Overview
To ensure the integration remains stable and is not tied to any individual's account, we strongly recommend using a dedicated service account in Autodesk Forma. This account will be used to authorize the integration and maintain persistent access to project data.
The setup involves three stages:
Step 1: Create a service account in Autodesk Forma
Step 2: Add Trunk Tools to Autodesk Forma (via the service account)
Step 3: Connect Autodesk Forma to Trunk Tools and import data modules
Who Can Do This
✅ Business Admin — can set up and manage integrations across the business.
✅ Project Manager — can manage integrations within their assigned projects.
Requirements
Autodesk Forma Account Admin access (to create the service account and install Trunk Tools)
A shared mailbox or alias for the service account (e.g., trunktools-integration@yourcompany.com)
Project Admin access in Autodesk Forma for the service account on relevant projects
⚠️ Do not use a personal user account to authorize this integration. If that user’s account is deactivated or their permissions change, the integration will break for all connected projects.
Create a Service Account in Autodesk Forma
A service account is a non-personal Autodesk Forma user created solely to manage integrations. It should be tied to a shared inbox that your team can access, not an individual’s email.
Create the service account user
Sign in to Autodesk Forma (https://acc.autodesk.com) as an Account Admin.
Navigate to Account Admin → Members
Click +Add Members
Enter the shared mailbox email address (e.g., trunktools-integration@yourcompany.com)
Set the role to Account Admin so the account can install and manage apps
Complete the invitation and accept it from the shared mailbox
Add the service account to relevant projects
In Account Admin, navigate to Projects
Open each project that will be connected to Trunk Tools
Go to the Members tab and add the service account
Assign the role of Project Admin so it has access to all modules (Documents, RFIs, Submittals, etc.)
⚠️ The service account must be a Project Admin on every project you intend to connect. If it only has Member-level access, some modules may not sync correctly.
Add Trunk Tools to Autodesk Forma
Note: Complete this step while signed in as the service account, not your personal admin account.
Sign in to Autodesk Forma https://acc.autodesk.com/projects as the service account
Go to the Account Admin screen
Click Apps
Find and select Trunk Tools, then click Add
Add the Autodesk Forma integration to Trunk Tools
Note: You do not need to be signed in to Trunk Tools with your service account, but you should be logged into Autodesk Forma with the service account
Navigate to Trunktext.com and sign in
Click the project name in the top-left corner and select the project you want to integrate
Select Integrations on your left navigation bar
Click + Add New Integration and select Autodesk Forma as the source system and continue
Click Authorize Autodesk Forma. You will be redirected to an Autodesk Forma login page
⚠️ When prompted to authorize, ensure you are signed in as the service account, not a personal account. Check the account name in the top-right corner of the Autodesk Forma login screen before clicking Allow.
Click Allow to grant Trunk Tools access
Select the Hub and Project you want to connect
Click Import Project
Import Data Modules
Once the project is connected, you can choose which Autodesk Forma data modules to sync into Trunk Tools (e.g., Documents, RFIs, Submittals).
Click on the row for the Autodesk Forma integration in your Active integrations
On the left side of the screen, you will see a list of available Autodesk Forma modules (Documents, RFIs, Submittals, etc.)
Click on a module and toggle it on to begin the import
The files will begin importing into the Trunk Tools workspace. Please let your account manager know once you have integrated
Note: Initial imports may take some time depending on the volume of data. The status will update to Ready once processing is complete.
FAQs
Why do I need a service account? Can I use my own login?
Using a personal account creates a single point of failure. If that user leaves the company, loses Autodesk Forma access, or has their permissions changed, the integration will stop working - often without warning. A service account tied to a shared mailbox ensures continuity.
Additionally, if your team is also using TrunkSubmittal's integrated review workflow in Autodesk Forma, the same service account set up in this guide is what enables that. Once the service account is added as a reviewer step in your Autodesk Forma submittal workflow, TrunkSubmittal will automatically run reviews and post responses back into Autodesk Forma - no personal login required. Contact your Trunk Tools account team to get that workflow configured.
What permissions does the service account need?
The service account needs Account Admin access in Autodesk Forma to install the Trunk Tools app, and Project Admin access on each project you want to connect. Without Project Admin, some modules (like Submittals or RFIs) may not be accessible.
What if I need to connect multiple projects?
Repeat steps starting at Add Autodesk Forma to Trunk Tools for each project. The service account only needs to be set up once; just ensure it has been added as a Project Admin on each additional project before connecting.
How quickly will changes in Autodesk Forma be reflected in TrunkText?
You can typically expect to see events reflected in TrunkText within 20 minutes, but based on the volume of changes, the size of files, and other factors, it could take several hours.
Who should I contact if the integration isn’t working?
Reach out to your Trunk Tools account team or contact support at support@trunk.tools