How to delete or rename a project

[jemspak7ZM7K]

OK I tried going to my data panel and I have a bunch of "New Folder" projects sitting there 

I want to rename them at least. 

I can't do it. Right-clicking (control click on a mac) produces a drop down menu that doesn't let me actually choose anything. The answers from the forums are resolutely unhelpful -- they lack the simple instruction "right- or left-click on the following thing"  

All I want to do is change the bloody name of the thing. Or get rid of it. The documentation says to right click on the name, and while I see the drop down - it says "Rename" or "Archive" It doesn't let me actually choose either one. 

And no I can't screen shot this because in order to produce the menu I have to hold the control key and I can't screen shot because I only have so many fingers. 

This is BASIC BASIC BASIC functionality for ANY program on this planet. I am ready to give up on this thing forthwith. 

Please help Edited to remove screaming. 

[jhackney1972 · Accepted solution]

You need to go to A360 website and find your project.  On the right hand side is a upside down carrot, touch it and select Archive.  This puts it in a sort of trash can.  After this you will see an Archived section just below the main title bar.  Using this you can delete the project you archived.  I do not know, I am guessing it does not exist, of a way to rename a project.

On another subject, as a user of the Fusion 360 forums, I do not appreciate your use of such vulgar language!  

[jemspak7ZM7K]

Thank you. I apologize for the swearing but that was how frustrating this software is.

This is another instance where I feel like the designers of Fusion 360 are just messing with people.  

Like, can we make this MORE counter intuitive? MORE complex to use? And what thought process went through their heads to say "Oh, deleting files? Who needs easy access to that? And let's add a drop down that doesn't actually DO anything! And to REALLY get 'em we'll make sure to update the interface often enough that the tutorials we publish are next to useless!" 

I might have to teach this program to high school students. So far the message I am getting is "don't even THINK it, it's not worth the trouble" 

Autodesk thus far is the far superior option, even with its own complexities, and I am becoming convinced to dis-recommend Fusion to all and sundry. Fusion's treatment of files adds layer upon layer of complexity that is so ridiculoulsly unnecessary. /end frustration rant. 

[gavin.landon]

I'm a software engineer of 35 years.   Write software in over 25 languages and I'm in the same boat.  Standard development with the uses with files, is to allow rename or delete.   Understand it's really not files, it's just data, but still..   Not that tricky!   Especially in these times where you have every thing in the cloud.   Your just making a REST API call.   Give me access and I'll implement this in about 20 minutes with full unit testing.

Now to complete this answer as it took me 30 minutes to find it:   
Log into https://a360.autodesk.com/ to see your projects.

[Anonymous]

As jhackney1972 stated, deleting projects that way is correct. But, to rename a project, that can be done in Fusion itself by simply right-clicking the project in the Data Panel.

[SheridanTech]

Hi all,

Deleting project folders:  I agree that not having a Delete option is counter-intuitive - I spent about 30+ minutes or so searching for a solution!  The documentation says there is a Delete option (but elsewhere the opposite).   But on the bright side, you're data is safer! (?).  Though, you can easily delete individual Design files (apparently?)!!  

The solution is:  Cloud >> Projects >> Archive the Project...   Show 'Archived' projects >> Delete >> confirm

It would make sense to have this facility within the Desktop App.

My guess is this 'complexity' is due to the syncing, ownership and sharing options for projects: seems they've got a tangle in the design philosphy 😝

Renaming project folders: I agree, you can rename the project folders within Fusion desktop app (ATOW):  just note that the data panel does NOT always refresh, so that it looks like the edit didn't happen!!  Usually this does not occur, but sometimes the Data Panel only refreshes (to show the new name of the folder) after a short period, or possibly only when it is 'manually' refreshed (by clicking the refresh button).

If AutoDesk could at least add Delete to Desktop app, and also have a sensilble 'Backup All Data to user storage' I would be a much happier customer!

Thanks TTFN

[gavin.landon]

[image: image.png]

-- EDIT -- Ok, replying by email doesn't seem to like images.

[gavin.landon]

You don't have these options when you right click your project?

[ben7P86Y]

Also for anyone like me who ends up here thinking that renaming is not working:

press ENTER after typing your new name (rather than just clicking out as you can do with windows folders).

[tcorneo]

Time has passed.  It could be that this has been 'fixed' since the original post.  The currently posted 'solution' no longer works.  [It doesn't work for me because the link advised that I should use "Drive", to which I do not have access.  I can't say whether it would be any easier to rename a project there.]

I found a way, although it is very obscure; it seems intentionally 'hidden'.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video might worth several thousand, so... see the attached video.

I would love to know the rational for the decision to make the ability to rename a project so difficult to find.  It makes me want to say "Hmmmm". 

[SheridanTech]

Time flies indeed... Thanks for the vid.

Agree - the Rename option is - still - not exactly 'obvious'

But it is placed with other project info, so there's is some logic to it.

I guess users are not expected to rename top level Project folders too often?

The Autodesk 'OneDrive' (using Connector app etc) also prevents renaming of Project folders in Windows Explorer (as well as most other 'admin' tasks it seems?!).

If I am renaming (or moving) Project folders, I normally just use the Fusion app.

Top-level 'Project' folders do seem restrictive when doing 'folder admin', so I tend to use the top-level folders as 'categories' of projects, and create subfolders within, for each of my projects.  Subfolders (my project folders!) can be renamed everywhere (I think?) and are generally more flexible in use.  Also, I am less likely to have to rename these top-level 'category' folders.

NB: This approach might affect sharing individual projects in the cloud (ie sharing at the subfolder level)? And might affect sharing and referencing in assemblies?  Backup/archiving multiple projects might be easier tho? Not sure...

It's been a while since I 'investigated' folders etc., so best to experiment for yourself of course 🙂  

TTFN

[jemspak7ZM7K]

thanks for the post. Time has indeed passed and I mightbe persuaded to try Fusion 360 again, I was originally attracted to it in part because it works on a Mac. 

But dang, I was basically scared off it. Inventor was a ton simpler, honestly. (It also doesn't depend -- at least not up to 2020 -- on a working internet connection. If you work in a school with Internet that isn't the most reliable, this is important). 

[tcorneo]

I hope I didn't leave you with the impression that I was trying to talk you in to coming back Fusion 360.  I certainly am not.

I have been immersed in learning it for the last few weeks.  There is SO much to know, and I find that almost nothing is intuitive.  In defensive of the product, it is trying to tackle a very complex space.  I'm not ready to give up on it just yet -- I'm the only one that depends on me to learn it -- but there are times, I'm ready to, well... one of these days, pow, to the moon Alice.