New features
The following table contains a list of new and improved features for the initial release of the Vectorworks 2026 software, and indicates the section where the functionality is documented and the product to which the feature applies.
Video tutorials highlighting new features are available from Vectorworks University.
|
Feature |
Description |
Location |
Product |
|
Worksheet UI modernization |
The worksheet window has been updated to provide faster, easier access to controls for data entry, formatting, and printing |
Fundamentals |
|
|
Depth cueing in sheet layer and section viewports |
Sheet layer viewports and section viewports rendered in Shaded or Hidden Line render modes offer depth cueing options that make perspective and orthogonal views more realistically display objects nearer to or farther from the viewpoint |
Fundamentals |
|
|
File health checker |
A new tool allows you to check for and resolve common problems that can lead to poor file performance |
Fundamentals |
|
|
New Door and Window Assembly tool and object |
A new tool and object allows you to create door and window assemblies using a variety of flexible methods. Data attached to the object supports IFC export, data tags, worksheet reporting, graphic legends, and other functions for assemblies and their subparts. |
Creating a door and window assembly from existing objects |
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight |
|
Sustainability Dashboard |
The Sustainability Dashboard allows you to check the baseline status of your project for a number of sustainability metrics, including Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), embodied carbon, biomass, Urban Greening Factor (UGF), and others. The available metrics calculated from the dashboard help you make suitable and sustainable design decisions as you work on your project. |
Architect, Landmark |
|
|
Planting design workflow enhancements |
Many changes to the Plant tool, plant content/styles, and plant settings improve the planting design workflow: Vectorworks default plant content has been greatly expanded and restructured, so that it can be selected based on either the plant's species and botanical data or on 2D/3D geometry. The Plant tool has two additional selection modes—Data mode and Geometry and Library mode—to facilitate the workflow using the preferred kind of plant content. The Plant Style Manager web palette functions as a hub for viewing and editing all plant styles in a drawing and can be used as a plant palette for the project A Create Plant Styles from List command can batch create hundreds or thousands of plant styles from an external data list You can obtain botanical and other data from nurseries in your region, and copy them into an existing plant style The ability to specify which site model plants are connected to, and to change it Streamlined replacement of plant style graphics Access to all polyline creation modes when placing a multiple-plant object Improved preview when reshaping plants Control of the plant polyline for plants placed with Poly-Vertex Placement mode Improved Hedge mode options A plant styles/settings Maintenance pane to manage maintenance, fire risk, and irrigation information Plant style, landscape area style, and hardscape style filters in the Resource Manager's Resource Type list for easier searching |
Creating plant styles from a list Connecting drawing objects to the site model |
Landmark |
|
LED Walls |
A new LED Wall tool creates straight or circular LED walls, as well as complex, curved LED walls with specific aspect ratios or rows and columns of panels. Creatively draw conceptual, freeform walls with images for initial design, and then refine the design with specific LED screen panels from manufacturers. Show off the design to clients with Showcase. Power and data management are integrated using ConnectCAD-style workflows, and you can generate detailed reports for efficient communication with the installation crew and equipment supplier rental vendors. The LED Screen tool has been moved to legacy. |
Spotlight |
|
|
Removal of the ConnectCAD device database |
ConnectCAD device definitions are no longer stored in a device database. A device definition record with connectivity information is attached to a 3D symbol definition that models physical devices. Sharing device definitions with colleagues is as easy as sharing symbols. When you upgrade from previous versions of Vectorworks, the Migration Manager automatically converts the device database to a set of symbol definitions with attached device definitions. |
Placing a basic device or device symbol |
ConnectCAD |
|
Render style improvements |
Renderworks styles have been renamed to render styles to reflect multiple improvements to the feature, including: Shaded and Showcase render styles can be created Render styles have by style/by instance settings that allow you to lock some settings by style but edit others by instance, reducing the number of render styles required to accommodate differences among individual renderings You can directly apply camera effects to render styles, without the need for a separate Renderworks camera object Redshift render style has been renamed Realistic RS render style |
Fundamentals |
|
|
Improved integration with the Vectorworks Cloud |
The new Cloud Status group on the View bar integrates the Vectorworks application with the Vectorworks Cloud, so you can quickly monitor and interact with jobs sent for cloud processing without leaving Vectorworks |
Monitoring the status of jobs processed on the Vectorworks Cloud Vectorworks Cloud Services help |
Fundamentals |
|
Cloud Services desktop app redesign |
The Vectorworks Cloud Services desktop app has been reorganized and updated to improve usability. Quick access to cloud processing status Immediate interaction with completed jobs Easier job and file syncing management Option to hide the app icon, paired with an option to start and stop the desktop app along with the Vectorworks application |
Vectorworks Cloud Services help |
Fundamentals |
|
Contextual control improvements |
Improvements to the design of onscreen controls include: Ease of use and discoverability Updated exit group options The ability to position the Onscreen View Control in any corner of the drawing area The ability to edit viewport object, class, and layer visibilities from the design layer Use of the V shortcut key to activate the Visibility tool |
Fundamentals |
|
|
Worksheet image cropping and splitting |
Several commands and controls allow you to easily divide a large worksheet image into smaller images to fit as desired within the printing area |
Fundamentals |
|
|
Solid preview graphics |
Object creation and editing tools provide solid rather than wireframe interactive preview graphics in non-wireframe render modes; a Vectorworks preference lets you enable or disable solid previews |
Fundamentals |
|
|
DXF/DWG/DWF export with or without linked data records |
You can choose whether or not to export attached record formats and/or linked texts as block attributes. Objects whose data is not exported as block attributes (such as spaces, data tags, and title block borders), are not affected by this change. |
Fundamentals |
|
|
Multiple view pane enhancements |
Multiple view pane improvements include the ability to reshape panes from intersections of three or four panes; a new command to reset the pane layout to the multiple view default settings; and the placement of new viewports in an existing pane if one is already set to the viewport's target layer, rather than changing the active pane to the target layer |
Fundamentals |
|
|
Quick Search improvements |
Quick Search improvements include the addition of quick preferences and online help resources to the search results, new preferences to control search options, and an improved algorithm for better search results |
Fundamentals |
|
|
New offset face feature |
The Offset Face mode of the Push/Pull tool enhances 3D modeling capabilities by offsetting planar and non-planar faces while maintaining dependent/adjacent constant radius fillets |
Fundamentals |
|
|
Site protection improvements |
The Vectorworks Site Protection server has been upgraded to RLM 16.1. While using the Site Protection System menu is still the recommended method of managing site protection processes, the server interface has been completely updated and simplified. |
Fundamentals |
|
|
Third-party plug-in security |
Vectorworks alerts you to the presence of third-party plug-ins with an unknown origin that may pose a security risk, and provides options for how to handle them |
Fundamentals |
|
|
Tool help location preference |
A Vectorworks preference lets you choose whether to display the tool help on the Status bar or the Tool bar |
Fundamentals |
|
|
Per-monitor DPI awareness on Windows |
Vectorworks automatically adjusts to display properly when it moves among monitors with different DPI settings and scale factors on Windows operating systems |
Not applicable |
Fundamentals |
|
Data visualization improvements |
Data visualization improvements include: When creating or editing a data visualization, the Object Criteria and Display Criteria are linked, so only objects that meet both criteria display in the values list. Class overrides can be applied to textures in a data visualization when the attribute value is set to Retain Original Texture in the Edit Attribute Value or Edit Attribute Range dialog box. You can set a viewport or viewport style to automatically create a data visualization legend every time a new data visualization is applied. The legend can also be toggled on and off in the Object Info palette of a selected viewport. |
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight |
|
|
Wall modernization |
Wall objects are modernized in ways that have only a minimal effect on workflows but improve performance in several ways: Wall component identifiers persist across object resets, so essential information is maintained for IFC export, to share with outside rendering programs, and so on. Walls must always have at least one component. Top/Plan geometry is derived from the walls' 3D geometry. The new method for generating Top/Plan views improves the appearance of detail levels, some wall breaks and inserts, and wall cap lines. Cut planes are better coordinated between the design layer and the wall, and the wall insertion settings of symbol definitions and plug-in object styles |
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight |
|
|
Door and window 2D level of detail improvements |
You have more control over how doors and windows display in Top/Plan view at low, medium, and high detail levels, including the option to show lines of uncut frame above the cut plane, which is important for set designers |
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight |
|
|
Data Manager improvements |
Several updates to the Data Manager provide more precise data mapping and better usability. Criteria-based data mapping instead of class-based mapping Data mapping for objects in the IFC spatial hierarchy (projects, sites, buildings, and stories) Data mapping for IFC zones, systems, and groups defined in a file Conditional data mapping for secondary IFC entries Save data mapping settings for multiple objects and multiple IFC versions |
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight |
|
|
Translation of Data Manager settings |
You can automatically translate a file's data mapping scheme from one IFC version to another, and easily locate items that require manual corrections. |
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight |
|
|
Workgroup saved setting support for DXF/DWG/DWF import and export |
If you have a workgroup specified, you can share DXF/DWG/DWF import and export settings with team members |
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight |
|
|
Importing Revit files and IFC files on the Vectorworks Cloud |
Vectorworks subscribers can import Revit files and IFC files into a Vectorworks file on the Vectorworks Cloud, enabling users to continue working in Vectorworks while the imported files are processed |
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight |
|
|
Grade improvements |
Improvements to the Grade tool and object include: Vertex mode that can create curved grades Reshape tool offers more dynamic editing capabilities More values available in the floating Data bar while drawing and reshaping grades Improved Grade settings and Object Info palette controls, including control over which site model the grade connects to and the ability to set the slope value text style from the Object Info palette Data tags are used for a grade's elevation points, which are considered subparts for data tag and reporting purposes The Create Objects from Shapes command can create grades |
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight |
|
|
Marionette content update |
Marionette nodes have been reengineered and streamlined to improve functionality and reduce redundancy |
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight |
|
|
Laubwerk content renamed to Maxon |
Maxon has acquired Laubwerk, and the Laubwerk Plant tool, content, and functionality have been renamed Maxon Plant |
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight |
|
|
Stake tool improvements |
Improvements to the Stake tool include using data tags for labels and annotations, and additional options for reporting the elevation over finished surfaces |
Architect, Landmark |
|
|
Massing model improvements |
Massing model settings allow you to set separate heights and attributes for each floor |
Architect, Landmark |
|
|
Hardscape tool pathway offset improvement |
The offset from any of the Hardscape tool's three pathway configuration modes is measured from the drawn placement line rather than from the center |
Architect, Landmark |
|
|
Existing tree improvements |
The Existing Tree tool has been updated, improving import, appearance (both 2D and 3D), and the use with site models. Existing trees can be exported as shapefiles. |
Landmark |
|
|
Improved clamp selection options and new Side Arm tool |
A new Side Arm tool and improvements to the placement, movement, and removal of clamps include: The ability to select clamps before insertion of lighting devices Easier clamp editing The ability to insert a side arm with modes for attaching with one or two clamps |
Spotlight |
|
|
Bridle tool improvements |
Improvements to the Bridle tool include the ability to: Select more than one bridle constraint in the bridle preferences Select or create bridle styles Select and edit multiple bridles and legs at once to change their configuration Filter available parts for configuration Edit bridle parts and add part sets Maintain attachment to support objects when the support object is moved |
Spotlight |
|
|
Showcase palette improvements |
The DMX Recording palette has been renamed to the Showcase palette. You can start or stop Showcase rendering mode from the palette; icons on the palette indicate the quality of the data streaming connection (DMX, NDI, or PSN). |
Spotlight |
|
|
Lighting device improvements |
Zoom light beams and adjust the brightness of lighting devices from the Object Info palette; this is especially useful when in Showcase rendering mode |
Spotlight |
|
|
Showcase rendering improvements |
Lighting devices controlled by DMX intensity automatically toggle between their DMX on/off settings when entering Showcase and their regular Spotlight on/off settings when exiting Showcase. Showcase preferences provide controls for animated lit fog and false color rendering. |
Spotlight |
|
|
MVR-xchange protocol |
The MVR-xchange protocol streamlines the exchange of MVR (My Virtual Rig) files. After connecting to an exchange group, you can send and receive changes from the MVR-xchange palette, rather than exporting to MVR and importing MVR. |
Spotlight |
|
|
Improved views of shared ConnectCAD reports |
Improved Equipment and Locations views make it easier to display, use, and navigate between views of ConnectCAD reports shared in the Vectorworks Cloud Services web portal. The Equipment view lists the details of each ConnectCAD device in the report. The devices can be sorted and filtered, and rows can be expanded to display sockets and circuit connections. Clicking on a cable number displays the connection in the Circuits view. In the Locations view, when rack rows are expanded, they display devices according to rack unit position. Clicking on a device name displays the device in the Equipment view. In addition, the Settings dialog box has a new option that shows only the connected sockets in views. |
Vectorworks Cloud Services help |
ConnectCAD |
