BIMcloud as a Service - Create new user instead of inviting GSID?

[furtonb]

Hi, 

I'm trying to create new users for a BIMcloud as a Service instance, but I fail to find the "Create New User" option where I can just enter the username, e-mail address, etc. The only option I find is to invite existing GSIDs to the BIMcloud:

In BIMcloud Basic I (still?) have the option (it's in Hungarian, I've translated the relevant fields):

In the related BIMcloud as a Service Help I don't find any relevant info on how to create users "locally" first: "Use this workflow to invite a new user to BIMcloud, via their GSID. (The user must already have a GSID.)" 

Well, "this workflow" could imply that there is another way to create users the "old" way. 

https://help.graphisoft.com/BCSAAS/INT/index.htm?rhcsh=1&rhnewwnd=0#t=_BIMcloud_SaaS_%2F10_BIMcloud_...

Any thoughts on this one? I don't know the GSIDs of all the people, only their contact e-mails, do I really have to send e-mails to the prospective users, get the GSIDs confirmed, etc. before I can set this up?

I am 100% sure that I did not have to invite GSIDs in May 2024 (the last time I had to set users on a BIMcloud as a Service, I was working with BIMcloud Basic instances since then), I could just create the user, enter the e-mail, and then it was done. Please tell me, that I am missing something.

[Boldizsar Vermes]

@furtonb, you perfectly recall that local user management was available on BIMcloud SaaS too, but it has been removed with the latest version. See the List of Improvements.

[furtonb]

I get that linking BIMcloud accounts to GSIDs may have their benefits, but there are quite a number of use cases that look impossible now by having this automatic sync (without the option to override the automatic naming!), quote from the help: "GSID data are automatically synced from each user’s GSID profile"

1) I tend to name each user according to a naming convention for a project, e.g. [ARC] John Doe (Company), [STR] Jane Doe (Company), so when there are dozens of people in a project at the same time, it's easy to see who is who. Now the name fields come frome the GSID pre-populated, I can't change it. Some users are named First name Last name, others are Last Name First name – in Hungary for example many people don't really care about this, having GSIDs from many sources is a guaranteed mess.

2) I often have multiple users for myself (especially on my own BIMcloud Basic instance... should I expect the removal of local users there, too?), as I am working with multiple machines, it makes it easier for me to upload the SW key from one of my machines and continue working from another by just receiving changes, instead of rejoining when BIMcloud detects that one user edited the project from another machine. E.g. I have furtonb-MBP when I'm on the go, furtonb-PC for rendering on my desktop. It is much cleaner this way, I have much less sync conflicts and saves me a lot of time.

3) We have an educational BIMcloud SaaS running at the university to manage mostly postgrad students.

Previously I created the users according to the following scheme: Name: John Doe / User: NEPTUN / pw: I've sent a request to the e-mail / E-mail: from the contact list which is provided to me by my supervisor.

Current method: I have to send another round of e-mails to confirm whether that e-mail address is correct (in many cases it isn't, for example my own educational address has nothing to do with my work address which I use for logging into my GSID). Then we are getting back to case 1: I had users named by the semester and their level of curriculum (24-25-1-BSc/MSc/BIM/etc.), which I apparently can't, I can only rely on grouping to see who is who, instead of glancing over someone and have everything I need to know in a second.

...may I ask how is this an improvement? How can I name the users according to my specific needs?

[Boldizsar Vermes]

Thank you for sharing this detailed feedback. It’s clear you’ve outlined specific workflows that are impacted by this change. While I understand that the transition to GSID-based user management may not meet all your preferences, I’m here to help find potential workarounds and understand your needs more deeply.

This change in the user management is part of our ongoing effort to simplify settings for admins and move organization level tasks out from BIMcloud. However, we recognize that this approach affects certain use cases, particularly when it comes to custom user naming and multiple accounts.

For user identification and role-based organization, user groups can be an alternative to custom names. If grouping alone isn’t sufficient, I’d love to hear more about specific requirements to see if there are other options or further enhancement possibilities that could help meet your needs.

Regarding the use of multiple accounts for the same individual across devices, this setup can indeed be recreated with separate GSID accounts, although it’s not an approach we generally recommend. However, as with local users, using two GSID accounts may still allow you to maintain your workflow effectively.

Again, thank you for taking the time to outline these issues so clearly. Your input is essential as we continue refining our service. Please feel free to reach out with any further insights or questions.

[davidzsibrita]

I have just encountered the same limitation. It is no longer possible to simply create a new account.

Use-case:

In a project, we want to create a few users with restricted rights (e.g., David-Test) and run the project as a test project to see where BIMcloud settings can still be adjusted. In the other projects, we work with the normal user (e.g., David). What is the workaround for these new test users? Everyone already has a Graphisoft ID, and with one email address, only one GS-ID can be registered.

(I will take a few old general accounts and modify them, but this is not a permanent solution.)

Use-case2:

When working with external planners, I want to test in advance whether they actually only see the projects they are allowed to see. To test this, I cannot log in with their GS-ID because I am not allowed to know the password.

I see the advantages of GS-ID, but for experiments, we still need a simple way to create a user.

Use-case3: As mentioned above:

For office and home office PCs, we also have separate accounts to avoid reloading. This structure already exists, but for new colleagues, I do not yet know how to create the new accounts.

[deivarch1]

Here is the problem I'm having. The Bimcloud SAAS is not even giving me the option to invite someone with a GSID. The documentation says to manage it at the company level, but I'm a sole practitioner and all my drafters and engineers are with separate companies, so if I try to add them to my company it says they are already in a different company, thereby making it impossible for me to add external users which is a VITAL and NECESSARY function. Basically what I'm hearing is Graphisoft went and destroyed the small firm architect?  Or is there a workaround that your documentation writers haven't published to the help page? Please help. My structural engineer needs to get on today and this is making Bimcloud useless.

[furtonb]

I suppose you could fire up your own BIMcloud Basic, which ironically has more flexibility than the flagship product in this regard. 

...for now. 🙃

[deivarch1]

I know, right? This is a regression, not progression. 

[furtonb]

Another use case (7th in the thread):  when publishing huge projects (hundreds or thousands of layouts from a separate publisher file, it is useful to use all the computing power in an office – even those machines that are otherwise not used for Archicad work (rendering or simulation workstations). In that case it is also useful to have "dummy" accounts that you can use to log into a project and update drawings (which could worth its own thread) and publish the publisher sets (PDF, DWG, IFC, PMK, etc. sets) in a distributed fashion.

@Boldizsar Vermes the thread had been open for a month and nothing had been done in this regard to fix the obviously flawed implementation in user management. When can we expect the reintroduction of previously existing and useful features, such as the ability to control how invited users are named?

Another pain point is the GSID to BIMcloud user mapping: your new implementation only handles 1 (GSID) → 1 (BIMcloud user) whereas 1 (GSID) → more (BIMcloud user) is required (for testing & workflows & user convenience & project requirements...).