Open/Import a Remote File

Remote files are those that are stored in folders hosted by external services, such as Trimble Connect, the Connected Community (TCC), or Bentley ProjectWise. You can open a remote project or import a remote data file directly into your current project.

Note: When you open a remote project from TCC or ProjectWise, only the .vce file is opened; supporting files that are usually stored in the project's subfolder are not available. This is not the case for opening a remote project from Connect; you can choose to import the files in the project subfolder as well. For Connect, importing remote project subfolder files only works if you have the Use project subfolders checked. See more about this option below.

You can also check out a remote file so that no one else can change and save it over the original file. When you check out a file, an Lock icon appears next to the name, indicating that it is locked. A copy of the locked file is created; the file name is appended with (Working Copy). The working copy can be modified and saved to the remote location by anyone, but the original, locked version can only be overwritten by the person who checked the file out (using their working copy).

Note: File locking/check out is supported in ProjectWise, but not from within Trimble Business Center. In this program, you can see which files are locked, open them, and resave them with the same name. The most recent/newest file overwrites any other file of the same name, but there is file versioning.

For additional details, see Maintain Project Files Remotely.

Note: Some external services, including TCC, require that you set up a user profile before you can access them through this command. To set up a user profile for services, see Log In to External Services.

Prerequisites:

Licensed external service (those mentioned above)

Ways to access:

Select Open Remote File in Home > Data Exchange.

To open/import a remote project:

Run the command.
The Open Remote Filedialog displays, showing a list of the folders, projects, and files that are accessible to you.
Note: The paths displayed depend on the permissions you have been granted by the administrator of the external service. For access to other locations, contact your dealer.
If you are signed in to Trimble Connect and want to import a VCE project's subfolder (imported data, images, and other files within the project folder), check the Include associated files box.
This will give you a complete set of the project's files. This option is hidden for other external services.
Note: Include associated VCE project files works only if the Use project subfolders option is checked in the File Locations section of the Options dialog.
Double-click folders to navigate to the project or files you need. To navigate up in the folder structure, double-click the folder named "...".
Note: File sizes shown are in bytes.
If you select a DWG or LandXML file, the Reference button becomes available for you to import either as a reference file. If the reference file is updated in Trimble Connect, you will get an option in Commands to Reload Referenced File, which will reimport that updated file into your project. You can also right-click the file in the Project Explorer when updated and it will have an option to reload as well. If you are importing via the Connected Workspace, you will be notified of changes as well.
Note: This is different from the Add Reference File command for VCEs.
Select a project and click Open, or double-click to open it (or do the same to import data files).
Remote projects that you open are automatically saved to your local project folder. Data from remote files that you import is added to your current project.
Notes:
- If a versioned project file/subfolder of the same name exists in Trimble Connect, the most recent one is opened/imported.
- If you import a remote file, the settings specified in the Import command pane for that file type will apply to the import. Therefore, you may want to confirm those settings before you import each type of file.
- For information on how specific types of files import, see the help topic on importing the file format.

To check a remote file out or in:

Right-click the file in the Open Remote Filedialog, and select Check Out or Check In from the context menu.

To disable "Use project subfolders":

The Use project subfolders option is a project setting that is enabled by default. This option creates project folders and subfolders, and organizes your project files in them.You can change it from project to project, but once you create a new project, the mode cannot be changed for that project. The project will use the same mode, regardless of the options setting. Therefore, if you do not want to use project subfolders, you must disable the option before creating a project.

Select Options. The Options dialog appears.
ClickFile Locations in the left pane.
Uncheck Use project subfolders in the Project Management group box. The Export folder box, Download and import folder box, and Copy Imported files to import folderoption become editable.
Click OK.
Note: When you enable Use project subfolders, the Copy Imported files to import folder optionis enabled also, but you can also set it independently if you are not using project subfolders.
Tip: You can manually create additional subfolders based on how your data is organized. For instance, if you have multiple field crews collecting data on multiple days, you may want to create subfolders based on those crews or days.