You connect Autodesk Forma and Bluebeam with a CDE integration that sends drawings from Forma into Bluebeam for review and brings reviewed sets back into Forma with the right revision, status and custom attributes. CDE Sync™ links both platforms through dedicated accounts, maps metadata between them and logs every transfer, and it can include the other CDEs on your project in the same configuration.
Why Forma teams still review in Bluebeam
Autodesk Forma is where many architects, engineers and builders manage design files, models and documents. Bluebeam remains the review and markup tool of choice for many reviewers, especially clients, builders, cost planners and specialist consultants who are comfortable with its measurement and markup tools.
When both are in use, drawings travel between them by hand. Someone exports from Forma, uploads to Bluebeam, completes the review and saves the marked-up set back. Custom attributes are often lost on the way, and when several parties review the same set, the job of moving files between platforms multiplies.
What carries across between Forma and Bluebeam
CDE Sync™ synchronises drawings, documents and metadata between Forma and Bluebeam. Document number, revision, status and Forma custom attributes are mapped, so a drawing reaching a review status can move to the right Bluebeam location and return to Forma correctly described. Every transfer is logged, giving a clear review history.
The Autodesk Forma and Bluebeam integration pages describe each connector.
How to connect Forma and Bluebeam, step by step
Map the review process: which Forma folders or statuses send drawings to review and where reviewed sets return.
Agree the document types and folders that move in each direction.
Have the Forma account administrator add a service account, and arrange a dedicated Bluebeam service account.
Connect both platforms in the CDE Sync™ wizard and select source and destination locations.
Map document number, revision, status and custom attributes.
Set triggers and the schedule, for example when a drawing is issued for review.
Run a test review cycle on a small set and confirm versions and attributes on both sides.
Reviews that include every party
On many projects the people reviewing drawings work in different organisations and platforms. A client may hold its record in Aconex, a builder may run Procore, and a consultant may use ProjectWise. When those platforms join the same CDE Sync™ configuration, a drawing issued for review in Forma can reach each party, and reviewed outcomes can return to Forma without anyone acting as courier.
It also helps to agree where marked-up sets live after a review closes, and whether issues raised during review should be tracked elsewhere. Our article on connecting Bluebeam to your CDE covers review cycles in more depth.
Once running, the connection mostly needs attention for exceptions, such as a drawing missing a required attribute. Those cases are reported to a nominated person, who fixes the record in Forma so the next run succeeds. Reviewers simply see drawings arrive when they are due.
Firms that adopt this pattern often find the biggest gain is consistency. Every drawing that goes to review leaves Forma in the same way and returns in the same way, with the same attributes. New staff learn one process, and project leaders can see at a glance which drawings are in review, which have returned and what the outcomes were. That visibility is hard to achieve when reviews depend on people moving files by hand.
Security for review data
CDE Sync™ streams files directly between Forma and Bluebeam without storing them, encrypts data in transit and processes it in the Azure region you choose. Utopia Digital holds SOC 2 Type II and Cyber Essentials. See the Security Trust Portal and the global data region map.
Forma, Bluebeam and the Utopiaverse™
A Forma to Bluebeam connection is part of the Utopiaverse™, the connected record Utopia Digital builds across your platforms. CDE Sync™ keeps review and design aligned, CDE Backup™ keeps an independent copy in your own Azure, CDE Migrate™ handles moves onto or off Forma, and CDE Archive™ captures the record at completion. AI Insights searches drawings and design content together, with answers that cite the source files. See also How Do I Connect Bentley ProjectWise and Autodesk Forma? and How Do I Connect Autodesk Forma and SharePoint?
See Forma and Bluebeam connected in the monthly live demo, or talk to the team about your review process.
