Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

I typically don't use a parts list in my drawings but I do frequently need to call out several parts quickly by their part description.  Is there a way to do this in IV2012?  If so, is there a way to make this a permanent setting for my drawings?

[#2]

Hi SteveFrey, 

You can set up your own balloon style to do this, and then save it in your template or your Styles Library.

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[#3]

Thanks Curtis.  So I set up the new style as shown but when I try and add a balloon there's an arrow but no text.  Why do you think this is happening?

[#4]

This may be totally stupid, but I'm going to ask it.... Is there a value in the "Description" iProperty for all your files? That's where the balloon would pull from if you set it up like Curtis showed you.

[#5]

LOL!  There's never a question too stupid.  Actually, in this case, no because I was using parts that I don't normally use.  With this being said, I switched the property from DESCRIPTION to PART NUMBER where there is a value in the iProperties but it still doesn't work. 

At the same time when placing leader text I switched the properties in the dialog box to several different properties and they all worked. See attached.

I tried to edit the balloons without text and nothing happens.  Help.

[#6]

The only other thing I can think of quickly would be to see if what you are ballooning is in a subassembly. There are some parts list settings and BOM settings that can affect the way these balloons turn out. I apologize that I can't be more clear as I am not in front of IV at the moment and I am going from memory.

My point is that it may be possible you are pulling the description field from the sub assembly with each balloon you place instead of the individual parts. There is a way to control this from what I remember.

If this doesn't get you on the right track I'll have to take a look tomorrow (after my morning meeting).

Good Luck!

[#7]

Hi SteveFrey, 

I can't think of any reason for this other than what jeanchili mentioned. If you can post the drawing it might be helpful in determining what is at play here.

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[#8]

I originally tested this from an assembly that was compiled of parts that were created for test purposes.  What I didn't mention is that the assemblies I am using were all created by the frame generator.  It occurred to me last night that there are iProperties for a file but when I publish to the same file content center I enter key information like the file name and description.  I went back to my custom content center files that are used in these assemblies and tested my new balloon style and it works now.  I am going to play around with this but I think (with your much appreciated) guidance I have fixed the problem. 

[#9]

Okay, so after playing around with the "correct" files it now does work. 

So when I publish a shape to the content center for use with the frame generator are the iProperties or the fileds in the Publish Guide being displayed as the PART NUMBER or DESCRIPTION?

[#10]

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SteveFrey wrote:

So when I publish a shape to the content center for use with the frame generator are the iProperties or the fileds in the Publish Guide being displayed as the PART NUMBER or DESCRIPTION?

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I'm actually not sure because I haven't created my own frame generator shape before, but what I remember from my training is the publish guide fields populate the family table in CC and the family table populates the iProperties when the file is created. So I think, in essence, the publish guide fields should populate the iProps when the file is created.

Curtis can definitely speak more intelligently here. He literally "wrote the book" on this.

Is this what you were asking?