Option to not download linked models when downloading a file from BIM360 Docs

[aaronwagner]

Currently when downloading a file published to Document Management, the system will archive and download all its links as well.  Often times we are just after the direct file alone and not its links (archive, backup recovery, etc) so including the links only adds time and excess data.  Could there be an option to not download the links as well?

[RyanWalsh8255]

bueller? bueller? bueller? 

[mohammad.salemJA7RE]

2021-12-27 UPDATE: AUTODESK IS NOT LISTENING TO CUSTOMERS...HEY AUTODESK DEV. WAKE-UP...WAKE-UP

[luke.coxon]

Don't hold your breath people. I created this idea.... 

' The world's best BIM360 Idea '

about the top voted BIM360 idea not getting a response from Autodesk for more than 4 years now. 

My idea is quickly gaining votes, which says it all...

[Chad-Smith]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the zipping of these models is also contributing to not being able to link the models via the Desktop Connector. I also suspect the zipping is a result of the Design Collaboration packaging/sharing process, but I can't 100% confirm this.

In regards to the linking (of the zipped models), the following article suggests this is a licensing issue.

"Failed to open document" when attempting to open a BIM 360 model in Revit | Revit | Autodesk Knowle...

So it may appear that the core of this issue is more tightly tied to the licensing, to entice users to upgrade from Docs to BIM Collaborate Pro in the Revit authoring space.

The by-product is that it also impacts Docs users wanting to download via the web UI.

By fixing the web UI download issue, this then removes the limitation on the Revit authoring side.

I realise this might appear a bit cynical, but joining the dots across a few Ideas and Forum Posts on the topic brings me to this conclusion.

[allan.stableford]

I think your probably right @Chad-Smith.

Insightful as ever. Thanks for posting your thoughts.

[rchilders9]

Please allow individual model downloads without all of the linked models. thanks

[Chad-Smith]

Oh what a tangled web this issue weaves.

I stumbled upon the following knowledge article a few days ago. It would appear that this issue runs quite a bit deeper than it would appear on the surface.

Why an RVT model is (sometimes) downloaded as ZIP from BIM 360

It also confirms what I suspected from my previous post, that this is tied to the Design Collaboration workflow.

So why does this not affect a Design Collaboration Revit workflow (i.e. file linking), but it does for everyone else, including as a direct download from the web UI?

And surely this is in Autodesk's best interest to resolve, as I can imagine the unnecessary data preparation and egress costs on their servers, which customers are no doubt paying for.

[echen4Q977]

or adding a feature in desktop connector to make it individual file than a "bundled" file.

Currently, the "bundle" file is unusable in desktop connector when downloaded the file. 

[LDK-SKK]

Please hurry up and do this, having to download 5.3GB just for just a 500MB model !

[eldad.asoulin]

It's been a few years now since this issue was raised (on many other posts).

It looks like Autodesk is deliberately ignoring the many requests to have an option to download the source file without the links, and the only explanation I have is around creating the one and only ecosystem for us to use, the Autodesk ecosystem that ignores any other platforms out there.

Some of our files are reaching 12-14 GB!

Common Autodesk, listen to your users!

[colinSRA]

Yes, still not addressed by Autodesk.

Downloading a single Revit model from BIM 360 can result in:

A. Single .RVT revit model.

B. .ZIP file containing several Revit models

C. Single .RVT file that is not actually a Revit model, but a really a .ZIP file containing several Revit models, which must be renamed manually to be useful.

Not confusing at all...

Wouldn't a simple download option ("Include Links / Do Not Include Links") solve this?

[jspartz]

3 years later and still this issue is on the 1st page of top voted ideas, without any acknowledgement from Autodesk. I believe this forum is made so people have an area to post complaints and feel like they will be listened to, to give the community a placebo effect that they are making changes.

This 'idea' is something that shouldn't had to even be said and should have been a part of the base development to optimize the use of Autodesk servers and should be expected by all customers paying tens and hundreds of thousands per year for the platform.

[eldad.asoulin]

The only conclusion I can draw is that this is a calculated decision by Autodesk to make life really hard to anyone trying to remove models from BIM360 onto another platform.

Autodesk want you to give up such preposterous ideas! "why on earth would you want to get something out of BIM360??"

When we complained about the slow download speeds, we were told that our internet infrastructure in Australia is really bad! don't let the fact that you might be on a gig connection and achieving 300mb/sec speeds tell you anything else and that a 1mb/sec is perfectly fine.

They reduce download speed, they won't let you download individual files on purpose.

And this is coming from a company that pride itself of innovation.

Crickets...

[edgar.chan6WJ3M]

No wonder BIM360 always lags😂, by making our download in bulk, they can give them an excuse to invest more in network infrastructure and spend a ton of money. Anyway, they are... rich, wait are they still in red?

[edgar.chan6WJ3M]

Seriously Autodesk, having this fix can improve by saving bandwidth and stabilising their network due to the users that download BIM model from docs and Revit every day. Are Autodesk really can't see the cost-benefit in this fix to both users and themselves?

[eldad.asoulin]

I don't believe Autodesk got their own infrastructure, they are, from what I can gather, on AWS (or similar)

[edgar.chan6WJ3M]

Paying for more robust network infrastructure or upgrading a service package will be costly. In the business sense, whatever ways that can cut costs will benefit the company. This suggestion is both cutting down the cost and improving service for users. It's a win-win solution for both sides, yet they have not taken action for three years. They just can't be bothered.

[ShaneCoppingerCWO]

any update on this? 

[wouter_vandebergh]

Just another guy joining the waiting list for a feature that takes 5 minutes to code.

[mohammad.salemJA7RE]

Simply this is, Idea station is a graveyard for all the nice ideas Autodesk want to ignore