< DOCS. AI Assistant | DOCS. More >
SIGNAX DOCS Disk is a Windows application that displays DOCS projects, folders, and files directly in File Explorer. Open files in your installed applications, edit them, and save: your changes are automatically uploaded to DOCS as new versions. Changes made by your colleagues also appear on your computer.
The new application is in extended beta testing. General availability is planned for release 2026.20.
The previous DOCS Disk application, with its Get and Send commands, remains available. Its instructions have moved to DOCS. Additional Features → DOCS Disk — previous version.
¶ 1. Installation and sign-in
The application supports Windows 10 and Windows 11. Administrator privileges are required for installation. All required components, including .NET, are included in the installer.
- Open HUB, go to Modules, and download the new DOCS Disk application. The installer for the new application is an
.exefile.
- Run the
.exefile, allow it to run as administrator, and follow the installation wizard.
- If you use DOCS on your own server (on-premises), enter the server address. This version cannot be installed without it. Contact your company administrator for the address.
- Start DOCS Disk and click Sign in. Authentication opens in your default browser. You can use saved passwords, passkeys, and corporate sign-in.
- When the browser displays Signed in successfully, close the tab and return to the application.
- Select a company. Its projects that you have access to appear in File Explorer. The application displays projects from one company at a time.
The application runs in the system tray next to the clock. Double-click its icon to open the main window, or right-click it to open the menu.
The cloud and on-premises versions can be installed side by side. The interface language, Russian or English, follows the Windows language setting.
¶ Updating and reinstalling
Run a newer .exe installer to update the installed application. Running the same installer again lets you choose Reinstall to repair the installation or Uninstall.
For an on-premises installation, changing the server address requires you to sign in again. If the application reports that no server address is set, reinstall it and enter the address.
¶ 2. Folder and drive letter
Files are stored in the SIGNAX DOCS folder in your Windows user profile. For on-premises installations, the folder name also includes the server: SIGNAX DOCS (<server>).
In File Explorer, the folder appears under This PC, alongside your drives. It contains the selected company's projects. Each project contains its folders and files from DOCS.
¶ Drive letter
If an application or project configuration requires a drive letter, enable it in the DOCS Disk main window and select a letter, such as S:.
- While the drive letter is enabled, the separate SIGNAX DOCS folder is hidden from This PC. Disabling the drive letter restores the folder. The files remain in the same location.
- The drive is available while the application is running. Its drive letter disappears when you close DOCS Disk and reappears when you start it again.
- Applications running as administrator cannot see this drive letter.
- The free-space indicator reflects the computer's system drive.
¶ Long paths
To allow applications to open files deep within the project structure, the application uses short names for nested folders. File Explorer still displays the full names from DOCS, while application Open and Save dialogs may display the short names.
Open files by double-clicking them in File Explorer. Renaming one of these folders changes its name in DOCS. Short names are consistent across computers, allowing links between files to be preserved.
¶ 3. Working with files
Work with files inside a project as you would with ordinary files on your computer. Actions are subject to your access permissions.
| Action on your computer | Result in DOCS |
|---|---|
| Create or copy a new file or folder into a project | The item is automatically created in the corresponding DOCS folder. |
| Edit and save a file | A new version of the same file is created. |
| Rename a file or folder | Its name changes in DOCS. |
| Move a file or folder within a project | The item is moved in DOCS. The application asks for confirmation before moving a folder. |
Files saved from Word, Excel, Revit, Navisworks, and AutoCAD are processed as new file versions, including when the application uses temporary files. Auxiliary files, such as Office lock files (~$…), AutoCAD .bak backups, and .dwl files, are not uploaded to DOCS.
A new file of 10 bytes or less is uploaded to DOCS once its content has been saved and its size exceeds 10 bytes.
Create files and folders inside a project. Creating them in the SIGNAX DOCS root alongside projects is not allowed. Projects cannot be deleted, renamed, or moved through File Explorer. A deleted project folder is restored. If the maximum folder depth would be exceeded, the application prevents the folder from being created or moved and displays a warning.
¶ Deleting items
Deleting a file or folder from SIGNAX DOCS, including moving it to the Windows Recycle Bin, deletes the item in DOCS for all project participants. Moving an item outside SIGNAX DOCS also deletes it in DOCS. The application asks for confirmation. Restoring an item from the Windows Recycle Bin does not undo its deletion in DOCS.
To remove only the downloaded copy from your computer, use Free up space. See Synchronization and offline access.
¶ Context menu and links
Right-click a file or folder and open the SIGNAX DOCS submenu. In Windows 11, first select Show more options or press Shift+F10.
| Command | Function |
|---|---|
| Open in DOCS | Opens the file or folder in the DOCS web application. |
| Copy link | Copies a link to the file or folder in the DOCS web application. |
| Copy link for File Explorer | Copies a link that a colleague can paste into the File Explorer address bar. The same folder opens. For a file link, the file is selected. |
| Always keep on this device | Downloads the file or folder for offline use. |
| Free up space | Removes the downloaded copy from your computer while keeping the file in DOCS. |
To use a File Explorer link, your colleague must have DOCS Disk running, have the same company selected, and have access to the folder. If the link belongs to another company, switch companies in the application first.
¶ 4. Synchronization and offline access
¶ Files on demand
DOCS Disk does not download all files in advance. Before a file is opened for the first time, only its metadata is stored on your computer, using very little space. The content downloads automatically when you open the file. For large files, File Explorer displays download progress.
To prepare files for offline work:
- Connect to the internet.
- Select the required file or folder, open its context menu, and click Always keep on this device.
- Wait for the download to finish. The files will then be available offline. New files added to the selected folder will also download when a connection is available.
To reclaim storage, select Free up space. The file remains in DOCS and downloads again the next time you open it. Windows Storage Sense may also free up space used by files that have not been opened for a long time. It does not affect files marked Always keep on this device.
Windows Search and scanning applications do not automatically download the entire contents of the SIGNAX DOCS folder.
¶ File status and details
| Icon in the Status column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cloud | The file is stored only in DOCS. A connection to the server is required to open it. |
| Green check mark | The file is downloaded and matches the version in DOCS. |
| Arrows | Changes are being synchronized. |
In File Explorer, you can also enable the Version column, which shows the version number in DOCS, and Modified by, which shows the author of the latest version.
¶ Colleagues' changes and conflicts
New files, versions, renames, deletions, and permission changes from DOCS appear automatically without restarting the application. When the connection is restored, the application retrieves any missed changes.
If a colleague updates a file that you have open in an application, the update is deferred until you close the file. If the file is locked in DOCS, your saved changes remain on your computer with the synchronization icon and are uploaded when the lock is removed.
If a new version appears in DOCS while you have changes that have not yet been uploaded, the application preserves your version and uploads it as the latest version. Your colleague's version remains in the file's version history in DOCS. The application notifies you of the conflict.
¶ 5. Permissions and recovery
DOCS Disk respects the access permissions for each DOCS folder.
| Missing permission | Application behavior |
|---|---|
| View | A text file explaining that you do not have access to the folder appears instead of its contents. This file exists only on your computer and disappears when access is granted. |
| Download | The file is visible but cannot be opened. The application reports that downloading is not allowed. |
| Add | Windows rejects attempts to copy, move, or create a file in the folder. The original file remains in place. |
| Edit | The file is read-only. If an application still saves changes, DOCS Disk restores the version from DOCS after the file is closed and saves your changes in Recovered files. |
| Delete | Deletion is canceled and the application displays a warning. |
| Rename or move | The original name is restored and the application displays a warning. |
If you can add files but cannot view them, a new file uploads to DOCS and disappears from the folder on your computer. The application warns you about this. You also receive a notification when your folder permissions change.
¶ If project access is revoked
The application notifies you that access has been revoked and removes files that were stored only in DOCS. Downloaded copies remain in the project folder as ordinary files. If there are no downloaded files, the project folder is removed from your computer. You can no longer upload changes to this project.
¶ Recovered files
If a local file with changes that have not yet been uploaded must be removed from the project folder, the application moves it to Recovered files. This can happen, for example, when the file is deleted on the server, file creation or editing is no longer allowed, or you switch companies while using the application. When switching companies this way, local files that do not yet exist in DOCS are also moved there.
File location:
<profile>\SIGNAX DOCS - Recovered files\<date>\<project>\<folders>\<file>
A link to the folder and its size appear in the lower-left corner of the main window. Open the folder and review the saved files. This is a separate folder, not the Windows Recycle Bin. Windows does not empty it automatically.
The Clear button permanently deletes recovered files after confirmation. Save anything you need before clearing the folder.
Switching companies after signing out follows a different process: the previous company's folders are moved to the Windows Recycle Bin. See Settings and sign-out.
¶ 6. Settings and sign-out
¶ Switching companies and users
Select another company in the main window. The application replaces the folder contents with the new company's projects. The previous company's files remain in DOCS, while their copies are removed from your computer. Changes that have not yet been uploaded and local files that do not exist in DOCS are moved to Recovered files. If such a file is open in an application, its project folder remains in place.
To sign out, click Sign out. The folder is disconnected from DOCS: files stored only in DOCS disappear from your computer, while downloaded files remain as ordinary files. You will need to authenticate again the next time you sign in. Signing in with another account also changes the available content.
Wait for synchronization to finish before signing out. If you sign in after signing out and select another company, the application can no longer distinguish downloaded copies from your local files and moves the previous company's entire folders to the Windows Recycle Bin. If the Recycle Bin cannot accept them, the folders remain in place. However, Windows may immediately delete files that are too large for the Recycle Bin.
¶ Startup and shutdown
Enable Run at startup in the main window to start DOCS Disk when you sign in to Windows.
To exit the application, right-click its system tray icon and select Close and stop synchronization. The folder remains in File Explorer, but files that have not been downloaded cannot be opened, and local changes will not upload until the application starts again. If a drive letter is enabled, it disappears until the next launch.
¶ Uninstalling the application
Uninstall DOCS Disk through Windows Settings → Apps, or run the .msi installer again and select Uninstall. The SIGNAX DOCS folder and its downloaded files remain on your computer. If required, delete the folder manually after saving any local data you need.
¶ Deployment across your organization
An administrator can install the same .msi package silently using msiexec with the /qn option, or deploy it through Group Policy. The installer supports the following initial settings:
| Property | Purpose |
|---|---|
HUB |
The address of your own DOCS server for an on-premises installation. For Group Policy deployment, set it through an MST transform. |
AUTORUN |
Run the application at startup. |
DRIVELETTER |
Drive letter. |
COMPANY |
Default company. |
Users can change the initial settings in the application. Changing the server address requires signing in again.
¶ 7. Troubleshooting
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Server unavailable, red bar in the main window | Downloaded files remain available, but files stored only in DOCS cannot be opened. Click Check availability. Operation resumes automatically when the connection is restored. A folder opened over a poor connection may briefly appear empty. |
| Synchronization paused by the server, yellow bar | Wait for synchronization to resume. New files are not downloaded or uploaded, but downloaded files remain available. Local changes are preserved and uploaded when synchronization resumes. |
| Version no longer supported | The application displays the minimum supported version and closes. Install a newer version of DOCS Disk. |
| Session expired | Sign in again when prompted. |
| Real-time updates stop arriving | The application notifies you. Changes are retrieved when you open a folder. Restart DOCS Disk to restore real-time updates. |
| The SIGNAX DOCS folder appears under This PC but does not open and is missing from the navigation pane | Open Task Manager, select Windows Explorer → Restart, or sign out of Windows and sign in again. |
| Context-menu icons are missing after an update | Restart Windows Explorer, or sign out of Windows and sign in again. |
A detailed activity log is available in the DOCS Disk main window. When contacting SIGNAX support, use the button in that window to open the logs folder and attach the relevant files to your support request.