Bring back the Version Number

[Webdad]

I've worked with Fusion 360 for 8 years, and developed workflows and SOPs that were heavily dependent on the version number in both the view as well as saving STL meshes.  The recent decision to not only stop adding the version number to mesh saves but also remove the visibility of the version number completely within Fusion 360 has severely crippled by ability to be productive with this software.

What recourse, besides moving to another CAD solution, is there for regaining lost / crippled functionality?

[rhetths]

Oh.  I have not begun any 'hub migration'.  I try my best to avoid all new programming because the quality is typically terrible.  I imagine it doesn't solve any or many problems and creates more.

[joecamisa]

I didn't think we had a choice.   I received an email telling me when the CE Hub migration would occur.

The email did not explain that: (1) existing Fusion assigned Version numbers (metadata) would be removed

and (2) File Save auto assigned Version number functionality would be removed.

[AndyV_MVM]

I just dont understand how Fusion is supposed to be usable with external systems after this change. Can someone from Autodesk explain how we can track the match between saved files (SVG, 3MF etc) and the corresponding revision in Fusion. This is perhaps the dumbest 'enhancement' that I have ever seen!

[joecamisa]

I have the same issues: Fusion is not usable after the CE Hub migration changes.   

We aren't the only ones who relied on Fusion Version numbers to be aligned with saved production files such as 3MF and STLs we have printed.

This is a very basic manufacturing REQUIREMENT, not a nice to have.  Date and timestamp are nice to have.

It will soon be 3 weeks since CE Hub migration for me.  The nightmare continues:

(1) I can not determine which of my designs was printed without the Fusion assigned Version numbers that existed pre-migration because they are no longer available.

(2) The workflow I am using is insane and simply impossible:

(a) Add Version number to the Design Name at EVERY SAVE.  Every Version is a new Design instead of being a Version of a single Design.

(b) Open History and add a Description to go with the version - much more time consuming than adding Description at File Save.

(c) To find a Design 'version' I now need to open EVERY Design and look at the History Description for each Version.  Try doing this when you have 20-50 Design Versions.

[hilgenbergalex]

I am shocked that the versioning disappeared. 
We develop complex custom made parts, where we relay on versions as we do CAD/CAM and need to go back in time by versions. Within our system versions are most important reference especially because the entire team is working on them.

Removing version without proper replacement is such a terrible decision.  

I think this will have serious consequences throughout the industrial users. And those are how pay the bills.

@fusion Team
My suggestion how to solve the problem while simultaneously moving forward with this new approach:

As of now, the versions can be created manually and can be seen in History panel under Description. Now you can freely decide how to add Versions and the Version_input, basically turned into a comment.

The huge problem is that Fusion removed existing versions now. In our situation if we like to reproduce a CAD/CAM part Version 18 out of 80 Versions it is no longer possible to do that just by selecting the Version 18  in the dropdown Version tab.

But this versions can be restored kind of manually. Because Fusion saved each Version chronologically. Meaning in History tab I just need to count form the bottom up until 18 -> that will be Version 18. However, I cannot add the Version number to already existing old Versions, for an easy selection in the future.

Super easy and clear solution. Fusion Team please take a listen:
- You let everything as is now.
- just add the Versions (which is chronological number) as a Description to all existing files within History panel.
-> That will not hurt anybody and will solve 80% of the problems
- create a toggle somewhere for “auto-versioning” This sill simply add a Version number under Description every time you hit “save”.
- create also a toggle somewhere for “append Version on export”. This will add the version to the name whenever you export the file.
- cherry on the cream topping: while in Drawings mode make it possible to grab the version as a variable.
-> this way the drawing will indicate its parent CAD file version.

Please do it.
If you do not do it, I will do it, via a Plug-in, maybe it’ll go viral😊

[joecamisa]

I agree. 

There is a clear lack of understanding manufacturing requirements. 

This does not bode well for the future of Fusion.

[b_velten]

The current changes to versioning are ridiculous and completely unjustified. Whoever thought this was an improvement should be fired, because he clearly understands nothing about working in an industrial environment.

I'm very upset. Also, these changes weren't communicated to the end users, and the admin might not understand what they mean and therefore did not pass this information on. We are a small company and have a LOT of work to do to keep ourselves able to produce because of these dumb changes. Please make it work again like it used to.

No one in a productive area who works with such software requests changes that completely alter their database or versioning, etc., and a company that develops such software should clearly understand that. This is a horrible mistake by the developers and everyone involved in pushing this change.

[AndyV_MVM]

I agree that the lack of notice and a changeover period is unacceptable. That said, and in fairness to Autodesk, the Create Version functionality (from either the file menu or the History pop-up) does provide a good way to track versions (and it does auto-number) and differentiates these from saves that you made when you make coffee or go home. However, the work to changeover when external files were numbered on the old (save) number is significant. 

Maybe a solution of sorts would be to have a 'hover over' tooltip that showed the old style (incremented on save) version number in the history panel?

[Webdad]

The create version functionality is only partially functional.  yes, it does auto-number, but it only follows the "Version x" format.  If, like me and many others, you use the old "Vx" version numbering for consistency, you still have to manually edit every time you create a version, which brings with it the normal potential for human error.

Additionally, none of this addresses the fact that they destroyed user data by wiping out all previous version tags across all existing designs.  Notice and changeover periods would have been nice, and only common sense, but it also would have been nice if the Fusion product manager could present even a shred of evidence that they cared about how users have been using the system for the past 8 - 10 years, or that they were even aware of the pervasive use of the old versioning system.  They appear to have blinders on to the fact that people use Fusion as one piece of a workflow that spans multiple organizations, products, and services.

[joecamisa]

Unfortunately Create Version is not supported for Configured Designs and every design I create needs to be a Configured Design so Create Version is not available for me.

I am on the latest version of Fusion and the functionality has not been restored yet.

Also can not see the Version Numbers I had pre CE Hub Migration so can't go back and can't go forward.

Others are having the same two issues.  I'm a little surprised and quite disappointed we haven't heard when these issues are going to be resolved.

[joecamisa]

I agree with this.  I'm repeating my last reply here in case others are impacted and read only this reply:

Unfortunately Create Version is not supported for Configured Designs and every design I create needs to be a Configured Design so Create Version is not available for me.

I am on the latest version (April 2026) of Fusion and the functionality has not been restored yet.

Also can not see the Version Numbers I had pre CE Hub Migration so can't go back and can't go forward.

Others are having the same two issues.  I'm a little surprised and quite disappointed we haven't heard when these issues are going to be resolved.

I hope CE Hub Migration didn't cause permanent loss of our Version Number metadata - that would be a disaster for many users.

[bwalker145]

I actually agree that Version should not increment just based on how many times you click save. I save frequently through my sessions, not because I'm necessarily at a point where the design is ready for a release, but mainly because I know that I'll lose progress when/if Fusion crashes. I'll create a Milestone to indicate specific releases and design maturity.

Having said that, I also understand how people have built SOP's reliant on the legacy versioning system, and it sounds like this CE Hubs migration should have been implemented better to prevent loss of data/traceability.

My preference would be to see saves sequentially increment minor Changes (X.001, X.002, X.003), along with the available major Version increments (1.XXX, 2.XXX, 3.XXX), while retaining the ability to input custom Version/Milestone info. Date/Time should also be available information, but should not be the main indicator.

E.g. v0.008, v1.068, v2.000, v3.145

[rhetths]

For the people that open files from local, i can just imagine Fusion would not be able to manage this.  They cant even manage it already.  The number of times i open one file from one folder, then open another file from another folder, then of course go to save the first file, and then fusion wants to send it to the wrong folder, and i end up with files all over the place even though i know they deliberately ruined this feature from working properly.

They are on a power trip, wanting to have as much control over user data as possible, regardless of how extremely insecure and dependent they make hobbyists.

[lawrenceWDVL5]

This is the way.

Sadly as of this version of fusion 2702.1.58 x86_64, the version number even in it's basic form isn't displayed at all on any of the UI panels.

- Web file panel, still requires the "Now" drop down menu to view versions.

- Fusion Home panel > details panel, doesn't show version number. 

- Fusion Home panel > file list, only displays version on mouse over. Still no access to history pop-up UI.

- Fusion Data panel, mouse over still only shows "Version" string no actual number, has the version buried under the "History" pop-up menu.

[bwalker145]

@rhetths wrote:

For the people that open files from local, i can just imagine Fusion would not be able to manage this.

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To be fair, Fusion does market itself as a cloud-based service, and the cloud is exactly where it should function the best.

Do I agree with this? Of course not. I'm a big proponent of being in control & owning your own data, and the lack of local control in Fusion has been a major point of frustration for myself.

Unfortunately, I don't see Fusion dedicating resources to improve local-based workflows; you'd realistically need to move to a different program for that.

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@rhetths wrote:

They are on a power trip, wanting to have as much control over user data as possible, regardless of how extremely insecure and dependent they make hobbyists.

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That's the reality of every SaaS (Software as a Service): Data telemetry and analytics offer an irresistible revenue stream to shareholders. Remember, companies have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the shareholders, which unfortunately usually just turns into "maximizing profits" at the expense of the user/customer experience.

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@lawrenceWDVL5 wrote:

This is the way.

Sadly as of this version of fusion 2702.1.58 x86_64, the version number even in it's basic form isn't displayed at all on any of the UI panels.

- Web file panel, still requires the "Now" drop down menu to view versions.

- Fusion Home panel > details panel, doesn't show version number. 

- Fusion Home panel > file list, only displays version on mouse over. Still no access to history pop-up UI.

- Fusion Data panel, mouse over still only shows "Version" string no actual number, has the version buried under the "History" pop-up menu.

---

The version number not being readily available sounds like a major regression, that really needs to be fixed, among the other issues that have manifested with this migration.

I guess I'll continue to enjoy my legacy hub while I can....

[rhetths]

Previously, Fusion used to perform properly with regard to opening and saving (exporting) files from and to the local.  The only issue is they deliberately screwed it up.  Supposedly it being screwed up is better for cloud saves, but i dont see how.  Most of the time the software is degraded there is no good reason for it, even when asked they cant justify it, or their justification doesn't stack up.  Do you notice how Autodesk never really talk about data and IP security?  The drive to hold data and IP should be raising a lot of eyebrows.

Enshittification is a short term revenue strategy.  Over time it will cause changes in legislation and consumer behaviour, and once a company has generated a bad name for itself it can be very difficult to turn that around.  I call it suicide.  I predict AI will give customers a lot of power back and companies that have a dark culture will be wiped out.  Companies were generally less dark in the past, we are experiencing an unusual low point.

[eriknWXM79]

Yeah, but date and time isn't a revision! it just isn't. How do you possibly integrate that with normal organizational version control?

Yes, the old versioning system was mediocre, but at least it was a versioning system. What I now find in 360 is not a versioning system.

[joecamisa]

Exactly what I have been saying since April 4 (nearly a month ago) when I was migrated to the CE Hub.

The Versioning system wasn't the best but it was a SYSTEM we could use to track Version.

Date and time stamp are fine as ADDITIONS but they are NOT a versioning system.

[eriknWXM79]

Yeah, this is the biggest problem: Suddenly, all of my SHIPPING PRODUCTS are out of control, because all the tooling is by version number that ties back to 360, and now 360 won't let us at our old version numbers. So, everything's now broken. 

As someone else said, Autodesk just created the perfect time to change CAD systems: since Autodesk just destroyed our design history, what have we got to lose?

[eriknWXM79]

Bottom line: Autodesk destroyed most of our designs, without notice or apparently any concern. This is a very strange business practice.