& Construction

Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
& Manufacturing

Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Any referenced datasets can be downloaded from "Module downloads" in the module overview.
Transcript
00:10
We'll be looking at how to include non CAD users in your operational workflows.
00:17
Traditionally, engineers are the core beneficiaries from using a product data management system.
00:23
After all,
00:24
they are the ones who actually create the design data that get stored there and it helps them save time by better managing all that data.
00:35
But all that information can be useful to people throughout the organization if they have access to it.
00:43
For example, program and project managers who are hands off with CAD can still need to review models,
00:51
and approve a design release and ECOs.
00:55
They also need to know the current status of projects.
00:60
Manufacturing obviously needs the data, whether it is to print out the drawing,
01:06
get the bill of materials, or initiate an ECO due to manufacturability issues.
01:14
Tech pubs clearly need access to the design data but they also create documentation that needs to be managed.
01:22
And sales needs access as well primarily to get to the released designs,
01:28
but they could also be managing their quotes and bids or participate in ECOs.
01:35
These are just a few examples.
01:37
There are many other teams that could benefit from access to all the design data in a variety of ways.
01:44
And that is what we'll talk about today.
01:49
The Autodesk Vault Thin client.
01:51
allows the user to explore the content of Vault from a web browser.
01:57
If the Vault server is configured to allow access free of firewall, you can access set Vault data from anywhere.
02:07
With the Thin client, you can perform read access tasks in Vault, such as searching the Vault and viewing five history and properties.
02:18
If, in addition, you have an Autodesk Vault office license,
02:23
you can also perform administrative tasks such as add fires to the Vault,
02:29
check fires into the Vault, check fires out of the Vault, review items and bills of materials.
02:37
The following video shows the fin client in action.
02:41
Updated with the modern look and feel the Autodesk Thin client extends the benefits of Vault document management to the entire work group,
02:48
including non-CAD users.
02:50
Simple and easy to navigate,
02:52
users are able to collaborate in one central secure location where they can view, search, print, and mark up.
03:00
The project explorer view enables visibility to documents stored in the Vault, as well as the ability to view its contents in multiple ways.
03:09
Customize your view or as the administrator configure a default view for your project and team.
03:15
Drill down into folder contents and use quick search to easily find your files.
03:20
Advance find allows for additional search parameters to refine those searches,
03:25
click on files to view their details such as properties history, dependents in additional places where the file is used.
03:34
Select the parent file to see the file structure.
03:37
Select the thumbnail to download or view it right from the browser.
03:42
Allowing users the ability to measure and mark up those files,
03:46
the bill of material view and the item detail page will track material history where it's been used in attachments and associated CAD data.
03:53
Include your non-CAD users in the engineering management process with Autodesk Vault Thin client,
03:59
to help increase collaboration amongst your entire team.
04:03
Now let's look at Vault Office.
04:08
Vault Office helps people on teams outside engineering by providing ways in which they can review and mark up designs,
04:17
participate in standard engineering processes,
04:20
and use all data management capabilities to manage all the non-CAD data that gets created.
04:27
I want to illustrate why this is important.
04:31
Back in 2012,
04:33
tech clarity surveyed a few 100 companies worldwide to understand what the most common challenges were with managing their data.
04:43
What's interesting as it relates to what we're talking about today is the challenges around sharing data internally,
04:51
viewing design files and documents when they don't have CAD software installed on their computer and tracking ECO and release processes.
05:03
Many of the others such as searching for data, organizing all the project data,
05:09
and repetitive office tasks apply to extended team members as well.
05:15
Looking at these,
05:17
which would you say are the most common for your business when thinking about how your extended teams work with your design data?
05:25
Now, let's go ahead and dive into a few of the capabilities of Vault office.
05:31
First off, it provides a couple different access options.
05:36
The first is the Vault Thin client.
05:39
What's nice here is that no additional software is really required.
05:43
Just open up a web browser, go to the link you've set up for the Vault and log in.
05:51
There, you can search, view, and even mark up designs.
05:56
You can see all the property information for the design and check files in or out of Vault.
06:05
The second option is an actual desktop application.
06:09
This provides all the same capabilities as the web app plus the ability to assign life cycle states to files or items,
06:17
initiate or participate in change orders, and run project reports on the data stored in Vault.
06:26
This also makes it easier for people who are creating documentation.
06:31
This will install plugins in Microsoft office,
06:34
so you can easily check files in or out as well.
06:40
Regardless of whether you are a card user or not,
06:43
searching for the right file is usually pretty frustrating and it can take a lot of time to find exactly what you need.
06:51
Remember, this was the single biggest challenge identified in the tech clarity survey.
06:58
Both the thin client and the desktop application have the same searching capabilities.
07:03
You can run a quick basic search that will look through all file properties that are stored in bold,
07:09
or you can run a more advanced search and manually specify values for each property.
07:16
You can use multiple search criteria with bullion operations to narrow down the list of files returned from the search.
07:25
And then those searches can be saved, saving you even more time.
07:31
Another common issue we saw before was not being able to view and provide feedback on designs,
07:37
because people just don't have the application the file was created in installed on their computer.
07:45
Vault can automatically convert your models and drawings into lightweight DWF files that can be opened by anyone.
07:55
They can be viewed directly inside Vault or they can be opened in Autodesk design review, which is free,
08:02
for more powerful viewing and markup.
08:06
The marked up files can then be managed inside Vault.
08:10
You can attach them to the design file itself as an attachment,
08:15
you can include it in an engineering change order,
08:18
or you can attach it to a custom object like a task assigned to someone on the design team to complete.
08:25
Using the Vault Office desktop application, you can also participate in release and change order processes.
08:33
You can modify life cycle states for both files and items in the same way as you do with Vault professional.
08:40
And there is a viewer built to Vault, so you can review the 3D models or drawings directly inside the application,
08:48
or you can open them up in Autodesk design review to add markup.
08:53
You can also initiate a change order or participate as a reviewer or approver,
08:58
attaching the markup and comments directly to the ECO.
09:05
The following video shows the Vault Office Thin client in action.
09:11
The video itself is a few years old, but the concepts it showcases have remained the same.
09:17
A new thin client for Autodesk Office provides extended team members who are not regular CAD users access to view print,
09:23
and mark up engineering design files, run bill materials and item reports.
09:28
Manage product and project related documentation and participate directly in engineering change order,
09:33
and product release processes. Using simple or advanced search tools, you can quickly find in preview files stored within the database.
09:41
You can also initiate a change order and provide instructions to the engineering team by attaching supporting documentation,
09:47
or marking up the design inside the vault office client.
09:51
Vault office includes the ability to modify lifecycle states, so more people can participate in the release process.
09:57
Design files can be reviewed using the built in viewer and life cycle status can be changed based on the user permissions you set.
10:04
You can also access the bill materials and items directly inside the Vault office client,
10:09
create BoM reports for production documentation, and participate in the release process for items.
10:16
You can also manage all your quotes, specs, maintenance reports,
10:20
operating manuals, field service reports, assembly guides, inspection reports,
10:24
and any other non-CAD files with Vault office.
10:26
With integration into Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook, you can track and manage all your reports,
10:33
spreadsheets presentations and important email communications in a single location,
10:37
and associate them to the relevant project or design files.
10:42
Use the same revision management tools available for CAD files to control iterations of all your other documents,
10:47
secure release and track file revisions, and grant team members access to only the correct revision of files.
10:54
Vault data standard can also be used to ensure all documentation meets company standards.
10:59
Specify conventions for naming, location, and required file properties,
11:03
and include templates that be automatically used when new files are created.
11:06
The new thick client for Vault office provides more of your team members access,
11:10
to the powerful data management tools available inside Autodesk Vault.
11:15
I hope this presentation has given you a better understanding about how to include non-CAD users in your operational workflows.
Video transcript
00:10
We'll be looking at how to include non CAD users in your operational workflows.
00:17
Traditionally, engineers are the core beneficiaries from using a product data management system.
00:23
After all,
00:24
they are the ones who actually create the design data that get stored there and it helps them save time by better managing all that data.
00:35
But all that information can be useful to people throughout the organization if they have access to it.
00:43
For example, program and project managers who are hands off with CAD can still need to review models,
00:51
and approve a design release and ECOs.
00:55
They also need to know the current status of projects.
00:60
Manufacturing obviously needs the data, whether it is to print out the drawing,
01:06
get the bill of materials, or initiate an ECO due to manufacturability issues.
01:14
Tech pubs clearly need access to the design data but they also create documentation that needs to be managed.
01:22
And sales needs access as well primarily to get to the released designs,
01:28
but they could also be managing their quotes and bids or participate in ECOs.
01:35
These are just a few examples.
01:37
There are many other teams that could benefit from access to all the design data in a variety of ways.
01:44
And that is what we'll talk about today.
01:49
The Autodesk Vault Thin client.
01:51
allows the user to explore the content of Vault from a web browser.
01:57
If the Vault server is configured to allow access free of firewall, you can access set Vault data from anywhere.
02:07
With the Thin client, you can perform read access tasks in Vault, such as searching the Vault and viewing five history and properties.
02:18
If, in addition, you have an Autodesk Vault office license,
02:23
you can also perform administrative tasks such as add fires to the Vault,
02:29
check fires into the Vault, check fires out of the Vault, review items and bills of materials.
02:37
The following video shows the fin client in action.
02:41
Updated with the modern look and feel the Autodesk Thin client extends the benefits of Vault document management to the entire work group,
02:48
including non-CAD users.
02:50
Simple and easy to navigate,
02:52
users are able to collaborate in one central secure location where they can view, search, print, and mark up.
03:00
The project explorer view enables visibility to documents stored in the Vault, as well as the ability to view its contents in multiple ways.
03:09
Customize your view or as the administrator configure a default view for your project and team.
03:15
Drill down into folder contents and use quick search to easily find your files.
03:20
Advance find allows for additional search parameters to refine those searches,
03:25
click on files to view their details such as properties history, dependents in additional places where the file is used.
03:34
Select the parent file to see the file structure.
03:37
Select the thumbnail to download or view it right from the browser.
03:42
Allowing users the ability to measure and mark up those files,
03:46
the bill of material view and the item detail page will track material history where it's been used in attachments and associated CAD data.
03:53
Include your non-CAD users in the engineering management process with Autodesk Vault Thin client,
03:59
to help increase collaboration amongst your entire team.
04:03
Now let's look at Vault Office.
04:08
Vault Office helps people on teams outside engineering by providing ways in which they can review and mark up designs,
04:17
participate in standard engineering processes,
04:20
and use all data management capabilities to manage all the non-CAD data that gets created.
04:27
I want to illustrate why this is important.
04:31
Back in 2012,
04:33
tech clarity surveyed a few 100 companies worldwide to understand what the most common challenges were with managing their data.
04:43
What's interesting as it relates to what we're talking about today is the challenges around sharing data internally,
04:51
viewing design files and documents when they don't have CAD software installed on their computer and tracking ECO and release processes.
05:03
Many of the others such as searching for data, organizing all the project data,
05:09
and repetitive office tasks apply to extended team members as well.
05:15
Looking at these,
05:17
which would you say are the most common for your business when thinking about how your extended teams work with your design data?
05:25
Now, let's go ahead and dive into a few of the capabilities of Vault office.
05:31
First off, it provides a couple different access options.
05:36
The first is the Vault Thin client.
05:39
What's nice here is that no additional software is really required.
05:43
Just open up a web browser, go to the link you've set up for the Vault and log in.
05:51
There, you can search, view, and even mark up designs.
05:56
You can see all the property information for the design and check files in or out of Vault.
06:05
The second option is an actual desktop application.
06:09
This provides all the same capabilities as the web app plus the ability to assign life cycle states to files or items,
06:17
initiate or participate in change orders, and run project reports on the data stored in Vault.
06:26
This also makes it easier for people who are creating documentation.
06:31
This will install plugins in Microsoft office,
06:34
so you can easily check files in or out as well.
06:40
Regardless of whether you are a card user or not,
06:43
searching for the right file is usually pretty frustrating and it can take a lot of time to find exactly what you need.
06:51
Remember, this was the single biggest challenge identified in the tech clarity survey.
06:58
Both the thin client and the desktop application have the same searching capabilities.
07:03
You can run a quick basic search that will look through all file properties that are stored in bold,
07:09
or you can run a more advanced search and manually specify values for each property.
07:16
You can use multiple search criteria with bullion operations to narrow down the list of files returned from the search.
07:25
And then those searches can be saved, saving you even more time.
07:31
Another common issue we saw before was not being able to view and provide feedback on designs,
07:37
because people just don't have the application the file was created in installed on their computer.
07:45
Vault can automatically convert your models and drawings into lightweight DWF files that can be opened by anyone.
07:55
They can be viewed directly inside Vault or they can be opened in Autodesk design review, which is free,
08:02
for more powerful viewing and markup.
08:06
The marked up files can then be managed inside Vault.
08:10
You can attach them to the design file itself as an attachment,
08:15
you can include it in an engineering change order,
08:18
or you can attach it to a custom object like a task assigned to someone on the design team to complete.
08:25
Using the Vault Office desktop application, you can also participate in release and change order processes.
08:33
You can modify life cycle states for both files and items in the same way as you do with Vault professional.
08:40
And there is a viewer built to Vault, so you can review the 3D models or drawings directly inside the application,
08:48
or you can open them up in Autodesk design review to add markup.
08:53
You can also initiate a change order or participate as a reviewer or approver,
08:58
attaching the markup and comments directly to the ECO.
09:05
The following video shows the Vault Office Thin client in action.
09:11
The video itself is a few years old, but the concepts it showcases have remained the same.
09:17
A new thin client for Autodesk Office provides extended team members who are not regular CAD users access to view print,
09:23
and mark up engineering design files, run bill materials and item reports.
09:28
Manage product and project related documentation and participate directly in engineering change order,
09:33
and product release processes. Using simple or advanced search tools, you can quickly find in preview files stored within the database.
09:41
You can also initiate a change order and provide instructions to the engineering team by attaching supporting documentation,
09:47
or marking up the design inside the vault office client.
09:51
Vault office includes the ability to modify lifecycle states, so more people can participate in the release process.
09:57
Design files can be reviewed using the built in viewer and life cycle status can be changed based on the user permissions you set.
10:04
You can also access the bill materials and items directly inside the Vault office client,
10:09
create BoM reports for production documentation, and participate in the release process for items.
10:16
You can also manage all your quotes, specs, maintenance reports,
10:20
operating manuals, field service reports, assembly guides, inspection reports,
10:24
and any other non-CAD files with Vault office.
10:26
With integration into Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook, you can track and manage all your reports,
10:33
spreadsheets presentations and important email communications in a single location,
10:37
and associate them to the relevant project or design files.
10:42
Use the same revision management tools available for CAD files to control iterations of all your other documents,
10:47
secure release and track file revisions, and grant team members access to only the correct revision of files.
10:54
Vault data standard can also be used to ensure all documentation meets company standards.
10:59
Specify conventions for naming, location, and required file properties,
11:03
and include templates that be automatically used when new files are created.
11:06
The new thick client for Vault office provides more of your team members access,
11:10
to the powerful data management tools available inside Autodesk Vault.
11:15
I hope this presentation has given you a better understanding about how to include non-CAD users in your operational workflows.
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 to start learning
Sign in for unlimited free access to all learning content.Save your progress
Take assessments
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.