Revit file synchronization with Dropbox

[clog boy]

Hey all,

We are an office with a remote fileserver @100mbit. I am testing loadtimes of Revit projects from the network vs locally. On a 147MB file, I'm getting 23 seconds locally vs 43 seconds from the network on loading and about twice as long on saving.
Our projects share happens to be the same capacity as our local harddrive. Suppose we would use a file synchronization programme like Dropbox to keep a local work copy of projects we are working on and keep it synced with the file server.
What are the risks involved from viewpoints of security, file integrity etc? What happens when two users are manipulating their local copy of a file and then sync it with the project folder? Would there be any difference if we worked on a NAS that would backup to the remote server every night?

[Dimitri Harvalias]

Be wary of using dropbox for working on a live file. Dropbox is basically meant for replication of data and synchronization of files across multiple computers, not as a real time file sharing solution.
If you have a central file stored in Dropbox and others are linking to it/from it you can have pathing issues that just blow the whole thing up.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish or what do you want o be the benefit of using Dropbox? Increased speed, WAN access to multiple offices/sites, redundant backups?

[clog boy]

Mostly create a 'local cache' for opening/saving Revit files to the network.
(I think saving a Revit file should be more of a background process, but that's just me)

[BMcCallum]

What do you mean by 'local cache'?

Are you trying to cut local files and put them on Dropbox for all users to access? It won't work. When you cut a local from a central file, it will only work for the username of Revit that you used to cut the local. It can't be re-pathed to another user.

Your best chance for success is to train all users how to cut a local, work in a local, and sync with central. When the users know and understand this process, there will be fewer issues. Power to the people.

Maybe you're looking for something like this?