Bluebeam Revu allows you to customize the workspace for a wide variety of workflows and processes. You can customize the interface, tools, and panels to ensure work efficiency throughout the project. Many customization options are available within the main workspace. For example, you can right click on the toolbars to adjust which ones display, or drag and drop them to move them around. For more advanced customization, Revu features a variety of options within the Preferences menu. If you want to adjust the display, defaults, and accessibility of the program, here are seven ways to customize Bluebeam Revu.

The following examples are from Bluebeam Revu 2019 eXtreme. However, these functions are available within all versions of Revu.

The customization tools described below can all be found in the Preferences menu. To access the Preferences menu, select Revu > Preferences.

1. Change the Theme to Light Mode

By default, Bluebeam Revu will display in Dark mode. This mode features a black interface that can help reduce eye strain and prevent blue light exposure. However, if desired, you can switch to Light mode. Revu’s Light mode will feature a classic white and gray color layout. To switch the color mode, select the Theme dropdown menu within the Options tab of the General section. If you end up preferring Dark mode, you can switch back to it at any time.

2. Switch the Navigation Defaults

In Revu, the way you navigate through PDFs will vary based on the size of the document. By default, the navigation mode for large documents is known as Single Page Mode. This mode will zoom in and out of the page as you scroll your mouse. With small documents, the navigation default is known as Continuous Mode. This mode will move up and down through the pages as you scroll your mouse. At any time, you can switch between these navigation modes manually using the Navigation Bar. If you want to zoom into a small document, for example, you can adjust the navigation type here.

You can also adjust the navigation defaults within the Preferences menu. If you only ever need to use one mode of navigation, you might want to adjust this setting here. Within the General section of the Preferences window, select the Navigation tab. Here, you can choose whether to Zoom or Scroll for each mode. You can set both modes to Zoom, both to Scroll, or simply reverse the defaults.

In this example, I’ll change the Single Page Mode to Scroll and the Continuous Mode to Zoom. Now, when I scroll my mouse on a small document, the default navigation will be to zoom in. When I scroll on a large document, the default will be to move up and down.

Beyond using the Preferences or the manual options, there is one more way to adjust the navigation mode. If you hold down CTRL while scrolling your mouse, the navigation mode will be set to the non-default option. If the default mode is to zoom, holding down CTRL while scrolling will switch the mode to scrolling and vice versa.

3. Show Grid

Bluebeam Revu allows you to turn on a grid to assist with adding markups. This grid will display as a pattern of uniform dotted lines. When placing markups, this grid can ensure that your markups are aligned and even. You can turn this grid on or off at any time for any workflow. To turn on the grid, navigate to the General section of the Preferences window. Within the Grid & Snap tab, select Show Grid.

There’s also an option here to Snap to Grid, which will allow markups placed near a grid mark to snap onto it for more precision. This can be very useful when creating drawings or templates.

Beyond the Preferences screen, you can turn the grid on or off using the View menu as well.

4. Autosize Text Box and Callouts

In Revu, you can autosize text boxes to fit the text entered into them. This is an option available from the Properties toolbar for Text Box, Callout, and Cloud+ markups. By default, this is a manual process – you will need to manually autosize each textbox after you have placed it.

From the Preferences window, you can automate this process by automatically autosizing all text boxes. If you want your text boxes to always fit the text entered in, this can save you a lot of time. To turn this option on, navigate to the Tools section of the Preferences window and select the Markup tab. Here, you’ll find an option to Autosize Text Box and Callout Markups. With this option selected, your markups will automatically adjust to fit the size of the entered text.

5. Show Author and Date in Pop-Ups

When multiple people are collaborating on a PDF, it’s important to have accountability. Specifically, you may want to know who placed each markup and the date and time it was placed. You can always see this information from the Markups List, but you can also make it visible on the drawing. This is especially useful when sharing PDFs with users outside of Revu.

From the Preferences window, navigate to the Markup tab within the Tools section. Here, you’ll find an option to Show Author and Date in Pop-Ups. This option will give each markup a popup containing metadata, such as who placed it and when. You can activate this popup by double clicking on the markup. Within the popup, you can also add any additional notes to keep your team updated. The great thing about this popup is you can close it when you’re done using it. You’re able to access the markup’s metadata, but it is not permanently taking up space on the PDF.

6. Attempt to Check Out Files on Open in Studio Projects

For those unfamiliar, Studio Projects is Bluebeam Revu’s in-house document management system. It allows you to host and share documents within the Revu application. If you attempt to open a document in Studio Projects, the document will open in read-only mode. If you want to edit a document, you need to check it out. After making edits, users will only be able to see your changes after checking the document back in. This check-out/check-in process is useful to ensure work is only performed by one user at a time.

For new users, this process may be confusing, as they can’t edit the document just by opening it. In the Preferences menu, there is an option to aid with this process: Attempt to Check Out Files on Open. This will allow the program to attempt to check out a document when a user opens it. This will bypass the need for them to manually check out the document and allow them to perform their edits more efficiently. With this option, users can just double-click on a document to open it and begin editing.

This option is available from the Studio section of the Preferences window. Within the Options tab, select Attempt to Check Out Files on Open to activate this tool.

7. Reset Revu

The Preferences menu also allows you to reset Bluebeam Revu to its factory settings. Resetting will delete all custom data and revert the program back to its original state. This can be useful if you want a fresh version of the program to work with. Additionally, resetting tends to be a cure-all for problems encountered within Revu. If you run into any glitches or bugs with the program, resetting will almost always fix the issue.

To reset the program, use the Admin section of the Preferences window. From the Options tab, select Reset Revu.

Summary

Bluebeam Revu features a variety of customization options for different user needs. In the Preferences menu, you’ll find a myriad of options to optimize your work efficiency. From changing the color scheme to resetting the program, Preferences allows you fully customize how Revu works. These options will help you get your work done faster, without changing the way that you work.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please use the comment section on the bottom of this page, and don’t forget to subscribe to our blog to get more Bluebeam tips & tricks directly in your inbox!

Lauren Hecker is a Bluebeam Certified Instructor and teaches onsite and virtual Bluebeam Revu training courses. To schedule an onsite or custom course, please contact us!