Fusion updates wrecking classroom sharing

[grad2]

The symptom is that if I, the teacher, open and change a student's file - even just changing the cursor on the  timeline - the student gets a notification that they can't open their file until they update fusion.

Fusion updates are issued erratically, without any emails that could go to our systems administrator to let them know to push an update before class in the AM. This means that with network managed classroom computers, even though we have a district pushed version, it's quite out of date. 

So the students go to the autodesk website, download the installer, and run it. Sometimes it says, "newest version of fusion already installed" even though examination of version number clearly shows a change. This installed version is now locally on their profile, and since they can't remove the district pushed version to their laptop (which is for all users) they sometimes click on the wrong one, getting an older version of fusion. 

While most of my students are now adept at updating, and the update runs relatively quickly, it's undesirable to have system-wide and local-profile versions at the same time, or to have computers in the room on different versions, as any collaboration risks requiring one of the students to update in the middle of class. 

The auto updater does not offer an update in most of these scenarios. And they probably don't need to re-download the fusion installer, I realize - they probably can just run the same one as before. 

Possible solutions - have an updated email sent to network administrators for EACH AND EVERY VERSION CHANGE. Allow previous versions to open later versions and throw an error if it actually has an error, and not merely because it was opened and closed without changing the file. Or have a rigidly controlled push for educational users so that updates NEVER happen till Friday afternoon for all users, including the teacher. 

I don't know what else, but I've given up on having my network admins push updates and just have the students update themselves when it comes up. 

[grad2]

Oh, as a follow up - fusion updates have repeatedly changed browsing behaviors from the one we selected (Solidworks, as it matches Sketchup), reverse mouse zoom direction, and most irritatingly, "ground first component to parent". 

Helping a student only to discover that their familiar browsing/navigating behavior had been radically changed on the a week before is super terrible for them, as they aren't savvy enough to notice what changed and simply find themselves suddenly bad at using the program. 

[grad2]

Just happened to me when I went to open a computer file. This means that when I update to do my work, now my computer grading all their assignments will force all of THEM to update to open their own file. If a student isn't here for a few days, then when they update, maybe it's moved on to a later version number, and now I have to update to open their file, forcing the problem again. At least we can update it locally. 

[grad2]

[grad2]

It just goes on and on - this forces me back through this, which I never want to see again: 

And then I have to go to my preferences and change them again (reverse zoom direction should be checked, ground to parent should be unchecked). 

[RajkumarIlanchelian]

@grad2 Here is how Fusion installer and system update works. 

1. We have what we refer to as the streamer. This is what all of our users install. When a new update is available for Fusion, we show the option to update now or snooze update for 14 days. At the end of the snooze period force an update to the newer build. 

2. ONLY for education systems we have what we call the admin installer. This is where IT department can push Fusion to multiple machines etc so that the students do not have to install on lab machines. One another important aspect of this "admin install" is that we do not force an update. Education installs gets up to six months where they can be on a selective version before they will need to pick up the latest update. 

We do email IT admins on when updates are available to get them ready. If you believe your IT admin is not getting these emails, please pass along their emails and we can add them. 

Now here is what makes the experience that you called out:

The labs install admin installer that is not updated. The students on their laptop install the streamer install that forces an update. This causes the mis match of versions. Also any CAD product you will see that once you save it in a new version (that often results in a new schema which is the data model that features are build) cannot be opened in a previous version with an older schema. This is the reason for the experience you are having. 

Multiple ways to avoid this situation:

1. Get on the email list of Fusion IT notifications
2. Update our major updates as they are available. These are the schema changing updates. There are usually 6 of them in a year
3. With the above two almost immediately you can eliminate the experience you are having. 
4. https://fusion.online.autodesk.com/ Fusion online is browser based Fusion available only for education licenses. You can get away with installers and use the Fusion online version. This will ensure that all students and teachers are on the same version at all times as we as in Autodesk update the versions on them. 

[grad2]

So one issue is that the teacher computer isn't on the same admin installer as the students, and maybe that could be addressed. The mismatch between my computer and their computer is a big part of triggers this cycle.

The other issues with updates can definitely be addressed by you - not changing our preferences is the biggest thing. No update should do that. 

[RajkumarIlanchelian]

@grad2 The preference is something we are treating as priority. We have found few issues around this and fixed them over the lat couple of updates but there are certain cases where this is still an issue. We are hoping that over the next few updates we will be able to fully address this issue. 

[echambersT56L5]

Hi - simple question..

How do I get on the 'email list of Fusion IT notifications'?

Do you have a link for this please?

Can I assume the Fusion Admin Lab Install.pkg is updated in line with these updates? How do I get the latest version aside from using the webchat support? We deploy this via Jamf as a script.

Many thanks..