Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Create a new version of a design, open multiple versions at once, promote an older version, and work with milestones.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
8 min.
Tutorial resources
These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:
Transcript
00:03
In Fusion, you can manage your designs with versions and milestones.
00:08
Every time you save a file, a new version is created, so you can easily identify the most current file,
00:14
and there is no need to create multiple copies.
00:17
You can always revert to a previous version, if necessary.
00:21
Milestones can be used to identify important stages of design development.
00:26
To better understand working with versions, consider this bike frame design.
00:31
On the tab at the top of the window, you see the file name, followed by V1, indicating that it is the first version.
00:39
If you make any changes to this design, you see an asterisk next to the V1,
00:44
indicating that a change has been made, but has not yet been saved.
00:48
To demonstrate this, here,
00:50
the sleeve that the frame mounts onto is modified by using the Press Pull command to change the distance to 19 mm.
00:58
As expected, after making this change, you see an asterisk next to V1.
01:03
From the Application bar, click Save to save the design and create a new version.
01:08
In the Save dialog, add a Version Description, and when you click OK, the asterisk is removed.
01:16
From the Application bar, click Show Data Panel, if it is not already open.
01:22
Here, you see that V1 has changed to V2 to reflect the version being updated.
01:28
Click V2 to view more information:
01:31
The History tab shows the number of versions and who they were made by.
01:36
The Uses tab shows the files that a design uses.
01:40
The Used In tab indicates the files that this design is used in.
01:45
Lastly, the Drawings tab identifies any associated drawings.
01:50
Again, you know that version 2 is open, because you can see the V2 next to the file name above the toolbar.
01:57
To open multiple versions for visual comparison, on the History tab, place the pointer over Version 1.
02:04
Click the More menu, and then select Open.
02:08
Now, Version 1 and Version 2 are both open, and you can click each tab to see the differences.
02:15
Note that previous versions are opened as read-only, indicated by the lock symbol next to the file name on the tab.
02:22
Close Version 1.
02:25
After making another change—in this case, increasing the height of a connector by 8 mm—and then saving the file,
02:33
you are prompted again for a Version Description.
02:36
It is good practice to save your file by versioning it each time you make a few changes,
02:42
especially if you are uncertain about the direction of the design.
02:46
This lets you roll back on your design later.
02:49
Suppose you now find out that the last change to the height was unnecessary.
02:53
This is where versioning proves useful.
02:56
You can revert to Version 2, which was the version before the change to the connector.
03:01
From the Data Panel, place the pointer over Version 2, click the More menu, and then select Open.
03:09
From the Application bar, click File, and select Save As Latest.
03:15
A warning indicates that the file will not contain the changes in Version 3.
03:20
Click Continue to save the file as Version 4.
03:23
Notice that the file has changed from read-only to Bike Frame V4, which is an exact copy of Version 2.
03:31
Promoting a version in this manner helps to preserve the history of the design changes.
03:36
Now, your latest version only includes the change made to the diameter of the sleeve.
03:41
Once you are satisfied that you have met the customer requirements, it may be a good time to create a milestone.
03:48
A milestone indicates a significant stage in your design development
03:52
and enables other people working on the same project to know if updates have been made.
03:57
Milestones make it easy for multiple users to work on the same project.
04:02
For example, when milestones are used in components and subcomponents,
04:07
one user can work on a subcomponent and save work during the design process.
04:11
When the subcomponent is ready for sharing, a milestone is created.
04:16
The upper-level component is then triggered as being out of date.
04:20
Others working on that upper-level component can then update the design once to include all the changes made in the milestone,
04:27
rather than each time a small change is made within the version.
04:31
You can create a milestone in two ways:
04:34
After you make a change and click Save, in the Save dialog, select the Milestone checkbox.
04:41
Or, from the Data Panel, place the pointer over any version, and from the More menu, select Create Milestone.
04:48
In either case, add a descriptive milestone name.
04:52
In the Data Panel, you can see that the history of the file is updated with your milestone name,
04:58
and the milestone icon appears in the upper right corner of the design thumbnail and in the version list.
05:04
To change the name of a milestone, from the More menu, select Edit Milestone.
05:10
Like regular versions, if you have multiple milestone versions, or a milestone that is followed by later versions,
05:17
you can choose to promote that milestone using the Save As Latest command.
05:21
Promoting a milestone changes it to a design version.
05:25
Once it is saved, a new milestone can be created again.
05:29
In Fusion, versions enable you to easily revert to an earlier stage in your design process,
05:35
and milestones are useful for identifying a series of updates to be passed to team members,
05:40
as well as important points in your design development.
Video transcript
00:03
In Fusion, you can manage your designs with versions and milestones.
00:08
Every time you save a file, a new version is created, so you can easily identify the most current file,
00:14
and there is no need to create multiple copies.
00:17
You can always revert to a previous version, if necessary.
00:21
Milestones can be used to identify important stages of design development.
00:26
To better understand working with versions, consider this bike frame design.
00:31
On the tab at the top of the window, you see the file name, followed by V1, indicating that it is the first version.
00:39
If you make any changes to this design, you see an asterisk next to the V1,
00:44
indicating that a change has been made, but has not yet been saved.
00:48
To demonstrate this, here,
00:50
the sleeve that the frame mounts onto is modified by using the Press Pull command to change the distance to 19 mm.
00:58
As expected, after making this change, you see an asterisk next to V1.
01:03
From the Application bar, click Save to save the design and create a new version.
01:08
In the Save dialog, add a Version Description, and when you click OK, the asterisk is removed.
01:16
From the Application bar, click Show Data Panel, if it is not already open.
01:22
Here, you see that V1 has changed to V2 to reflect the version being updated.
01:28
Click V2 to view more information:
01:31
The History tab shows the number of versions and who they were made by.
01:36
The Uses tab shows the files that a design uses.
01:40
The Used In tab indicates the files that this design is used in.
01:45
Lastly, the Drawings tab identifies any associated drawings.
01:50
Again, you know that version 2 is open, because you can see the V2 next to the file name above the toolbar.
01:57
To open multiple versions for visual comparison, on the History tab, place the pointer over Version 1.
02:04
Click the More menu, and then select Open.
02:08
Now, Version 1 and Version 2 are both open, and you can click each tab to see the differences.
02:15
Note that previous versions are opened as read-only, indicated by the lock symbol next to the file name on the tab.
02:22
Close Version 1.
02:25
After making another change—in this case, increasing the height of a connector by 8 mm—and then saving the file,
02:33
you are prompted again for a Version Description.
02:36
It is good practice to save your file by versioning it each time you make a few changes,
02:42
especially if you are uncertain about the direction of the design.
02:46
This lets you roll back on your design later.
02:49
Suppose you now find out that the last change to the height was unnecessary.
02:53
This is where versioning proves useful.
02:56
You can revert to Version 2, which was the version before the change to the connector.
03:01
From the Data Panel, place the pointer over Version 2, click the More menu, and then select Open.
03:09
From the Application bar, click File, and select Save As Latest.
03:15
A warning indicates that the file will not contain the changes in Version 3.
03:20
Click Continue to save the file as Version 4.
03:23
Notice that the file has changed from read-only to Bike Frame V4, which is an exact copy of Version 2.
03:31
Promoting a version in this manner helps to preserve the history of the design changes.
03:36
Now, your latest version only includes the change made to the diameter of the sleeve.
03:41
Once you are satisfied that you have met the customer requirements, it may be a good time to create a milestone.
03:48
A milestone indicates a significant stage in your design development
03:52
and enables other people working on the same project to know if updates have been made.
03:57
Milestones make it easy for multiple users to work on the same project.
04:02
For example, when milestones are used in components and subcomponents,
04:07
one user can work on a subcomponent and save work during the design process.
04:11
When the subcomponent is ready for sharing, a milestone is created.
04:16
The upper-level component is then triggered as being out of date.
04:20
Others working on that upper-level component can then update the design once to include all the changes made in the milestone,
04:27
rather than each time a small change is made within the version.
04:31
You can create a milestone in two ways:
04:34
After you make a change and click Save, in the Save dialog, select the Milestone checkbox.
04:41
Or, from the Data Panel, place the pointer over any version, and from the More menu, select Create Milestone.
04:48
In either case, add a descriptive milestone name.
04:52
In the Data Panel, you can see that the history of the file is updated with your milestone name,
04:58
and the milestone icon appears in the upper right corner of the design thumbnail and in the version list.
05:04
To change the name of a milestone, from the More menu, select Edit Milestone.
05:10
Like regular versions, if you have multiple milestone versions, or a milestone that is followed by later versions,
05:17
you can choose to promote that milestone using the Save As Latest command.
05:21
Promoting a milestone changes it to a design version.
05:25
Once it is saved, a new milestone can be created again.
05:29
In Fusion, versions enable you to easily revert to an earlier stage in your design process,
05:35
and milestones are useful for identifying a series of updates to be passed to team members,
05:40
as well as important points in your design development.
How to buy
Privacy | Do not sell or share my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use | Legal | © 2025 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved
Sign in for the best experience
Save your progress
Get access to courses
Receive personalized recommendations
May we collect and use your data?
Learn more about the Third Party Services we use and our Privacy Statement. May we collect and use your data to tailor your experience?
Explore the benefits of a customized experience by managing your privacy settings for this site or visit our Privacy Statement to learn more about your options.