How to Synchronize Projects with the Desktop App

How to Synchronize Projects with the Desktop App

How to Synchronize Projects with the Desktop App

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The CAD ROOMS Desktop App keeps your local project folder synchronized with your cloud Workspace.
It allows engineers to work in native CAD software while maintaining version control and collaboration in the browser.
This guide explains:
  • How project synchronization works
  • How to access your local project folder
  • How to change your local project folder path
  • How to work with synchronized files
  • What happens during updates and logout

Before You Begin

To synchronize projects, you must:
  • Be signed in to the Desktop App
  • Have access to at least one project
  • Have Windows Projected File System enabled
Windows Projected File System is required for project synchronization.
If it is disabled, projects will not synchronize correctly.

⚠️ Avoid Placing the Local Folder Inside OneDrive

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Do not place your CAD ROOMS local folder inside any OneDrive-managed path (for example C:\Users\<YourName>\OneDrive\). Both CAD ROOMS and OneDrive use Windows Projected File System — nesting them causes sync conflicts and file errors.
Recommended locations:
  • C:\CADRooms\
  • C:\Users\<YourName>\CADRooms\
Avoid:
  • C:\Users\<YourName>\OneDrive\ or any subfolder within it
  • Documents or Desktop if those folders are OneDrive-backed

How Project Synchronization Works

Once you sign in, the Desktop App creates a synced local project folder on your computer.
This local folder becomes your working location for day-to-day CAD work.
The Desktop App:
  • Keeps that folder synchronized with the cloud Workspace
  • Detects local file changes automatically
  • Pulls cloud updates from teammates automatically
  • Tracks versions when you Contribute changes
There is no need for manual upload or download.
The Desktop App maintains synchronization in the background.
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Local changes are detected automatically, but they only become part of the official project history after you Contribute them.

Accessing Your Local Project Folder

There are two ways to open a synchronized project on your device.

Option 1 — Open from the Project Page in the Desktop App

  1. Open the project and go to the Files page.
  2. Click Open (top-right).
  3. Select Reveal Folder to open the synced local folder directly in your file system.
    4. CAD ROOMS Desktop App Reveal Folder option that opens a project's synced local folder in Windows

Option 2 — Open from the System Tray

  1. In your Windows system tray (bottom-right), click the CAD ROOMS icon (make sure the Desktop App is running).
  2. Browse Workspaces → Projects and find the project you want.
  3. Click Open — this opens the project's local synced folder on your computer.
    4. CAD ROOMS system tray menu listing workspaces and projects to open a project's local synced folder
This opens the project's local folder directly.
 

How to Change Your Local Project Folder Path

By default, projects are synced to the folder set during installation. To change where your projects sync locally, update the path inside the Desktop App — do not move the folder manually in File Explorer.
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Do not drag or cut/paste the synced folder in File Explorer. The Desktop App stores the project folder path internally. If you move the folder yourself, the app may still point to the old path, and Reveal Folder may fail to find your files.
Steps
  1. Make sure all files are checked in and fully synced to the cloud.
  2. Open App Settings from the More options menu (⋮) in the bottom-left corner.
    3. notion image
  3. In General, under Project Folder Path, click Browse and select the new local folder where you want your projects to sync.
    4. notion image
  4. After you select the folder, the Project Folder Path field updates to show the new location, and you'll see the confirmation: "Settings saved successfully. Restart to apply changes."
  5. Quit the Desktop App completely from the system tray, then restart it. The Desktop App will sync your projects into the new folder.

Working with Synchronized Files

Once the folder is open:
  • Double-click a file to open it in your native CAD software.
  • If needed, check out files before editing to avoid conflicts with other users.
  • If you want to add files, you can copy and paste them directly into the synced local project folder.
  • If you need a folder structure, first create the folder inside the synced local project folder, then paste files into it.
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If one or more files fail during upload, see Troubleshooting Failed Uploads for Retry, Skip, and common causes.
  • Make changes locally.
  • Save your work.
  • Contribute changes through the Desktop App to create a new version.
    • During contribution, the Check-in option is enabled by default (unless you uncheck it to keep the file checked out).
All changes are tracked through version control.

What Happens During Updates

When changes occur:
  • Local edits are detected automatically.
  • Cloud updates from teammates are pulled down automatically.
  • You do not need to manually refresh or download files.
The Desktop App ensures consistency between your device and the cloud Workspace.

Logging Out of the Desktop App

For security reasons:
  • When you log out, all locally synchronized project data is removed from your device.
  • When you log back in, projects are re-synchronized from the cloud.
This prevents unauthorized local access to engineering data.

Updating the App

When a new version of the Desktop App is available, you'll receive an in-app notification. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version and enjoy new features and improvements.

Troubleshooting

If you run into sync or update issues, see the relevant section below.

Project does not synchronize

Windows Projected File System setting that must be enabled so CAD ROOMS projects synchronize correctly
If projects do not appear or synchronization fails:
  1. Check your internet connection.
  2. Ensure you are signed in.
  3. Confirm that Windows Projected File System is enabled:
    • Open Turn Windows features on or off
    • Enable Windows Projected File System
    • Restart your computer if prompted

"Please clean up…" message or empty Projects folder after an update

Example of the "Please clean up" message
Example of the "Please clean up" message
This happens when CAD ROOMS updates while you have CAD files open in another application (for example Creo or SolidWorks). Your files are safe — the local Projects folder is only a mirror of your cloud Workspace.
Quick fix:
  1. Fully close CAD ROOMS and any CAD application (Creo, SolidWorks, etc.).
  2. Delete the local Projects folder named in the error (usually Documents\Cadrooms\Projects) — it's safe to delete; CAD ROOMS will rebuild it from the cloud.
  3. Restart CAD ROOMS to re-pull your projects fresh. Give it a few minutes — your Projects folder may look empty until files finish syncing back.
To avoid this: when an update prompt appears while you have CAD files open, choose Later and let the update apply at the start of your next session.
See the Troubleshooting FAQ for full details.

Files fail to upload through the synced folder

The CAD ROOMS Desktop App shows a failed-file count when CAD uploads or synchronization cannot be completed.
The CAD ROOMS Desktop App shows a failed-file count when CAD uploads or synchronization cannot be completed.
If files are marked as Failed after being copied into the synced local project folder, the issue is usually caused by a temporary network interruption or a duplicate filename in the Workspace. For step-by-step resolution, see Troubleshooting Failed Uploads.

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