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 the documents can be done manually by each user in PowerUser but it is easy to forget to do before logging off. To do it automatically, you can run a tool named BCSyncUnlock.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 BCSyncUnlock.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. This is different than the Synchronize Now command in Application Integration, which does not unlock the documents.

Notes

• By default, if AutoCAD, MicroStation, or Notepad 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 sub-assemblies and parts.

• BCSyncUnlock.exe is installed by Meridian versions after 2012 SP2.

• NEW  The tool presents a graphical user interface for easier troubleshooting.
• NEW  The tool supports running under restricted permissions by the typical Meridian user who is not an administrator of their PC.

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.

BCSyncUnlock.exe can be configured by editing the file BCSyncUnlock.exe.config that resides in the same folder.

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