Why I’m giving up on InfraWorks…

[james.lord9MVZK]

Why I’m giving up on InfraWorks…

I have created MANY models over the years, the stability, reliability, and speed only worsens upon every release, I was even part of the "Project Galileo" beta, before it was even InfraWorks.

Summary:

• Requires you to be on the most recent version to utilize its full set of functionality.
• Requires you to install a new version every 4 months.
• Requires you to “Upgrade” or “Copy” your previous models every 4 months.
• Upgrade or Copy (see below) process takes 30-45 minutes per model and doesn’t guarantee success.
• Best Method is to “Copy” the model, but:
• Then you have to wait HOURS
  • While it is "Copy"-ing, InfraWorks hogs the resources and makes it impossible to use other programs like Civil 3D. AND the recent Autodesk licensing updates will not allow you to be signed in to more than one computer, so I cannot even use another computer to work on Civil 3D. Basically I have to wait the 5-10 hours for InfraWorks to finish.
• It take up DOUBLE the space on you hard drive
• And if you upgrade a ‘Copy’ every 4 month, you end up with a copy of a copy of a copy.
• 
• Cannot support ANY cloud backup solutions, so you cannot easily backup your models.
• Doesn’t work in a network environment. (Why does Autodesk think everyone works in a silo, by themselves?!)
• Overall, consistency and model reliability are severely lacking. Why invest time in a model that will only last 4 months?

More details on the Issues:

Currently, I have, well HAD, created about 10 models over the past year. And because we are forced to be on the most current release of InfraWorks to use some features of InfraWorks, we are also forced to “Upgrade” every model you are working on every four months when a new version of InfraWorks is released.

Every time you are forced to “Upgrade” a model it can take 30 minutes to an hour, then are greeted with a message “Unable to Open Model”.

I currently have 10 projects that will no longer open, they say, contact Help. Technical support gives me links to become a hacker and delete database files and pray it helps because they have no other tools to fix your projects, they broke, with the forced new release upgrade!!!

[arturopolanco]

Hi @james.lord9MVZK 

If you use the Autodesk Docs for save your models, your experience with IW may be different.

[james.lord9MVZK]

It's ironic, that InfraWorks is not compatible with any cloud solutions, except Autodesk's, for an additional $500 per person per year. Unfortunately, I work for a small company, plus how do you convince your boss that a program that is included with our AEC Collections, but is not stable unless we pay Autodesk another $500 per year, per license... But that still won't solve the "Upgrade" every 4 months, I might need to hire someone just to upgrade the models...

Thanks arturopolanco for the suggestion though! I do appreciate any suggestions. Hopefully these 'issues' will get presented to the ones controlling the overall direction and adjust accordingly that is a win for everyone. I understand Autdesk is a cooperation and needs to make money and should be paid for their products.

[james.lord9MVZK]

as I try to repair or use my models, further digging reveals even more reasons....

• Just noticed this in their help sections, which if the models are on the C drive I do not understand: Doesn’t work if you are connected to a VPN (If connected to a VPN, try disconnecting.)
• Lots of the official Help files refer to a Beta program that no longer exists:
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