browsing model files in the cloud (A360 C4R)

[Sherbs]

Hi Folks,

A new client of ours is using A360 C4R to store their model files in the cloud.

Configuration of our add-in requires that we indicate which model files are to be "managed" by our application.  At present, we pop up a file chooser dialog to allow the user to select which model files are managed.

With A360, however, the built-in wpf file chooser dialog doesn't seem to give us what we need to select model files that reside in the cloud.  It seems to be completely unaware of any cloud based storage.

Does A360 expose any of what it provides via an API?  Or is there some other means by which we can present model files stored in the cloud so that the user can indicate which models are to be managed by our add in?

As well, once the UNC path is known, is there anything particular to be aware of if/when our addin attempts to open those documents?  Or is that handled fairly seamlessly?

I'm not well versed in working with cloud storage so forgive if my questions seem naive.  I've also searched for quite a while today and have not found much on API integration of A360 and/or C4R.  If this has been asked and answered, a link would be very much appreciated.

Thanks much!

-G

[GallowayUS_com_RonAllen1]

thnx : )

[jeremytammik]

One colleague replied: this reminded me of JSON-LD, which is not alone:

https://sookocheff.com/post/api/on-choosing-a-hypermedia-format/

GraphQL is not alone either, so wonder which one is better to support:

http://react-etc.net/entry/beyond-rest-graphql-vs-falcor

The question remains whether Autodesk plans to make the Forge API's more discoverable and easier to use with such tools.

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

Replying to track the topic. We're starting to get more and more projects that are using BIM 360, and more and more users are mad about the broken plugins.  Can you poke the dev team again? (If I send you a stick will you poke them with it?)

OpenAndActivateDocument(BIM 360:// .....)  would be REALLY helpful.

[jeremytammik]

Dear Matt,

Sure thing! Thank you for the re-prompt and sorry this is not moving forward faster. Please make that a long and pointy one!

Cheers,

Jeremy

[jeremytammik]

Dear Matt, 

The development team are looking at this and aware of the importance.

One thing in addition, an action item for you; they say: I don't see this as a request on Revit ideas. I'd love to see it on there since this is obviously a common customer request. 

Can you guys add it and gather lots of votes for it, please?

Thank you!

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

Homework is done. Here is the Revit idea, please go vote for it.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/revit-api-to-open-bim-360/idi-p/7171448

[Anonymous]

Hi, 

Facing the same problem here...can't seem to open a C4R model from and add-in to be able to export 3D views in NWC format. Would a clear path (BIM360:\\ ...). Any development on this topics ? 

Thanks.

[clwi]

Hi,

We're currently looking into the possibility in opening files/familiies that is stored in A360 (forge and/or C4R).

We got several large customers that almost only work with files stored there and the possibility to update families etc for update in projects is something they requested on several occacions now.

As I said we've tried utilize the forge API but due to the 3-way authentication we've run into issues and the most ideal solution would be to use the login they use in Revit and just be able to query the folders and files via the Revit API directly.

[matthew_taylor]

@clwi,

I concur. This should be a non-issue - a seamless process if logged into Autodesk.

C'mon Autodesk. Listen to us. If you want us to openly adopt BIM360 and the like as our everyday tools, then GET THIS DONE.

This is a base level operational requirement. If it is getting worked on, at least let us know that. Timeframe etc.

I expected this in Revit 2017...and it's still left wanting in Revit 2018.2.

[jeremytammik]

Hi guys,

Thank you very much for your renewed input and persistence.

I passed it on to the development team.

Once again, I am very sorry this is taking so long.

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

I went the Forge route and got something setup. Just a major, glaring, as loud as I can say it, word of caution if you're considering Forge:

The model that exists on BIM360 Team is NOT the same model that exists in C4R. 

You have to coordinate with everyone using C4R to publish the model back to BIM360 Team, before you download, make changes and reupload with Forge or you will lose all their unpublished work. 

It's super confusing because you upload the model to BIM360 Team and then something happens in the background on the servers that sends the model away to C4R. It appears the same, it's named the same,  you can't actually upload another file with the same name, but it's not the same. 

We've lost work enough times that uploading through Forge is just not an option. We now generate a log file of changes that need to be made after manually opening the file... *angry eyes*

Some other issues is that the 3-legged refresh token appears to invalidate itself at random times every 2 or 3 weeks. I would love for a permanent never expires token, but honestly I feel like I'm fixing issues with a software I should never have to use in the first place (Forge).

[GallowayUS_com_RonAllen1]

@jeremytammik Perhaps opening a UNC network path to a 'projects' folder with the projects organized underneath as they appear in the model management would be the answer for now?

The same authentication system could be used to show or hide access users could see only projects they were authorized to see and under Viewer or editor rights?... ie \\127.127.127.127 (Or DNS lookup)\[Team Projects 'folder'- visible by access aka enumeration]\[File-folders] 

That could map to a drive use directly use the UNC.

[jeremytammik]

Hi guys,

Thanks very much to Matt W. for the important warning!

I heard back from the development team, and they say:

1. No answer at this time - some rearchitecture / reorganisation would be needed to get C4R into the Forge framework. No roadmap at this time.

2. To solve the problem that the Model in C4R isn't the same as the model in Forge isn't on any short term roadmap (though we would like to at least make it less confusing). That's not the same thing as exposing a Revit API that will let a plugin make Revit open a cloud model though.

3. There are two actions I recommend: a. vote on the Revit idea; b. join Revit Preview and review the what's new documentation.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

Wow big topic a simple related question i hope,  I not knowing much with this Cloud,

Anyone know what to check if this file is C4R versus local file? is simply file extension or a document property.

Cheers...

Head in the ...s

[pvella]

There's an internal property IsModelInCloud on the Document object in the Revit API that you can access using reflection:

public static bool GetIsModelInCloud(Document document)
{
    PropertyInfo p = typeof(Document).GetProperty("IsModelInCloud", BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance);
    return (bool)p.GetValue(document);
}

 Happy coding!

[Anonymous]

ow thanx s will help me out a lot. 

Have a great xmas!

[jeremytammik]

Good to hear!

I published it on the blog as well, in case it turns out to be useful for others as well:

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2017/11/cloud-model-predicate-and-set-parameter-regenerates...

Cheers,

Jeremy

[jeremytammik]

An update from the development team announcing good news regarding access to the C4R and BIM 360 Teams through the Revit API just came up in the other thread on opening C4R document programmatically:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-api-forum/open-c4r-document-programmatically/m-p/7600405

"We recommend that developers regularly review new APIs available in Revit Preview."

🙂

Yay!

Cheers,

Jeremy

[ali.talebi]

Hi Jeremy,

I found a solution for publishing C4R model to BIM 360 via Collaborate api. Is this something that has been added recently? since I cannot find any documentation re this.

[jeremytammik]

Yes, I guess it was added quite recently. Congratulations on discovering and making use of it. I do not know where to look for documentation on this. Can you share more details on how and where you make use of it, in case others would like to do the same? Thank you!