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ProjectWise Design Integration Forum Best way for a consultant to connect to a client ProjectWise server?
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    Best way for a consultant to connect to a client ProjectWise server?

    Ryan Mann
    Offline Ryan Mann over 5 years ago

    As a consulting firm doing work for a DOT that is using ProjectWise, what is the best way to connect into their system? Currently we are just using the web interface as all we are needing to do is upload files to their system. Would it be easier or better to use ProjectWise Edge or ProjectWise Explorer and would using one of those instead of the web interface incur additional costs for us? 

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    • Ryan Mann
      0 Offline Ryan Mann Mon, Dec 11 2017 9:10 AM

      Is everyone on holiday already? I thought this was a simple question.

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    • Ryan Mann
      0 Offline Ryan Mann Tue, Dec 12 2017 1:12 PM in reply to Ryan Mann

      I have now tried ProjectWise Edge to connect to the client's server and I was told by our account manager that there is a small quarterly cost for using it. So far I see no benefit to it over using the web interface. It's slower to navigate and not as well laid out as the web interface, so I see no reason to pay extra for using it. Since we don't need the ability to check out and work on files from the client's server, I also see no reason we would need to use the ProjectWise Explorer, which I'm guessing costs more than Edge to use and we wouldn't gain any advantages from it. The way I currently see it, this whole system needs some serious refining and explanation on how it's intended to work for outside consultants to access a client's server. 

      I don't see anytime in the near future where we will be working on files stored on the clients PW server. As a consultant the only function of PW for us is currently submittals (uploading files into the client's system). So unless someone can convince me there is a good reason to use something other than the web interface, for now we will continue to use that.   

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    • Ranveer.Basra
      0 Offline Ranveer.Basra Wed, Dec 13 2017 1:59 PM in reply to Ryan Mann

      Hi Ryan, what exactly is slow? when you are accessing documents from the Edge Client upload or download? It's tough to compare the two since the Web Server is a browser based application and the Edge is an applications. However,  both are going through a IIS applications. As any other application the first hit is always slower since it has to cache on the server after that it's significantly faster. I would also make sure you're on the latest version Edge client and the company you are working with is on the latest Web Services Gateway (WSG) server install. Since this is an app that is updated frequently it is maturing and always improving features and performance. 

      If you are simply just uploading files you can drag and drop multiple files from your desktop right to the folder you're in via Edge. You can review on how to do this via the wiki article linked below. 

      communities.bentley.com/.../1---to-upload-a-file

      We are also about to release the capability to queue and upload mutl-documents via the Edge app in roughly 2 weeks which will significantly improve this workflow.



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    • Ryan Mann
      0 Offline Ryan Mann Wed, Dec 13 2017 2:30 PM in reply to Ranveer.Basra

      I have version 05.05.12.14 of Edge installed and it is just slower to navigate through the folders than the web client. Looks like the web client is Version: 08.11.11.833 (if the info under the help menu shows correctly what I need to see). I haven't tried to upload any files with Edge yet, but the web interface was very fast to upload. I also prefer the more traditional folder navigation layout of the web client. Little things like I can single click on folders and they open immediately on the web where with Edge folders need to be double clicked and then there is a slight delay where the screen says "Loading...". It's not a long delay, but a delay nonetheless on every folder that needs to be opened. 

      Drag and drop ability would be nice, but not useful enough to pay extra for (although I'm still not clear if using the web application to access the DOT ProjectWise system has a cost with it). Also I would think drag and drop capability could be built into the web application as well like other file sharing sites have.  

      For me it just boils down to I don't see any added benefit to the Edge client over using the web to upload files at this time. One thing I think both products needs is a "Replace" option. We uploaded a bunch of files then had to make changes on a few. It would have been nice to be able to replace the files upon a new upload instead of having to delete them first and then re-upload. 

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    • Ranveer.Basra
      0 Offline Ranveer.Basra Wed, Dec 13 2017 8:26 PM in reply to Ryan Mann

      can you share the URL via a private message that you used to connect to a repository?

      The version you shared is actually to a ProjectWise Web Server and not a WSG server. 

      ProjectWise Web Server is a out dated code base web application (older technology) it will work with the current version of ProjectWise and older version however moving forward we have other web based applications and apps that are being developed. Also since there is no more activeX support from Microsoft we're not planning to develop on ProjectWise Web Server BUT let it be used as of the last 833 release.

      The benefit of these apps are they are new in code base and also are Project based rather than here is a link to a repository and have at it like a windows explorer like view. Also the development team is able to fix and release new features on these apps a lot quicker than before. Where as ProjectWise Web Server took a whole lot of time and effort to fix and wait on other server bundled application to release. To also mention ProjectWise Web Server is no longer being updated and apps like Edge and ProjectWise Share are. 

      I will take in to account some of the ease of use you mentions single click and replace feature for the Edge applications. 



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    • Ryan Mann
      0 Offline Ryan Mann Thu, Dec 14 2017 8:56 AM in reply to Ranveer.Basra

      It appears the Bentley Communities is all out of whack this morning. I will message you the server info as soon as it's back to full functionality again. In it's current state I can't seem to find how to send a message. 

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    • Ryan Mann
      0 Offline Ryan Mann Thu, Dec 14 2017 9:40 AM in reply to Ryan Mann

      Communities has been fixed for me after a cache refresh, however I am unable to send you a private message Ranveer. It appears your profile isn't allowing me to. There is no "Send a Private Message" option under the Connect button on your profile and if I try to do it manually by putting your name in the Find recipients box of the message it says cannot message. 

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    • Ryan Mann
      0 Offline Ryan Mann Thu, Dec 14 2017 9:40 AM in reply to Ryan Mann

      Communities has been fixed for me after a cache refresh, however I am unable to send you a private message Ranveer. It appears your profile isn't allowing me to. There is no "Send a Private Message" option under the Connect button on your profile and if I try to do it manually by putting your name in the Find recipients box of the message it says cannot message. 

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