ACC + Plant 3D: How to Avoid Corrupted Project Files and What to Do Instead

When your Plant 3D projects live in Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), it’s tempting to quickly move, rename, or replace files via the ACC web UI or the Desktop Connector. In practice, that often leads to corrupted project files, odd sync messages, and locked drawings. Autodesk confirms: changes in **Related Files** are not synchronized into Plant 3D’s local collaboration cache the way you might expect from standard ACC workflows. Bottom line: what’s fine for normal AutoCAD DWGs can break a Plant project.

What’s the underlying issue?

• Plant 3D collaboration projects behave differently than ordinary DWG folders. The project logic (databases, relationships, locks, versioning) is managed by Plant 3D and synchronized through the local collaboration cache—not by generic file‑sync mechanics. Any action outside the Plant Project Manager risks consistency.
• Changes in ACC’s “Related Files” area don’t reliably propagate to users’ local caches. Replacing or moving files there may never reach all workstations—or only partially.

Do’s & Don’ts for ACC Projects with Plant 3D

Do (keep your project healthy):

• Always work through Plant 3D. Open, rename, move, delete, check‑in/out drawings only via the Plant Project Manager. Don’t manage files outside the project.
• Add external references properly. If you must reference files from other ACC folders, follow Autodesk’s documented paths for collaboration projects (references only—not core project data).
• Run regular project and drawing audits. Catch and fix issues early (Audit/Compress/cache maintenance should be standard).
• Back up with a plan. Alongside ACC versions, secure project databases/DCF or SQL data.

Don’t (hands off):

• Rename, delete, move, or replace Plant project files via the ACC web UI, the “Related Files” folder, or Desktop Connector.
• “Clean up” the local collaboration cache without a plan—verify first, then remove items selectively.

What can happen? (a real‑world example)

The status “File is out of synchronization” sticks around; the DWG appears in the Project Manager but not in the ACC folder; delete/rename/check‑in/out is blocked. In documented cases, only Support could resolve it because internal references/locks became inconsistent—a classic symptom of actions taken outside the Plant API.

Step‑by‑Step Recovery

1. Stop touching files from the outside. From now on, use Plant 3D only.
2. Check status and logs. Which drawings are affected? Who checked in last? (Project Manager/ACC versions).
3. Use Plant’s built‑in tools: open collaboration options, trigger synchronization, rebuild the local workspace if needed; run Audit/Compress for the project/drawing.
4. Clean the cache selectively (only if necessary and after backups): delete relevant collaboration‑cache folders, then reconnect the project.
5. Escalate to Support if “Out of synchronization” persists or files remain “invisible.”

Practical Tips for Day‑to‑Day Plant 3D Work (ACC)

• Separate permissions and roles cleanly. The fewer people can change ACC folder structures, the lower the risk of project inconsistencies.
• Enforce naming/folder conventions only via the Project Manager—no quick fixes in Explorer/ACC.
• Schedule regular maintenance (Audit, Compress, cache purge, backups).
• Be deliberate with references. If you need to reference non‑Plant files, follow Autodesk’s guidance for collaboration projects—don’t use them as replacements for project files.

TL;DR

• Never manage Plant project files manually in ACC/Connector—always use Plant 3D/Project Manager.
• “Out of synchronization” and similar states are symptoms of outside edits; proceed methodically (cache/collaboration options/Audit) and bring in Support when needed.
• PlantTools support maintenance, backups, and safe data workflows in ACC environments.