Sheetset Manager for Web 2025 - Missing Functionality Workarounds?

[ceethreedee.com]

We have been using SSM since 2007 and coupled with @JTBWorld 's ssmpropeditor it has largely been a very good experience, but its 2025 and everyone is going cloud ACC docs etc..

Sheetset Manager for Web (which shows up when you open a dst on ACC docs) is missing a ton on functionality that for me is critical path. So i am wondering how everyone gets around this? Maybe no one is using SSM still?

Key Functionality Missing/Broken

1. Rename/Renumber drawings
   If you are tying to rename/renumber drawings it does not seem to always catch the change to the filename, you seem to have to click the tick each time? Additionally if you have multiple sheets coming from same file name, it is not smart enough to recognise that that file has changed in the other sheets(original SSM did this.)
   There is also no functionality to chose how layouts or the files will be renamed (previously you could do this automatically. The autonumbering tool is not the same)
   New Rename Renumber Tool - Missing all the optionsAutonumbering tool does not do what the old one did.Original Rename Renumber tool
   
   
2. Remapping drawings can't change the path
   How do you change the "expected path" of a layout? Previously you could click in the the properties and remap a drawing, this doesnt seem possibly anymore?
   
   
3. Sheet Views and Model Views - Missing
   So are sheet views and model views missing completely now? How does one manage callout references etc across drawings, do we go back to manually typing them? 
   Sheet View Tab in Original SSM
   New SSM for Web completely missing sheet view tab...
4. Plotting drawings and support paths etc.
   Do we have to have all of our company standards like plotstyles/page setup overrides etc.. Added to every project in ACC docs? The plot does not seem to read my local support paths to my company customisation... 
   
   
   
   
   

[MavenH]

We've been experiencing similar issues. Does anyone from Autodesk have updates on this?

[múinteoir]

Tagging @Shelby-L-Smith , @Gil_C , @DanielLench_ & @C3D_TomR who may have some insights on this.

[DanielLench_]

SSMDETECTMODE=0 is still common because of the issues with SSM4W. This uses the legacy SSM for ACC homed dst files.

ref: https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-4A8AB2B5-F207-4E98-9CDA-1CA3E7E7A022 

[C3D_TomR]

@múinteoir 
Thank you for tagging us in this thread.

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@ceethreedee.com 
As others have mentioned, you're not alone in requesting the missing features in SSM4W. I truly appreciate the professionalism and clarity with which you described your experience comparing SSM4W to legacy mode. I waited until this evening to respond so I could provide a more detailed and thoughtful reply.

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Short Answer

As @DanielLench_ noted, setting SSMDETECTMODE to OFF will force the software to open all DSTs in legacy mode, which will provide access to the features you're missing. If you're interested in more context and suggestions, read on.

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Long Answer

To clarify, I’m not an Autodesk employee, but I am part of the Autodesk Expert Elite program. One of my roles is to help elevate customer voices like yours to the Autodesk teams who need to hear them. After reading your post, I shared it with a contact on the SSM4W development team. Your real-world examples and visuals are incredibly valuable for guiding and validating development priorities—thank you for that.

Before diving into workflow recommendations, here’s a quick overview of how to use both modes effectively:

• Switching between legacy and SSM4W modes: Wait 30–45 seconds for local and cloud DSTs to sync before opening in the alternate view mode.
• Legacy-only workflows: If one user modifies a DST, others should wait for the file to sync to the cloud then to their local copy before opening for edit.
• SSM4W-only workflows: All users can access the cloud DST directly, with minimal, if any, sync delays.

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Workflow Recommendations (Based on Your Comments)

1. Renaming Layouts or Files Across Sheets

   • Recommendation: Use legacy mode (SSMDETECTMODE OFF) for this task.
   • Note: For auto-numbering with prefixes, use SSM4W (SSMDETECTMODE ON), as legacy mode lacks this feature.

2. Remapping Drawings

   • Status: Not available in SSM4W.
   • Recommendation: Use legacy mode (SSMDETECTMODE OFF) for this task.

3. Sheet/Model Views

   • Status: Not yet supported in SSM4W.
   • Recommendation: Use legacy mode.(SSMDETECTMODE OFF) for this task.

4. Support Files (Plot Styles, Page Setups, etc.)

   • These must be accessible within the project for SSM4W. Here are a few options:
     • Connected Support Files: A newer, more flexible option—learn more here and here.
     • Bridge Standards into Projects: Store support files in a dedicated ACC project and use Bridge to link them.
     • Project Templates: Include support files in your ACC project templates or into individual projects after creation as described here..

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Final Thoughts

I recommend becoming familiar with both modes and switching between them as needed to take advantage of their respective strengths, especially the background publishing speed of SSM4W (SSMDETECTMODE ON),

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Next Steps

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to join the Autodesk Feedback Community: (NDA required). 

• For Civil 3D-related tools (Project Explorer, Dynamo, etc.), join the Infrastructure Futures project.
• For AutoCAD-specific features like SSM, join the AutoCAD Customer Council 

Also, be sure to explore the Civil Infrastructure Roadmap. You can vote on upcoming features and share your use cases—your input helps shape future development and could even lead to an invitation to Autodesk’s exclusive “Inside the Factory” events.

[C3D_TomR]

@ceethreedee.com 

One thing you didn't list here is inserting a sheet list table. Here's the recommended steps we've been using to complete that task and return to SSM4W mode for publishing.
:

Recommended Steps:

1. Set SSMDETECTMODE to OFF
2. Lock the DST
3. Open the DST in legacy mode
4. Insert the sheet list table
5. Close the DST
6. Unlock the DST
7. Set SSMDETECTMODE to ON
8. Reopen the DST in SSM4W mode.

What’s Better in SSM4W?

• DST Locking (give this a test)
• Auto Numbering for faster sheet organization changes
• Faster Cloud Publishing directly to Autodesk Docs
• Remote Accessibility: No VPN required—just an internet connection, proper permissions, and a valid license
• Multi-User Access: Multiple team members can work on the same sheet set simultaneously in the cloud

[Cadguru42]

Another thing not mentioned here is that Civil 3D isn't designed to use SSM4W. It requires access to the cached DST file. The only way to get C3D match line labels to read the sheet numbers in a sheet set is to use the plan production tools for sheet creation where it creates the layouts and adds to the DST. You cannot use C3D view frames to create a second set of layouts, add those to the DST and get the match lines to properly read the data if the DST is stored on ACC. 

There's also an internal time-out when using SSM4W that isn't user controlled. So if you're using SSM4W the C3D match line label that reads the sheet number will show as #### if the SSM4W isn't open. But since SSM4W doesn't plot any faster than the legacy version (despite what Autodesk claims), this has caused sheet numbers to not plot if you have a large set to plot. The only way around is to use the legacy SSM. 

There is also the issue that plotting from the SSM4W does not respect the local user variable of PDFSHX, so all PDFs created from plotting from SSM4W will have SHX comments in the resulting PDF. There is no known workaround for this. 

[The__Mini__Guy]

@ceethreedee.com can you confirm if you have changed your workflows to adopt the legacy mode vs SSM4W? Did you drop a couple of macro buttons in the GCDS to achieve that or are you Legacy all the way with Jimmys tools to maintain the legacy workflows??

[ceethreedee.com]

Yeah @The__Mini__Guy .. ssm4w = broken..

So yeah setting the SSMDETECTMODE off.  Then using full legacy... gotta be careful to lock the sheetset in desktop connector before editing with SSMPROPEDITOR.   

Also go check out ceethreedeetools 3.1 . Recently updated to fix lots of problems

Mqy the force be with you.. 🙏