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File Management

Introduction

Gemini Terrain has built-in automation for handling the content in Gemini Terrain files, Gemini Connected web handles files more generally, while there is no automation in Windows Explorer.

When working in cloud projects we recommend using Gemini Terrain and then Gemini Connected web to handle files. Windows Explorer should only be used exceptionally, e.g. under supervision of our support.

Warning

Use of Windows Explorer for file management in cloud projects can lead to problems with file integrity and synchronization and should be avoided.

Below are recommendations for adding, copying, deleting and moving files in cloud projects.

File Operations

Adding Files

Procedure

Use the function Include files in cloud project... on the File menu.

Copying Files

Copying Drawings

Drawings ('bim' files) are copied through the project menu. New bim file is saved in the same location as the original file.

Instructions

  1. Open the project menu in Gemini Terrain
  2. Right-click on a drawing
  3. Select Duplicate

Copying Application Layers and SFI/EFI/XFI Models

These files are copied through the application layer/model's properties dialog. The function ensures that a new file GUID is created and new GUIDs for all geometry objects, and that any older quantity proposals (quantities registered from Gemini Terrain 18 and older to Gemini QuantiFlow) are not copied to the new file.

Instructions

  1. Double-click on the application layer/model
  2. Go to the Properties tab
  3. Use the Save copy as function
  4. Choose where in the project the new file should be saved
  5. Press OK to confirm

Copying IFC, DWG and All Other Files

IFC, DWG and all other independent files (files that are not created by Gemini Terrain, for example images, PDF files and raw data), can be imported multiple times to the project by using the function File - Include files in cloud project. This function can also be used to copy files from one location in the project to another.

Provided that the folder is synchronized, you can also use Windows Explorer. Note that if you use Windows Explorer, the files are added to an upload queue. The upload queue can be checked in Gemini Connected activity overview.

Warning

If you shut down the PC or Gemini Terrain crashes/is force-closed with task management, not all files will necessarily be uploaded completely. The upload queue will not be remembered the next time you open the program, since the purpose is that all files should be uploaded before closing.

Copying Entire Folders

There is currently no built-in function for copying the contents of entire folders. For Gemini Terrain files we recommend the methods described in the points above for copying existing file to new folder.

Folders with independent files can be copied in Windows Explorer:

Instructions

  1. Copy the folder from a cloud project over to a local backup location
  2. Make sure that the folder does not contain any Gemini Terrain files, if so delete all Gemini Terrain files (aly/gmi/sfi/xfi/efi/bim/...) and .gc folders from the local backup folder
  3. Change name of the local backup folder to desired new folder name
  4. Copy backup folder to the new location

Deleting Files

Although all types of files can be deleted in Gemini Connected web, we strongly recommend deleting Gemini Terrain files in Gemini Terrain itself. This way automation in Gemini Terrain ensures that files are removed correctly, and among other things prevents deletion of files that are used in quantity registration and ensures that references to a file being deleted are also removed in other drawings it is used in.

Info

Deleted individual files can be recreated or permanently deleted by users with the right permissions via the overview of deleted files in Gemini Connected web.

Warning

If you delete files in Windows Explorer, the files will reappear since the cloud project assumes that you are missing necessary files.

Tip

You have the option to delete files you have created yourself, even if you have a role in the project that does not contain the permission to delete files otherwise. For example, a person with the role of setting-out engineer can delete a Gemini file they have created themselves, even if others have also contributed data in this file.

Deleting Drawings

Drawings are deleted in the project menu.

Instructions

  1. Open the project menu in Gemini Terrain
  2. Right-click on the drawing you want to delete
  3. Select Delete...
  4. Confirm the deletion when prompted

Deleting Application Layers and SFI/EFI/XFI Models

These files can be deleted from the vertical list field.

Instructions

  1. Find the vertical list field for respectively Application Layers or Models
  2. Right-click on the relevant application layer/model
  3. Select Remove
  4. Then select Delete...
  5. Confirm the deletion

They can also be deleted in Gemini Connected file explorer.

Note

For application layers both .aly and .gmi file are deleted. If the file is used in quantity registration to Gemini QuantiFlow, you cannot delete the file before registered quantities are also removed.

Right-click menu for deleting model

Dialog box for deletion confirmation

Deleting IFC/DWG and Other Independent Files

These models and files are deleted in Gemini Connected Web since Gemini Terrain does not have built-in functionality to delete these.

Deleting Entire Folders

Folders are deleted in Gemini Terrain.

Instructions

  1. Go to Gemini Terrain Settings... - Project - Project Folders - Synchronized folders...
  2. Select the folder you want to delete
  3. Press Remove
  4. Then select Delete...
  5. Confirm the deletion

If folders are deleted on web, empty folders will remain in the local projects.

Warning

When entire folders are deleted it is important to make sure that they do not contain files used in quantity registration to Gemini QuantiFlow or Gemini Metrix (no automation to prevent this currently).

Moving Files

Use Gemini Connected file explorer to move files in the project

Instructions

  1. Go to Gemini Connected file explorer
  2. Select the file(s) you want to move
  3. Hold down left mouse button and drag the file to desired location
  4. Confirm the move

This preserves the file history in Gemini Connected.

Warning

Moving files using e.g. Windows Explorer will not work because Gemini Connected writes the file back when Windows Explorer deletes the original file.