How to manage Cloud files locally

Manage cloud files locally through Desktop Connector

With Desktop Connector, you can manage your cloud data like local files in a File Explorer window, with changes being synced to the Autodesk cloud project.

To use Desktop Connector, click on the Desktop Connector icon from your machine's system tray. Verify that Autodesk Docs displays in the Desktop Connector dialog box, indicating that it is your connector.

In the upper-left corner, you can click the Help & Settings icon to expand the menu options.

The different options available to you to manage your cloud files locally are as follows:

  • Upload Files and References allows you to specify the local data location of a file you want to share with a cloud destination. Alternatively, you can drag and drop files or folders to upload.

  • Select Projects allows you to choose up to 80 projects that you want to appear in the File Explorer window or within the Autodesk software. You can display the results in a list, tree, or graph view.

  • Reference Explorer opens the Reference Explorer dialog box, where you can drag and drop a reference file or a data shortcuts file. It will show you which other files the file is referenced in and the number of times it is referenced, as well as if a file is missing. Note that the Reference Explorer dialog box cannot be used with linked Revit files.

  • The Troubleshooting feature allows you to inspect a selected project for any issues.

How to: View cloud models through the Autodesk Docs Connector

  1. Open a File Explorer window.
  2. In the left pane, click Autodesk Docs, then expand the hub, project, and Project Files folders to view the files. Note that the only projects available are the projects you have chosen to sync.

Different icons will be displayed in the Status column to indicate the cloud file's status.

  • A cloud icon displays in the Status column if the cloud model has not been downloaded locally.
  • A green checkmark means the file has been downloaded.
  • A white checkmark in a solid green circle indicates the file is synced locally.
  • Circular arrows indicate that a file is processing or that the local file has not yet been uploaded.

If you double-click on a file, it will open in its respective software (for example, Revit, Civil 3D, or Plant 3D), and you can update it. The changes will be saved to the cloud once the file is saved.

NOTE: Revit cloud workshared models should not be opened from Desktop Connector. Double-clicking on a Revit cloud workshared file will download a copy of the file, and any changes you make to that file will not be updated in the cloud. If you are trying to update the cloud workshared model, you will need to go through the proper method of opening the Revit cloud workshared file through the Revit software.

A lock icon will display in the Status column when the file is opened. Once the file is closed, the lock icon will no longer display.

Autodesk Construction Cloud will reflect what is happening with your files, similar to what Desktop Connector displays. You can verify the changes that were made by selecting the Docs product in the upper-left corner. Navigate to the relevant Project Files subfolder and note that the files, data, and projects mirror what is on the local drive.

Once the files are saved and the changes are synced to the cloud project, the lock icon will disappear, and the date and time stamp will reflect that changes have been made.