What's New in Layer: April 2021

1. Revit Model Uploader

We've made it even easier to connect non-Revit users to Revit.

Need to give building owners or consultants access to the Revit model? Use Layer's new Revit Model Uploader to upload and access a Revit model without opening or owning Revit! Watch this quick video to see how easy it is to upload .RVT files to Layer.

The Revit Model Uploader includes this extended functionality:

• Linked Models: Upload linked models together and attach them to Layer in one step.
• Model Permissions: Have detailed control over which users have access to publish, update, and delete versions of a model in a Layer project.
• Model Versions: Have detailed control over which version (iteration) of a model is applied to the Layer project. Switch between versions at any time and view a full list of versions of the model that have been uploaded.
• Filtering: Filter model categories and phases per a selected category from directly within Layer.

2. Revit Model View Type

You've uploaded a Revit model to Layer, now what?

Use Layer's new Revit Model Viewer to create views of any Revit model or sheet on a per-category basis. And like Layer's other Saved View types (Gallery, Table, Drawing), customize which elements are displayed in Model View with Layer's robust text search and filter options.

Multiple Models: For Layer projects with multiple models, the Model View can be created from multiple views or sheets (one per model).

Model Phases: A new Model View will be created automatically for each Revit Phase, per Category, when uploading a model using Layer's new Revit Model Uploader process.

Settings: Model Projection and Model Orientation settings can be saved as properties of the Model View. Available options for Model Projection are Orthographic and Perspective, and available Model Orientation options are Isometric, Top, Front, Right, and Left.

Model Viewing Controls: Control how a model is viewed in Model View

• Orbit: Rotate the model and zoom in and out
• Pan: Move around the model without rotating or zooming
• First Person: Walk through the model using arrow keys in a first-person view
• Measure: Measure the distance between two 3D or 2D points in a model's view or sheet
• Section Analysis: Create X, Y, and Z plane cross-sections of a model

Element Viewing Controls: Control how Layer elements are displayed in both 2D sheets and 3D models. These options can be saved to the Model View.

• Full Model: Show all model elements, even those not within the selected category
• Ghost Non-Category Elements: Show all elements in the current Layer category and display all other elements as transparent
• Only Category Elements: Show all elements in the current Layer category and hide all other elements
• Cluster Elements: Show a cluster of all elements in the current Layer category and hide all other elements

3. Model View & History Fields

Use the new Model View Field to instantly see an element's context within the model. Use the Model History Field to create, update, and delete the history of model elements.

4. Project Templates

Start your project with a template that follows best practices for managing data.

Create a new project based on one of four new demo projects. Walkthrough each project and choose to start from a blank template based on that project type. We have new demo projects for Facility Audits, Room Data Sheets, FF&E, and General Design workflows like BIM Coordination and Punchlists.

How do I get this new release of Layer?

If you're already an awesome Layer user, just log in to your Layer account and refresh your window after login. You don't need to do anything if you have your iOS or Android apps set to update automatically. If not, just update Layer manually through the app store.

Not a Layer user? Start a free 30-day trial or sign up for a short demo →