so one of the issues you may have with the update settings is the chance the relationships get updated and therefore the external ties get lost because the new file does not contain the externals.

Best practice is to

1. Receive baseline files from subs
2. Conduct external relationship meetings/agree on Program Baseline
3. Perform exports of each subprojects and return them to the subcontractors ( these versions will contain the external relationships)
4. Each sub is to use the provided file to update their schedules.
5. Receive the updated files from the subs with the update setting. (files will all still have the external relationships)
6. Conduct meeting/manage external relationships and agree on program progress.
7. Repeat export of projects
8. Repeat process

The key is on both parties to adhere to

1. Always use the current file provided by master
2. Never adjust external relationships while the individual projects are being updated outside the master

It’s a method… but to be honest given that we live in a world of shared environments, just pull out your credit card, bring your subs into OPC, and give them their project access with limited permissions and stop doing all this import/export stuff. And don’t say they don’t know how to use it. They can be trained. Companies have to learn Aconex let’s say if the project documents are stored there even if the only have ever used Procore. This is the same.

This is the correct answer.