Load and Unload Data Exchange
This topic details how to load and unload Data Exchanges using the Navisworks Connector.
Load a Data Exchange
The load feature allows you to view and load a Data Exchange from Autodesk Docs to your Navisworks Connector.
Click Data Exchange under the Data Exchange tab.
Sign in to the Autodesk Construction Cloud using your Autodesk credentials.
After signing in successfully, return to the Navisworks software.
Click Load Data Exchanges when the connector interface opens.
You will view a list of the Data Exchanges you can access in Autodesk Docs. You can also switch between different projects from the project drop-down list.
Select your project, select Data Exchange.
Click Preview to view or click Load to load the Data Exchange.
While the Data Exchange finishes loading, a pop-up will appear to select the Parameters for the Data Exchange.
If any elements of the Data Exchange failed to download during the loading process, a "Data Exchange Element Info" pop-up will appear. This pop-up will display a list of the elements that could not be downloaded using the Navisworks Connector. The interface provides two options.
- Continue: Proceed with loading the exchange into Navisworks, excluding the listed elements.
- Cancel: Stop the loading process entirely, preventing any elements from being loaded into Navisworks.
Choose the required option to load the Data Exchange.
The Data Exchange is listed in the connector interface after the load is completed.
Saving a Data Exchange
When you finish loading a Data Exchange in connector, you have two options for saving it. You can choose between the NWD (.nwd) and NWF (.nwf) file formats. NWD format creates a complete snapshot of your project at the time of saving. It includes all loaded models, scene information, environment, view, and even your markups and comments. It is a self-contained file that can be opened in any Navisworks product or the free Navisworks Freedom viewer, regardless of the original source files. NWF format is lighter-weight and more reference-oriented format. Instead of saving the entire model geometry, it stores a list of pointers to the original source files, along with scene details and project elements like viewpoints and clash results (if any). This makes NWF files smaller and easier to manage, but they require access to the original source files to function properly. For more information, see Difference between NWD and NWF file formats in Navisworks and File formats in Navisworks. The following procedure explains how to save your Data Exchange in required format.
Click Navisworks file menu and select Save As option from the drop-down list.
Choose "NWF" file format and click Save. It will save the Data Exchange in "NWF" format, which you can then view within the connector interface.
Select "NWD" file format and click Save.
Note: When you choose the NWD file format, A restriction pop-up will appear and some features will be disabled for this specific file. These features include select elements, load the latest, and unload.
Click OK to proceed. It will save the Data Exchange in "NWD" format and the Data Exchange will be removed from the connector interface.
Load the Latest Version of a Data Exchange
When the latest version of a Data Exchange is available in Autodesk Docs, you can refresh the connector to view the latest versions, and then select and load the Data Exchanges to your connector by using the load the latest feature.
Click refresh icon to check if any Data Exchanges you have loaded to the Navisworks connector have newer versions available in Autodesk Docs. If a Data Exchange has the latest versions available, then it shows a blue dot.
Select the relevant Data Exchange which needs to be updated from the list.
Click More menu and click Load the latest from the drop-down list.
If any elements of the Data Exchange failed to download during the loading process, a "Data Exchange Element Info" pop-up will appear. This pop-up will display a list of the elements that could not be downloaded using the Navisworks connector. The interface provides two options.
- Continue: Proceed with loading the exchange into Navisworks, excluding the listed elements.
- Cancel: Stop the loading process entirely, preventing any elements from being loaded into Navisworks.
Choose the required option to load the Data Exchange.
The Data Exchange will update to the latest version, with the latest changes (for example, V1 to V2).
Unload a Data Exchange
You can unload the selected Data Exchange and remove it from the connector interface. While this feature allows you to remove the Data Exchange from the connector interface, it does not remove the Data Exchange from Autodesk Docs or the associated data from the Navisworks model. This means that although the Data Exchanges may not be visible in the interface, they are still available in Autodesk Docs and Navisworks software.
Select the Data Exchange from the connector interface list.
Click More menu and click Unload Exchange from the drop-down list.
A warning message will appear to inform you that removing the Data Exchange will eliminate all its associated elements from your file. Click Yes to confirm.
It unloads the Data Exchange and removes it from the interface.