Catalog Editor and BIM 360 Design

[alexey.kurenkov]

How do I edit the full catalog of plant 3d elements when working in BIM 360 Design? It is not yet clear how to Supplement the catalog and synchronize it with all users of the BIM 360 project. The help also does not provide an explanation.

[Tomislav.Golubovic]

I'm going through this process right now. I am yet to test it, but the way I see it is that the Catalogs still live locally (C:, 😧 etc) and the specs live on BIM 360 Docs.

The Spec gets downloaded from the Docs site (or use the Desktop Connector) to download it, edit it, then use the DC or web to re-upload the file. The next time a user opens the project, they should get the updated file/s.

The Desktop Connector is not always visible in some programs, so it might mean that there are still local files required, but it should be only be a Project Administrator function, the end users shouldn't need to have the Catalogs on their machines.

[alexey.kurenkov]

My colleague and I also faced difficulties. Especially in existing proets. I really want to get a clear and transparent script for working with item directories when using bim360. The complexity is still on the way desktop connector. The file path depends on the user name.

[Tomislav.Golubovic · Accepted solution]

Agreed. On some software its resolving to c:\users\etc\etc but on Revit it resolves to bim360:\\etc\etc.

I think there is going to be a combination of other cloud drives and BIM 360 if you were to do it, and with batch files. My plan would be to use the C:\ as the basis for all files, and have a batch file copy from DropBox\Google Drive\OneDrive to the persons local drive and then start the software (maybe?)

[alexey.kurenkov]

That's right. Using third-party cloud services can help. But this takes away half the meaning of working in the BIM 360 cloud. It's worth the extra money for the space on other cloud services. I liked the overall interaction of plant 3D with BIM360. This is many times better than Civil 3D and BIM 360. But the element catalogues are currently the weak link of the feature that we were given.

[Tomislav.Golubovic]

I don't disagree with you. There are some good points to it, but it hasn't been thought through 100%. It (Spec Editor) needs better integration with Autodesk Drive IMO to be able to host the Catalogs online, and a better Drive syncing tool, similar to Dropbox. I have large drives on all PC's so have the freedom to have the files cached locally like DropBox and Google Drive, but Autodesk Drive just sits there unless you force the cache, which isn't productive IMO. And as well that its forced onto the C:\ as the cache folder isn't handy either, and path the files as BIM360:\\etc\etc.

But I digress

If you're using Dropbox then push everyones folder to be D:\Dropbox then it could work, but then if other consultants aren't doing that, the path isn't going to work. I need to test and play around with it and see what can and can't be done.

[jabowabo]

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@alexey.kurenkov wrote:

The file path depends on the user name.

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I'm not using 360 so I may be missing something but you can access user folders without the user name using the %USERPROFILE% environment variable.

[Tomislav.Golubovic]

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@jabowabo wrote:

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@alexey.kurenkov wrote:

The file path depends on the user name.

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I'm not using 360 so I may be missing something but you can access user folders without the user name using the %USERPROFILE% environment variable.

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If you're opening software and linking Specs to Catalogs, the Spec Editor will path a Catalog to C:\Users\Username\Drive on your own PC, but when its opened on another PC in another country, from another user, the path won't resolve because the software can't find the original path.

[alexey.kurenkov]

As I understand it, everyone faced difficulties with directories when working in BIM360. It's good. This means that this is a common problem and it is more likely that Autodesk will not leave the situation in this state.

[maria.olmosJYY9L]

Hi guys, I wonder whether you eventually found a solution for having the P&ID specs saved and linked from Autodesk Docs/BIM 360? Have you tried changing the Autodesk Desktop Connector workspace? I'm struggling with the Plant 3D integration since I can't find a solution for keeping the specs in the cloud.