Worksharing Display Modes

Worksharing display modes let you see the status of different elements in your workshared model.

What is Worksharing Display Mode?

Worksharing display mode is turned on and off in your current view. Based on user settings, this mode applies a color to elements in your model based on different worksharing criteria. The four primary areas that are assigned color values are:
  • Checkout Status - See what elements are checked out and editable by you, by others, or not owned.
  • Owners - Each different color represents a different user who owns elements in the model.
  • Model Updates - See elements that have been changed or removed since your last Synchronize with Central.
  • Worksets - See which workset elements are assigned to.

Checkout Status

Owners

Model Updates

Worksets

Why should you use it?

The worksharing display mode lets you see the status of elements in your model. The control allows you to switch from one mode to another to get a complete picture of your model and who is currently working on it. This information lets you communicate and collaborate with your team. On complex projects, with multiple team members these display mode will save time understand the work being done on the model. You can avoid placing editing requests and waiting for team members to reply, instead use the display mode to see the status of elements before placing the request. Nothing can replace direct team communication, but worksharing display modes can help you understand and coordinate the work being done on your model.

How do you turn on the mode?

First, you must be working with a local copy of a workshared model. The control is not visible on the View Control Bar when working with a model that does not have worksets enabled. With a local copy of a workshared model open, the control is found on the View Control Bar located in the lower left corner of each view window. The icon shown will depend on what mode you are currently using.
  • Worksharing Display Off
  • Checkout Status
  • Owners
  • Model Updates
  • Worksets

When a mode is applied to the view, the border of the viewport is displayed in orange. The name of the mode being applied appears in the upper left corner of the viewport. Switch from one worksharing display mode to another by selecting the control on the View Control Bar and selecting another mode, or turn the display off.

Other Considerations

When you enable worksharing display modes, the following occurs to display styles:
  • wireframe remains as wireframe
  • hidden line remains as hidden line
  • all other display styles switch to hidden line
  • shadows are turned off
Note: While in worksharing display mode, you can change the display style or turn shadows back on. Note that if you do this, the worksharing display colors may not display as expected.

When you turn off worksharing display modes, the original display style settings are automatically reset.

Worksharing display modes work with ghost surfaces as well as edit modes. Note that in edit modes, elements such as sketch lines may display according to the color enabled in the worksharing display mode. You can turn the worksharing display mode on or off as needed to avoid confusion with edit modes.

Worksharing display modes work with ghost surfaces as well as edit modes. Note that in edit modes, elements such as sketch lines may display according to the color enabled in the worksharing display mode. You can turn the worksharing display mode on or off as needed to avoid confusion with edit modes.

Colors used for the Worksharing Display Modes are controlled in the Worksharing Display Settings dialog.

To assign color to specific criteria

  1. On the View Control Bar, click Worksharing Display Settings.
  2. Click the tab for the mode you want to customize colors.
  3. Select Show if you want to see color applied to elements meeting the criteria.
  4. For each criteria, click Color. In the Color dialog, select the color to use and click OK. See Colors.
  5. Click Apply.

    The specified color for the corresponding criteria displays in the model.

Worksharing Display Modes do not require a synchronization with the central model to update. The modes are updated automatically based on your user settings.

To control the frequency of Worksharing Display updates

  1. Click File tab Options.
  2. Click the General Settings tab.
  3. For Worksharing Update Frequency, specify the time interval.
    When set to manual, display mode information is only be updated when you borrow elements.
    Note: Set to manual to avoid potential performance issues. When set to manual, worksharing display does not generate network traffic.
  4. Click OK.