Syncing Settings Using Autodesk 360

A while ago, I wrote a blog post introducing the main uses of your Autodesk 360 account. Since then, while covering tech support at Ideate, Inc., I’ve gotten a lot of questions about migrating settings using your Autodesk 360 account. To avoid potential mishaps, I have outlined the very basics of syncing settings that you might not know, but need to. There are three main concepts that are necessary to understand to successfully use the sync settings option. 

Support path file naming must be consistent between the cloud and your local settings. 

What happens when you sync your software settings to Autodesk 360 is that a version of your support files will be saved to the cloud. When you sync a computer’s settings from the cloud, those files are replaced with the cloud’s files. For example, your acad.cuix file will be replaced with the cloud’s acad.cuix file. 

If the files do not have the same name, this will not work properly. For example, if you sync a custom cuix file named ideate.cuix to Autodesk 360, then on your home computer try to sync your settings to the settings from your Autodesk 360 account, you could run into a problem. In order to successfully sync your home computer with the file saved to Autodesk 360, the names must match. If you’ve tried this in the past, and syncing didn’t work properly, check the file paths and the file names of what you want to sync and make sure they are the same. 

You cannot migrate setting between different releases of software. 

Autodesk 360 cannot be used to migrate settings between different releases. So, if you are upgrading from 2013 to 2014, you cannot use Autodesk 360 to sync your settings from 2013 to 2014. 

Autodesk 360 does not differentiate when syncing settings between verticals (software built on top of AutoCAD) and AutoCAD. 

You need to be careful when going between different software verticals. For example, if you sync your cloud settings from AutoCAD, then sync your Civil 3D settings from the cloud, your Civil 3D workspace will disappear. This is because you have replaced your Civil 3D cuix file with the AutoCAD cuix file. The AutoCAD cuix file does not have the Civil 3D workspace. You can only sync settings between one vertical at a time. 

A list of what you can sync is in the dialog box below. 

Choose Which Settings Are Synced

So, if you’re considering using Autodesk 360 to sync your settings between different computers, keep these three things in mind: 

1. File names and paths must be identical.
2. Settings cannot be synchronized across different releases (ie. 2013 to 2014).
3. Sync products one at a time when working with vertical applications. 

For information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com.

Get it. Know it. Use it.

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Kate Ming, P.E.
Ideate AEC Application Specialist

Kate is an Application Specialist at Ideate, Inc. and is a Professional Engineer with 6 years of industry experience. At Ideate, Kate provides training, consulting and technical support services for our customers.

Autodesk InfraWorks R2 – .RVT Import

Here at Ideate, Inc. we are always trying to stay one step ahead of the game in order to provide the best information to our customers. With that in mind, whenever we hear about a new product or update from Autodesk, we do our best to test the new features and let you know what we think.

If you haven’t already heard, Autodesk has released a Subscription based Product Enhancement for Autodesk InfraWorks called Autodesk InfraWorks R2, and Autodesk InfraWorks +Ultimate R2. These are available via the Autodesk Subscription Center for customers who have Building Design Suite (BDS) Ultimate, or Infrastructure Design Suite (IDS) Premium or Ultimate (+Ultimate R2 is for IDS Ultimate subscription owners). You can download the R2 installation package by logging in to Subscription Center and downloading it from the Product Enhancements section (not part of the standard program downloads). Expand downloads to find Product Enhancements, as shown below.

One of the new features included in the R2 versions is the ability to import Revit .RVT files directly into the InfraWorks model without having Revit installed on the same workstation. Up until now, only IDS Ultimate customers who installed InfraWorks along with Revit were able to use Revit .RVT files as a data source. With the R2 product enhancement, all Revit file processing is handled via the cloud when the .RVT file is added so we no longer need the side by side installation. This also adds the .RVT file option as a data source for BDS Ultimate customers, who did not have it as part of their original installs.

Keep in mind, this new feature does come with some requirements.

First, you will need to have and be signed-in to your Autodesk 360 account in order to use the cloud-based processing capabilities. When you launch Autodesk InfraWorks, make sure you’re signed in to Autodesk 360, and you’ll be all set. If you are not signed-in, the application will prompt you to login before you can proceed with the .RVT import.

Second, we are currently limited to the “Local Origin” option when using Interactive Placing in the Data Source Configuration window. Although there are four different placement options, Local Origin is the only one that is currently working in Autodesk InfraWorks R2 and +Ultimate R2. Ideate has tested, submitted, and confirmed with Autodesk that this is a bug in the application and it is being escalated to the Autodesk Development Team for further research.

Here are some screenshots of the options and the error that you’ll run into if you choose something other than Local Origin.

Select LOCAL ORIGIN as the Position option for model placement

Selecting Center 2D, Center 3D, or Lower Left Front all produce this error when the model tries to refresh with the new data source.

Refresh Failed error (Center 2D, Center 3D, or Lower Left Front options)

As mentioned earlier, we have confirmed this as a bug with Autodesk. But don’t worry; as long as you keep using the Local Origin option, you’ll be fine importing .RVT files into your InfraWorks models.
 
On a side note, the pre-R2 version of Autodesk InfraWorks installed from the Infrastructure Design Suite Ultimate along with Revit works with all position options when importing .RVT files.
 
If you’re interested in finding out more about the different features and flavors of Autodesk InfraWorks (there are currently four!) check out the post from Kate Ming, one of our ISD Techs in the San Francisco office. 
 

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Matt Miyamoto, P.E.
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Matt is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Hawaii. Matt obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has 7 years of private sector design experience which he applies in his role as an application specialist with Ideate, Inc. His project experience includes residential and commercial site development, private and public sewer, water and drainage systems, harbors improvements, and roadway improvements. While in Hawaii, Matt was involved in multidisciplinary projects for City and County agencies, State Departments, the Army COE and private developers. @MattM_PE

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The Flavors of Autodesk InfraWorks

As a Technical Expert in Infrastructure at Ideate, I need to know the intricacies of the different versions of InfraWorks. I thought you might like a quick guide to the differences. Here goes:
 
Autodesk InfraWorks 360 Free app (on iTunes) – Download from the iTunes store.  The app has the most basic functions of navigation and model review for the iPad and iPhone and works with Autodesk 360.
 
Autodesk InfraWorks – Available as a standalone product, this version includes the basic features for model creation (installed with its own SN, and not from design suite).
 
Autodesk InfraWorks R2 – Available as a Product Enhancement on Subscription Center to owners of Infrastructure Design Suite Premium. Along with added features from your suite purchase like cloud credits, this version also includes enhancements like the ability to use RVT files as a data source without owning Revit. This version is also available to Building Design Suite Ultimate customers and adds the .RVT file option that was not part of the original install.
 
Autodesk InfraWorks +Ultimate R2 – Available as a Product Enhancement on Subscription Center to owners of IDS Ultimate. It is similar to R2 above, and also includes cloud based optimization, design roads, cloud credits, etc.
 
Autodesk InfraWorks 360 Pro – Available as short term (quarterly) or annual renewal, this version is purchased separately from BDS and IDS packages. It does NOT include cloud based optimization or enhanced road design functions that are available to subscription and +Ultimate R2 owners. It’s similar to the Autodesk InfraWorks item above, but with short term licensing options.
 
*monthly licensing options may also be available
 
Autodesk InfraWorks 360 Pro with Autodesk Roadway Design for InfraWorks 360 Pro – Available as short term (quarterly) or annual similar to 360 Pro, but also includes the Autodesk Roadway Design add-on. The Roadway Design add-on is an additional purchase that must be added to the InfraWorks 360 Pro product above. This is the highest level of InfraWorks available and includes more features and functions than the products listed above. Some of the enhanced features include Documentation Tools and Sight Distance Tools that are NOT part of any other version.
 
*monthly licensing options may also be available
 
Autodesk’s comparison matrix offers more details about the different InfraWorks offerings. 

Introduction to InfraWorks Online Class
If you’re interested in finding out more about Autodesk InfraWorks, we’ve got a 90-minute online class available through our website. The intro course covers basic functionality of the program and teaches you how to import and connect to existing data sources and create a conceptual plan for a roadway project.
 
Infrastructure 201: Intro to InfraWorks
 
Visit our website at www.ideateinc.com for information on various products, training, consulting and services. 
 

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Kate Ming
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Kate has a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley. Prior to Ideate, she worked at a multinational company for four years doing general civil design on large infrastructure projects. She is versed in roadway, rail, and utility design. She also has experience with utility demand analysis and Low Impact Development plans. At Ideate, Kate provides training and support for Civil 3D, AutoCAD, and Navisworks.  

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Demystifying your Autodesk 360 Account: Account Access and Syncing

Ideate is committed to your success, and as such I would like to start to demystify your Autodesk 360 account. Autodesk 360 is an online document storage and collaboration platform. You can create folders and share files of any file type. The difference between Autodesk 360 and other online storage platforms is that it links directly to your Autodesk Software. It has specific settings that allow you to easily collaborate with other users and share software settings amongst many workstations.   

In this blog, I am going to walk you through signing into an account (this is assuming your account in already created) and I am going to explain the different settings and options.

To sign into your account, click the sign in at the top of your screen, as shown in the diagram below, or you can select any of the options on the Autodesk 360 Tab from your Ribbon. Not all Autodesk software has the Autodesk 360 Tab, but all have the 360 drop down menu shown below.

Once signed in, you can manage your account settings and options through the 360 drop down menu or the Autodesk 360 Tab.

I am going to now walk you through the list in the 360 drop down menu. These options also appear on the Autodesk 360 Tab on the Ribbon. Additionally, the Autodesk 360 Tab has a share and collaborate panel which does not appear in the drop down menu, we will not cover those options specifically in this blog.

The first option is to Sync my settings with the cloud. This allows you to move to other work stations and use the same settings through your Autodesk 360 account. You can sync settings from your desktop to the cloud or from the cloud to your desktop. For example, if you have your work computer set up just how you like it, you can sync those settings to your Autodesk 360 account, and then move to another computer, login to your Autodesk 360 account on the other computer and sync those settings on to the new computer. Once you have synced your settings, there will be a check mark next to the “Sync my settings with the cloud” option in the drop down menu, and the “Sync my Settings” button on the Autodesk 360 Tab will highlight as blue. The settings that you can sync are shown in the images below.

Selecting Online Options in the Autodesk 360 drop down list opens the Online tab of the options dialog box, shown below. From here, you can select to automatically save a file to your Autodesk 360 account every time you save a file on your desktop application. If you go in and out of a lot of different files, this could quickly fill up your Autodesk 360 account. I recommend unchecking this box unless you absolutely know you want a backup copy of your files on Autodesk 360. Also on the Online tab, you can be directed to your Autodesk 360 account, and you can sync your settings.

Choosing Autodesk 360 from the drop down list or selecting Launch Website on the Autodesk 360 Tab will take you to your Autodesk 360 online account. An example of an Autodesk 360 account is shown below.

Lastly, choosing Account Details from the drop down menu opens your User Profile dialog box. From in here, you can change basic account settings such as user name, email address and password. You can also select the services tab and see how much storage space you are currently using, see what other 360 services you have access to, and check your cloud credits (shown at the bottom of the services tab). Also, you can select the Downloads tab to be directed to a download for the Autodesk 360 mobile app and be directed to the downloads subscriptions page.

 

Thank you for reading. We will continue to bring you information on all of the Autodesk software. Check back to our blog regularly for updates and tips and tricks for a variety of different Autodesk software.

Visit our website at www.ideateinc.com.

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Kate Ming
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Kate has a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley. Prior to Ideate, she worked at a multinational company for four years doing general civil design on large infrastructure projects. She is versed in roadway, rail, and utility design. She also has experience with utility demand analysis and Low Impact Development plans. At Ideate, Kate provides training and support for Civil 3D, AutoCAD, and Navisworks.  

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Autodesk InfraWorks 2014 Proposals and Scenarios

At Ideate, we are reviewing the latest release of Autodesk’s Suites. New to the Infrastructure Design Suite is Autodesk InfraWorks, a re-branded and enhanced Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler (AIM). Autodesk InfraWorks is an easy to use, high-level collaboration, communication and visualization tool for planners, designers, and anyone else involved in the planning and pre-design phase of a project’s lifecycle. 

Two new features in InfraWorks are the ability to create Proposals and Scenarios. Proposals allow a user to develop simultaneous design alternatives while Scenarios allow a user to share designs online with groups of other users through an Autodesk 360 account.

Proposals
A Proposal is a design alternative. It is a set of InfraWorks objects developed on top of your existing data. A user can have many proposals in the same design footprint, allowing for multiple design alternatives. This can be done quickly and is useful for working with clients in real-time.

You access the Proposals dialog box on the home tab of the InfraWorks Ribbon, as seen in the image below. You can add different InfraWorks objects to create proposal components, as identified in the Proposals Dialog Box. To add components to a proposal, use the create/edit features tool bar. A user will need to make sure that objects are being added to the correct proposal. To do this, a user must set the correct Proposal in the drop down list in the Proposals Dialog Box, or the proposals drop down list above the InfraWorks Ribbon. Users can create, delete, and merge proposals in the Proposals Dialog box.

InfraWorks Ribbon

Proposals Dialog Box

Scenarios
A Scenario is an isolated geographical section of a chosen proposal which can be shared with other users. The Scenarios dialog box is accessible on the Present tab of the InfraWorks Ribbon. From the Scenarios dialog box, you can create, delete, edit, copy, and publish Scenarios as well as create Scenario files. A user can name, define the geographical extents, edit a few basic settings, and determine a display resolution for a Scenario, as seen in the Create/Edit Scenarios Dialog Box. Once a Scenario has been created, it can be published to a particular group to be viewed in either in an InfraWorks 360 mobile application or the InfraWorks desktop application. It can also be viewed in a web browser.

InfraWorks Ribbon

 

Scenarios Dialog Box

 

Create/Edit Scenarios Dialog Box

Both Proposals and Scenarios allow a user to effectively and efficiently communicate design intent of multiple design alternatives. I encourage you to check out these new features.

Visit our website at www.ideateinc.com to see what Autodesk InfraWorks can do.

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Kate Ming
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Kate has a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley. Prior to Ideate, she worked at a multinational company for four years doing general civil design on large infrastructure projects. She is versed in roadway, rail, and utility design. She also has experience with utility demand analysis and Low Impact Development plans. At Ideate, Kate provides training and support for Civil 3D, AutoCAD, and Navisworks.  

Get it. Know it. Use it.

Ideate, Inc. Designated to Offer Autodesk BIM 360

San Francisco, CA, 7/1/2013–Ideate, Inc., an Autodesk Gold Value Added Reseller, today announced that Autodesk, Inc., a world leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, has authorized Ideate to sell and support Autodesk BIM 360 Field and Autodesk BIM 360 Glue, two cloud-based BIM collaboration software tools with specific application to the construction and infrastructure industries.

Cloud services enable efficient and easy-to-use Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows for detecting and coordinating clashes, simulation, and visualization for both building and infrastructure projects.

Autodesk BIM 360 Glue is a cloud-based solution that facilitates BIM collaboration. It simplifies multidiscipline model coordination and clash detection, and provides access for stakeholders across the project lifecycle. Architects, engineers, owners, and builders across the globe can collaborate and coordinate in real time from the office or mobile devices.

Autodesk BIM 360 Field provides field management software for construction. Unlike carrying pads of paper and tubes of drawings on the jobsite, Autodesk BIM 360 Field combines mobile technologies and BIM at the point of construction with reporting for management. Using Autodesk BIM 360 Field measurably improves the quality, safety and profitability of projects and companies.

“We are delighted to be selected by Autodesk to offer Autodesk BIM 360 Field and Glue to our customers,” says Bob Palioca, president of Ideate, Inc. “These two new solutions highlight the increasing influence of cloud and mobile technologies. Being able to provide and support new technologies for the construction and infrastructure industries is another important demonstration of our commitment to our customers.”

Ideate recently hosted a webcast introducing Autodesk BIM 360 Field and Glue. To view the recording, click here.

For more information about these two offerings, contact sales@ideateinc.com

About Ideate, Inc.
Ideate, Inc. is a leading Autodesk Authorized Developer with 25+ years’ experience in software development and specific focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and is a leading Autodesk solutions provider offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to the AEC industry since 1992. Headquartered in San Francisco, California and operating five Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATCs) in the northwestern U.S., Ideate is recognized as an Autodesk Gold Partner for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, one of Autodesk’s highest levels of authorization.

Autodesk, Autodesk BIM 360 Glue, Autodesk BIM 360 Field, and ATC are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries.

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New in 2014: Introduction to Autodesk InfraWorks 2014

Here at Ideate, we have been working hard to review all of the new products and features of the 2014 Autodesk design suites.  This year, Autodesk has re-branded and enhanced their Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler (AIM) program as Autodesk InfraWorks.
 
Autodesk InfraWorks is an easy to use, high-level collaboration, communication and visualization tool for planners, designers, and anyone else involved in the planning and pre-design phase of a project’s lifecycle.
 
All capabilities that existed in the last release of AIM (version R2 via Subscription Center) have been carried over and enhanced in Autodesk InfraWorks.  New create and edit feature options allow users to create riverways, pipes & structures, and tree alleys while enhanced road styles provide new profile viewing and editing capabilities.

The Autodesk Material libraries are shared in the 2014 product line, making interoperability even easier, and providing a high level of consistency across renderings and visualizations from product to product.  The added ability to directly import Autodesk Revit models allows a seamless incorporation of proposed designs into existing condition models built from GIS, Civil 3D, DWG, and other 3D model data.
 
Point Cloud data compatibility has also been added to Autodesk InfraWorks, and with the release of Autodesk ReCap, processing, editing and using point clouds is easier than ever.
 
Autodesk InfraWorks also includes brand new functionality in the form of Proposals and Scenarios that can be created within the InfraWorks model to highlight different design alternatives. Users can easily switch between Proposals to quickly show changes to the design. Scenarios can be published and shared online with an Autodesk 360 account.
 
For non-design suite owners, Autodesk has also created a way to access shared models via InfraWorks for the Web and the InfraWorks 360 mobile app for iPad.  Both are free products that either work directly in a web browser, or can be downloaded and installed on an iPad.
 
Included with Autodesk’s Building Design Suite Ultimate, and Infrastructure Design Suite Premium and Ultimate editions, Autodesk InfraWorks adds a great tool and tremendous value to the 2014 design suites.
 
Don’t forget to look through the great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2014

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Matt Miyamoto, P.E.
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Matt is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Hawaii. Matt obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has 7 years of private sector design experience which he applies in his role as an application specialist with Ideate, Inc. His project experience includes residential and commercial site development, private and public sewer, water and drainage systems, harbors improvements, and roadway improvements. While in Hawaii, Matt was involved in multidisciplinary projects for City and County agencies, State Departments, the Army COE and private developers. @MattM_PE

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Life in the Cloud: Autodesk 360 Cloud Services

Autodesk has enhanced the online capabilities of AutoCAD software in 2013 and introduced a new cloud service called Autodesk 360.

In today’s blog post, Application Specialist Matt Miyamoto lets you know a little about Autodesk 360, and what you may already be getting for free. To get started, the first think you’ll need to do is create an account.

For those of you out there who are Subscription customers, the Autodesk 360 Cloud service includes some added benefits. For those of you who aren’t, these may be some reasons to reconsider.

Free Storage: With each seat of subscription, Autodesk provides 25 GB of free storage (3 GB for accounts without subscription) through the Autodesk 360 service. This can also be used for file sharing and review when you don’t have access to your internal network.

Mobile Apps (All Users): AutoCAD WS and Autodesk Design Review are two mobile apps that allow you to access and review your drawing files or DWF files directly from the cloud. Best of all, these apps are free, and compatible with Iphone, Ipad and Android devices.

Along with these come cloud computing services. Here’s a list of what’s available to you.

Note: Not all products are compatible with all services. See the table below for a list of compatible services and products.

Autodesk 360 Products and Services - Autodesk 360 products and services available to you.

Autodesk 360
(Subscription) 25 GB available (3 GB available without Subscription)

Autodesk 360 Rendering
(Subscription) You have used 0 cloud units of rendering.

Autodesk Green Building Studio Subscription
(Subscription) Take your designs beyond the desktop to perform faster, more accurate energy analysis, optimize energy efficiently, and improve the carbon footprint of multiple design options.

Autodesk 360 Energy Analysis for Autodesk Revit
(Subscription) Gain insight into energy consumption and building lifecycle costs early in the design process with cloud energy analysis tools that help you analyze design concepts and create more sustainable building designs.

AutoCAD WS
(Free) Edit DWG files on your mobile device or on the web using the AutoCAD WS app. Enable multiple users to edit the same file in real-time.

Autodesk Design Review mobile app
(Free) Review 2D and 3D DWF files on a mobile device. Redline and annotate 2D drawings while in the field or out of the office.

Autodesk 360 Structural Analysis for Autodesk Revit
(Subscription) Please note that your access to and use of the Structural Analysis service are subject to the terms and conditions accompanying the service. It is important that users monitor their use of the service and do not exceed any applicable usage limits that may exist from time to time. Autodesk reserves the right to change or limit free access and use rights.


Next time you’re using one of the 2013 products, make sure you check out the Autodesk 360 services that come with it.

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Matt Miyamoto, P.E.
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Matt is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Hawaii. Matt obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has 7 years of private sector design experience which he applies in his role as an application specialist with Ideate, Inc. His project experience includes residential and commercial site development, private and public sewer, water and drainage systems, harbors improvements, and roadway improvements. While in Hawaii, Matt was involved in multidisciplinary projects for City and County agencies, State Departments, the Army COE and private developers. @MattM_PE

Get it. Know it. Use it.