Overview of Dynamics 365 Layout October ’18 release

Article
09/08/2022

Important

This content is archived and is not being updated. For the latest documentation, see Microsoft Dynamics 365 product documentation. For the latest release plans, see Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform release plans.

Note

These release notes describe functionality that may not have been released yet. To see when this functionality is planned to release, please review Summary of what’s new. Delivery timelines and projected functionality may change or may not ship (see Microsoft policy). For detailed information about our products, visit the mixed reality documentation.

Multiple industries, including manufacturing, professional services, and retail, have needs for space planning. A variety of space planning tools today fill these needs, ranging from extremely complex CAD software to 2D visualization software to analog solutions such as building in cardboard and foamcore. Each has its drawbacks. CAD programs offer a high degree of fidelity, but are difficult for non-experts to understand. 2D drawings often don’t tell a complete story of what a space will truly look or feel like in real life, and cardboard and foamcore are messy and expensive.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Layout provides a new way to bring physical designs from concept to completion with confidence. Import 3D models to experience room layouts as holograms in the physical world or in virtual reality. Share your vision with stakeholders and easily edit layouts in real-world scale, so you can make better decisions before you build.

Note

Layout was released as a preview app in April 2018. As of the October release, Layout is Generally Available.

Define your space

Scan your space with HoloLens to quickly create a new room layout.
Or create a basic floor plan in Microsoft Visio, and then import it into HoloLens or Windows Mixed Reality.

Import 3D models

Use the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Import Tool (Preview) to prepare your custom 3D models. The tool uploads your models in FBX, OBJ, SKP, STP, JT, STEP, and GLTF formats to the Microsoft Simplygon service, converts them to GLB, decimates them if necessary for improved on-device performance, and adds necessary metadata. You have the option of converting GLB formats with your PC if you don’t want to use the cloud service.
Select from a library of common manufacturing, office, and graybox assets to plan your space.

Design your space

Place custom or predefined assets into your space.
Resize, rotate, move, duplicate, or delete assets as necessary.
Reload layouts and realign them to your room.

Review with stakeholders

Use Cortana to take a picture or create a video.
On HoloLens, use Dynamics 365 Remote Assist to stream what the HoloLens user is seeing.
In Windows Mixed Reality, use screen sharing.

Export your design

Export your space to a 3D GLTF for viewing on a PC (in Windows Mixed Reality Viewer, for example).