The Vectorworks 2023 product line features improvements focused on accelerated BIM workflows, interoperability, user experience enhancements, BIM for the landscape and entertainment-focused quality improvements.

BIM

Data is vital when it comes to BIM, and Vectorworks 2023 makes it more accessible and easier to manage, allowing designers to use data to their advantage for more efficient and precise modeling and documentation. Powerful data reporting additions will simplify the process of creating detailed reports and quantity takeoffs for building objects, allowing for highly accurate reports for walls, slabs, roofs and railing/fence objects and their defining components. The Data Manager’s capabilities have expanded, making it more predictable and easier to use when creating and managing all data types. Users can now search, filter and select multiple data sets, copy and paste information and apply it to other data sets. Vectorworks 2023 also offers more control of creating and customizing data tags. Users can intuitively find and change data tag object associations, display varying units per instance as needed and define a scale for use in sheet or design layers.

“Data is a crucial element of BIM or any type of information modeling,” said Rubina Siddiqui, product marketing director at Vectorworks. “Making it more accessible and easier to manage means that designers can take advantage of and use data in a way that does not take their time and focus away from designing.” 

Interoperability 

Vectorworks continues to prioritize collaboration, constantly providing new and effective ways for users to work with fellow designers and consultants. Improvements to IFC import capabilities are just one of many ways Vectorworks 2023 encourages more productive collaboration. Users will experience increased performance when importing an IFC file and the ability to import from more applications. New options to filter objects upon import along with criteria-based class and story mapping for alignment with Vectorworks file organization offer greater control. 

Vectorworks 2023 also issues a collection of user-friendly import/export improvements for essential exchanges of DWG and DXF files. Users can now customize which items and layers are exported in a file through a new, simplified export dialog. At the same time, when importing, it’s easy to select which layers and objects to include.

User Experience  

With everyday performance improvements focused on process automation and efficiencies, Vectorworks 2023 does the heavy lifting for you. Users can now streamline documentation workflows with improvements to Section Viewports. Taking advantage of the Vectorworks Graphics Module, these have the new ability to move calculations and processing to the background, allowing for viewport updates up to six times faster while also providing the ability to work on other tasks simultaneously. 

Improvements to Cloud Presentations offer more freedom to active subscription and Service Select users to create and customize boards and virtual tours in Vectorworks Cloud Services. Virtual tours have added compatibility with various file types such as 3D models, PDFs, images and more in addition to updates to Vectorworks’ cloud and mobile 3D viewer, providing more robust options to share designs and impress clients.

With this latest release, designers will also experience Redshift without limits. Vectorworks 2023 now takes full advantage of Maxon’s Redshift Everywhere initiative, placing Redshift render styles within reach of all customers, regardless of the type of hardware being used, providing even more rendering options for outstanding visualizations.

BIM For Landscape

With improved visual and organizational capabilities and new tools to save time on grading plans and terrain modeling, Vectorworks continues to pave the way to make adopting BIM into landscape workflows simpler. Users can now also take advantage of Vectorworks’ GIS and georeferencing integrations making file collaboration more straightforward by automatically placing referenced files using GIS settings from a master document. Plus, new GIS Settings and Coordinates allow you to note your preferred method of coordinate entry to incorporate georeferencing data more accurately. Additionally, with Vectorworks Landmark 2023, designers can easily specify and model hedgerows, mixed or single species, with the Hedgerow Tool. Seamlessly apply hedges to the site model surface in both 2D and 3D views, quantify by linear unit and simultaneously illustrate them at mature spread and height.

Entertainment

With a focus on continuous improvement to provide entertainment and lighting designers tools they can trust, version 2023 includes critical upgrades to allow for more efficient and successful workflows. Rigging design and planning is easier than ever in Vectorworks Spotlight 2023. Improved integration between hoist and bridle objects allows for more consistent and manageable documentation, and two-leg bridle behaviors have been updated for consistency. Also, increased control over the now symbol-based truss cross object will ease a significant portion of designers’ workflows. 

Spotlight users will also get peace of mind with improvements and enhancements in the latest version. Updates to the Shaded Render Mode eliminate the eight-light limit users previously faced, offering more rendering support for textures, gobos and haze. These features allow users to quickly create and share design concepts and ensure higher quality renderings. Common workflow issues with lighting devices and worksheet functions have also been addressed to deliver simplified drawing capabilities and more precise designs, leaving users more time to focus on the creative process.

The release of localized language versions will begin in October and conclude in the first quarter of 2023. For more information about the availability of Vectorworks 2023 in other markets, contact your local Vectorworks distributor. Vectorworks Service Select and subscription users can upgrade to Vectorworks 2023 as soon as the product is released in their local markets.

To learn more about the latest release, visit vectorworks.net/2023 or join the conversation on social media with #Vectorworks2023.