Feedback: Shared Components

[rflulling]

I wonder if I am alone in the annoyance of this error. Annoyed at the feeling that this very issue seems to run counter intuitive to the nature of a linked system where all projects can be linked as files. Unless there is some setting or command that I have over looked to enable?

The example I will offer. I created files under a project that included many parts. These are files that replicate vendor supplied parts, nuts, bolts, battery cells, and PCB assemblies. Another project and a similar structure. It would be nice to start breaking down the sub folders and organizing those parts in a way that will be useful to future projects and in a way I can, if only one at a time, or by replicating the files and abandoning all development data in the process.

Honestly I thought this was an old issue resolved long ago. I was rudely awakened to the fact it is still an issue, when trying to pull some a component from another design into a newer unrelated design. Though it will copy the object as stand alone duplicate data. That is not wanted, even if 'there are times when the option to do so is useful.'

What this means is that there is no way to work with a single master copy of any one object over several files or projects. All files are master unto the project they are stored within. So user must export and import or copy over to maintain a file. Again counter intuitive to the nature of the product.

---

Even though I don't develop commercially. I paid for two reasons. To share files with my employer who has decided to refuse all shares since they don't understand the license system at all. The other reason was to work with multiple files and be done with the restrictions on files. Seems that even after paying not all are fully lifted. -And now the prices are going up.

I should have rather preferred to send the issue as feedback directly and quietly. But  AutoDesk doesn't seem to want feedback it needs to be posted to the forums. There is a feedback forums but it's restricted. So ya, I don't think they don't want actual feed back from real users. So we have to complain publicly, in the support forums on on Facebook. Id rather reserve public complaints for repeat offenders. Most developers offer a discreet portal for feedback so that it doesn't all have to be public.

[karina.harper]

Hi @rflulling 

I think the problem here is that you are still using a legacy Personal hub. Cross-project associations are allowed in Team Hubs - that was one of the primary reasons they were implemented. Likely you are seeing a popup when you open Fusion that will help you transition to a team hub, but you can also do so here. Since you are a subscriber, if you run into any issues you can create a support case to get assistance by using in Fusion chat or creating a case here: Contact Support.

Hope that helps.
Karina

[rflulling]

Ok, so looking at the on-boarding process.
Changes behind the scenes since signing up now "require all users to be a member of a team"?

The process converts all solo users to team members? I guess a lot has changed in the licenses I have not noticed.
By default I am the team. There is no one else. My license belongs to me, and if it doesn't then I have no idea why I paying for it. The previous language concerning Multi user licenses and Individual licenses  was confusing (even though it didn't seem like it should have been)and I admit to having not gone back to try decoding it recently.

So when I join a team of Nobody, me, myself and I. What else changes?
Since we have to commit the move voluntarily. This must mean we are giving something up and I am not clear on what this is yet. Data Security?

What happens to files that are not Migrated, or that are Archived?

What happens to files that "Cannot be migrated" when no explanation for the error is provided.

Files that are moved to Teams can never be moved back to Solo? - I feel there is a catch here left unspoken.

It looks like the files were moved from "Single User Storage" to "Teams You are a member of"

I feel like this could have been a flag on the file, this feel convoluted. Maybe I will come to see the value later.

I think I would rather see all my folders, all projects in one view with flags on the right indicating their status, with filters above rather than drop down menu to reveal... I guess the menu thing is maybe OK for projects I am Connected to but do not own. But for all files and projects I own, I would like to see them in the main list.

As things stand now, the solo user list consists ONLY of training topics and two folders that the server could not migrate.

-And of course the files I wanted to use to generate a common archive, for all new projects, are in the folder that cannot be migrated.

[karina.harper]

Hi @rflulling 

I'll try and answer some of your questions. You have some great feedback here as well, though most users have already gone through this process I have passed it on to some folks internally. 

The process converts all solo users to team members? 

Not exactly. The term 'Team Hub' is just a new name for the 'Personal Hub'. I think what you might be referring to - "...require all users to be a member of a team" - if you have guests in your personal projects, they will become team members (with only access to that particular project).

This must mean we are giving something up...

Team Hubs are a newer hub type that was implemented to add features like team management and cross-project references - rather than pushing it down over top of personal hubs, we are asking people to migrate. I believe the intention there was to allow users to decide when and how they're ready to transition their data - not because there is anything to 'give up'. Any kind of data movement can be a delicate process, but there haven't been any issues that we couldn't resolve. 

What happens to files that are not Migrated, or that are Archived?

This is a great question - I looked at my old personal hub for the archived question. Archived projects do not get transferred to the new team hub. If you are worried about maintaining access to them, you might consider unarchiving them and then transferring them.

For the projects you couldn't migrate - is that the 'admin' folder and assets? If so, those are known issues. Assets has to be exported and re-uploaded to the new Team. Admin, you may have to move that data to a new Project then transfer that project. Again, if you are having trouble with that or it's still failing, you can create a support case and they can assist. 

Cheers,

Karina

[rflulling]

@karina.harper
Thank you for your replies.

There were two hidden folders that transferred marked secrets. Neither
contained any data. One was "admin project" and the other was "default
project". I archived, then erased both.

The two folders that did not migrate were unique personal. One contains a
handful of files easily exported or recreated. The other is a massive
project I need to break down that spawned this very topic.

Assets did copy over, but it is also empty. Though I feel configurational
data also should not be stored in this way. It is too subject to
volatility. It's like putting a folder that's marked do not erase, don't
edit, and it absolutely must be there, in a list, where it most certainly
stands out because it is not a project of any kind.

I suspect that if not looking to rearrange files as I see fit, or share
between projects. I would have likely never looked at or considered this
migration. Most services, Fusion360 being no exception, typically start
talking about a change a few months out, even give users a chance to test
or ealy adopt and then eventually just migrate every one regardless.
Though, with Fusion360, I cannot swear to this in server actions, but I can
say it is true of the software, since there is no option for a most stable
non updating release.

---

I am also noticing a semi persistent message "CB_URF We are unable to
synchronize your projects." Though I will drop this notice on the long pile
of network related issues messages since I started using Fusion360.
Everything from that bug that required cache to be set to 1 year, to an
inability to update or check the licence (even after a reinstall). For now
I am not freaking out as these errors seem dime a dozen. These little bugs
have forced me to abandon every plugin I have ever tried, since inevitably
one of them causes some kind of hang up or error.

After this topic is fully wrangled, I will generate new topics to address
other issues.

[karina.harper]

Thanks for the details @rflulling , again good feedback for us.

With that one project that isn't transferring, if you are struggling with it and need help then I would suggest creating a support case and they can get our back end team involved. I could assist through here but it would be a bit tricky/slower than a support case. Either way feel free to let me know how it goes.

Cheers,

Karina

[rflulling]

The files are lost. The work I was trying to migrate the most valuable data. Gone. It's a worst case scenario.

I generated a ticket with support I think. The system set up a call back time? I would have been fine with a chat agent or email.

Tried to find a way to resolve without needing to escalate the case. Two projects refused to migrate. Files within all had spinning pin wheels. "CB_URF - We're unable to synchronize your projects." Was shown at the left top of the window. Online it just says "Something Went Wrong. Please try again later."

Looked at options to re-save the files. That did not resolve. Looked at some how exporting the folders. Not an option. Would have to export every single file one at a time. Tried to Archive, and that failed. Another error message. Logs say that fusion is getting error 404 when trying to sync. Meaning that something in the server has been switched off before every one was ready.

I naively told Fusion to clear the cash. I mean the files don't live on my HDD they really live in the  cloud right? Well now they are gone. They are not being sync and they are no longer on my machine. If the server does still have a copy its off limits to me, buried behind error 404 and "Something Went Wrong. Please try again later"

From my perspective it's all gone.
There is a but a glimmer of hope that it's recoverable.

But if it is not recoverable, I think it's time to consider if I really have a reason to continue using the product, if I have to start over anyway. Does it need to be Fusion360? The work exported is valuable. But not as valuable as the work I wanted from the lost folder. I wanted to fully back up and divide that into content that could be used for new projects. But now I will have to recreate every item, batteries, trays, screws, bolts, PCBs, sub products from 3rd parties, etc. It will take months to recreate even if I was to abandon all the project specific files, and only recreate the objects.

Some feed back for the admins:
There is a lot of stuff on the website. I am glad it's all there. I am glad we do have access to it all. But in reality, it's really 3 or more separate websites and multiple separate user accounts, and several forums. To get all the data you have to figure out how to get to it and bookmark that page. It's a convoluted nightmare to navigate the labyrinth of Autodesk website. Never mind that every location is marked with a unique login cookie even if they can use the same password and user, how long each login is good for varies. It is not possible to just login and have direct access to all pages specific to your account, data, forums and account. This is what I refer to as being OVER ORGANIZED. It's so well organized that its become a labyrinth, and few know or can remember how to find their way. And security is as much a mess as the data is over organized.

I don't even know if I asked for support on the right tool.
I did copy a diagnostic logs export to the desktop.

[rflulling]

Product Support called today. She said she was able to see the files on her side but has to hand off the case to a Dev. But it may take a few days. So thats encouraging at least. There is a lot of work to be lost.

All of the other biggest folder copied without issue. But they also weren't folders I wanted to break up.

Still, I am not stressing out as much. Annoying that this is even possible.

With luck the Devs are able to make a full recovery, and complete the migration.

[karina.harper]

Hi @rflulling 

I completely understand and you have great points. Currently you are in the right hands, that team will be able to help you move the data. 

Karina