Deta Studio

Understand synchronization

Open a PDF from Dropbox or Google Drive and follow its source updates in the version tree. Review branches keep their own markups.

Updated

Find the controls

Synced layer

Versions → latest version → Synced layer (Dropbox or Google Drive drawings)

New to versions and branches? Start with Understand the version tree.

Open a connected PDF

Open a PDF from Dropbox or Google Drive. Deta keeps it linked to the source PDF.

Dropbox in the version tree

Open Versions icon Versions on the right. The Dropbox icon Dropbox logo identifies the source; Sync icon Synced layer shows its PDF.

Actual Dropbox version tree for Southern Serenity: the Dropbox logo beside V1 and Synced layer below, with Checked and Changed times.

Google Drive in the version tree

Google Drive drawings use the Google Drive icon Google Drive logo and the same Sync icon Synced layer structure.

Updates from the source

Deta checks the source when you open the drawing and when you return to Synced layer. Click the selected Sync icon Synced layer again to check for updates.

  • Checked is when Deta last checked the source.
  • Changed is when its content last changed. A recent check does not mean a new revision was found.

When someone replaces the source PDF with a revised drawing, Deta automatically adds a new version the next time it checks the source. V1 stays available; the revised drawing becomes V2. Your review branches and markups stay with the earlier version.

Example version tree: V2 contains the revised PDF and Synced layer; V1 retains its Design review and Site review branches.

When only supported PDF markups change, Deta updates the synced layer on the existing version.

Make your own edits

Editing Synced layer starts an editable Branch icon branch; the source layer stays separate. Editing that branch does not replace the provider’s PDF. Save back to Dropbox or Google Drive separately when you want to update the source.