Autodesk Docs and Advance Steel

[Flies-Eyes]

When using Autodesk Docs with Advance Steel I am still getting the issue of files being write protected.  The issue seems to come about if I open the 2D working files from Advance Steel Document Manager, which would typically be standard practice. 

If I open the 2D working drawings directly from Doc and not via the AdS document manager, the issue seems to go away. Surely to goodness this is a platform bug that is not related to the AdS maintainence mode policy and should be on a list of to be fixed pronto.

[Ignus.E]

That's interesting. I dont have any issues with Advance Steel on Docs other than the database file, but the workflow suggestion from Autodesk works fine in that regard.

Is it a database file the prompts the file protection or just any file?

[Flies-Eyes]

Not the model file, just the 2D working files. For reference, I am running AdS2024. 

It appears to be a connection/locking issue between the AdS Document Manager and ACC/Docs. 

[Ignus.E]

Ok. Im on 2026, no issues with 3D or 2D. But have not recently tried 2024 on Docs. Will give it a try tomorrow if I have time to see it Im getting the same issue

[Ignus.E]

Hi

Tested in now in 2024 and also no issues with the 3D model or 2D drawings from Advance Steel document manager or directly from Docs. The only issue as I mentioned is the .mdf file that gets locked by the SQL instance and that particular file cant be updated to Docs until Advance Steel is closed. It still works fine, it will just sync the .mdf file once Advance Steel is closed. But I prefer the workaround from Autodesk to work with the Desktop connector Offline while working in Advance Steel and the when I want to "Publish" (Like in Revit Terms) I would close Advance Steel and turn the Desktop connector back online and all is synced. That way I can also control at what stage I want to release the documents and also it reduces the versions in Docs.

Not sure if this is what you are experiencing or if its something else?

[Flies-Eyes]

Hmmm..... interesting.  I haven't heard from autodesk that switching the desktop connector off was a thing.

I will give that a test to see if that is the cause.

[Flies-Eyes]

I did some autodesk software updates over the weekend just so see if any there might make the problem go away.

I came in this morning and the read only issue seems to have gone away.  Let's see if it continues to stay away all day!

Hard to know if it was the updated desktop connector, autocad, advance steel, licensing module or some other hidden gremlin.

[Flies-Eyes]

Hmmm.... nah......  she is back again.  It is a weird gremlin.  I can open a file via the Document Manager and it open and be immediately Read Only.  I can close it and reopen it with Document Manager and it will no be read only.  The worst is when it changes to read only after I have made changes to the drawings.  Definately weird behaviour and most frustrating as user trying to get projects completed for clients.

[Ignus.E]

Strange. Does it still go read-only if he uses the Desktop connector offline as well. Otherwise to get the project out, he can use it offline and when done with changes and drawing creations or when ready to share, turn the Desktop connector back online to sync.

[Flies-Eyes]

I found this article.

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Working-with-Advan...

[Ignus.E]

Not sure if this could be related to this?

Last reply in this post below:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/civil-3d-forum/dwg-file-becomes-read-only-automaticly/td-p/12743895

[Flies-Eyes]

One would expect this is a solvable issue, along with many other minor glitches. Sure, autodesk can dig themselve a massive hole by attempting to get Revit to do what Advance Steel already does, however while we all wait for them to come to the conclusion many suspect is inevitable, we still have projects that need delivering for our clients, and they could not give a toss. 

[Flies-Eyes]

@Ignus.E certainly this feels exactly like the experience I am getting.  

[Flies-Eyes]

Just doing some testing now, and lack time between saving a file and closing a file to the time ACC unlocks the file is significant.  I couldn't rule out the time delay being the cause.

[Ignus.E]

Would be interesting to get to the bottom of this. Like I mentioned I have no issues on my side.

[Flies-Eyes]

I think one the issues I experience is when I have 2d drawings connected to the model.  If change the model, then force update the drawings, they update but if there are many drawings effected by the change, the time it takes to push all the updates from the local cache to ACC, if I try to open a drawing too soon it will be read only.  

[Ignus.E]

I will test it again,  but when I tested it a couple of times I was worried about things like that. I created the drawings, I revisioned them even before they were completely synced, opened the drawings from the Document manager and made some changes that I saved all while busy syncing.  I had no issues. Because its all local and the sync is just qued in the Desktop connector as you go along. Maybe check if your project folder in Docs is said to always keep on this device (sorry cant remember the exact wording)

[Ignus.E]

I have tested it now again as per above. No issues. For me, I can do all, working on ACC the same as if I were working local. I tried all sort of random things to try to get it to go to read only, but nothing. No file read only.

Not sure what would cause it on your side.  

[Flies-Eyes]

Here is some more interesting behaviour.  If I have the drawing preview showing in the Document Manager it will only open as "Read Only". If I don't have the Preview actived in the document manager it will open correctly.