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.

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.  

Get it. Know it. Use it.