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Offline Project Archive

This article will explain how users can securely download and work with their archived project data offline.

Updated over 2 weeks ago

Offline Project Archives provide users with long-term access to older project data, ensuring secure preservation of all project folders, files, forms, drawings, and related project metadata for offline use. Offline Project Archive offers several enhancements over the previous version, improving usability and navigation.

Features

  • In Offline Archive, project data is now organised in an Explorer-based folder structure, replacing the earlier XML-based structure, offering easier access and management of data.

  • Earlier, the project data was read-only. With the updated Offline Project Archive, users can easily interact with the data and use it per their convenience in an intuitive, Explorer-based UI.

Downloading an Offline Archive

A Customer Admin will raise a request with Asite to generate an Offline Project Archive for a specific project.

NOTE: To request an Offline Project Archive, contact your Asite representative.

  1. Once the archive is ready, you will receive an automated email from Asite containing a URL to download the archive.

  2. Click the link to start downloading the archive in your browser.

  3. Once the download is complete, a ZIP file is saved to your system.

  4. Use a preferred file archiver tool such as WinZip, WinRAR, or 7-Zip to extract the data.

    • The archive cannot be extracted using the default Windows ZIP extraction tool.

  5. Double-click the folder to open it, and you'll be asked to enter the password.

    • A password will be shared with you in a separate email from Asite.

  6. After successful verification, you will be able to access the data.

NOTE:

  • The download time depends on your internet bandwidth and the size of the project data. The download may take a few hours.

  • Before the download starts, it will show the total size of the ZIP folder. Ensure enough space on your drive.

  • If a network error occurs during the download, you can go to the browser's download list and resume the download manually (if it does not resume automatically).

How is data stored in the ZIP Folder?

To improve backup performance and reduce clutter, data within the Offline Archive is organised in an Explorer-based folder structure, which makes it easier for users to navigate and locate their project data easily.

Below is the folder structure and what each folder contains:

  • Linked Project Files
    ​    Contains folders for linked projects and their associated files.

  • Project Name
    Root folder     for the selected project.

    • Files
      ​      Contains all project files along with their related information, including:

      • File metadata

      • Distribution, audit, and comment data (stored as CSV files)

      • Attachments added as secondary files or via comments

      • Xrefs and PDF Mark-up files

    • Forms
      ​      Contains all forms and their related information, organised by:

      • Form groups and form types

      • Form XML files,

      • Form metadata such as audit, distribution, and form details (CSV files)

      • Attachments added to forms

    • Project Metadata
      ​      Contains metadata related to the project configuration, such as:

      • Project roles

      • File and app statuses

      • Custom attributes

      • Purpose of Issue (POI)

      • Distribution groups

    • Error
      ​      Contains reports for any files that could not be copied to their expected locations, including a missing files report.

NOTE: The above structure shows a high-level overview of how the data is stored in the Offline archive. The actual archive may have additional folders and multiple CSV files to store related metadata and project information.

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