The Dusty Portal is the web-based hub where your team manages projects, files, and user access across office and field work. You prepare and publish layout files in the Portal so the right people on the jobsite see the correct, approved files on the Dusty App (iPad). This article explains what the Portal is, who uses it, and what you can do in it.
The Portal runs in a web browser. It is separate from the Dusty App that operators use on the iPad in the field, though the two work together: what you publish in the Portal is what the field team prints from.
Who uses the Portal
The Portal is built for the people who plan, prepare, and coordinate layout, and the field teams who execute it. Typical users include VDC and BIM coordinators, company administrators, project managers, superintendents, and field operators. Each person's access is set by their assigned role (see User roles below).
When your organization first starts with Dusty, the Dusty team sets up the initial Portal invite for your company. From there, your own Admins manage who has access.
What you can do in the Portal
Manage projects and files. Create projects, upload layout files, and organize the content your field teams will print. Publishing a file in the Portal is what pushes the approved version to the Dusty App for the field.
Control who has access. Admins add and remove users, assign roles, and share individual projects with the right people.
Prepare files for the field. The Portal is the destination for the file-prep workflow (Revit → AutoCAD → Dusty Portal). For the step-by-step prep checklist, see Dusty File Prep Checklist (Revit → AutoCAD → Dusty Portal).
Review Floor Elevation results. When the FieldPrinter 2 collects slab elevation data, that data syncs to the Portal, where you can view heatmaps and download point and area reports. (Floor Elevation is currently in Beta.) See Floor Elevation (Beta) and Floor Elevation (Beta) Reports.
Connect from the AutoCAD plugin. The AutoCAD plugin signs in to the Portal to publish and sync files directly from your drawing environment.
User roles
The Portal uses roles to control what each person can do. At a high level:
| Role | Can do | Cannot do |
|---|---|---|
| Admin | Create/manage projects, add/remove users, assign roles, upload/edit/publish all files, manage sharing | — |
| Editor | Upload, edit, and publish files; view shared projects | Add/remove users or change roles |
| Viewer | View shared projects and files; download when permitted | Edit, publish, upload, or change project settings |
Assign the lowest role a person needs — this protects file integrity and keeps publishing controlled. For the full breakdown, including how project sharing and external-partner (guest) access work, see Dusty Portal: User Roles and Project Sharing.
Getting started
If you're new to the Portal, the most common first tasks are getting your team set up and signed in:
- Admins: How Admins Create New Portal Accounts for Their Team
- Didn't get an invite, or it expired? Resending a Portal Invite as an Admin User
Related articles
- Dusty Portal: User Roles and Project Sharing
- How Admins Create New Portal Accounts for Their Team
- Dusty File Prep Checklist (Revit → AutoCAD → Dusty Portal)
- Floor Elevation (Beta)
- File Crashes or Fails to Load in the Dusty Portal or iPad App
- Unable to Connect to the Dusty Portal in the AutoCAD Plugin (After Successful Sign-In)