Revu Starter Kit

Follow the sections below to get started with Bluebeam Revu and learn how to set up your workspace, begin editing your documents, and collaborate with your team.

1. Install and open Revu

To start, download and install the latest version of Revu:

• Go to the Download Center and select Download for Desktop.

• Open the .exe file you downloaded, and follow the prompts in the installer. For a pre-installation checklist and detailed installation steps, see the Installation Guide.

Once installed, launch the application and sign in with your Bluebeam ID (BBID). Remember to select the same server region that you chose when you created your BBID.

• Missing the window? If you accidentally closed the prompt, select Sign In from the top right corner of Revu.

• Need an account? If you don't have a BBID, select Sign Up within the Sign In window to create one. Click here for more information on creating a BBID.

2. Open a PDF and get familiar with the interface

In Revu, you can open any drawing in PDF format. Go to File > Open, and select a file from your computer. Once a PDF is open, Revu markup tools and other functionality become available.

• At the top of the screen, the menu bar and toolbars provide access to common actions like opening files, navigating pages, and working with markups. Different toolbars can also be shown, hidden, and customized.

  Near the top, the Properties toolbar updates based on the markup tool you've selected.

• On the left side, panels provide navigation, document information, properties, and tools.

• On the right side, toolbars provide quick access to markup and measurement tools.

• At the bottom of the workspace, the Markups List tracks every markup on your PDF and helps you review details like author, date, status, and comments.

Most panels and toolbars can be opened, closed, and customized, so you can keep the workspace simple or tailor it to how you work.

Preset workspace layouts are contained in different Profiles that you can switch between based on your needs. Revu comes with several built-in profiles, and you can also save your own so that the workspace feels familiar every time you open it.

3. Add markups and comments

Use markups to annotate your PDF without changing the original drawing. Markups are easily accessible in the Tools menu or the Tool Chest panel.

Some common markups are:

• The Cloud tool shows an area that needs attention.

• The Text Box tool leaves a note.

• The Highlight tool draws attention to important text or details.

Once you place a markup, select it to adjust settings like color, subject, and author.

Double-click any markup and enter your comment into the text box that appears. You can later review your comments in the Markups List.

As you add markups, each one appears automatically in the Markups List at the bottom of the workspace, so you can review and manage comments in one place. See Use the Markups List to track and export markups below for more information.

4. Take measurements

Access your measurement tools by going to Tools > Measure. Measurement tools can also be accessed on the Measurements panel and the Measurements toolbar.

Before taking any measurements, you must set the scale of your drawing to ensure accuracy. The easiest way to set the page scale is by selecting Scale Not Set in the Navigation bar at the bottom of your workspace.

Some common measurements are:

• The Length tool measures a single straight line between two points.

• The Area tool calculates the area of a closed shape.

• The Polylength tool calculates the total length of multiple connected segments.

• The Count tool tracks quantities by placing a symbol each time you click.

5. Track and export markups and measurements

The Markups List (located in the bottom panel) automatically tracks every markup and measurement placed on your PDF. Think of it as a spreadsheet: each row represents a specific markup or measurement, and each column displays its data. Select a row in the Markups List to jump to that markup or measurement in the PDF.

The most common actions you can take in the Markups List are:

• Sort and filter to hide unnecessary data and focus on specific markups.

• Track progress of a submittal or punch item by setting the markup status.

• If a markup has a comment, quickly reply to that comment directly.

• Create a detailed summary report of all the markups from one or more PDFs.

6. Store and reuse markups with the Tool Chest

The Tool Chest streamlines your workflow by storing and organizing frequently used markups. It automatically remembers recently used markups, can reapply a markup in its entirety or just using its properties, and scales tools to fit different drawings.

The Tool Chest is a left-side panel and is organized into different tool sets. Different Profiles include specialized tool sets, but two tool sets are always available in every Profile:

• My Tools: A permanent collection of your most frequently used markups. These remain saved even after you close Revu.

• Recent Tools: A collection of your latest markups. Markups in this tool set are temporary and are cleared when Revu is closed. To save a "Recent" tool permanently, drag it into another tool set before closing Revu.

To save a markup to the Tool Chest, right-click a markup on your PDF, select Add to Tool Chest, and select the desired tool set. To move a markup, drag it from one set to the other.

Tool sets in the Tool Chest can be shared with team members to ensure consistency in the way your team works and uses markups.

7. Compare revisions

In Revu, there are two ways to visually identify changes between two versions of a document:

• Compare Documents highlights differences between two PDFs using cloud markups.

• Overlay pages merges content from two or more PDFs and displays any differences in contrasting colors.

Both allow you to analyze drawings and revisions efficiently. Use this article to see which method best fits your project's needs.

8. Collaborate in Studio

Bluebeam Studio is a cloud-based collaboration platform in Revu and Bluebeam on the web. It enables teams to work together on project documents in real time, regardless of their location or device.

Collaboration in Studio is open to everyone–invitees can join Studio and add markups even without a Bluebeam subscription.

Bluebeam Studio includes the following:

• Studio Projects: A simple document management system for storing and sharing files in the cloud

• Studio Sessions: A real-time collaboration environment that allows multiple attendees to mark up the same PDF simultaneously

You can also access and collaborate on Studio documents through Studio Sessions and Studio Projects in Bluebeam on the web, or work with files in Studio offline.

Studio automatically tracks every markup and comment in a Session, and you can generate a Session report at any time during the Session.

9. Extend your work into the field

Bluebeam on web and mobile, which is included with your Revu subscription, is a cloud-based solution that's designed to extend your Revu workflows beyond the desktop:

• Mobile measurements: Measure on-site to validate as-builts and create data for estimates back at the office.

• Jobsite markups: Capture site conditions quickly with clouds, text, and notes so everyone works from the latest updates.

• Digital forms: Fill in existing PDF forms (RFIs, checklists, punch forms) on your device and sae them back into the project record.

• Live collaboration: Join multi-user Studio Sessions to mark up the same plan in real time, no matter where you are.

• Work offline: Work with checked-out Project files at your own pace, even without an internet connection

• Integrate storage: Seamlessly connect to a document management system like Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint

 

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