Forum Discussion
AEC Files on SharePoint
Does anyone have recommendations on how to handle AEC files (e.g. CAD, BIM, etc) in a SharePoint environment (preferably SharePoint Online)?
We're in the process of migrating to O365 having migrated our on-prem Exchange and home directories to OneDrive. We're now focusing on moving a lot of files from network file shares to SharePoint. We're an Architectural, Engineering and Construction company, and we have a lot of drawings and models that don't seem to fit well in a SharePoint environment. Our biggest problems are with...
- Undefined MIME types. This is really only in the SharePoint Online environment where we'd prefer to be. Since we can't define MIME types in SPO, it doesn't know how to handle the likes of AutoCAD, Revit, Tekla, etc. We could go on-prem or hybrid, but I'm wondering if there are any other solutions.
- External References. Our drawings and models use a ton of external references. We have teams that develop standard modules (e.g. a parking garage platform, parking garage beams, etc.) that are assembled into a full project (e.g. a parking garage). By using the exrefs, the whole project can be kept up to date even when the modules are updated. SharePoint doesn't seem to know what to do with the exrefs.
- File Locking. Critical with any type of file, but since AEC files are treated as basically non-standard by SharePoint, it doesn't seem to know how to handle file locking.
Anybody out there who's been there, done that and got the t-shirt? I'd love to hear some experiences and discuss solutions.
- Ey Michael,
Some comments here:
- Undefined MIME TYPES: As disclosed at Ignite, Microsoft is investing in supporting file types to be rendered natively in the browser without having to download then and opening using the required software. Also as an alternative: what about synchronize the files locally using ODFB Sync client.
- External References: I'm afraid there is not a solution for this requirement...the problem you have is that your files are stored in SharePoint and try to have external references in them is not going to be possible.
- File Locking: what about checkin / CheckOut?
