This article describes the steps and settings that impact publishing AutoCAD drawings to STRATUS and importing specific data back into the AutoCAD drawing. The STRATUS Addin is required to publish and import drawing data.

AutoCAD Publish and Import (General Steps)

The AutoCAD Publish Model (General Steps) are the basic publish steps. See the following sections for more details about the publishing process.

• STRATUS Publish Settings

• Import

To publish a model:

1. Before publishing, your STRATUS administrator can configure publish settings. See the Settings (Admin) section for more information.

2. Before publishing, configure the BIM 360 Publish Folder Path. See the Configure BIM 360 Publish Folder Path for more information.

3. In AutoCAD / CADmep, the GTP STRATUS palette ribbon menu add-in will display.

   1. Note: If the GTP STRATUS palette ribbon menu does not display, enter GTPXCLOUDMENU in the command window to open it.

      Open

      

       

4. Login to STRATUS and Autodesk

   1. STRATUS Login - If a user attempts to publish but is not signed in to STRATUS, the following prompt will display. The user will enter their credentials.
      
      
      

      1. If the model has not been previously published, the following prompt "Model Not Found in STRATUS" will display.
         
         
         

         1. Publish as New Model - Click Publish as New Model to proceed.

         2. Cancel Publish - Click Cancel Publish to stop the publish or to review the model.
            
            

   2. If a user attempts to publish from AutoCAD but is not signed into Autodesk, the following prompt will display. If the user clicks OK, the GTP STRATUS Sign In dialog will display.

      Open

      

       

5. The Publish dialog will display:
   
   
   

   1. User - The user who is publishing the model.

   2. Model -  The Model name.

   3. Company - Select a Company from a list of the logged-in users permitted Companies.

   4. Project - Select a Project from a list of the logged-in users permitted Projects.

      1. Note: See the Configure BIM 360 Publish Folder Path section for more information on configuring the project's BIM 360 Publish Folder Path. 

   5. Default Level - Selecting a Default Level assigns the selected section to any parts that have an undefined section. Default Levels are derived from the model's section parameter.

      1. If one or more parts in the model have been assigned a Section value (Ex. Level 0) other than None.

         1. Then the STRATUS Publish Addin will only display sections assigned to parts in the model (Ex. Level 0 and Misc).
            
            

      2. If no parts in the model have been assigned a Section value other than None.

         1. Then the STRATUS Publish Addin will display all available sections from your database (Ex. Level 0, Level 1… Misc, Preliminary)
            
            

   6. Include Xrefs

      1. Checked (Default) - When Include Xrefs is checked linked drawings, if any, will be included in the publish. When included with the master drawing publish, these separate files are also uploaded to BIM 360.  Only loaded reference files will be published. Reference drawings do add time to the publishing process. Reference drawings will be made available inside STRATUS for background viewing. See the Filters Reference section of the Models Viewer article for information.

      2. Unchecked - When Include Xrefs is unchecked and the drawing contains references, those references will not be published.
         
         

6.  Click the Publish button and the following will occur:

   1. Publish Activity
      
      
      
      

   2. The Publish and Close buttons are disabled to indicate the publish is in process.

   3. Locked Model - For anyone working within STRATUS on a project based on the model being published, the Parts and Assemblies will be locked and view only.

      1. Below is a summary of features that are "Locked" and "Not Locked".

         1. Locked Options

            1. Create New Assembly

            2. Add/Remove Parts To/From and Assembly

            3. Edit/Rename Assembly

         2. Not Locked Options

            1. Packages – Parts and Assemblies can be added to or removed from a Package.

            2. Tracking Status – The Tracking Status of any item (Part, Assembly, Package) can be changed.

            3. Cut Lists – Cut lists can be created and processed.

            4. Reports – Reports can be used and edited.

            5. Categories – Categories can be used and edited.

            6. Filters – Filters can be used and edited.

            7. Part Templates – Part Templates can be edited.

            8. Attachments – Attachments can be used and edited.

      2. When a model is being published and the model is “Locked”, users will notice the following:

         1. The Models > Viewer canvas is highlighted in red and the lock icon displays next to the model name.

             

         2. The Assemblies > Viewer canvas is highlighted in red and the lock icon displays next to the model name.

             

         3. In the Models > Viewer, the Create Assembly and Add/Remove Parts To/From and Assembly buttons are disabled.

             

         4. The Assemblies > Dashboard buttons to Edit or Delete an assembly item are disabled.

             

   4. BIM 360 - The model will be published to your BIM 360 project.  In BIM 360 a published model file is automatically organized under Project Files > Model Name > STRATUS > and the authoring tool abbreviation (RVT or DWG).

       

   5. Republish is not allowed - While a model is being published, a second publish of the same model cannot be started. A message similar to the following will display:

       

7. Close button enabled - When the STRATUS Addin completes the publishing process, the Close button is enabled and the elapsed time displays.

    

   1. Close indicates that the model and related data files have been uploaded to the BIM 360 folder.

   2. The model cannot be viewed in STRATUS until the Forge translation completes.

   3. If an existing version of the model or drawing exists, the STRATUS publish will overwrite the file with a new version of the file. STRATUS always references the most recently published version of any file it displays, assuming it was published using STRATUS. You can access older versions as needed.

   4. Fabrication Extended Data will be extracted. See below for a list of Fabrication Extended Data.
      
      

8. Post-publish messages - Depending on the content of the model post-publish messages might display.

   1. Below is a dialog that provides information about Elements with unresolved connectors. To locate the Element in the model, the Element ID listed can be copied and then pasted into Revit under Manage > Select by ID.
      
      
      

9. Forge Translation - Behind the scenes, Autodesk will translate the file so that it can be viewed in the Autodesk Forge viewer (which is embedded in STRATUS). The Models > Viewer page will display a message similar to the following until the Autodesk translation is complete.  This step can take a few minutes to several hours depending on the size of the model.

    

10. Multiple Publishes - A model with the same name can be published multiple times to STRATUS.  STRATUS operates on the most recent revision.  Packages will be retained, as they reference unique CAD IDs that remain constant from one publish to the next. 

11. Initial Tracking Status - After the initial publish to STRATUS, the initial tracking status of all parts in the model will be set to Design or the #1 tracking status configured under Admin > Company > Tracking Statuses. Subsequent publishes will retain the STRATUS tracking status.

12. Spools - Spools that were created in Autocad will be accessible in STRATUS in the Assemblies Viewer under the CAD Sheet tab. See the Publish Spool Drawings article for more information.

13. Model Publish Notification - After a model is published, the person who published the model will receive an automated email notification similar to the following that indicates the publish completed or failed.

     

14. Republish Model - After a model is published, if the Publish is clicked, STRATUS will determine if data needs to be imported. If so, the import will begin automatically.  If there are import conflicts based on company or project settings (see the Settings (Admin) article for more information), the user will receive prompts to resolve issues. Once data is imported the publish process will continue.  An import is required when a model in STRATUS has new assemblies or packages, or parts have been moved from one assembly or package to another, or when a tracking status has changed.

AutoCAD Publish Considerations

Configure BIM 360 Publish Folder Path

See the following sections for how to configure the A360 Publish Folder Path

• Configure Publish Folder Path - Default Settings  

• Configure Publish Folder Path - Existing Projects

• Configure Publish Folder Path - Newly Activated Projects

Configure Publish Folder Path - Default Settings

1. By default, the A360 Publish Folder Path for each project is set to Project Files\STRATUS.

    

2. The project can be selected in the Publish dialog.

    

3. After the model has been published, STRATUS will create sub-folders (Ex. Office Building C21 v2 and DWG).

    

   1. Note: This will create a folder named “STRATUS” in the folder you chose. If you already have a folder named “STRATUS”, this will be the root folder used when publishing. If you have a folder name like “Stratus”, where the case does not match, please rename it to be spelled with all caps.
      
      

4. Sub-folders (Ex. DWG, ESJ, MAJ, Parts, Assemblies and Assembly Names, Packages and Package Names, CSV) will be created as those file types are generated in STRATUS. 

   1. Syntax: Project Files\STRATUS\Project sub-folder\

   2. Example: Project Files\STRATUS\Office Building C21 v2\DWG\Office Building C21 v2.dwg

   3. Example: Project Files\STRATUS\Office Building C21 v2\ESJ\Office Building C21 v2.esj

   4. Example: Project Files\STRATUS\Office Building C21 v2\MAJ\Office Building C21 v2.maj

   5. Example: Project Files\STRATUS\Office Building C21 v2\Packages\FP-0001\Attachment01.pdf
      
      

5. If this file structure is not how your company organizes files, then see the following sections for more information. 

• Configure Publish Folder Path - Existing Projects

• Configure Publish Folder Path - Newly Activated Projects

Configure Publish Folder Path - Existing Projects

By default, the A360 Publish Folder Path for each project is set to Project Files\STRATUS. To set the A360 Publish Folder Path to a different \Project Files sub-folder:

1. In BIM360, create a Project Files sub-folder (Ex. NEBRASKA).

    

2. In STRATUS, go to Admin > Company > Projects and identify the project whose path needs to be edited (Ex. GTP - ITM - CAD - Master).

3. Under A360 Folder Path, click the cell, and edit the path to match the BIM360 path. (Example: Project Files\NEBRASKA)
   
   
   

   1. Note: The path must include Project Files\

   2. Note: If the Project Files sub-folder was not created in the correct path in A360, a message similar to the following will display:

       

4. With the project selected in the Publish dialog, the model will be stored in the A360 Folder Path (Ex. Project Files\NEBRASKA).

    

5. Sub-folders (Ex. DWG, ESJ, MAJ, Parts, Assemblies and Assembly Names, Packages and Package Names, CSV) will be created as those file types are generated in STRATUS:

   1. Syntax: Project Files\NEBRASKA\Project sub-folder\

   2. Example: Project Files\NEBRASKA\Office Building C21\DWG\Office Building C21 v2.dwg

   3. Example: Project Files\NEBRASKA\Office Building C21\ESJ\Mechanical Piping.esj

   4. Example: Project Files\NEBRASKA\Office Building C21\MAJ\Mechanical Piping.maj

   5. Example: Project Files\NEBRASKA\Office Building C21\Packages\FP-0001\Attachment01.pdf

       

Configure Publish Folder Path - Newly Activated Projects

A newly activated project is a new BIM 360 project that has been added to STRATUS by clicking the Add Projects from BIM 360 Docs button under Admin > Company Projects. The Default Company A360 Root Folder Path provides for a consistent folder structure for all newly activated projects. By default, the Default Company A360 Root Folder Path is set to Project Files\STRATUS. 

To configure a different Default Company A360 Root Folder Path for future projects:

1. Under Admin > Company > Projects, click the Default Company A360 Root Folder Path link.

    

2. Enter the path with sub-folders separated by backslashes (\) (Ex. Project Files\STRATUS - Pipe). 

    

3. When the model is published the Default Company A360 Root Folder Path sub-folders in A360 will be created.

Insulation

Before publishing, the modeler should toggle off layers to hide insulation. The Autodesk Forge viewer sees insulation as a separate part. As a result, the model needs to be published without insulation. 

STRATUS Tracking Status Matches Fabrication Database

1. STRATUS tracking statuses must match (case sensitive) a tracking status in your Fabrication database.

   
   
   

    

2. If statuses don't match, the following message will display.

    

MAJ Files Required Fabrication CADmep version 2019.1

If you plan to use the STRATUS process to generate MAJ and PCF file types, you must first install Fabrication CADmep version 2019.1 or later. Once installed, MAJ and PCF file types can be generated with Fabrication 2017.2.1 or newer.

Currency Configuration

During publish, the currency selected in AutoCAD will be imported and used as the currency for the model in STRATUS.

Import, Settings, and Scenarios

Your STRATUS administrator can configure settings that will impact the process and data synchronization of the publish and import process including the Assembly Conflict settings STRATUS is always right or AutoCAD is always right. See the Settings article for more information. 

Property to Map Settings

1. Property To Map To Package Name - Used to map the STRATUS package name to an Autocad custom property. 

2. Property To Map To QR Code - Used to map the STRATUS package QR Code name to an Autocad custom property. 

3. Create Spool Drawings During Import - This option is for those companies who plan to rely on STRATUS 3D spools rather than creating dedicated 2D spool drawings. When checked, during the IMPORT process, STRATUS will create spool assembly DWGs for each new assembly defined in STRATUS using the spool drawing template dwg file that exists locally.

4. Publish Spool Drawings - When checked the Publish Spool Drawings option will publish spool drawings to the STRATUS Assembly Viewer under the CAD Sheet tab for each assembly.

Assembly Conflict Resolution

See the Assembly Conflict Resolution section in the Settings article for more information.

Import Conflicts

Model

If the model had been published from a different location, the Model Conflict dialog will display. When STRATUS detects that the path of the model being published has changed the Model Conflict dialog will display. Those who publish from a central model will not get this dialog.  STRATUS best practice is to not move or copy the model once it has been published. 

1. If a model is moved or copied, the Model Conflict dialog will display.  Note:  User’s should verify that they are publishing the latest model. When the I Moved It button or the I Copied It button is clicked, STRATUS will overwrite the existing model in BIM 360 and may change parts, assemblies, and packages in STRATUS.

   1. I Copied It - If you copied the model to a new location and click the I Copied It button, the Import Process will stop and the QR code and package properties will be cleared from the model. When published, the model will be published as a new model.
      
      
      
      

   2. I Moved It - If you moved the model and click the I Moved It button, the import will proceed as normal. When you publish the model, it will overwrite the model in STRATUS.

       

2. Cancel - Click the Cancel button to cancel the import process. 

Assembly

The Resolve Assembly Conflicts dialog box groups conflicts by assembly and replaces the necessity to resolve conflicts for each part.  The Resolve Assembly Conflicts dialog box displays when spools are created in Revit or AutoCAD, the model is published to STRATUS, the assembly is changed in STRATUS, and then the model is in the process of being imported.

1. The following is the Resolve Assembly Conflicts dialog.
   
   

    

2. The user will need to make two decisions

   1. To either Reassign to the Assembly specified in STRATUS or Keep the Assembly specified in AutoCAD.

      1. Reassign to the Assembly specified in STRATUS – Clicking this option will reassign the AutoCAD Handle to the assembly specified in STRATUS. 

         1. After clicking the Reassign to the Assembly specified in STRATUS button, the import process will continue, and the Imported Changes dialog will display. In this case, 2 parts were “Manually removed part [Element ID] from [assembly name].

      2. Keep the Assembly specified in AutoCAD – Clicking this option will keep the AutoCAD Handle associated with the Assembly Name.
         
         

   2. To either Apply to all remaining conflicts or Apply to all parts in this Assembly

      1. When checked, the Apply to all parts in this Assembly option replaces the necessity to resolve conflicts for each part and enables the person importing the model to resolve conflicts for each assembly.

      2. When checked, the Apply to all remaining conflicts option will apply your selection to all remaining conflicts.

Import Failure - Fabrication Item Statuses do not match STRATUS Tracking Status

An import will fail and an error message will display if either of the following is true:

1. A STRATUS tracking status must match (case sensitive) a tracking status in your Fabrication database. If STRATUS detects a mismatch, a dialog similar to the following will display.  AutoCAD gives you the option (Yes) to import the STRATUS Tracking Statuses. Click No to manually match the Tracking Status between the Fabrication database and STRATUS.

    

   
   
   

    

2. The person who imports from STRATUS cannot write to the Fabrication database.

Fabrication Extended Data

For AutoCAD 2019 and Fabrication 2019 users, STRATUS enables you to utilize extended fabrication data in reports. Also, all Pattern Options are exported from Revit, if Fabrication CADmep 2019.1 is installed

Extracted Fabrication Data includes (Requires Installation of Fabrication 2019.1):

1. Fabrication Area - either Sq-Ft or Sq-M

2. Fabrication Body Area - either Sq-Ft or Sq-M

3. Fabrication CL Length - the center line length for parts

4. FabricationHours

5. Fabrication Insulation Area - either Sq-Ft or Sq-M

6. Fabrication Insulation Material Gauge

7. Fabrication Skin Area - either Sq-Ft or Sq-M

8. InstallationHours

9. ItemProductDescription

10. ItemProductDiscount

11. ItemProductFinish

12. ItemProductGroup

13. ItemProductInstallType

14. ItemProductMaterial

15. ItemProductName

16. ItemProductRange

17. ItemProductSize

18. ItemProductSourceDescription

19. ItemProductSpecification

20. ItemProductStatus

21. ItemProductSupplier

22. ItemSupplierCodes

    1. the ItemSupplierCodes is broken apart into multiple properties, one for each supplier in the format of "SupplierCode:<name>"

23. MaterialCost

24. InstallationCost

25. FabricationCost

26. PipeID

27. PipeOD

28. ItemConnectors

29. ItemPipingEndTypes

    1. EndTypes becomes multiple EndType properties

Fabrication Parts Duplicate ID's

During the STRATUS publish process, Duplicate ID’s are filtered out so no data is published. If Fabrication parts have Duplicate ID’s, something similar to the following will display where no data displays under Properties when the part is selected. To fix this issue in your Fabrication database, see the How to Fix Fabrication Parts that have Duplicate ID's article.

Fabrication Database Blank Description Error

When custom data has a blank description in the Fabrication Database, a warning message will display in the publish dialog (Ex. Custom data ids which have no names: [#]. To correct these, ensure that each custom data field exists in the fabrication database.) will display in the publish pop-up dialog.

Exclude Selected Part Properties During Publish

Part Properties can be excluded from being published and from being available in STRATUS once they are published. This is especially useful when a third-party software has added hundreds of properties to parts in the model which significantly increases the publish time. For more information see the Exclude Selected Part Properties During Publish section of the Part Templates (Admin) article.

Videos

Implementation Webinar - 1/10/18

AutoCAD Publish and Import a Model (Video 9:50)

This video demonstrates:

1. How to publish an AutoCAD model to STRATUS using the GTP STRATUS add-in.

2. How to set the publish dialog.

3. How to configure Settings to import status, item number, and package name back into the model from STRATUS.

4. How to configure the Fabrication database custom data fields.

5. How to view the model after it is published.

6. How to generate a MAJ file for a STRATUS package.