Operations Manual

About this Manual

This manual provides comprehensive guidelines and step-by-step instructions for working with HaloCAD solutions (Monitor and Protect). For installation and configuration instructions, please refer to the "Installation Manual" shipped with the product package.

How does it work?

At a high level, the HaloCAD for Autodesk Vault workflow comprises the following steps:

HaloCAD for Autodesk Vault

Step 1: File Check-out / Check-in

1. A user creates a new CAD or Office document or opens an existing workspace object from the client.

2. The user performs a check-out (download) or check-in (upload) action.

Step 2: Metadata and Label Segregation

1. HaloCAD for Autodesk Vault fetches the user-selected file and collects its metadata.

2. The metadata is sent to the HaloENGINE, where the appropriate action and label information are derived and provided back to HaloCAD for Autodesk Vault.

Step 3: Encryption / Decryption

1. HaloCAD for Autodesk Vault executes actions based on the derived action and label information:

   • If no valid action is available, the file is downloaded without modification.

   • During check-in, if a valid action with a label is found, HaloCAD for Autodesk Vault removes the label and stores the decrypted file in Autodesk Vault PLM.

   • During check-out, if a valid action with a label is found, HaloCAD for Autodesk Vault applies the label.

2. If a block action rule is configured in the HaloENGINE, HaloCAD for Autodesk Vault prevents the file download.

Step 4: Processed File Delivery
The file, now encrypted with the derived label, is returned to the user.

Step 5: Monitoring and Audit Log
HaloCAD for Autodesk Vault captures the event details and forwards them to the HaloENGINE monitor log for auditing. 

How to Protect a CAD File?

This section describes how to protect AutoCAD, Inventor, and Office files via PLM. Note: We recommend referring to the "Operations Manual of HaloCAD Add-on for AutoCAD/Inventor" to know more about standalone HaloCAD protection scenarios.

Fulfill the Requirements

1. HaloCAD for Autodesk Vault needs to be installed and set up.

2. HaloENGINE must be installed and configured. 

3. The Classification Engine must be configured. For illustration purposes, a simple classification profile is explained here.

   1. Step 1: Enter a name for the profile.

      

      Sample profile

   2. Step 2: Configure classification properties and their values.

      

      Classification properties

   3. Step 3: Create classification rules based on metadata types. Note: If you want to use your metadata, specify it on the Custom Metadata page of the HaloENGINE admin portal. Please refer to the Custom Metadata section of the HaloENGINE Installation and Configuration manual.

      

      Rules

   4. Step 4: Create an action rule to label and block.

      

      Action rule for labeling

      

      Action rule for blocking

   5. Step 5: Assign Systems to the profile.

      

      Systems

4. HaloCAD add-on must be installed.

Download a Protected File

In various ways, a file can be exported from the Autodesk Vault server. For illustration purposes, a file is downloaded/check-out via Autodesk Vault server / Autodesk Vault Thin Client / AutoCAD / Inventor applications: 

1. Option # 1

   1. Login to Autodesk Vault Professional Client (Standalone Autodesk Vault Client).

   2. From the Project Explorer screen, navigate to a folder of your choice and select a file.

   3. Now, right-click on it and then select Get to download the file.

2. Option # 2

   1. Open the Autodesk Vault Thin Client, select the Workspace, and Sign In with your credentials.

   2. The files and folders are listed from the workspace you have logged into.

   3. Navigate to the folder, select the file, and download it by either clicking the three dots or using the download button.

3. Option # 3

   1. Open the AutoCAD/Inventor application.

   2. Go to the Vault tab > click Log In and enter your credentials.

   3. Click Open and select a file to download. 

4. The downloaded file will be labeled as defined in the HaloENGINE. 

5. The encryption settings from the label are enforced and remain with the file wherever it is stored. 

6. If you are an authorized user with owner permission, you can modify and remove the label.

7. The audit log will be captured for all uploads or downloads, irrespective of file protection.

Blocking a File Download

1. Login to Autodesk Vault Professional Client (Standalone Autodesk Vault Client).

2. From the Project Explorer screen, navigate to a folder of your choice and download a file.

3. As an alternative, you can choose to download a file via another method.

   Results:

   1. The action rule for the block configured in HaloENGINE prevents file download. As a result, no file download occurs.

   2. Refer to the monitor log for further information.

Common Scenarios

This section presents some common scenarios for illustrative purposes and provides general guidelines.

How to Open a Protected File?

Prerequisite: Before opening the protected file, make sure the HaloCAD Add-on for AutoCAD and/or HaloCAD Add-on for Inventor is installed.

1. Click on the protected file.

2. The first time when you try to open a labeled file, HaloCAD will prompt you about the Microsoft Sign-In Assistant.

3. Click OK when prompted, Microsoft Sign-In Assistant will be invoked and the user credentials are cached.

4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the authentication process.
   Results:

   1. On successful confirmation, the file will open.

   2. Users could experience different access results for the same document based on the policy settings. For more details, refer to the "Operations Manual of HaloCAD Add-on for AutoCAD/Inventor".

Integrating with the AutoCAD Application

Below are some examples of the functionality of HaloCAD in the AutoCAD application. 

Example 1: Application ID as the Owner of the File

The following figure shows an example of an Application ID that is used to initialize the HaloENGINE. This Application ID will be the owner of the document by default, however, a static email can also be an owner of the downloaded file if specified in the HaloENGINE. Please refer to example 2. 

Application ID as the owner of the file

Example 2: Static Email as the Owner of the File

The following figure shows an example of an email address configured in the HaloENGINE. This email address will be the owner of the exported document. 

Static Email as the Owner of the File

Example 3: User as the Owner of the File

The following figure shows an example of a PLM logged-in user who has become the owner of the document. To achieve this, the Owner configuration must be set to "user" on the HaloENGINE Admin portal. The exported document will have the email address of the currently logged-in user as its owner.

User as the Owner of the File

Integrating with the Inventor Application

Below are some examples of the functionality of HaloCAD in the Inventor application. 

Example 1: Application ID as the Owner of the File

The following figure shows an example of an Application ID that is used to initialize the HaloENGINE. This Application ID will be the owner of the document by default, however, a static email can also be an owner of the downloaded file if specified in the HaloENGINE. Please refer to example 2. 

Application ID as the owner of the file

Example 2: Static Email as the Owner of the File

The following figure shows an example of an email address configured in the HaloENGINE. This email address will be the owner of the exported document.  

Static Email as the Owner of the File

Example 3: User as the Owner of the File

The following figure shows an example of a user whose name is configured in the HaloENGINE. This user is considered the owner of the document. In case, the user who logged in to Autodesk Vault PLM Server does not have an email ID, then the Application ID (which is used to initialize HaloENGINE) will be the owner of the document.

User as the Owner of the File

Integrating with MS Office (File Upload and Download) Applications

The following is an example of an upload and download sequence in Autodesk Vault PLM integrated with HaloCAD. Note: Non-office files are also supported (e.g., .txt and .PDF). For illustration purposes, an Excel file is used here.

Check-in sequence

1. Create a new MS Office (Word / Excel) file and select a label from the Sensitivity ribbon. Click Save to save the file.

2. Or open an existing protected file. [In this example, the file (Bill Of Materials.xlsx) that will be uploaded is already protected with the HaloCAD INTERNAL label.] 

3. Go to the Autodesk Vault tab > click Log In and enter your credentials. 

4. Click Check-in and select the folder of your choice to save in Autodesk Vault Server.

5. The Check-in window will appear: 

   1. Select the Close files and delete working copy check box.

   2. Click OK on the Check-in window.

   3. To the question “Do you wish to delete the file xxxxx.xlsx from its original location ‘C:\xxxx\xxxx\xxxx'?" click Yes or No.

   Results:

   1. During the upload/check-in sequence, the original label is removed, and the decrypted file is stored (checked-in) in Autodesk Vault PLM.

   2. The upload/checked-in event is logged in the HaloENGINE.

Check-out sequence

1. Go to the Autodesk Vault tab > click Open, select the previously uploaded file from the Autodesk Vault server, and click Open.

2. To the question, “File S/xxxxx/logs/xxx.xlsx is not checked out. Do you want to check it out now?" 

   1. Click Yes to check out directly. 

   2. Or click No and then click Check-out in the Autodesk Vault tab. 

   Results:

   1. During the download/check-out sequence, the file is exported from Vault with a new label that is defined in the Classification Engine.

   2. The download/check-out event is logged in the HaloENGINE.

      

      File upload and download Sequence

Customer Support

Please be ready with the information listed below before contacting our team to help you with the issue you are experiencing. The data that you provide will help us serve you better.

1. Full contact details.

2. HaloCAD build version.

3. Date, time, and description of the error (if possible, provide screenshots).

4. What (if any) third-party products (software or other) were used in conjunction with our product?

5. Any other information necessary to reproduce the error.

Secude offers help and support through

1. Technical support email:  support@secude.com
   If you choose to contact us by email, please provide your company details and a detailed description of the issue, as well as the log file (if any). Our representative will respond to your email inquiry.

2. Phone support: Call +41 41 510 70 70 to talk to our representative to diagnose and resolve the technical problem.

Other resources

Please visit https://secude.com to know about upcoming events, press releases, and to download whitepapers.

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