Exclude file types from syncing with Desktop Connector

[daniel.bulyovcsity]

I want to exclude all the "garbage" files from syncig to the cloud like backup files, log files, lock files, temporary unfinished downloads, including but not limited to: .dat, .log, 000x.rfa, MS office lock files for every type of documents, .slog, .rws, .bak and I'm probably missing something.

It happened to me many time that by the time desktop connector want to sync them they are deleted then there is a forever pending error with Retry in DC that does not want to disappear.

DC handles these type of things unfortunately very poorly so I need a solution to exclude file types from syncing into the cloud.

[wizard_ettore · Accepted solution]

The solution is probably within this file:
C:\Users\<your_username>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Desktop Connector\CloudConfigCache\-2017-CDX-FileSystemMonitorConfig.V3.xml

Inside here looks like where Connector gets it's rules. However, it seems like it is weirdly associating specific files with specific processes ... which makes no sense since these files exist regardless of who put them there.

I have fought with Connector for so long, I no longer care to fight with it, but your solution may lie in that file. Be sure you backup the "original", and I could see Connector randomly overwriting that file so you might have to write-protect it with permissions so Connector can't mess with it.

[daniel.bulyovcsity]

thank you, this is exactly what I was looking for.

[Craig-Godfrey-ADSK]

I would not recommend modifying the config file as that is not a supported workflow. 

Which version of Desktop Connector are you using?

The current Version 16.6 will ignore all files that are on the Docs Unsupported file list so that DC does not attempt to upload those files, resulting in a failed upload job. Additionally we have been adding various file types to ignore such as back up files etc. You can find that list in the help: Unsupported Design File Formats.

Many of the file types you mentioned are already excluded. If there are others you feel should be excluded please let us know and we can consider adding those as well.

[travis_cadnetics]

Another example of Autodesk software engineers not really understanding. It shouldn't be up to you to force us into a specific workflow.(please pass this memo around to everyone in your company) What if we don't want our users uploading excel files? I should be able to enforce that throughout the org. It would be nice to enforce it per account/project/folder in the ACC/BIm360 admin.

[derek_o]

Hi, 

We are running printing automation with DWG exports. Per file  .pcp/.pat files are being created during export and deleted on completion per file automatically. These files when deleted cause DC to pause syncing killing the automation. 

Please add .pcp & .pat files to the exclusion list! 

There should be a way to add files to the exclusion list without having to wait for each DC update. 

[Craig-Godfrey-ADSK]

Hello @derek_o,

Is the issue directly related to running an automation or can this be reproduced manually? Could you provide me with steps so that I can get a reproducible case in-house to help with your request?

In AutoCAD (does the version matter) go to plot.... step, step... plot to PDF and have them saved within the Desktop Connector local workspace. Which version of DC are you on?

In regards to the exclusion list, we can update the exclusion list outside of the release cycle. But I get that you are making a request to have this more individually controlled by yourself instead of Autodesk. This is not something we are currently working on but the request is understood.

[wizard_ettore]

I know one way to do this is to ask Connector to do a lot of things where it now has a queue going of work that needs to be done (moving files is a good way, because it takes a while to process file moves). While its going, just change something; delete a file that it's eventually supposed to move. When it gets to that file, it will get stuck.

I haven't tried this with v16.9.1, but I know it was a problem with v16.6.?? all the way back to at least v13.5ish (that's around when I started dealing with Connector).

[Craig-Godfrey-ADSK]

@wizard_ettore, ok good information but that sounds like the desired behavior. If you have deleted a file you will get the delete notification that pauses all other sync operations until you answer the prompt.

The case that @derek_o is specific to a workflow where other files are created and removed (out of the users control) as part of a workflow. It would be helpful to get those steps for clarity.

[derek_o]

We use a well-known plugin for DWG Export from Revit . 

We run a weekly scheduled batch DWG export run from a remote computer. 

Revit exports DWGs which are pathed to Local DC folders and then synced to the ACC folder. 

When creating DWGs, .pat files are created and deleted automatically as part of the DWG export process.

.pcp Are also created (https://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?20714-What-does-the-PCP-file-ext-do). -These .pcp are specific to Revit DWG exports.  

We turn on the option to automatically delete .pcp files after export. (These are redundant junk files produced after exporting DWGs, we do not want these on ACC)

When either file type is automatically deleted from the local DC folder. DC pauses all queued jobs.  We do not care for these files and are happy to exclude them from any syncing to ACC. 

The version of AutoCAD does not matter. The workflow is Revit > DWG. The AutoCAD is not part of the process. 

DC Version is  

Can you confirm when we can get these onto the exclusion list? Let me know if you need any further information. 

[logerqk]

derek_o,

Without the use of the plugin I do see that the pcp files are generated by default when exporting DWG files from Revit.  I don't believe there is any option to automatically delete those (unnecessary) .pat files after the operation like you can using the plugin.  Nonetheless, we do understand you don't want those files left behind after the plugin operation and do not want those files in the cloud.  This is where we could add those to the exclude list.

I do not see the .pat files getting created in the Desktop Connector workspace using the manual export method. By default it appears those .pat files are stored outside the Desktop Connector workspace.  Can you help us understand the workflow where those files are created and if there are manual steps (without the plugin) to create those files.

We're just seeking to fully understand so that we can make educated decision about excluding these file types.

[derek_o]

Thank you for your response. Let us focus on the .pcp files for clarity. Can we place these on the exemption list as you understand these are 'junk' redundant files being created. What would be the estimated time to confirm them on the exemption list?

If .Pat files problem re-occurs as an issue we can get back to these.

[Craig-Godfrey-ADSK]

@derek_o, we just pushed out an update to the Desktop Connector Exclude list so that .pat and .pcp file types will be excluded from uploads. To see the changes you will need to be running 16.6 or newer. The next time you restart DC it will get the new rules and exclude them. Give the workflow a try and let us know if it has resolved the issue.

[derek_o]

Great news, Thank you. I will send an update on the issue after following the instructions. 

[derek_o]

So far, so good, the automation has a few minor blips but the .pat and .pcp issues are resolved. Thank you for your action, its been a great help.

[BartDeMaesschalck]

Please support git behaviour. Just an exclude file in the project so admins can set folders or files to sync yes or no. Works like a charm. Never had any issues with it.

In the standard settings you still could apply rules to be set on an Autodesk level.

Regards,

BArt

__PRESENT

[dlench]

Exclude TEMP.HDF 

And please allow us to do so without an update to the program and from a corporate CAD manager level.

@Craig-Godfrey-ADSK in reading your reply, does Desktop Connecter get OTA updates to the exclusion list? What else is updated then without a program update?

[dlench]

DSS files need to be SAVED. They are currently not. This is all HEC-RAS stuff.

[cedric.simard]

Hi Craig, 
between 16.12 and 16.16, file with .pcp extension seems to have been re-included in the sync. Is it possible to validate this ?