Datashortcut folder looses it's folders

[Buzz0m]

Hi,

I was forced to migrate my project datashortcut project folder and have since run into some problems.

Now, when I create new folders in the DS-hierachy they disappear after I refresh the datashortcuts (right click on the ds part of the tree in prospector and then "refresh") or after closing C3D. I'm running the 2020 version.

Has anybody run into this?

- F

[lim.wendy]

Hi @Buzz0m ,

There're some good tips here. Please check it out and let us know if it helps.

[samir_rezk]

Hi @Buzz0m 

Civil 3D Drawing files can only be associated with one Data Shortcut Project! I suspect some of your project drawings may be associated with different Data Shortcut Project folders at different locations causing some system confusion, or some of the Data References in the drawing are coming from different Data Shortcut Project locations! Try associating the entire folder directory containing all you drawing files to the new Data shortcut project folder location. Once a drawing is associated, you should see the Data Shortcut Project name in brackets [] next to the file name in the application title bar up top! 

You may also need to re-path some of your referenced data to the new Data Shortcuts Folder using the ManageDataShortcuts command on the Manage Tab/Data Shortcuts Panel (this is a drawing by drawing fix!).

Hope this helps, 

[Buzz0m]

Thanks for the tips!

It seems that the drawings are not associated to the DS-project in any way. Associating them to the current (and correct) project has no effect.

Sidenote and please correct me if I'm wrong: associating the drawing only creates a local xml-file (or something similar) with a list of drawing filepaths and the project folder location. Occasionally this files is deleted (eg. after a crash) and all associations are lost (?).

To clarify: all the datashortcuts ARE listed and found, but I am unable to add subfolders in the datashortcut hiearchy. I have a fair amount of surfaces and corridors in my project, so the datashortcut lists grow impractically long.

[Buzz0m]

I asked my colleague to add an folder and she was able to do it just as one would expect. Hence I've come to the conclusion that the problem is on my PC and probably some user related settings.

I was able to find one error in "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\C3D 2020\enu\Project Management\ShortcutFolders.xml".

I backed up the file and removed the erroneous paths. I still do not have the sought after functionality.

Can anybody think of any other user specific places that store datashortcut related info?

[Buzz0m]

Another update:

I Created a test project on my c-drive. After a few tests it seems that I am unable to modify the folder structure of the datashortcuts hierarchy.

Another thing is that I am able to edit the project with C3d 2018 without any problems and the changes are seen in 2020 as expected. It is a workaround but will have to do for now. Haven't got the time for a repair installation =(

[samir_rezk]

Hi @Buzz0m 

Maybe it needs a refresh! try the RefreshShortCutNode command; or turn off Shortcuts then turn back on with ShortCutNode set to 0 then back to 1.

Otherwise, instead of re-installing, you may consider Resetting Civil 3D to Defaults, usually you can find a Reset shortcut in the Start Menu, (I noticed Windows 10 sometimes caps the amount of shortcuts, you'll find it in Windows Explorer!)

Hope this helps,

[Buzz0m · Accepted solution]

Seems that this was a bug and should be fixed in the 2020.5 update... haven't tried yet, but felt relieved when I saw this 😃

https://help.autodesk.com/view/CIV3D/2020/ENU/?guid=Civil3D_ReleaseNotes_2020_5_Release_Notes_2020_5...

[Buzz0m]

the C3d 2020.5 update seems to be broken ATM. Check out this post before you update

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/civil-3d-forum/civil-3d-2020-5-update-is-on-hold/m-p/9788841#M436018

[ceethreedee.com]

None of the above are really solutions at all... This is most definitely a bug and its still happening in 2021 and 2022 products..

It seems to be mostly a problem on legacy projects. A workaround that will pretty much always restore these folders is to simply delete (or rename) the duplicate "ShortcutFolders.xml" file that is in the "/_shortcuts" location of the "Data Shortcuts Project folder".

To be very clear, this is my solution to fix the problem..
Lets say I set my "working folder" to

---

---

"B:\QAL\QAL_REFINERY\10_CADD\"

Within that working folder I only have one "Project folder which is called "CIVIL3D" so it should already be selected...

"B:\QAL\QAL_REFINERY\10_CADD\CIVIL3D\"

Now for some reasons Civil 3d now saves the "ShortcutFolders.xml" file by default in a different location to what it did in previous versions. So if all your folders are disappearing, you should be able to find this file in two locations.

1. "B:\QAL\QAL_REFINERY\10_CADD\CIVIL3D\_Shortcuts\ShortcutsFolders.xml"

2. "B:\QAL\QAL_REFINERY\10_CADD\CIVIL3D\ShortcutsFolders.xml"

Simply delete or rename the first one. then just refresh your folder (right click -> refresh)..

Fixed folders are back... 😛 see screen shots below.

Refresh your data shortcuts and done.

[Buzz0m]

@ceethreedee.comthanks for the fix! I'll give it a go if I ever stumble upon this issue again. Luckliy my projects usually last for years so I tend to not have to struggle with repeatedly ocuring problems but only have to tackle them once in a while.

Did you by any chance test if the datashortcut functionality breaks in older versions if you do as you suggested? I have colleagues working with older versions of c3d than the one I prefer and I'd like to know if there are any fall backs when it comes to deleting/renaming the xml file you mentioned.