You connect BIM 360 and Autodesk Forma during a transition by syncing the folders that both platforms need while projects move across, then migrating each project's full record once it is ready. CDE Sync™ keeps BIM 360 and Forma aligned in the meantime, and CDE Migrate™ moves projects with version history, folder structure and custom attributes intact.
Why the transition needs a bridge
BIM 360 is the older Autodesk platform and Autodesk Forma is its successor. Many organisations still have live projects in BIM 360 while new work starts in Forma. Moving everything at once is rarely practical, because live projects have deadlines, external partners and established folder structures. The result is a period where both platforms are in use and teams need information from each.
Without a bridge, people copy files between BIM 360 and Forma by hand. Version history is flattened, custom attributes are lost and it becomes unclear which platform holds the current record.
How the bridge works
During the transition, CDE Sync™ connects BIM 360 and Forma like any other pair of platforms. Shared folders are kept in step in one or both directions, attributes are mapped between the two, and every transfer is logged. Teams can start new work in Forma while projects that are still in BIM 360 continue without disruption.
When a project is ready to move, CDE Migrate™ carries the full record across: files, versions, folder structure, custom attributes and audit trails. Issues and RFIs migrate as part of the move. After validation, the BIM 360 project can be closed.
How to plan a BIM 360 to Forma transition, step by step
List live BIM 360 projects and group them by end date, size and external dependencies.
Decide which projects will finish in BIM 360, which will move early and which need a sync while they move.
Have the account administrator set up service accounts in both BIM 360 and Forma.
Configure syncs in the CDE Sync™ wizard for the projects that need both platforms during the transition.
Schedule migrations with Utopia Digital, allowing enough notice before each target date.
Validate each migrated project against its source, then retire the BIM 360 project.
Send completed projects that will not move to CDE Archive™ for long-term storage in your own Azure.
Keeping partners on side
External partners often have their own access to BIM 360 projects and their own habits. Telling them early which projects are moving, when, and where they should work afterwards avoids confusion. A sync helps here too, because partners can keep working in BIM 360 for a short time while the internal team works in Forma, with both sides seeing the same documents. Our article on Autodesk CDE migration covers moves within the Autodesk platforms in more detail.
Deciding what not to move
Not every BIM 360 project needs to move to Forma. Projects that are complete, or close to completion, are often better captured with CDE Archive™ into your own Azure, where the full record stays searchable without paying for an active platform. Projects with a long remaining life usually justify a migration. Projects in the middle may benefit from a sync until a natural break point, such as the end of a design stage. Sorting projects into these groups early keeps the transition focused on the work that matters and avoids moving data that nobody will use in Forma.
Security
CDE Sync™ and CDE Migrate™ stream files directly between BIM 360 and Forma without storing them. Data is encrypted in transit and processed in the Azure region you choose. Utopia Digital holds SOC 2 Type II and Cyber Essentials. See the Security Trust Portal.
BIM 360, Forma and the Utopiaverse™
A BIM 360 to Forma transition fits within the Utopiaverse™, the connected record Utopia Digital builds across your platforms. CDE Sync™ bridges the platforms, CDE Migrate™ moves projects, CDE Backup™ keeps an independent copy in your own Azure and CDE Archive™ captures completed projects. AI Insights then searches content from both platforms together. See also How Do I Connect Two Autodesk Forma Hubs or Regions? and the Autodesk Forma integration page.
Join the monthly live demo, or talk to the team about planning your transition.
