AutoCAD 2027 - What's New

by Dennis Collin

Last weekend the clocks in the UK switched to British Summer Time, which also happens to coincide with Autodesk releasing their latest versions of software.

So, what new features do we get with this new release? Has the file format changed? Will it help me save time and become more efficient? There is a fresh look with a revamped application icon and splash screen, but the overall interface looks remarkably similar to previous versions once AutoCAD has loaded. The current DWG format remains at the 2018 version which will be welcomed by offices who just need to view AutoCAD drawings. It is also still possible to save back to R14 DWG or R12 DXF formats if required.

Welcome to the new Autodesk Docs Environment – Forma Data Management

Forma Data Management Essentials streamlines collaborating with others on projects.

This platform helps users to organize project files and folders for every stage of work. Forma can be used to share drawing files, publish sheets, review designs, create transmittals, and track issues.

To use Forma Data Management with AutoCAD, it is recommended that the latest version of Desktop Connector is installed.

Geometry Cleanup

One of 2027’s new features is a geometry cleanup wizard which provides users with a tool to scan a drawing’s elements and detects non-conformities in terms of disjoined entities, gaps, and deviations from angle snaps etc.

If conditions are detected that exceed suggested or user defined tolerances then they are listed as errors and the error condition, location is listed and can be zoomed to for each instance and corrected if necessary.

For conditions that have multiple answers, a range of fixes can be browsed by the user and the correct one applied for each instance.

Connected References & Support Files

There is improved connectivity with References and support files.

The refined Reference Manager dialogue improves the workflow for updating the paths of missing external drawing references (Xrefs).

When working with drawings that contain references, the new Missing switch allows users to switch to the Missing References view in the File References pane. This view exclusively shows missing external drawing reference (Xref) files.

From the Missing References view, it is now possible to detach references that are no longer needed. Users can update the paths of references by browsing and specifying a new path. They can also resolve the paths of references based on suggested paths provided the opened drawings are from an Autodesk project only.

Normally, when a referenced file is renamed or moved, any drawing that depends on it can no longer locate it because its path has changed. As a result, the path for each missing reference must be located to load it properly into AutoCAD.

With Connected References and referenced drawing files stored on Forma Data Management, the External References palette automatically attempts to locate missing reference files that have been renamed or moved. When a missing reference file is found, a suggested path is displayed, which can be accepted to avoid manually updating each missing reference.

Tool palette and authoring palette files can be shared with others working on the same Autodesk project stored on Forma Data Management.

When configuring an Autodesk project on Forma Data Management, it is possible to specify the locations for the project's tool palette and authoring palette files within the Options dialog box.

Checkout

The Checkout function is available to AutoCAD projects saved to the Forma Data Management platform and adds to the Trace function introduced with previous AutoCAD versions.

This command allows a user to edit and propose changes to specific objects in a drawing that someone else has open for editing. Instead of waiting for the drawing to be released by the user who is editing, it is possible to check out the objects you want to edit, edit them within the Trace environment, and then submit the changes for review to a user who has read-write access. If approved the user with read-write access can then merge the changes from the trace into the drawing.

Different versions of this drawing can then be viewed and compared within the Forma Data Management platform.

It should be noted that if using AutoCAD’s toolsets, the custom objects created by AutoCAD Architecture, MEP, Mechanical, Map 3D and Plant 3D are filtered out when using the Checkout selection function. It should also be noted that AutoCAD Electrical does not support the Checkout process.

Discontinued Commands

Several commands have been removed from this AutoCAD release. PSOUT is no longer available to users. However, if a postscript output is required, users can configure a plotter (PC3 file) to the required output. This method provides far more options than PSOUT and has been my preferred postscript output tool of choice for many years.

Shared Views has also been removed which I think is a shame as it was a straightforward way to share design intent and communicate markups easily. However, this function as now been absorbed into the Forma Data Management environment (formerly Autodesk Docs). Whilst this is more complicated to setup and configure it does provide greater functionality when sharing design data for comment and review.

There is also removal of support for AutoCAD Web and Mobile, again the recommended way for future working is to use Forma Data Management to share files with other stakeholders.

The MrSID image format is also no longer supported as a valid image reference. These files will need to be saved to a supported file format and reattached.

As a result of all these changes the Collaborate Tab in AutoCAD has been streamlined with the retitling of Push to Autodesk Docs to Push to Forma Data Management.

AI

AutoCAD also has improved the Tech Preview AI driven Autodesk Assistant to help users check standards of the current document against a (DWS) standards file. Query the drawing for information such as a layer listing, block usage etc.

As with all Tech Previews and indeed with AI in general entries can contain mistakes and requires a professional eye to capture any mistakes that can occur. But the tool may be useful for a ‘first pass’ in the checking of drawing compliance.

In summary, AutoCAD 2027 provides some welcome additional functionality to its previous release. However, I would say it is more a refinement of AutoCAD’s robust existing command set than anything too revolutionary, but with its familiar look and progressive style of updates will ensure that existing users should have minimal issues adapting to the latest version of CAD.

My personal highlights are the Geometry Clean-up tools along with the collaboration tools offered by the Trace and Check-Out functions when using the Forma Data Management Platform. Over the coming weeks I will post on the other products within the Autodesk Collections and the benefits they can provide.

More information about the Autodesk 2027 family:

• Autodesk 2027 AEC Solutions: Entering the Agentic AI Era
• Autodesk 2027 Manufacturing Solutions: AI-Driven Design and Smarter Automation