Add shortcuts from BIM360 to Quick access in windows explorer

[Jrooker06]

My company just moved everything off of our server and onto BIM360. I am use to just having a series of folders on my quick access bar that will allow me to jump right to my family folder or project templates instead of browsing to the folder manually. Is there a way to do this now that all of our files are on BIM360? or a decent work around?

[gareth.spencer1]

Hi @Jrooker06 ,

You can create shortcuts to the Hubs, Projects, or Folders from the Autodesk desktop connector. Just select the path from the desktop connector.

Then create a shortcut. I personally always right-click on the desktop select New > shortcut.

Paste the path.

Click Next. 

You can then move the shortcut(s) to a location and then add to your Quick access on your windows explorer.

I hope this answers your question.

[Jrooker06]

I have tried doing this in the past with little success. When I would update connector, I found that it would break all of my shortcut links and I would have to go and reestablish all of them even though the path was the same as before. Have you come across this issue?

[gareth.spencer1]

No sorry I don't tend to create desktop shortcuts for any projects on BIM 360. I do however create shortcuts in my web browsers which allows me to access my projects quicker, but I guess you want to access the files from your desktop not through a browser?

[Jrooker06]

I know the web browser gives you a ton more options and is by far better to use, but it doesn't allow me to drag and drop or even open the family directly. I dont know why autodesk would lock this function out to the users along with renaming in the windows browser.

[gareth.spencer1]

I totally understand where you are coming from. 

Ok so this might be an option for you. I wrote a blog post recently about shorting your material image library in BIM 360. A Guide To Linking Material Image Library From BIM 360 Docs To Revit 

Which made me think if I can do this with materials I can do this with my family library or template library as well. 

If we added a shortcut link directly into the Places / Quick access panel when you either open a new file or insert a family. I have just added one to our master library on BIM 360 and it works ok.

Here is how.

1. Select the File application menu.
2. Then select Options.
3. In the Options dialog box, select File Locations from the list on the left.
4. Now click the Places icon. 
5. In the Place window select the plus(+) and copy a the link to your BIM 360 project library and name the Library Name. 

Hopefully the above makes sense. I have just tested it and it works for me. Now you might have the same issue you mentioned about the shortcut links, but give it a try and see how it goes.

I recommend adding this as an BIM 360 idea as a function which is included in future updates.

[Albert.Maduro]

It's frustrating to learn that although "Add Link" Dialog Box is allowing us to add shortcut folder, it is on the otherhand not working. What you suggested works fine