DWG File Path Length and Autodesk Collaborate Pro

A critical step to take when adopting Autodesk Collaborate Pro on the Autodesk Construction Cloud is to make the decision to upload all the DWG files that are to be linked to the cloud.

If a Revit cloud collaboration file links DWG files stored on a user’s hard drive, then the link does not have the same path for all the team members. It will fail, much like collaboration will fail when all the network paths are not mapped similarly on a local area network.

Installing the Autodesk Desktop Connector solves these problems. It creates a mechanism through which everyone shares the same path to the links. You can download and install the Autodesk Desktop Connector from here:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/desktop-connector/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/ENU/CONNECT/files/Install-and-Update-Desktop/GUID-847CE3FC-B26F-46B8-895E-5D825F4BD540-html.html

All one needs to do is link the DWG file now from the Desktop Connector.

The Autodesk Construction Cloud places a 255-character naming limit on the file itself.

Autodesk, Micrographics, Autodesk Construction Cloud, Autodesk Collaborate Pro, DWG, Link, File Path, Length

Now one of the issues to consider is that Windows has a file path limit of 260 characters.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/fileio/naming-a-file

Autodesk, Micrographics, Autodesk Construction Cloud, Autodesk Collaborate Pro, DWG, Link, File Path, Length

For this reason, please keep your file structure and naming of files compact. This is where the file naming standard comes into play. If the ISO 19650 file naming protocol is used (it may even be enforced on folders on the cloud) then one can easily keep the files in one folder without creating too many sub-folders.

Interestingly, the file cannot be linked into a Revit file.

Autodesk, Micrographics, Autodesk Construction Cloud, Autodesk Collaborate Pro, DWG, Link, File Path, Length

If you need help adopting Revit and BIM in your practice, please contact Micrographics so we may be of assistance.

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