Autodesk Vault is a complete document management system for drawings, project objects, and project-related files.
Autodesk Vault provides access control and version control for all project drawings. One master copy of each project drawing is maintained in the project database. Other team members can reference the master copy, and they are notified when the master copy is updated.
Most project team members can access all required Vault features using the Prospector tree. However, you will need a knowledgeable system administrator who installs the server and client Vault software, uses Autodesk Vault Client to customize Vault for your purposes, and regularly performs system administration tasks such as data backups. Most of the topics in this section are geared toward your system administrator.
For information about installing Autodesk Vault, see the Autodesk Vault Client Installation Guide.
Autodesk Vault provides access control and file version control. AutoCAD Civil 3D provides commands in the Prospector tree to create and access project drawings and shared project data.
After you have logged in to Vault, each project visible to the Vault user is displayed as a collection on the Projects node of the Prospector tree.
A project contains a collection of project drawings. You can use folders to organize the drawings within a project. A master copy of a project drawing is maintained in a specified project within a Vault database, and only one person can edit the master copy at a time. When the edited project drawing is updated in the Vault database, a new version of the drawing is created. The icons displayed next to a drawing in the Prospector tree indicate the status of your local copy of the drawing in relation to the master copy of the drawing in the Vault database. For more information, see Project Item State Icons.
Project Objects and References
A project contains collections of project objects, including surfaces, alignments, profiles, pipe networks and view frame groups, that can be shared with others. All shared project objects are listed in the project object collections in the Prospector tree. Project members can create a read-only copy of a project object, called a reference, in a drawing. This read-only copy of the project object’s geometry can be used to perform labeling, design, analysis, or what-if tasks.
Multiple project members can create references to the same shared project object.
When using Vault, project management for AutoCAD Civil 3D points is handled differently from project management for other objects. For more information, see Working with Project Points.
The project management commands that are listed on Prospector context menus can vary depending upon several factors, including the following:
- Whether you have logged into Vault from the Prospector tree.
- Whether you have Configured the Vault Database for Use with AutoCAD Civil 3D.
- The state (for example, checked-in or checked-out) of the selected project item.
- The location of the project item in the Prospector tree. For example, some drawing-related commands are available at the Open Drawings collection level, some are available at the Projects collection level, and some are available at both levels.
- Whether or not the selected drawing has been saved.
- Any circumstances that make the operation invalid for the selected item.
The user information that is defined for you on the current Vault server also affects the actions you are permitted to perform. For example, you might have permission to get copies of project drawings, but not create project drawings.
Topics in this section
- The Vault Interface in AutoCAD Civil 3D
This section describes how the available versions of Vault interface with AutoCAD Civil 3D.
- Project and Drawing Items in the Prospector Tree
The Master View of the Prospector tree contains four collections related to drawings and projects: Open Drawings, Projects, Data Shortcuts, and Drawing Templates.
- Installing and Configuring Vault
The Autodesk Data Management Server Installation Guide contains detailed recommendations for configuring your Vault installation.
- Configuring a Vault Database for Use with AutoCAD Civil 3D
Configure a Vault database so that it will be available in the Prospector tree.
- Project Folders
Any file (drawing or not) that is associated with a project, especially any file that would benefit from version control, should be stored in the project. Temporary files, such as preliminary design drawings, do not need to be stored in the project.
- Controlling Access to Project Data
You can control who can access and edit project drawings and master copies of project objects.
- Partitioning Project Data
You should divide your project data across multiple drawings using a strategy that both protects data integrity and supports ease of access.
- Running Autodesk Vault from the Prospector Tree
You can access Autodesk Vault from the Prospector tree.
- Running Vault from Microsoft Office Applications
The Microsoft Office add-in for Autodesk Vault enables direct access to Vault from Word, Excel or PowerPoint documents.
- Project Files Created in a Project Database
When an AutoCAD Civil 3D project is created, an initial set of empty or near-empty files is created in the project database.
- Creating Vault User Accounts
Each team member must have a user account on the project Vault server before using project management commands.
- Creating Vault Groups
Use Vault groups to manage and control access to project files.
- Folder Permissions
With Autodesk Vault in AutoCAD Civil 3D, system administrators can extend permissions down to folders and sub-folders in a vault.
- Pack and Go
Use the Vault Pack and Go feature to hand off project data to someone else.
- Viewing Relationships Between Project Objects and Drawings
You can use the Vault client to find drawings that reference a project objects, as well as which objects are consumed in a given drawing.
- Working with Vault Projects
An AutoCAD Civil 3D project groups all the drawings and data for a single project in one place and controls access to all project files.
- Working with Vault Project Drawings
Use drawings to create and access project data.
- Working with Vault Project Objects
You can create, manage, and reference project objects through their source drawings.
- Working with Vault Project Points
Project management for AutoCAD Civil 3D points differs from project management for other project objects.
- Updating Project Data
Update the project data that is shown in Prospector.
- Error Codes
Errors encountered during Vault project management commands are reported in two ways.