Why doesn't the documents creators name follow along with copies - or copies of copies?

rick_randall

This topic may be for the devs or maybe even a ticket item (but here goes) - And before we start, I understand about public doc's on a free account, (and I completely agree with all the terms). But still wonder why the originator of a document isn't tagged to the first version label on the copy, along with the name of the one that copied it. (and follow up copies, always showing the original owner). I have one model in particular that has been copied maybe a hundred  times (copies of copies), and I am flattered that so many people like it . But as the creator I wouldn't like to think someone else is padding a resume with that model . I love to share my work and really don't care if copies are made. I don't want to sound ungrateful, because On shape is a wonderful product, but I am curious. Is there an answer?

Also on the same subject - I would like to be able to find out who the real original owner is on other documents, so I could give out some thumb's ups.(instead of just a guy who made a copy)

Some clarity would be most appreciated

rick_randall

As a follow up - this is my suggestion for what changes would look like.

In the "version & history" tab of the copy, the first version should have a button that links a URL to the original model, Then list the new owner with the label of "copy" attached to first version (do not change any other aspect - make it work just like it doe's now). This URL link and label of "copy" should propagate into all other copies no matter how other copies are made (copy from copy situation). This label "copy" should be seen in the "public document list" the same way as it does as if you make a copy of your own work.

If the original document is deleted, then the link would simply fail (no harm , no fowl)

The person that copies, should still have full rights to make edits to that copy, because it is a public document, and they still own that copy from that point on, into the future. They would technically "own" a "copy of a document" not a "stand alone document" that is untraceable to it's "origin".

I know this sounds like semantics, but I think this would accomplish several goals

  1) teachers could track students work for authenticity easier

  2) people could find originators so they can give out likes. (and we could here from our peers about our work).   

  3) make it more difficult to use other's work (undetected) - OK I admit this one is kind of a stretch, (and I have never seen an example of this),(but ... still)

Even if this couldn't be made backward compatible - I still think it would be an improvement worth implementing at this time.

Once again I'd like to say, I don't want to change how copies work, just add some features to trace originality.

I'm a big fan of Onshape and I know this seems like a small issue - but I think others might benefit from the changes too.

Are there other issues at play, or changes that I might have overlooked?

martin_kopplow

Changes made should just be logged in the versions, including the user who made them. I thought this was standard behaviour?

rick_randall

martin_kopplow said:

Changes made should just be logged in the versions, including the user who made them. I thought this was standard behaviour?

I don't think that's how copies behave.

I don't have a problem with people copying, or owning that version of the copy. Just wish I got credit for being the originator.

I have looked at copies of my work that other people have made & can't find a way to trace it back to me. Maybe I'm missing something - but I don't see how to do it. If there is a way, I'd like to know how.

reuben_hunter

Agreed, It would be nice to be able to credit the original creator of a model.

dbaarda

I think copy history is a crucial feature that needs to be added. When searching through public docs to try and find something useful I find hundreds of copies, often with no modifications since the copy. Many of them have edited the default document title to remove the "copy" bit or completely rename them. This makes it really really hard to find the original source. Since copies don't copy the history, these copies also have no indication of what version they are a copy of, and often they are copies of old versions that include bugs etc that the original author has fixed in followup versions.

It is possible to manually add heritage information and version history into versions, notes, featurescript comments, etc, but nobody does because it's a burden, and most people making copies never really intend them for public consumption, they just want to play around with it.

Just adding the url to the version that was copied in the initial copy would be a huge help. Even better would be to pre-pend the url to a list of copy urls take from the copy, so the initial version has the full copy-history all the way back to the original. This saves you from having to follow the links all the way back to the original, you can just jump to it directly.

There are many many other threads asking about how to determine copy history that this would resolve. I realise it might not be possible to add these links retroactively, but at least having them for future docs would be great.