Desktop Connector and BIM360 Docs workflow

[dtpeter2901]

We have a project that is being migrated off of Buzzsaw to BIM360 Docs.  We have no plans at this point to use the cloud Collaboration Aspect of it.  We're using Revit 2016.  The workflow that was presented was to use the Desktop Connector to Sync the models between our local Server and the BIM360 Docs, Document Management tab. 

I've looked but I have yet to find any documentation on how this is supposed to work.  

Will the Desktop Connector Sync files from my local project drive up to a BIM360 Docs page and pull other models back from the Docs page to my local Server?  

Look for a solution to replace the Buzzsaw Sync application that we were using.

Thanks in advance.

[mespaillat]

Hello @dtpeter2901,

Thank you for posting to our forums!

I looked but could not find the workflow you described where you would "use the Desktop Connector to Sync the models between our local Server and the BIM360 Docs, Document Management". If the intent is to replace Buzzsaw Sync with the Desktop Connector, you would most likely follow a workflow where you would author/edit a model in Revit 2016, then save your work to the Desktop Connector connected drive for BIM 360 as demonstrated in the screenshot below.

As for your comment about "Will the Desktop Connector Sync files from my local project drive up to a BIM360 Docs page and pull other models back from the Docs page to my local Server?" The Desktop Connector is a mirrored drive showing the BIM 360 data sources and doesn't perform a true bi-directional synchronization between local and remote drives/folders. There are no settings within the Desktop Connector application that would allow you to map a local drive/folder to your BIM 360 project(s). If you wish to save your Revit 2016 work locally and syncing it to your BIM 360 project(s), this would require that you drag and drop the local files to to your BIM 360 connected drive. Please see Add Folders and Files to a Connected Drive for more details.

If you find this response was helpful in answering your inquiry, please click the ACCEPT SOLUTION button so it may help other community members with similar questions.

[evgeny.kurbatov]

Hi @dtpeter2901

I understand you need periodically share your in-office model with other teams through the BIM360 storage.

If so you can do the following:

1. Find a local RVT file created by Revit when you open a server-based model.
2. Make a copy.
3. Rename the file according file naming convention.
4. Using Windows Explorer drag this file to the target BIM360 folder and drop it there. Also you can drop it to Chrome (or other browser supporting BIM360).

Hope it helps.

[mespaillat]

Hello @dtpeter2901,

I wanted to circle back with you to see if you had an opportunity to review the responses posted by @evgeny.kurbatov or myself? If either response is helpful in selecting a suitable workflow, please confirm by clicking the ACCEPT SOLUTION button so that other community members in search of the same answer can easily find it.

[dtpeter2901]

I haven't had a chance to try these workflows that were suggested.

But no my question hasn't been answered.  Has Autodesk produced any documentation on how to use the desktop connector so sync files to BIM 360 docs.  I still haven't found any useful page or resource that shows you how to use the tool.  We've got a ton of files and pushing anything up and down manually simply isn't acceptable.

[mespaillat]

Hello @dtpeter2901,

I am sorry my initial response did not answer the question about "Has Autodesk produced any documentation on how to use the desktop connector to sync files to BIM 360 docs?"

The Desktop Connector is not used as a syncing application. From the Desktop Connector help documentation, in the "What Is Desktop Connector?" section it provides the following description:

"Desktop Connector is a desktop service that integrates an Autodesk data management source (or data source) with your desktop folder and file structure for easy file management.

The files in the data source are replicated in a connected drive. You can manage files in the data source through the connected drive, just as you would any other folder on your machine. Changes made in the connected drive are automatically uploaded to the data source."

That said, there is no feature parity (from a synchronization perspective) between Buzzsaw Sync and the Desktop Connector. The functionality you seek has been requested and posted to the BIM 360 Ideas page as feature enhancement request. I recommend you "Vote" for each of the ideas linked below. There more votes the ideas receive, the chances of this functionality being added to the product increase.  have gone ahead and voted on both while drafting this response.

• Autodesk Desktop Connector | Option to select location to sync my projects
• Autodesk Desktop Connector | Option to select specific projects to sync

With regards to a useful page or resource to use the Desktop Connector, the in-product help is a great source of information on how to use the tool. It even includes the User's Guide for Desktop Connector as shown in the screenshot below.

I hope this response is helpful in answering your inquiry. If so, please click  the ACCEPT SOLUTION button for other community members to find.

[dtpeter2901]

Ok so that seems to explain a little more than I knew before.

So I have a follow up question.

Say I have a 2016 Revit Central file on my local area Network server.  If I'm understanding the process correctly, I can drag that central file to the connected drive.  When I make a change to the Central file on my local area network, those changes will appear on the file that reside in the connected drive?  Is that correct?  So it's not really a sync but a mirrored copy?  

I've tried to play around with this a bit, but I still haven't gotten it to work the way it's being described.  

[mespaillat · Accepted solution]

Hello @dtpeter2901,

Please see my response in-line to your follow up question:

Q. I have a 2016 Revit Central file on my local area Network server.  If I'm understanding the process correctly, I can drag that central file to the connected drive.  When I make a change to the Central file on my local area network, those changes will appear on the file that reside in the connected drive?  Is that correct? 

A. The scenario described in your question would require you to manually drag and drop the Central file on your local area Network server to the Desktop Connector after every Sync or Save to your local version. This may not be your ideal workflow as it requires that you drag and drop the Central model to the Desktop Connector so that both local and remote versions of the model are the same.

The Desktop Connector has no means to monitor or synchronize with a local area network drive or path. The recommendations mentioned by @evgeny.kurbatov or in my initial response would be your best options at the moment.

If either recommendation is helpful in selecting a workflow, please confirm by clicking the ACCEPT SOLUTION button so that other community members in search of the same answer can easily find it.