot of shortcomings. And those shortcomings should be getting addressed like wildfire now thanks to their switch to a subscription model and the insane amount of revenue it brings in. They're not, and that's really frustrating. But the reason Autodesk is essentially a monopoly is because programs like Revit ARE the best. Its hardly a laughing stock.
I suggest changing the structure of the Revit project tree. After implementing various projects, I came to the conclusion that the current tree structure takes too much time to find the right family, schedule or view. In the screenshot below, I propose an implementation of the project tree, where each tab will contain the corresponding category of Revit elements. This arrangement of tabs will make it easier to work with content and reduce the time spent for scrolling through a long list of lines.
Such options of the project manager and project properties have been spinning for a long time. In general, it turned out to be logical in terms of properties.
As in creating individual browsers specific to your needs with relevant tabs? I would like to see them setup as independent of each other e.g. if you wanted a browser exclusively for floor and ceiling plans and another for elevations and sections or do you do one explicitly for views, the mind boggles. The same would apply if you wanted a browser exclusively for schedules or another for combining legends and drafting views or any other combination just as an example This would be controlled by filters?