Configure Project File Synchronization

The AutoCAD Plant 3D link automatically creates copies of AutoCAD Plant 3D project files in the local workspace (or shared workspace) by default. It does this for any files that are referenced by the main AutoCAD Plant 3D project file. However, there can be other project files (.pspx, .pspc, for example) that are necessary for the correct functioning of AutoCAD Plant 3D that are not referenced by the main project file. For the link to also copy these files, you must configure the link with search rules to find the files and with a custom reference type for the link to relate the files to the project. Because the file structure of each project can be different, you must specify the search rules for each project separately.

To configure project file synchronization:

1. In the project folder in the vault, create a plain text file.

   The filename can be anything but we recommend that you give it a descriptive name (for example, MeridianLinkSearchRules.txt) so that users can recognize it and not accidentally delete it.

2. On the first line of the file, create the section heading [Definitions].

   This section defines rules that only apply to vault documents, not copies that reside in shared workspaces or in local workspaces.

3. Starting on the second line, specify at least one search rules with the keywords described in the following table.

   You might need to create multiple rules to specify multiple folders that are not in the same branch or multiple document types to search. Each rule must occupy a single line in the file and not continue on subsequent lines as in the example below.

4. On the next blank line, create a section heading [LocalDefinitions] to define rules that apply to document copies that reside in shared workspaces or in local workspaces.

5. On the following line, specify search rules in the same way as in the [Definitions] section.

   These rules may also include the Release keyword, which can be set to 1 to automatically release documents that are imported into the vault. To not automatically release the documents, set Release to 0.

   Following is an example rule file with one rule in each section (ignore any line breaks within a rule) that uses all of the keywords:

   [Definitions]
   Folder="Isometric" Base="Project" Mask="Iso.atr;Iso*.dwt;IsoConfig.xml" Recursive="1" Type="Drawing"
   [LocalDefinitions]
   Folder="CustomParts" Base="Project" Mask="*.doc;*.xls;*.docx;*.xlsx;*.pdf" Recursive="1" Release="0"

6. Open the project in AutoCAD Plant 3D.

7. On the BlueCielo Plant 3D menu, click Attach Custom.

   The Open File dialog box appears.

8. Navigate to and select the search rule file that you created.

   The AutoCAD Plant 3D link creates a reference from the project file to the search rule file with the type AcadPnID Custom Part. It then uses the rules in the file to find the other files to be copied. It then creates references from the search rule file to the found files with the same type.

   If the search rule file is not locked, the link creates a [Log] section at the end of the file and a list of all of the files that were found and linked to the search rule file.

   When a user runs the Prepare for open command as described in the Accruent Meridian Enterprise User's Guide, the project file and all of the linked files are copied to the local workspace (or shared workspace).

   Note:

   • References created in this way can be lost when a wildcard pattern is removed from a Mask definition and the project is resynchronized. To prevent this, add new file patterns to the definition and do not remove old ones.

   • References cannot be recreated when a document is revoked and then resynchronized in the same client session. To prevent this, reopen the project in Plant 3D.

Search rule keywords

Keyword	Description
Folder	Path to the folder that contains the project files that you want the link to find and copy. If this rule is omitted, the whole vault will be searched, which can be a very lengthy process.
Base	The type of path specified for Folder: Root – absolute path (default) Project – relative path from the folder that contains the main project file (<ProjectName>.xml) This – relative path from the folder that contains the search rule file
Mask	One or more semicolon-delimited filename wildcard patterns. The default is *.*.
Recursive	If enabled (1), searches in sub-folders. The default is disabled (0).
Release	If enabled (1), automatically releases imported documents. The default is disabled (0). For use in the [LocalDefinitions] section only.
Type	The internal name of the document type to search. If this rule is omitted, all document types are searched. For use in the [Definitions] section only.