Keeping track of revisions

[Anonymous]

Can someone suggest a method for keeping track of revisions? I have models with dozens of versions, but maybe only 1 or 2 true revisions. I know I can add a "Revision 1" version description when I save, but I don't see where this description is shown. If I'm on rev 2 and want to open rev 1, I'm presented with a list of 17 versions, their creator, the saved date/time and 17 nearly identical thumbnails. Short of opening every version, I don't know how to find rev 1.

[Phil.E]

Hi,

Version labels are not shown in the data panel. They are shown in A360, which is your web based project management tool.

• When you save a notable version, enter the text string you wish to look for later.
• In the data panel, click on the circle i icon, i is for information.
• When the card expands, click on the link "Open details in A360".
• When the item data view appears, click on the versions link. It's a clock icon.
• Examine the versions list, look under notes for your description.

Thanks,

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Phil.

That appears to be the old A360, though. I see there's a similar list in the new A360, but then after finding the version I want, I have to go back to Fusion, find that version and open it. It seems to me that the whole A360/web browser portion of that process could be bypassed by just showing the version description in the data panel.

[Anonymous]

Hi, I suggest you to make a copy of your original verson 1, paste it back to the same folder, then change the name to Version 2.  I do that all the time because i have different versions of the same design. For commercial projects I always kept a few versions. Even a parametric version because I usually changed the file to Direct Modeling file after the designing had been done. Of course I have my reasons for doing that. A smaller file to generate a smaller STP for injection mold making. I could delete most of the hidden files when "Stopped Recording". I always archive and save and parametric file for future changes.

[schneik-adsk]

There are a few ways to do this. The method I prefer today is to open the design at the version I want stored as a specific "revision"

From the root of the browser I the select Save Copy As...

>

I browse to the project sub folder I want and make a new folder called Design name + Revisions.

I then save the Design and add a revision suffix.  This lets me keep a folder of specific revisions of a design that I can return to at any time. It also allows me to break and external links so that the design is completely self contained. this makes it easier to translate, download, share, or other common activity's you might want to take on a revision.

Save copy as does not redirect the open tab to the new document That is a Save as... This can trip people up f they are not paying attention or realize that save as and save copy as behave differently. Never work on data in the revision folder. Always work on the main design. It's also worth adding a comment to a version to the main design, if you can, to note when you take a revision.

The view in a 360 is also very clean. I can see each revision separately.

A few other reasons why I like this method.

• I can open old versions and Save Copy As to create revision from old versions of the design in case there is one I realize I wanted to keep after the fact.
• When I do a public share, I don't have to worry that the share updates to later versions ( public share today is tip version not pinned at a specific version ).
• This method works really well when offline. Because each revision is a new design, you can be working offline and adding new revisions to the folder. When you reconnect all the new items get uploaded.  If I'm not sure I want a revision while offline I can always save off a minor rev just in case I want to restore back to that point. So I might save a Rev X.1 and X.2 for later use.  I can delete them if I don't want them.
• I can keep the Gcode and source toolpaths and simulation results along with the design revisions so I can always go back to them later
• This method will be EVEN BETTER once we get branching.

The one limitation is drawings. This method does not lend itself to create revisions where you also have drawings of the source designs.