Fix for Autodesk Desktop Connector filename length limitation

[grzpat88]

In case the length of the path to a file including filename exceeds 260 characters, the upload process does not work properly.

Example: C:\Users\GRZPAT88\BIM 360\Andritz AG\Bracell Pilot\Project Files\Recovery Boiler\Engineering and Design\Equipment Engineering\EXEMPLARY FILENAME

For some projects, the file name can be a concatenation of multiple criteria (e.g. internal document number, discipline, sub-discipline, sub-supplier document number, etc.) - so in those cases the maximum length limitation is exceeded.

When uploading the file to BIM360 via Autodesk Desktop Connector or via drag & drop command in Document Management folder structure, the process fails.

Additionally, in case there are hundreds of files uploaded at once, no detailed error log is shown that indicates which of the files have been uploaded successfully and which failed.

As a result, currently no file is transferred even if some are not affected by the file name length limitation.

In Desktop Connector under the setting "Desktop Analytics" there is a way how to find out which files are affected but that's manual investigation and unmanageable in case the amount of files increases.

We would await the Desktop Connector to distinguish and indicate to the user which files need “post-processing” easily not by investigating and managing it manually.

[Anonymous]

Windows 10 allows over 32K characters...BIM 360 is still behind this limits. 

[mpersons]

I agree this is a major problem with the desktop connector. Autodesk needs to address this ASAP. 

[eric.gaudet]

This absolutely needs to be addressed. It should not be an issue since Windows 10 allows files names of up to 32,767 characters. "Make the folder/file name short" is not an acceptable solution. BIM as a platform is not completely useable/functional until either the character limit is addressed or mapping is allowed (see below).

Autocad seems to support this feature: "How to change the default 256 character path limitation (MAX_PATH) in Windows 10" 

Why not BIM? Is this in the works? I made the above registry edit but was still not able to copy over some project folders via Desktop Connector due to the character limit.

An Autodesk counter-argument might be that this was an issue with Windows prior to Windows 10. True. However, in that case a fix was to map to folders in a network drive. We did this in my organization frequently. So I would argue that it is also related to this issue: "Autodesk Desktop Connector - option to change standard folder path (mapping)" 

Can someone respond and give us a status?  Thanks.

@erich.holdener 

[edward.ngT8ZGR]

When Autodesk can address this issue? this issue has already maintain for some years already.... 

I am looking forwards to seeing the change and enhancement !!

[Anonymous]

Regarding Autodesk Desktop Connector App, there is a glitch in Autodesk Docs system.

Given the Long ISO 19650 Compliant Documents and Folders and Sub Folder Names, your system fails to keep the files and open them up, (stating characters for file path exceed 260 characters) upon our live projects.

When this will be addressed and resolved by Autodesk?

[sivaprasad.dhanasekaran]

Autodesk Needs to address this issue asap. It is one of the major issue we are facing in our organization.