Automatically synchronizing and unlocking documents

When Meridian is used in an environment where users can work at different computers or where multiple users share a computer and work on the same documents (for example, in different shifts), we recommend that the documents in the local workspaces of the computers be synchronized and unlocked when the users logs off of Windows. This makes the documents able to be edited in different local workspaces (at different times) or by different users in the same local workspace.

Synchronizing and unlocking the documents can be done manually by each user in PowerUser but is easy to forget to do before logging off. To do it automatically, you can run a tool named SyncUnlock.exe. By default, it is installed by Meridian in C:\Program Files (x86)\BC-Meridian\Program. The tool can be run in the Logoff script of the local or Active Directory security policy.

When SyncUnlock.exe runs, it:

1. Locates any documents in the logged-on user's To-Do list that reside in the local workspace
2. Synchronizes the content of the documents with the vault
3. Unlocks the documents from the local workspace.

Notes

• By default, if AutoCAD or MicroStation are still open when the tool runs, the tool waits for those programs to close before synchronizing and unlocking the documents. If those programs do not close within a configurable time period, the tool stops automatically and logging off can proceed. Additional applications can also be configured to suspend the tool.
• The tool does not affect subassemblies and parts.

The documents that are unlocked remain on the user's To-Do list, ready to be downloaded to a different local workspace for editing by the same user. The documents can also be reassigned to a different user for editing on the same or a different computer.

SyncUnlock.exe can be configured by editing the file SyncUnlock.ini that resides in the same folder.

The parameters that can be configured are described in the following table.

SyncUnlock.exe is installed by Meridian versions after 2012 SP2. It is also available (with the source code) upon request for use with older versions. The source code can be modified to also delete the files from the local workspace for greater security after they have been synchronized. To request the tool, contact you BlueCielo Partner or BlueCielo ECM Solutions Technical Support.