Workflow with Navisworks and linked filed through Desktop Connector

[Ezekiel12]

Hi,

is there any workable workflow with Navisworks (NWF files) and linked files with Desktop Conenctor? Let's have an example...

Step 1: Create a NWF file, Link one DWG and one RVT from Desktop Connector. Save it through desktop connector to the cloud.

Step 2: On another PC, change the RVT cloud file (or the DWG). 

Step 3: On the first PC, open the NWF file... Aaaaand for me it still shows it unchange... Like the second step never happend. But on cloud I can see the RVT file changed... so it is in cloud properly uploaded. But Desktop Connector for some reason shows Navisworks some old cached file (without change)...

---- 

So for solution I tried:

Clear Navisworks cache (Options > General > Local Caching > Empty on next start > Restart)

 -> No change

Right Click on Desktop Connector and refresh the drives 

 -> No change

Restart the PC

-> sometimes it helps...

-----

So is there any solution how to refresh the linked cloud file in Navisworks WITHOUT restart of PC?

Seems like there should be workflow.... 

---

Why I ask:

We need to cooperate with a lot of RVT-ACAD-NAVIS files... There will be a lot of linkes between them and when one file updates, the second has to refresh (even if manually)... But for some reason that does not work...

So how to actually cooperate in BIM 360? 

Thx

[patrick.beattie · Accepted solution]

Hi @Ezekiel12 ,

Thank you for posting to the Forum.  I understand you are looking for a workflow between Navisworks and Desktop Connector. 

We have seen this behavior before.  Are you able to get the Revit model change to appear if you rename the instance of the .nwc file?  For example, renaming arch.nwc to arch_old.nwc.  This will force a new cache file to be created when you open the .nwf.  Also, if it's not important to keep older cache files you can also choose to remove/delete the .nwc. 

This will be a manual process, but each time Desktop Connector area completes the sync a new .nwc file could be created.

Let us know if you are able to get the model updates to appear in Navisworks after doing this.  We look forward to your reply.

Best,

[anil_mistry]

Hi @Ezekiel12,

I'm just checking in to see if you need more help with this. Did the suggestion that @patrick.beattie  provided work for you?

If so, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

Thank you and have a great day!

[Anonymous]

I have a better solution w/o workaround for the users.

Convert the current BIM 360 Glue engine (NWC/NWF in the cloud creator) as a middleman between BIM 360 Document Management and Navisworks till there is a better solution. Similar like the Revit Cloud Worksharing platform between Revit and BIM 360 Docs/Team. If its too much, ad the need to assign a folder (Model Coordination folder?) where all the RVT/IFC files will be converted to NWC in the back on the Glue engine. This way models uploaded to BIM 360 Docs can be managed in NW by multiple people the same time and will bypass all the issues with the desktop connector currently. Because of this a lot of this construction companies are not able to fully embrace BIM 360 Document Management and abandon the old Glue the way we want. At least it will be used.

[zekeguenther1937]

Benno,

can you walk me through the process step by step?

thanks

zeke.guenther@skanska.com

[Anonymous]

Hello Zeke,

Currently it doesn't exist but was a suggestion to Autodesk. Below a quick sketch.

[Anonymous]

What if you only have Design Collaboration and not Model Coordination license? 

How would the workflow then look?