Rhino WIP Feature: Worksessions for Mac

[mary (Mary Ann Fugier)]

We’ve improved the Rhino WIP by converting the Worksession manager dialog into a dockable panel that is available both Windows and Mac .

Background: What are Worksessions?

The Rhino Worksession is a feature for managing large, complex projects by linking multiple Rhino files (3\text{dm}) and other supported file formats into the Rhino application. This allows for breaking down complex models for collaboration by a team of users.

Background: Why Worksessions?

By organizing a project as a worksession, multiple users can reference the worksession file and from it select a curated list of attached files. Typically these are Rhino files, but the worksession does not limit the attached files to Rhino 3DM.

By breaking the project down into many files, one user can edit a file that contains part of the project while another user edits a different file.

• Only one file is active and editable, while others are attached as read-only references for snapping, copying, or viewing, which optimizes memory usage.
• Typically the worksession files are stored and shared on a server or cloud drive location that the entire team can access and to which they can save any file updates.

The Worksession command assembles files into a list or collection of files that compose a medium to large project. The Worksession command saves this list to a file with an RWS extension.

Why Worksessions on Mac?

There are many large installations of Rhino across corporations, institution and public agencies that run on both Windows and Mac.

Prior to the Rhino WIP, only those running Rhino on Windows had access to the Worksession manager.

• Rhino 5 through Rhino 8 running on the Mac platform had no access to the Worksession manager.
• Rhino 5 through Rhino 8 running on the Mac platform could not create, open, and utilize the Worksession and its associated files.

Key Features of Worksessions in the Rhino WIP

In the Rhino WIP for both Windows and Mac, you can now:

• Open and manage the Rhino Worksession file in a dockable panel, instead of a modal dialog.
• Display and reference the entire collection of files in the Worksession panel.
• Files can be attached and detached from the Worksession panel.
• Attached files can be activated, locked, and updated.
• Save any changes to the active document and the RWS.
• Rhino displays a lock icon in the Worksession panel so others know that the file is in use and warns if another user tries to open it.
• Activate other files in the collection that are not already locked by another user.

How to Use Worksessions

1. In the Rhino WIP on Windows and Mac, the Worksession command open the Worksession dockable panel.
2. The Worksession panel includes access to other RWS files with: Open, Save, and SaveAs
   
   
3. In the Worksession panel, attach additional files that will up your project.
   Activate and edit a file that is available and not locked.
4. Detach files and update the RWS and other files that are attached to the Worksession.
   
   
5. Share the RWS and location with other members of your Rhino team.
6. The Worksession panel shows the active file that was locked by others who have the file open for editing in Rhino WIP for Windows or Mac.
   
   

Download the Rhino WIP and Try It Out!

[davidcockey]

Worksession is a great tool for single users working with large or complex projects! It can be used to keep different parts of a project, for example the hull, deck/cabin exterior, and interior of a boat in separate files. I also use it to keep large meshes and point clouds used for reference separate from the geometry being actively worked. It is simple and quick for a single user to switch during a session which file is “active” and they can work on, and which files are for reference.

The size of each file is reduced compared to a single file containing all the data. This means that Save is faster, sometimes much faster, because only the data in the active file is saved. It can also reduce storage when multiple versions of part of a project are saved.

[mary (Mary Ann Fugier)]

Very well said, @davidcockey.
We will make sure and include these points in any downstream documentation.

This is very helpful to encourage those that work alone or in smaller offices to try this feature.

Thanks for testing the Rhino WIP, @davidcockey.
Let us know if you see anything that is not working as you expected.

Sincerely,
Mary Ann Fugier

[Kyuubimode]

Hi, since this post is about worksessions I would like to highlight this point again. It is a little difficult for newbies to get used to a .rws file. They often think that it is a rhino model. I would appreciate if some unique icon is given to the .rws file to keep it distinct from the rhino model.

Request: Change the logo of Worksession file

The logo of the worksession file confuses newbies a lot because it looks like a .3dm file [image] There is immense confusion that leads people to question “Am I working in the Worksession model or the Rhino model?” when there is no worksession ‘model’ in the first place. If the logo was some kind of a chain or something maybe it would make it clearer what files are models vs what files are worksession (which is just a file containing file paths to understand what models are linked) I don’t k…

[mary (Mary Ann Fugier)]

Hi @kyubimode,
I have Windows 11 and Rhino 8 and the WIP. The RWS file icon looks like this:

This is the icon that I see in File Explorer for the RWS.

This is the icon I see in the Open dialog for the RWS.
It is very different from the Rhino head that is on the 3DM.

On the Mac, the Rhino WIP now supports RWS. This is the icon you will see in file finder: It is the Rhino head + RWS in the image. The 3DM’s have a preview

If you are using a Mac, try using Icons instead of List. It is easier to see the differences:

Also, turn on File Extensions in your File Explorer (View → Options) or Files Finder windows.
Then when you go into Rhino Open you will see them too.
I always have mine visible and it is very help.

If you continue to have issues, please post an image of what you see.
Also we need your system info: open Rhino type the command SystemInfo.
Copy and paste the text results into your reply.

Thanks,
Mary Ann Fugier