Project navigator continuously loading

[bbeecher]

In my office of about 30 computers and over the course of about 10-12 months we have been experiencing a problem with project navigator. When opening ACAD or changing projects about 60% of the time it gets hung up and the load bar perpetually loads over and over again. If just left to run it takes 5-10 mins to load the project then ACAD will crash after a couple of commands. If opening the task manager and ending the program it will often freeze the computer for about 5-10 mins as well. 

   We have been actively using the project navigator for years and not until the last yr have we been having this problem. We bought pretty much the whole office new computers a few months ago and the problem still exists. We are running AutoCAD Architecture 2012 and our machines are window 7, intel core i7 3.5 GHz, 8 GB ram, 64 bit operating systems, with a Nvidia Quadro 2000 graphics card. So our machines are solid.

  This is really slowing down the productivity of our office. If anyone could help that be great. Thanks

[Holger.Kloecker]

This perfomance slowdown issue can be caused when accessing project files stored on a server using the SMB v2 Network protocol. 

If this also applies for you, you might want to try if the following hotfix resolves the issue: 

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 2012 SP1 SMB V2 Hotfix 

http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL18751298 

This hotfix applies not only to issues in the Sheet Set Manager but also in the ACA Project Navigator.

[Anonymous]

We have been experiencing the exact same "perpetual loading" issue for over a year as well and it didn't start until our server was changed to SMB 2011.  The hot fix did nothing to solve the problem from our testing.

We are using Autocad MEP 2010 and rely heavily on Navigator.  We've also tried 2011, 2012, 2013...all have the same issue.

We've had our IT consultant spend time trying to figure it out along with our local Autocad dealer with his internal team of experts and Autocad support.  Nothing they've suggested has worked...including the hotfix.  It continues to hinder our efficiency on a daily basis and we desperately need a fix.

We are on subscription and have 8 new workstations with a new sbs server.

Have you been able to find a solution?

[bbeecher]

The patch did nothing for us. What has seemed to help is running AutoCAD as the administrator. Shift Right click (windows 7) the icon and in properties under compatibility check the "run as administrator". This is not perfect we still get the continuous loading just not as often.

Give that a try and let me know if it helps.

[Anonymous]

We previously tried running Autocad as administrator with full rights on a workstation and it didn’t resolve the problem or make it any better.  Clearly there is a bug in how Autocad/PN interfaces with SBS 2011 which didn’t exist with Server 2003 R2.  This issue did not arise until we migrated to SBS 2011.

If anyone has any suggestions please advise.  We will continue to request help from Autodesk.  Thank you.

[MichaelBussiere2]

Thank you for your post.  In this case the issue typically is communication between the server and project navigator from what we have seen.  Typically, when the project (and its entire contents) are placed on the local and then accessed you will see a noticeable difference.  Has this been tested?

Additionally the hardware itself play a part in the communication (server hardware and attachments) along with the permission levels and folder structure of the file logging system.  Project navigator is a complex tool and under certain conditions it can decrease overall performance.

Please let me know if this helped.

[Anonymous]

BBeecher - Have you found a solution for the perpetual loading issue? We haven't yet and it continues on a daily basis.

[bbeecher]

ACGCadguy no we still deal with this problem often. Like I said running as the administrator has helped us but we still get the perpetual load just not as often. And it seems that non of the moderators have any solutions either, which is frustrating because our entire workflow with AutoCAD Architecture hinges on Navigator. If Navigator is sick our office is sick plain and simple.

  Please Autodesk find a solution. You're implying that the only solution is to house the project on our local computers, but this is not real life. The reality is that offices use servers and your very own software is design with that intent, but something is not working here. We need you to fix it.

[MichaelBussiere2]

A test with an IT professional could be performed to test connectivity, response, and overall communication to the server device.  This may identify an issue that can be fixed/adjusted depending on the server configuration.  For this I would strongly recommend an IT professional familiar with your configuration to analyze possible areas of interest.  This again would be outside of the local example above.

Additionally I have included a helpful feedback link below.  This is a direct way to communicate to our development team of the specified product and voice concerns and request for functionality improvements in future release.  I hope this helps.

Feedback Link: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=1109794 

[Anonymous]

bbeecher - Any updates on your end?  Last month we refiled a request to have Autodesk look at our trouble ticket from 2012 and it was just denied stating it is solely a network issue and they do not troubleshoot client's network problems.

In further testing, we re-built our old server using Server 2008r2, moved over some test projects and eventually got it to loop as well.  (Our primary server is SBS2011 with Server2008r2 and it loops frequently.)  Our IT consultants are at a loss, our local Autodesk dealer is at a loss and Autodesk support will no longer help.

If you found anything please let me know.  In the last year I've seen more and more postings in the forum with similar PN problems.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

I stumbled upon the following official posting from Autodesk last week and it has resolved our looping issues.

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-mep/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Pro...

[bbeecher]

ACGCadguy,
Thank you for your diligence with this issue. I am glad you finally got it resolved. The solution you found is essentially what I was trying to convey back in Feb of 2013. Running Acad as the administrator all but solved the issue for us. We always turn down the UAC on our workstations so that is probably why we saw results. However from time to time we still get the continuous loading. So I still think this is an issue that Autodesk needs to work out with windows user account controls (UAC) and not blame "network problems".