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Use the "Always Keep on This Device" setting in Desktop Connector for quick access to cloud-based files.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
3 min.
Transcript
00:03
In this session, we'll review a Desktop Connector setting that can give you the quickest access to changed files, but it comes at a price.
00:11
Let's take a look.
00:12
As you can see, I've got Windows Explorer open.
00:14
I'm going to navigate into Autodesk Docs and open up this cloud project called Mayfield Rd.
00:20
Inside project files, I'll open the Models folder and we'll look in Civil.
00:25
These DWG files are stored in the cloud.
00:28
Notice the icons in the Status column.
00:31
The cloud icons show me files that are available but I've not yet opened.
00:36
The green checks represent files that I've opened or referenced in Civil 3D,
00:40
and as a result a copy of that file has been cached on my machine.
00:45
The reason Desktop Connector caches these files is to improve performance.
00:49
For example, when I open a file that's been cached,
00:52
Desktop Connector will compare the cached version with the version in the cloud.
00:57
If they're the same, it will simply lock the cloud file and continue to work from the local cache.
01:02
There's no need to download the file again.
01:04
Knowing that if my cached version is older than the cloud version,
01:08
Desktop Connector will lock the cloud file and redownload and cache the latest version to my machine.
01:14
That means that any time one of these files is edited by another stakeholder,
01:19
my machine will only download the latest version at the point I attempt to open or reference the file.
01:24
If I'm working with large files and limited bandwidth, these downloads can slow me down.
01:30
Instead, I can use a feature called Always Keep on this Device.
01:34
As an example, I will right click on the topo file and choose Always Keep on this Device from the menu.
01:40
Notice the change in the icon.
01:42
If I didn't have the latest version of that file, I do now,
01:46
and in the event another team member edits and saves this file,
01:50
my machine will automatically download and cache all updated versions in the background while I'm working on other things.
01:57
This means I will always have the latest version cached to my machine
02:00
and will never need to wait for a file transfer when I open or reference this file.
02:05
The Always Keep on this Device setting can be applied on an individual file basis like we just saw, or it can be applied to a folder.
02:13
As an example,
02:14
I'm going to move up one level to the Models folder and I'll right click on the Civil folder and choose Always Keep on this Device.
02:21
When the download process is finished, once again notice the change in the icon.
02:26
Going back into the Civil folder,
02:27
you can see how Desktop Connector is now monitoring all of these files to ensure I have the latest version cached locally.
02:34
If you remember, I mentioned earlier that this tool comes at a price, and that price is bandwidth.
02:40
When Always Keep on This Device is enabled, your machine is automatically downloading every version of all selected files.
02:47
While this will certainly give you the fastest access to cloud-based project files,
02:52
too much of it will put extra burden on your bandwidth and negate the value of the tool.
02:57
So be judicious with its use.
02:59
To disable the Always Keep on this Device setting, right click on the affected file or folder and remove the toggle.
03:06
Note that the most current cached version is retained on your machine.
03:10
As you can see, the Always Keep on this Device setting
03:13
can be a powerful way to ensure you have the latest versions of project files available on your local computer.
03:19
Applying this feature strategically will give you the quickest access to cloud-based models and adjacent files.
Video transcript
00:03
In this session, we'll review a Desktop Connector setting that can give you the quickest access to changed files, but it comes at a price.
00:11
Let's take a look.
00:12
As you can see, I've got Windows Explorer open.
00:14
I'm going to navigate into Autodesk Docs and open up this cloud project called Mayfield Rd.
00:20
Inside project files, I'll open the Models folder and we'll look in Civil.
00:25
These DWG files are stored in the cloud.
00:28
Notice the icons in the Status column.
00:31
The cloud icons show me files that are available but I've not yet opened.
00:36
The green checks represent files that I've opened or referenced in Civil 3D,
00:40
and as a result a copy of that file has been cached on my machine.
00:45
The reason Desktop Connector caches these files is to improve performance.
00:49
For example, when I open a file that's been cached,
00:52
Desktop Connector will compare the cached version with the version in the cloud.
00:57
If they're the same, it will simply lock the cloud file and continue to work from the local cache.
01:02
There's no need to download the file again.
01:04
Knowing that if my cached version is older than the cloud version,
01:08
Desktop Connector will lock the cloud file and redownload and cache the latest version to my machine.
01:14
That means that any time one of these files is edited by another stakeholder,
01:19
my machine will only download the latest version at the point I attempt to open or reference the file.
01:24
If I'm working with large files and limited bandwidth, these downloads can slow me down.
01:30
Instead, I can use a feature called Always Keep on this Device.
01:34
As an example, I will right click on the topo file and choose Always Keep on this Device from the menu.
01:40
Notice the change in the icon.
01:42
If I didn't have the latest version of that file, I do now,
01:46
and in the event another team member edits and saves this file,
01:50
my machine will automatically download and cache all updated versions in the background while I'm working on other things.
01:57
This means I will always have the latest version cached to my machine
02:00
and will never need to wait for a file transfer when I open or reference this file.
02:05
The Always Keep on this Device setting can be applied on an individual file basis like we just saw, or it can be applied to a folder.
02:13
As an example,
02:14
I'm going to move up one level to the Models folder and I'll right click on the Civil folder and choose Always Keep on this Device.
02:21
When the download process is finished, once again notice the change in the icon.
02:26
Going back into the Civil folder,
02:27
you can see how Desktop Connector is now monitoring all of these files to ensure I have the latest version cached locally.
02:34
If you remember, I mentioned earlier that this tool comes at a price, and that price is bandwidth.
02:40
When Always Keep on This Device is enabled, your machine is automatically downloading every version of all selected files.
02:47
While this will certainly give you the fastest access to cloud-based project files,
02:52
too much of it will put extra burden on your bandwidth and negate the value of the tool.
02:57
So be judicious with its use.
02:59
To disable the Always Keep on this Device setting, right click on the affected file or folder and remove the toggle.
03:06
Note that the most current cached version is retained on your machine.
03:10
As you can see, the Always Keep on this Device setting
03:13
can be a powerful way to ensure you have the latest versions of project files available on your local computer.
03:19
Applying this feature strategically will give you the quickest access to cloud-based models and adjacent files.
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