About Local Workspace

Windows applications (Meridian client applications and document authoring applications) can access vault documents in one of two ways:

• BlueCielo File System (AMFS)
• Local Workspace

AMFS is a service that runs on the Meridian application server that provides a single point of access for all users and applications to documents stored in the vault.

AMFS has some distinct advantages:

• It allows all Windows applications to access documents stored in an Meridian vault.
• Only one copy of a document may be opened at any one time.
• It is transparent to the Windows user, and therefore very easy to use.
• It has integrated security.
• It can always correctly resolve document references.
• Documents can be made available via a UNC path or network share.

Unfortunately, AMFS also has some drawbacks:

• The AMFS service puts a heavy workload on the Meridian application server.
• In some circumstances, it is possible to create new documents directly via the network share, bypassing all customization and configuration (that is, no wizard pages).

• Responsiveness and speed of document access can be an issue on slow networks, or when opening very large files or files with many references, such as complex 3D assemblies of Autodesk Inventor or SolidWorks.

Local Workspace provides access to documents through a managed cache on the local computer. Local Workspace resolves the disadvantages of AMFS. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you configure all vaults to use Local Workspace.

Note    Local Workspace is enabled by default for new vaults.