How to Automatically Repair Missing Folders in a One-Way Synchronization

1. Introduction

In one-way synchronizations (Autodesk ➝ External Source or External Source ➝ Autodesk), CDEAdminTools only tracks changes in the configured direction.
If a user manually deletes a synchronized folder on the non-observed side, the synchronization engine is not notified of the deletion.

This can generate errors when:

• Autodesk updates a file inside that folder, or

• New subfolders or documents are added on the source side

Since the destination folder no longer exists, the engine cannot write the changes, and CDEAdminTools displays an error.

To make solving this situation easy, we have added a powerful new feature:
➡️ Folder Regeneration

This tool allows administrators to automatically rebuild missing folders — and their entire hierarchy — ensuring synchronization can resume without manual work.

2. What the Folder Regeneration Feature Does

When you trigger Folder Regeneration, CDEAdminTools:

1. Recreates the deleted folder on the destination side

2. Restores the link between the Autodesk folder and the regenerated folder

3. Scans the entire Autodesk folder structure

4. Rebuilds all subfolders and documents on the destination

5. Removes all existing synchronization errors related to that broken folder

6. Automatically regenerates any missing parent folders

   • If one or several parent folders were also deleted, CDEAdminTools will recreate them as well

   • This ensures the entire folder hierarchy is rebuilt correctly

   • It makes the feature extremely powerful in real-world scenarios where multiple levels were removed by mistake

Thanks to this behavior, the regeneration process can fully restore the entire folder path, not just a single folder.

3. When You Should Use This Feature

Use Folder Regeneration when:

• Your synchronization is one-directional, not in mirror mode

• A user accidentally deleted a synchronized folder in the destination system

• You see missing-folder errors in the Errors panel

• The engine cannot synchronize updates because the destination folder structure no longer exists

This feature does not recreate deleted content within Autodesk — it restores the structure on the external system only.

4. How to Use the Folder Regeneration Tool

You will later insert your screenshots in the designated steps.

Step 1 — Open the Project Where the Error Occurred

Navigate to the Sync Project that contains the synchronization errors.

Step 2 — Open the Folder Explorer

Click the folder icon or “View Synchronized Folders” to display the synchronization folder tree.

Step 3 — Locate the Folder with Errors

Find the folder where the missing-folder error was detected.

Step 4 — Validate the Issue

Click Check Sync Folder to confirm that the connection between Autodesk and the external folder is broken.

This ensures that the folder genuinely needs to be regenerated.

Step 5 — Start the Regeneration Assistant

Click the Regenerate Folder button.

CDEAdminTools will then:

• Recreate the missing folder

• Rebuild all missing parent folders (if any were deleted)

• Restore the mapping between Autodesk and the external system

• Regenerate all subfolders and files

• Clear all related errors

5. What to Expect During the Process

The time required depends on:

• How many files and subfolders must be recreated

• How deep the folder hierarchy is

• The size of the documents being restored

During regeneration:

• You may leave the Folder List screen

• Errors related to the folder will progressively disappear

• You can monitor activity in Real-Time

Once complete, the folder and all necessary parent folders will be fully restored, and synchronization will resume normally.

6. Summary

Folder Regeneration is a powerful tool that allows administrators to automatically repair missing folders during one-way synchronizations.
It not only restores the target folder but also regenerates any missing parent folders, recreating the entire required path.

This makes it invaluable for BIM Managers and project teams to quickly recover from accidental deletions on systems like:

• SharePoint

• OneDrive

• Google Drive

• SFTP

• Any other external data source used in CDEAdminTools

With just a few clicks, the system can fully recover a broken folder hierarchy and remove all associated synchronization errors.