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Global office setup advice.

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Message 1 of 12
Masibanda-CE
509 Views, 11 Replies

Global office setup advice.

We are beginning to expand AS into our organization and I was wondering if anyone had any advice or tips on managing the AS environment as well as output within an organization that has multiple offices covering huge geographic distances?

We are also implementing a "cloud server" as a data storage device and will be moving away from our "syncing" workflow. As an example, my machine runs locally then syncs to a local NAS that then syncs to the corporate office.

Thanks,

Gary

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Message 2 of 12

the settings for AS are all included in database. This could be set to a server with SQL but if this is a good idea for different offices? This decision had to be done by everyone itself. 
My opinion: I don't like the idea of everyone use the same database by using a server based configuration. because if this is set, all user have the opportunity to change these databases and this could occurs errors or for example double entries. Maybe as example: a new material is needed called "M Example". One user is creating this material and called it "M Example", another one need this material too and because this user don't like special characters, he decided to create "M_Example". So the result is, one material is needed, two were created. 
I prefer to use batch files. There should be two people which are controlling the databases. If something is needed, this people will do it. After this, they place the databases on a server and the other users are copying this databases local. 
This could be done in one batch file (copy databases+ starting Advance Steel), then change the icon of the batch file and all user will only see the Advance Steel icon. But in the background all databases will be "up to date" by every start.
Another big point: what happened if the connection to the server is not working. If you are using the server version, the user could change the configuration.xml to local databases, but these will not be "up to date".

but this is only my opinion


Sebastian Eiche
Application Engineer @Mensch und Maschine acadGraph

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Message 3 of 12
iwafb
in reply to: Sebastian_Eiche

Interesting topic...

Agree in relation to controlling databases. But what about in terms of managing documents? My understanding is that Advance does not like to have models/details thrown around between satellite offices. So what's the best option? Assume centralized server with remote access, but in our experience, network speed has always been an issue...

Message 4 of 12
Sebastian_Eiche
in reply to: iwafb

managing documents is really a problem. The main issue is not the model, the details which should be work on, are made by different users.
So for details we advise some of our customers: copy the model including all details local, then made the work by add labels, cut views and so on.

On the server "unregister the details"

After editing just copy the changed details and (important) their UPD files back to server and replace it with the details which are there. 

Register the details to model. 

Normally this works good, because the users could work local, which is better in the most cases and after coping it back to the server, this details should be shown as "up to date" because the user is changing the detail and UPD file is written correct.


Sebastian Eiche
Application Engineer @Mensch und Maschine acadGraph

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Message 5 of 12
AleckGiles
in reply to: Masibanda-CE

Hi,

I completely agree with @Sebastian_Eiche advice.

I wrote a blog here for how to share the entire configuration between PCs. Physical distance is irrelevant. As Sebastian says you can create a batch file to copy the master folder to the PC if desired.

 

Live working files should definitely be on your Local PC hard disk not a network location. No matter how good your network is, in our experience you always get problems sooner or later. With a WAN covering many distant offices network speed will never be fast enough for reliable working. Work locally and copy files to the network for back up and sharing. Again a batch file can handle copying things to the network.

 

Aleck Giles, Structures Consultant, Graitec
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Message 6 of 12

Hi,

 

For this is would total agree with @AleckGiles  and @Sebastian_Eiche  over the use of a batch file method for deployment.  Personal set this up for several larger organisation in tandem with their IT teams.

 

also they use other methods of powershell deployment and file share software ( suresync) , combine with a login script to refresh their AS install at login.

 

helps keep everything set to one standard,  any change requests fed back to CAD admin, they implement, upload new central dataset, at refresh every has the same.

 

Good luck 

 

 

 

 

 

John Bennett
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Message 7 of 12
Masibanda-CE
in reply to: Masibanda-CE

That's great advice guys, thanks! With the exception of using a batch file at start-up, we're pretty much doing this now. It's good when you stumble into the right decision 🙂

There still is the issue of working files though. @AleckGiles I understand what you're saying about working locally and copying your data files but, that leaves at least 2 problems. One being that syncing thousands of files (the BAK,UPD,NC,UPD,DB,etc) wreaks havoc with traffic and causes our application (SyncedTool) to  ... stutter and spit.

The other being multi-user access. Maybe this won't be a problem and we haven't attempted it yet (just worrying) but will the check-in/check-out process work in this "local environment" setup?

Cheers,

Gary

 

Message 8 of 12

Do you have an example batch files I could have a peek at?

Message 9 of 12
iwafb
in reply to: Masibanda-CE

As gary said, how do users manage a Multi-user scenario when:

Files saved to server in location A, User 1 is editing drawings in location B, and User 2 is working on the model in location C...

Top 2 in development priorities in my opinion. Just hope Autodesk doesn't go down the 360 Docs path and make us pay extra for the privilege...

Message 10 of 12

there are several faq out there on AKN.

 

but depends which version of AS, 

 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/advance-steel/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2017/ENU...

 

Note the change to sql databases now,  you must have server sql at same version as AS,  so not the latest one.

 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/advance-steel/getting-started/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/E...

 

 

 

 

John Bennett
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Message 11 of 12

For the file management on this scale, you would need to look at Vault , vault client. 

 

It is possible to cofigure vault and AS to cooperate in previous versions. 

 

Beleive there will will be something in new vault client tools for 2020,  which sounds interesting for AS.  But have not looked into that just yet.

 

Cheers

 

 

John Bennett
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Message 12 of 12
Masibanda-CE
in reply to: Masibanda-CE

Thanks John. My hangup right now is getting AS to start from a batch file. I can create (if necessary) the Directory containing our environment and copy files, but starting AS is escaping me.

Cheers,

Gary

 

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