Use Autodesk Docs with BIMcollab

Use Autodesk Docs with BIMcollab

Autodesk Docs can be used in combination with BIMcollab in several ways:
  1. With the Autodesk Docs integration in BIMcollab Cloud
  2. As a Project folder in BIMcollab ZOOM
In this article we will demonstrate how to setup and use these connections to use both applications to their full potential

Autodesk Docs integration in BIMcollab Cloud

In the Connected and Enterprise plans, you have the ability to integrate an Autodesk Docs folder with your projects. You can test the integration on your free account on join.bimcollab.com, or in the Starter plan for a period of 4 weeks.
This integration allows stakeholders to view IFC, RVT and NWD files of their choice that are located in the Autodesk Docs folder as a combined model directly in BIMcollab Cloud. This makes it unnecessary to first download the models to be able to study them. Users can evaluate existing issues in the context of the model, and create new issues from the model viewer.

For each project in your BIMcollab Cloud space, you can setup a separate connection to the preferred Autodesk Docs folder.
To view the models located in Autodesk Docs in BIMcollab Cloud, proceed as follows:

As a project leader

  1. Set up a folder on Autodesk Docs containing all the files related to the project. Make sure the folder is accessible to all team members
  2. Set up the connection between your project and the Autodesk Docs folder, as is described in the article How to integrate Autodesk Docs into my project
  3. Go to the Model tab on the project page
    The first time you go to the Model tab after the integration was configured, the model selection window will automatically pop up



  4. On the left side, all folders and models in the project, matching the selected file types are shown. Select all models you want to display
  5. Click on the arrow button to add the selected models to the view

  6. Once all desired models are added to the 'Selected models' list, click 'OK'
The selection of models is personal for every team member.
If you want to change or add models to the list of selected models, click on the  button in the top right corner of the model viewer.
All selected models will be shown as a combined model in the Model tab. Use the model viewer functionalities to further filter the model and define its appearance. You can zoom to issues in the model and create new issues from the issue panel on the left side of the screen.



As a team member

  1. Log into your BIMcollab Cloud account
  2. Select the project where the Autodesk Docs integration has been set up
  3. Go to the Model tab
  4. Click the 'Sign in' button
  5. You will be redirected to the Autodesk Docs login page
    Complete the Autodesk Docs login process
  6. On the 'Authorize application' page, click 'Allow'
  7. You will be redirected to BIMcollab Cloud
    The first time you log in on the Model tab after the integration was configured, the model selection window will automatically pop up



  8. On the left side, all folders and models in the project, matching the selected file types are shown. Select all models you want to display
  9. Click on the arrow button to add the selected models to the view

  10. Once all desired models are added to the 'Selected models' list, click 'OK'
If you want to change or add models to the list of selected models, click on the  button in the top right corner of the model viewer.
All selected models will be shown as a combined model in the Model tab. Use the model viewer functionalities to further filter the model and define its appearance. You can zoom to issues in the model and create new issues from the issue panel on the left side of the screen.



Project folder in BIMcollab ZOOM

In BIMcollab ZOOM it is possible to link IFC files and point clouds stored in a shared folder to a project on BIMcollab Cloud to which you are connected. This way it is ensured that all team members of the BIMcollab Cloud project, always have access to the most recent files in ZOOM.
This shared folder can be located in Autodesk Docs.
To use a Autodesk folder as a Project folder in BIMcollab ZOOM, proceed as follows:

As a project leader

  1. Set up a shared folder on Autodesk Docs which contains all the files which are related to the project. Make sure the folder is accessible to all team members
  2. Download and install the Autodesk Desktop Connector as described on the Autodesk website
    Make sure the models which you would like to load in BIMcollab ZOOM, have the status 'Synced' in the Autodesk Desktop Connector. If the status is 'Online', right click on the model, and choose 'Sync'.
  3. Open BIMcollab ZOOM
  4. Connect to the preferred space and project
  5. Connect the folder to your project as described in the article IFC and Point cloud sharing in BIMcollab ZOOM using BIMcollab Cloud (Advised)
  6. When browsing to the correct folder, select the folder in the Autodesk Desktop Connector
  7. The models will be displayed in the 'Navigation' tab
  8. Right-click on the models that should be loaded and choose 'Load model'

As a team member

  1. Download and install the Autodesk Desktop Connector as described on the Autodesk website
    Make sure the models which you would like to load in BIMcollab ZOOM, have the status 'Synced' in the Autodesk Desktop Connector. If the status is 'Online', right click on the model, and choose 'Sync'.
  2. Open BIMcollab ZOOM
  3. Connect to the preferred space and project
  4. Connect to the project folder as described in the article Open a shared project folder in BIMcollab ZOOM by connecting to BIMcollab Cloud
  5. When browsing to the correct folder, select the folder in the Autodesk Desktop Connector
  6. The models will be displayed in the 'Navigation' tab
  7. Right-click on the models that should be loaded and choose 'Load model'

The next time the user connects to the project, the models will be automatically loaded from the correct location.
The load status of the models is stored for each individual user.

Because this setup is folder based, all changes in the connected Autodesk Docs folder are recognized automatically when a user connects to the project for the first time after the change.
Therefore this workflows ensures that all team members are working with the most up to date models at all times.
Replace updated models, add new models and delete outdated models from the shared folder. 
An updated version of a model can only be detected when the new file has the same name as the previous version. If the updated version has a different name, it will be added to the project as a new model and the previous version will be shown as missing (if it was deleted from the folder).
The model tree will give feedback on the load status and availability of the models by its color. Consult this article about different colors of model names for more information on the meaning of the different colors. 

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