Project Files on BIMcloud and Teamwork

[Grubenstein]

Hi All, 

As an office we have recently upgraded to the full version of Archicad from Solo. We are placing all of our projects on the BIMcloud but are having issues with how long it taking to open projects work on them and then release all etc. 

My question is

1. Do all projects uploaded to the BIMcloud need to be Teamwork projects. The reality is that the main feature of the full version that we wanted was the Hotlink facilty. In reality we rarely work on a project file at the same time using the teamwork function. So all the baggage that comes with this we are having to deal with (reserving and releasing the file, creating snapshots etc) which is slowing us down. But we are not getting the benefits as we don't work on files at the same time 

2. I know you can upload PLN files and use them from the BIMcloud but that comes with issues such as they are not visible within the folder unless you open and download them. If we want to incrementally save a pln we cant as we have to re-upload every save and overwrite the original uploaded file. 

Wanted to sound this out to see if there might be something we are missing, but at present its making working on files take longer than it should. The perfect scenario would be most files are PLN with Hotlinks where required and we could incrementally save the PLN on the BIMcloud with CTRL S or File save 

Interest to know everyones thoughts.

Thanks 

Kevin 

[Barry Kelly]

You don't need to use BIMCloud at all if you don't want to.

I have never used it.

If all of your PLN or hotlink files are on your local drive or a shared network drive, then that is all you need.

Just save them as regular PLN or hotlimk (MOD) files and open them directly from that drive.

Barry.

[Grubenstein]

Hi Barry, 

We can't unfortunately as our office uses Sharepoint and it was creating a massive issue as everytime ArchiCAD autosaved it created backups and the storage size went thru the roof. Hence why now our ArchiCAD files are on the BIMCloud. 

the only alternative would of been a separarte drive for the files which we set to back up to share point say at the end of the day each day to avoid the autosave multiple back up issues. 

I just wonder if there is a smarter way of using BIMCloud

[Barry Kelly]

Does your office have a network server that you can all access the files from?

I would save the files there and make sure the server is backed up at regular intervals.

I let our IT department worry about that, but I guess that depends on the size of the company you work for.

Only one person at a time can access the file because of the LCK file when someone opens it.

I wouldn't be relying on Sharepoint to synchronise folders across all users in your company.

Barry.

[Grubenstein]

Hi Barry, 

No we do not as we switched to SharePoint some time ago, but it is of course an option. We are a small business (12 people)

As my post suggests above. Might be we need a project drive in the office that backs up to sharepoint at the end of the day when no-one is using ArchiCAD. 

Just wondered if there was a way to Use BimCloud as its also a more cost effective method of storing the project files and if we do use teamwork on a project then everything is in the same place (shame PLN cant just be incrementally saved to it, seems like a missed oppourtunity to make it the single location for all files)

Kevin 

[jamesMorris]

We just use BimCloud Basic for everything. 

Then back it up to a cloud. I guess you could do the same with Sharepoint