When cloud worksharing with BIM 360 Team (the thing done historically with the C4R product), the only option for linking between cloud workshared models was to link to the "live" version of those models. Within a single team, that's often desired, but across multi-discipline, multi-company teams, it's been highly desired to be able to control what version of a cloud workshared model is linked by other disciplines. With cloud worksharing in next gen BIM 360, we've added more flexibility to how models can be links as part of the new "controlled worksharing" workflow to project teams.
Controlled Sharing
This example demonstrates the Design Collaboration workflow where teams fully control the versions of other team's models that are linked. This is consistent with how many multi-discipline, multi-firm teams have historically worked.
- Team B controls which versions they share.
- Team A controls which versions they consume.
- Team B shares Package 1 with the other Teams on the Project. That Package contains versions of the model, along with 2D Sheets and 3D Views in the included Sets, that Team B would like other teams to use. The result of sharing that Package is the copying of that model version, along with 2D Sheets and 3D Views in the included Sets, into the Shared folder on the Project.
- Team A reviews the contents of Team B's Package 1. When ready, they consume that Package. The result of this operation is a copy of the model version in the Package 1, along with 2D Sheets and 3D Views in the included Sets, into the Consumed folder contained into their team space.
- As this is the first time this model has been shared, Team A creates a link in Revit that points to the version contained in the Consumed folder in their Team Space. Team A now can work in their data in context of the latest shared version of Team B.
- Team B progresses their work, and wants to share updated data with the other Teams on the Project. They create Package 2, and select the desired Sets (3D Views and 2D Sheets) and Model to be included. They share that Package with the rest of the Teams on the Project, which results in an updated version of data contained in the Shared folder.
- Team A reviews the contents of Team B's Package 2, using change visualization to understand the model updates. When ready, they consume Package 2. The result of this operation is a copy of the model version(s) in the Package, along with 2D Sheets and 3D Views in the included Sets, into the Consumed folder contained into their team space.
- The version of the model linked into Team A's architectural model has now been updated, so the new model state is available to the team the next time the link is loaded.
Live Linking
This example is when the team wants to link to the "live" version of another model. Historically, this was the only way to work when cloud worksharing with BIM 360 Team, and it remains part of cloud worksharing in next gen BIM 360.
- Team A has "View" permission on Team B, and thus has access to the Folder that contains the "live" version of the cloud workshared model. View permissions prevent Team A from editing Team B's model.
- Team A links to the model in Team B's working folder.
- Any time Revit loads this link, it will load the latest version.
- No sharing or consuming is required for model updates in Design Collaboration, but can be used to exchange Sheets, 3D Views, and visually understand changes, between discipline teams.
If you'd like a more shareable version of these diagrams, use this link.
See as well this article on AKN (Autodesk Knowledge Network) on model linking.
We are looking forward to hear your thoughts, ideas and comments. And of course post any questions you have.
Markus Briglmeir, Product Manager BIM 360 Design Collaboration
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