About Synchronization Options

When a project uses standards, it needs to be synchronized with the standards in regular intervals to make sure the standards are observed. During synchronization with its standards, the styles and display settings in the project or project drawing are compared with the project standards, to find version discrepancies between them, and fix them.

You can set different synchronization options. Before deciding on settings, you should review your desired workflow to find the optimal choice. Keep in mind that the option you select will be in effect for all users of the project.

Automatic Synchronization

If you select automatic synchronization, the following behavior is defined for the synchronization:

• Project drawings are compared with the project standards when they are opened.
• In case of version discrepancies between a project drawing and the project standards, the styles and display settings in the project drawing are overwritten by the styles and display settings from the project standards without prompting. The user cannot prevent the update.
• No notification of not standardized styles and display settings in the project drawing is displayed during the automatic synchronization. If not standardized styles and display settings exist, they are ignored.
  Tip: To display not standardized styles and display settings, you can audit the drawing.
• When users make changes to a standard style or display setting in a project drawing, they will not be prompted to upload the styles or display settings to the projects standards drawings accordingly. Unless a user uploads the changed objects to the standards drawing manually, they will not be copied into the standards drawing.

Semi-Automatic Synchronization

If you select semi-automatic synchronization, the following behavior is defined for the synchronization:

• Project drawings are compared with the project standards when they are opened.
• In case of version discrepancies between a project drawing and the project standards, a notification dialog box is displayed where the user can decide whether the styles and display settings in the project drawings should be overwritten with the standards. The user has the option to ignore inconsistent styles and display settings.
• Not standardized styles and display settings in the project drawing are displayed in a list.
• When users make changes to a standard style or display setting in a project drawing, they will be prompted to upload the styles or display settings to the projects standards drawings.

Manual Synchronization

If you select manual synchronization, the following behavior is defined for the synchronization:

• Project drawings are not compared and synchronized with the project standards when opening the project drawing. To perform a synchronization, the user needs to manually initiate it.
• In case of version discrepancies between a project drawing and the project standards, a notification dialog box is displayed where the user can decide whether the styles and display settings in the project drawings should be overwritten with the project standards. The user has the option to ignore inconsistent standard styles or display settings.
• Not standardized styles and display settings in the project drawing are displayed in a list.
• When users make changes to a standard style or display setting in a project drawing, they will not be prompted to upload the changes to the projects standards. Unless a user uploads the changed standards in the standards drawing manually, they will not be copied into the standards drawing.

The synchronization settings are valid for all users of the project. So the synchronization method selected should reflect the workflow needs of the majority of users. For example, if you want all users to be in synch with all project standards at all times, you should choose automatic synchronization. If you want greater transparency and user control, you could choose semi-automatic or manual synchronization.

If you have selected automatic synchronization, the synchronization of project drawings will run “invisible” in the background. On opening, each drawing will automatically be synchronized with the standards without notification to the user. If you have selected semi-automatic or manual synchronization, you have more control and information about the synchronization process; you can display lists of not standardized styles and display settings, nonstandard versions, or older versions, and individually decide if you want to update or ignore them.