General
The Autodesk Forma Source Module is used to collect folders, files, versions, and metadata from Autodesk Forma and create transactions in Integrator for further processing.
The module supports both latest-version and full-version collection and includes mechanisms for filtering, change detection, and stable request handling to support large and complex data collections.
For configuration instructions, see: [CROSS-REFERENCE: Autodesk Forma Source Client Setup]
For detailed processing logic and advanced configuration, see: [CROSS-REFERENCE: Autodesk Forma Source Technical Details]
Key Concepts
The module operates by traversing a configured Autodesk Forma folder structure and collecting:
- Folder hierarchy
- Files and versions
- Metadata (folder, file, and version level)
- Custom attributes
The collected data is structured into a transaction that is passed to Integrator workflows for further processing.
Collection Modes
The module supports two collection modes:
Latest Version Only
- Collects only the most recent version of each file
- Reduces transaction size
- Suitable for incremental updates
Full Version Collection
- Collects all versions of each file
- Preserves version history
- Enables version-specific metadata processing
Metadata Collection
During collection, the module retrieves:
- Folder metadata
- File metadata
- Parent relationships
- Version details
- Custom attributes
This ensures that downstream workflows have access to complete contextual information.
Filtering and Change Detection
The module includes built-in mechanisms to optimize recurring collections:
- Extension filtering excludes unwanted file types
- Checksum filtering skips unchanged files and versions
These features reduce unnecessary processing and improve performance.
Transaction Creation
Transactions are created during collection and include:
- Structure articles for folders
- Document articles for files and versions
Once completed, the transaction is queued for further processing in Integrator.
Execution Methods
The module can be executed in two ways:
- Manually via Create Transaction
- Automatically via the Task Scheduler
Throttling and Performance
Autodesk Forma enforces API rate limits. High request volumes may result in:
- Delayed responses
- Retries
- Temporary failures
To mitigate this:
- Enable rate limiting in the client
- Optimize collection scope
- Adjust scheduler frequency