2015-06-16

Manager Web Interface

Introduction

This web interface is the main control center of your BIMcloud/BIM Server. It is designed to help you fulfill all management tasks related to the BIMcloud/BIM Server. Also, it is a flexible tool in the hand of all users to review their own settings and get information about the projects they are currently working on.

You can open the BIMcloud/BIM Server Manager web interface from any computer which has network access to the BIMcloud/BIM Server. Use the same URL in your browser as you use in ArchiCAD.

The initial server administrator signs on as the Master Administrator (masteradmin), and has full access to all controls. He/she then proceeds to add users and assigns them roles and permissions as appropriate.

See Troubleshooting.

BIMcloud, BIMcloud Studio and BIM Server

Terminology used in this manual:



BIMcloud: Refers to both BIMcloud and BIMcloud Manager unless otherwise noted



BIMcloud Manager: Management component of BIMcloud or BIMcloud Studio



BIMcloud Server: Model handling component of BIMcloud, can be installed to separate computers



BIMcloud Module: Model handling component of BIMcloud Studio, multiple ones can be installed per BIMcloud Studio



BIM Server Manager: Management component of BIM Server Manager



BIM Server Module: Model handling component of BIM Server, only one can be installed per BIM Server

The controls available vary depending on your license type and permissions.

The management interface for the BIMcloud, BIMcloud Studio and the BIM Server products are very similar to each other but due to the difference in features some controls and functions will not be available in BIMcloud Studio or BIM Server.

See Feature Differences.

The most significant difference is that the BIM Server is not expandable like the BIMcloud, it is not possible to Pair it with additional BIMcloud Servers. It is limited to a single Module. To represent this limitation the Servers content type is called Modules in BIM Server.

BIMcloud Studio is not expandable across computers either. It is not possible to Pair BIMcloud Studio with additional BIMcloud Servers, but it can handle multiple BIMcloud Modules as long as they are installed to the same computer as the BIMcloud Manager.

This manual inserts a Note whenever there is a difference between the functions or the behavior of the products. E.g.: “Not available in BIM Server or BIMcloud Studio”.

Interface Overview

Home Screen

The Home Screen is the main landing page of the BIMcloud Manager web interface. This will automatically open after a successful login. You can return to this page at any time by clicking the Home button from the breadcrumbs.

This page gives you a summary about your current activities on the BIMcloud (Joined projects) and provides shortcuts to the different content types.

Note: The number of available shortcuts depends on your permissions on the server.

The Home page contains the server’s address, which can be used from ArchiCAD to connect to this server.

Content Types

There are five different content types on the BIMcloud/BIM Server, each with its own properties and functions. The content types are separated from each other in the web interface, but their interrelationships are reflected in a number of logical weblinks between the content types.

Content types:



Users (and Groups)



Roles



Projects



Servers – Modules for BIMcloud Studio or BIM Server



Libraries

Click on the link you wish to view.

Although there are many different content types, their basic behavior is similar no matter what you are viewing or editing. For each content type, the web page interface is divided into four parts:



Header



Navigator



Summary



Settings/Details

Header

The header contains notifications about the BIMcloud/BIM Server and shortcuts for different settings.

Next to the name of the BIMcloud/BIM Server is a pop-up with the following information:



Currently running job(s).



Warning(s) and information about the BIMcloud.



Shortcut to the BIMcloud/BIM Server Manager settings.

Note: The content of this pop-up changes depending on your permissions.

On the right side of the header is your avatar and name. The pop-up next to your name contains the following items:



User settings takes you to your own user page.



Language allows you to change the language of the web interface. (This language change does not affect the other users; it is your personal setting.)



Log out gets you out of the BIMcloud/BIM Server Manager web interface.

The Help link on the far right side opens the BIMcloud help.

Note: Changing Language is not available in BIM Server.

The breadcrumbs show your currently open page. Use the pop-up in the breadcrumb to quickly switch between the different content types.

If you create a Bookmark in your browser, then it will always return you to the page represented by your breadcrumb (including the currently active panel and even search results).

Navigator

The Navigator lists all elements of the currently selected content type. Each Content type has a Root item (which acts as a folder) shown in the Navigator.

Click an element to select it and display further information about it.

Note: Depending on your permissions, the elements you see here, and the information displayed, can vary.

New Item Function

The Root items of the Navigator contain a + button, which is a shortcut to create new items.

The new item will be created in the currently selected level of the hierarchy. (If the content type does not have a hierarchy in the Navigator, then it will be created in the Root folder).

Note: Depending on your permissions, the create function might not be available for you.

Navigator Layouts

The Navigator can switch between three different layouts:



Single Column



Hidden



Table

Switch between the layouts using the arrows on the right side of the Navigator.

Single Column Layout

Only the name and path of the item is visible.

Click the slide arrows on the right side to expand or collapse the layout.

Hidden Layout

The Navigator is not visible. Click the arrow on the side of the screen or swipe from left to right to open it.

Table Layout

When the table layout is active, only the summary is visible; the content panels for the selected item are hidden. More detailed information is available in a table format. You can sort the columns to find the information you are looking for.

Layout Limitations for Small Screen Devices



Table layout is not available due to the lack of horizontal space



The Navigator automatically hides itself after a successful item selection

Navigator View Type

The Navigator can display items in two different styles:



Tree view



Flat list

Tree View

On the Projects and Servers pages, all items can be displayed in a tree style view according to their position in the hierarchy. Open/close the tree branches by clicking the arrow on the left side of the folders.

Note: The User/group, Roles and Libraries content types have no tree view, because those content types use no hierarchy.

Flat List

Items are displayed in a flat list regardless of their position in the hierarchy. However, the item’s path in the hierarchy is displayed in a second line.

Search results are always displayed in a flat list. Cancel Search to return to the tree view.

Managing List items in the Navigator

Select an element by clicking on it.



Multi-select: Activate multi selection by clicking the checkmark icon on the top left of the list



Select an item from the Filter pop-up to narrow down the displayed items. The available quick filters depend on the currently selected content type.



Search: Click the Search icon to open the search field and type your search term. The list will display the search matches. Click the x icon in the Search field to cancel the search and display all elements again.

Summary

The Summary, displayed to the right of the Navigator, provides key functions and a quick overview about the selected item.

You cannot edit its values in the Summary. (When the Navigator is in a Table layout, the Content area is hidden, and the Summary is the only visible information source.)

The Summary has four sections:

Summary Sections: Name – Functions – Quick Info – Joined Projects or Users



Name



Functions



Quick information: Displayed in multiple rows. Most of the rows also act as a link to a page, where further information is available. If you do not have permission to view further details about a linked item, then the link is blocked.



Joined users/projects:



For a selected User (Users page only): the projects the user has joined.



For a selected Project (Projects page only): the users who have joined this project.

Panels

Displays and allows editing of all the parameters and properties of the selected item(s).

Information in each panel may be organized into several sections. Click the Edit button on the section header to edit its content. Click Save or Cancel to complete editing.

Note: Only one section can be edited at a time. If you try to edit a different section or navigate away from the current page a warning will remind you to store your settings first.

In some cases, the Edit command opens an additional Details panel, with additional editing options. Close this temporary panel by clicking the X icon on its tab.

Background Jobs

Most functions will complete instantly when they are clicked, but some take longer. In these cases, the process will turn into a background job; the user can keep working.

Multiple background jobs can run at the same time. Typically you will only see the background jobs started by you.

You will receive a notification if a clicked function has become a background job. While the job is running, you will see a progress indicator progress in the BIMcloud/BIM Server Manager header pop-up.

You are also notified once the background job is complete, with information on whether the job was completed successfully or encountered errors.

Settings Inheritance

Note: Not available in BIM Server.

The BIMcloud allows you to set up generic rules for a group of items by arranging them into a hierarchy and applying the settings at a higher level: that is, items at a lower hierarchical level inherit settings from those at a higher level. Settings for the Root element of the content type will be inherited by all items of that content type.

Note: Not all content types can be organized into a hierarchy. In those cases (e.g. Users, Roles), the only hierarchy is between the Root item and all the others. For these content types, too, settings applied to the Root will be inherited by all child items.

The inherited settings can be overridden at lower levels, if you have the necessary permissions.

See Access Panel.

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