Product updates

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You can now overlay two versions of a PDF or 3D model in CoLab, making it easier to spot design changes without jumping between files.

How it works

Open a PDF or 3D model, then select Comparison from the bottom toolbar. Choose another revision, and CoLab will overlay the two files, highlighting differences using color:

• 🔴 Red = Unique to the older revision
• 🟢 Green = Unique to the newer revision
• ⚫ Black = Common to both revisions

This works for both PDF drawings and 3D models — so you can review changes in either format at a glance.

Create feedback while comparing revisions

You can create feedback directly on an overlaid view. Any feedback is saved to the newest revision and clearly marked as being created in comparison mode.

Who gets access

These features are available now for teams on Pro and Scale plans.

Not seeing these features in the app? Reach out to your Customer Success Manager to discuss access.

For more details, check out this support article.

We’ve redesigned CoLab’s navigation system to make it faster to get where you need to go—and easier to stay focused on your work.

Here's what's new:

Top menu → Sidebar menu

The new sidebar layout replaces the old top menu, bringing everything you need into one consistent, always-visible location. Instead of switching between different areas, you can now access your tools from a single place—no matter where you are in the app.

Here’s what you’ll find in the sidebar:

• Workspace switcher
• Search
• Home
• My Work
• Reviews
• Feedback
• Insights
• Portals
• Profile

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Centralized tracking for reviews and feedback

Reviews and Feedback now live in the sidebar and can be accessed at any time. From the Home page, you’ll see reviews and feedback across your entire organization. When you're inside a workspace or portal, you’ll only see items relevant to that area—giving you both a broad overview and a focused view, depending on what you’re working on.

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Favourites

You can now favourite workspaces, files, folders, and saved views of Reviews or Feedback. These appear in your sidebar, so the things you use most are always within reach. You can reorder, sort, and filter your Favourites to match your workflow.

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My Work panel

Stay on top of your responsibilities with a single view of everything assigned to you—Reviews you’re part of, Reviews you own, and Feedback you’ve been assigned.

CoLab app now supports German, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese, in addition to French and Italian!

• Change your language anytime from the user profile menu.
• User-generated content remains in its original language.
• All user-generated content will remain untranslated.

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We've introduced a new markup tool allowing users to create GD&T annotations directly on 2D and 3D files. Here's how it works:

• On PDFs: Select the GD&T icon (⌖) from the markup toolbar.
• On 3D Models: Select the pin icon, place it on the model, then choose the GD&T icon.

Then, along with your feedback item, create feature control frames to communicate geometric or tolerance changes.

To learn more about our new GD&T markup tool, visit this article in our knowledge base.

We’ve made it even easier to track review and feedback in portals and download our PLM integrations with two powerful new updates.

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Track Reviews & Feedback in Portals

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‍Portals make it simple to review designs with external partners. Now, all portal-specific reviews and feedback are organized in the left sidebar—so you can easily navigate review and feedback everything without leaving the portal.

Download PLM and CAD Integrations from Admin Settings Panel

‍Admins can now download installation files for our PLM and CAD integrations directly from the Admin Settings panel. Just navigate to Integrations, select the integration you need, and hit Download.

We’ve revamped the Drive menu to make file management faster and more intuitive. Here's what's new:

File Details Flyover Menu

• Access comprehensive file information with a single click, including file name, type, thumbnail, uploader, unresolved feedback, review status, and sharing details.
• Perform quick actions such as downloading or sharing directly from the flyover.
• Close the flyover easily by clicking anywhere outside it.

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Selection Mode

You can now enter Selection Mode from the main Drive menu, allowing you to select multiple files or folders at once using checkboxes, keyboard shortcuts, or the convenient "Select All" option.

• Enter Selection Mode by clicking the "Select multiple" option in the Drive top menu.
• Trigger Selection Mode by multi-selecting files or folders using Ctrl/Cmd+click or Shift+click.
• Checkboxes are now always aligned to the far-left column, regardless of nesting, and no longer replace file/folder icons.
• Checkboxes also appear for revisions when they are expanded.
• Click the checkbox to select a file; single-clicking elsewhere on the file still opens the details flyover.
• A "Select All" option has been added to quickly select all files in the current view.
• Press ESC to exit Selection Mode instantly.

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Improved Folder Navigation

• Navigate into folders by double-clicking or using a new “Step into folder” option in the context menu.
• Folders now display nested contents with tree-like indicators for added clarity.

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Improved File and Revision Display

• The size of file and revision containers has been reduced, allowing you to view more files and revisions in the Drive menu.
• Revisions are visually connected to their parent file with a clear tree-like structure.

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We’re introducing Configurable Feedback, giving you the ability to create custom feedback types with tailored fields and markup tools. This capability is designed to help you capture specific details that align with your unique workflows and project requirements.

Custom Feedback Types

With Configurable Feedback, you can now create new feedback types that reflect your team's specific needs. 

• Assign unique names and icons to custom feedback types for easy recognition.
• Tailor feedback fields to capture relevant information for each feedback type.
• Enable or disable markup tools relevant to that type of feedback

Custom Feedback Fields

When creating or editing feedback types, you can choose from CoLab’s default field types or create your own custom fields to capture the necessary information. Available field types include:

• Text input (for short or long responses)
• Date picker
• Number input
• Currency
• User pickers (single or multiple users)
• Dropdown selectors (single or multi-pick options)

These customizable fields help ensure you’re capturing the exact details needed for better decision-making during reviews.

Configurable Markup Tools

Users can choose which markup tools are available when a feedback type is selected. Only the markup tools chosen will appear in the markup toolbar.

Tracking Custom Feedback Types

Configurable Feedback allows users to organize and filter feedback by type, making it easy to find exactly what you need. With the ability to create custom categories and fields, teams can quickly narrow down feedback to specific issues or suggestions relevant to their design processes.

• Filter feedback based on custom types or fields, making it easier to locate critical information.
• Sort feedback by type to streamline how feedback is reviewed and addressed.

To learn more about how to create and use custom feedback types, visit this article in our knowledge base.