Exporting Fusion / Fd3 File NOT Fusion Archive File.....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[bs]

Hi

Since moving to the online browser version of Fusion, I can not download a Fd3 file locally to a PC in my school. This is causing many problems. I can see the option of downloading a Fusion Archive File from Fusion Teams, but that appears to be pretty useless as an option.

What I want to do is for a pupil to export and the download a FD3 file to their hard drive.

PLEASE explain how this can be done and tell me why its not easy / obvious to do so!

Very Frustrated!

[phil_eichmiller · Accepted solution]

F3d has no external references. 

F3Z is the same thing, with external references. (such as an assembly or design with a drawing)

It's not clear whether you understand this, or simply want to convert an f3d to f3z. Here's an article.

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Unable-to-export-F...

When you upload an f3d or f3z, Fusion will upload the design. Good luck!

PS: I work as a teacher and also as a QA for Autodesk on the Fusion product.

[HughesTooling]

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@bs wrote:

Hi

Since moving to the online browser version of Fusion, I can not download a Fd3 file locally to a PC in my school. 

What I want to do is for a pupil to export and the download a FD3 file to their hard drive.

Very Frustrated!

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The browser version is running on a virtual PC so has no access to your drives and you have no access to its drives.

@phil_eichmiller At times downloads of designs with no external references do end up as f3Z if exported from a hub. Doesn't happen all the time and not sure if at those times it's a problem for everyone?

Mark

[bs]

Thank you for your reply.

When I have clicked in Fusion Teams to download a Fd3 file on Fdz is available and so tbh, I did not proceed past that as I was logically looking for Fd3. Now I have tried downloading a Fdz file and I receive an email with a download link that allows me to download Fd3.

This is the frustration with Fusion, it appears unnecessarily complicated.

If Fd3 download is available, why is it not listed in the drop down box option?

Why cant I download it straight from Fusion and so by pass Teams?

Why do I need an email link? - another unnecessary step.

I really like Fusion as a piece of design software, but the downloads procedure from Fusion Browser is woeful. I never had these issues when using the PC based version, but that also presented its own problems in that Fusion auto updates on a stand alone PC / Laptop, but not a networked machine, so if a pupil progresses work at home, they can't open it in school until the network version is updated, by which time stand alone machines have had the next update.

If you have any say in the development of this product, please ask for simplicity to be the main driver - Occam's Razor!

[Phil.E]

Just curious, why do you ask students to download Fusion designs?

I ask because I've been teaching Fusion for years and have never once asked students to download any files.

When I need to see student files, I open them directly from the student's team hub. 

To answer your question:

The available download types are listed in the dropdown list. There is no situation where you get f3d OR f3z. It's one or the other. If there are dependencies, you get an f3z, even if these dependencies are removed from the design. If the design timeline history refers to some external design once, it is dependent on that design.

When running the online version, it is not currently supported to download directly to your desktop. A link is required.

So, it comes down to complications with download, but I am glad to explain how I work with my students and view their data - no download required, if you are interested.

[bs]

Thanks for your reply!!!!!!!!!!!

HO do students add me to their team so I can see there work? This would save so much hassle if I could open pupils work from my login. Is that what you are saying I can do?

TIA.

[Phil.E]

Sure thing, here you go. 

Depending on what works for you, you can either

1. Invite students to a Folder Level Project where you can give them access to read only information, such as assignments. They can also have their own folders that other students cannot access.

2. Or, you can do what I do and ask the students to invite you to their team hubs. They give you manage/admin rights. This allows you to browse to their team hubs, and the most important thing: they retain ownership of their data. This is ethically the best way to handle student data, IMO.

3. Or do both. Let the students keep their own design data, and browse to it to evaluate it. And also invite them to your hub to have access to designs or documents you keep in your teacher hub.

https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=FT-ROLES-FOLDER-LEVEL