A while ago, I wrote a blog post introducing the main uses of your Autodesk 360 account. Since then, while covering tech support at Ideate, Inc., I’ve gotten a lot of questions about migrating settings using your Autodesk 360 account. To avoid potential mishaps, I have outlined the very basics of syncing settings that you might not know, but need to. There are three main concepts that are necessary to understand to successfully use the sync settings option.
Support path file naming must be consistent between the cloud and your local settings.
What happens when you sync your software settings to Autodesk 360 is that a version of your support files will be saved to the cloud. When you sync a computer’s settings from the cloud, those files are replaced with the cloud’s files. For example, your acad.cuix file will be replaced with the cloud’s acad.cuix file.
If the files do not have the same name, this will not work properly. For example, if you sync a custom cuix file named ideate.cuix to Autodesk 360, then on your home computer try to sync your settings to the settings from your Autodesk 360 account, you could run into a problem. In order to successfully sync your home computer with the file saved to Autodesk 360, the names must match. If you’ve tried this in the past, and syncing didn’t work properly, check the file paths and the file names of what you want to sync and make sure they are the same.
You cannot migrate setting between different releases of software.
Autodesk 360 cannot be used to migrate settings between different releases. So, if you are upgrading from 2013 to 2014, you cannot use Autodesk 360 to sync your settings from 2013 to 2014.
Autodesk 360 does not differentiate when syncing settings between verticals (software built on top of AutoCAD) and AutoCAD.
You need to be careful when going between different software verticals. For example, if you sync your cloud settings from AutoCAD, then sync your Civil 3D settings from the cloud, your Civil 3D workspace will disappear. This is because you have replaced your Civil 3D cuix file with the AutoCAD cuix file. The AutoCAD cuix file does not have the Civil 3D workspace. You can only sync settings between one vertical at a time.
A list of what you can sync is in the dialog box below.
So, if you’re considering using Autodesk 360 to sync your settings between different computers, keep these three things in mind:
- File names and paths must be identical.
- Settings cannot be synchronized across different releases (ie. 2013 to 2014).
- Sync products one at a time when working with vertical applications.
Thank you for reading. For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. homepage.
Kate Ming
AEC Application Specialist
Kate is a California licensed civil engineer with a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley. Prior to Ideate, she worked at a multinational company for four years doing general civil design on large infrastructure projects. She is versed in roadway, rail, utility design and site development. She also has experience with utility demand analysis and Low Impact Development plans. As a Civil 3D Autodesk Certified Professional Kate provides training and support for Civil 3D, AutoCAD, and InfraWorks.