Grrr... Project Shortcuts and server failures

[Anonymous]

Our power went out today for a while (wicked storms) and the servers went
down. After I rebooted and tried to start IV I found one of the mapped
drives was not up yet. So I didn't have access to my titleblocks,
templates, project files etc..

So I shut down IV and wait...IT gets the server back up in a few mins and
when I open IV all of my shortcuts to project files (in my local directory)
are gone.

Annoying. It's happened before too so I should know better.

Is this an IV thing or a Windows thing. I suspect IV as links to other
shortcuts remain. Why does IV feel it necessary to remove these shortcuts
just because it doesn't find them?

--
Sean Dotson, PE
http://www.sdotson.com
Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
www.sdotson.com/faq.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[rllthomas]

Hmmm, I may be partially responsible for that 😞 Our guys would never delete the old shortcuts so I suggested to the developers that perhaps IV should clean its own shortcuts up.

[Anonymous]

Sean Dotson wrote:
> Our power went out today for a while (wicked storms) and the servers went
> down. After I rebooted and tried to start IV I found one of the mapped
> drives was not up yet. So I didn't have access to my titleblocks,
> templates, project files etc..
>
> So I shut down IV and wait...IT gets the server back up in a few mins and
> when I open IV all of my shortcuts to project files (in my local directory)
> are gone.
>
> Annoying. It's happened before too so I should know better.
>
> Is this an IV thing or a Windows thing. I suspect IV as links to other
> shortcuts remain. Why does IV feel it necessary to remove these shortcuts
> just because it doesn't find them?
>
> --
> Sean Dotson, PE
> http://www.sdotson.com
> Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
> www.sdotson.com/faq.html
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

We virtually eliminated the need for shortcuts. We place all the
project files in one location and point everyones IV to that network
storage drive in the application options. As long as IV remembers where
that location is it can always find the project files and the data files
(they're both on the same server). Should the server go down, then it's
time for a brew and who care where the files are anyway.

--
Hal Gwin
Mechanical Designer
Xenogen

Dell Precision 650
Dual 2.66 GHz Xeon
1.5 GB DDR
Quadro4 900 XGL
nVidia 6.14.10.4201 drivers
Dell UltraSharp 19" LCD

[Anonymous]

Good idea but then the project file can not be kept with the model files.
So do you end up using absolute or relative paths...?

--
Sean Dotson, PE
http://www.sdotson.com
Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
www.sdotson.com/faq.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
"Hal Gwin" wrote in message
news:A9213BA5523963430081357C98C8AC28@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Sean Dotson wrote:
> > Our power went out today for a while (wicked storms) and the servers
went
> > down. After I rebooted and tried to start IV I found one of the mapped
> > drives was not up yet. So I didn't have access to my titleblocks,
> > templates, project files etc..
> >
> > So I shut down IV and wait...IT gets the server back up in a few mins
and
> > when I open IV all of my shortcuts to project files (in my local
directory)
> > are gone.
> >
> > Annoying. It's happened before too so I should know better.
> >
> > Is this an IV thing or a Windows thing. I suspect IV as links to other
> > shortcuts remain. Why does IV feel it necessary to remove these
shortcuts
> > just because it doesn't find them?
> >
> > --
> > Sean Dotson, PE
> > http://www.sdotson.com
> > Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
> > www.sdotson.com/faq.html
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
>
> We virtually eliminated the need for shortcuts. We place all the
> project files in one location and point everyones IV to that network
> storage drive in the application options. As long as IV remembers where
> that location is it can always find the project files and the data files
> (they're both on the same server). Should the server go down, then it's
> time for a brew and who care where the files are anyway.
>
> --
> Hal Gwin
> Mechanical Designer
> Xenogen
>
> Dell Precision 650
> Dual 2.66 GHz Xeon
> 1.5 GB DDR
> Quadro4 900 XGL
> nVidia 6.14.10.4201 drivers
> Dell UltraSharp 19" LCD
>

[Anonymous]

"Good idea but then the project file can not be kept with the model files" ?
When I first started on IV (4.0) the help said something about do not put
project files in same folder as workfiles. But I always ended up with that
scenario, I can't say I understand project files any better now. Although I
do not put project files in with workfiles now, I would imagine that there
are plenty of IV users who use a variety of different layouts?
For some reason IV keeps putting short cuts and duplicated one at that where
it wants?
If nested paths are not allowed why oh why does the "samples" project have
them!!!!!!! Autodesk?
Kind of contradicts what the experts say and only adds to my confusion.
Go to IV 7.0 Click project Tutorials, click open in the file open window,
and show all files and you will find a project file in with the tutorial
files!?


--
Laurence,

Power is nothing without Control
---


"Sean Dotson" wrote in message
news:FAA6AC066C018126ACC9F2153BAF70D0@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Good idea but then the project file can not be kept with the model files.
> So do you end up using absolute or relative paths...?
>
> --
> Sean Dotson, PE

[Anonymous]

I've gone through several server crashes, and I got fed up with IV
forgetting where my projects are.
So, I do this:
I have a "Project File Shortcuts" folder on the server, while all the actual
*.ipj files are in the same respective folder that the part and assembly
files are (I don't understand why they'd recommend otherwise). Anytime I
make a new project, I just copy and paste the new shortcut into my "Project
File Shortcuts" folder.
IV is set up to look in this folder for the projects, though all it finds
are shortcuts.
When the server goes down, IV obviously can't get to those shortcut files -
so it reverts to looking in "My Documents" and the "Default" project
(atleast with my setup). I guess if you've got some projects stored on your
local machine, you could put extra copies of the shortcuts to them in "My
Documents" - provided that "My Documents" is also on your local machine (I
guess you'd be out of luck if your IT dept puts "My Documents" on another
network drive).
Oh - and I do use relative paths for all my projects and I even use nested
folders (I don't understand why they'd say this isn't good either?).
Just some thoughts for ya'll, Tim W.

"Sean Dotson" wrote in message
> Our power went out today for a while (wicked storms) and the servers went
> down. After I rebooted and tried to start IV I found one of the mapped
> drives was not up yet. So I didn't have access to my titleblocks,
> templates, project files etc..
>
> So I shut down IV and wait...IT gets the server back up in a few mins and
> when I open IV all of my shortcuts to project files (in my local
directory)
> are gone.
>
> Annoying. It's happened before too so I should know better.
>
> Is this an IV thing or a Windows thing. I suspect IV as links to other
> shortcuts remain. Why does IV feel it necessary to remove these shortcuts
> just because it doesn't find them?
>
> --
> Sean Dotson, PE
> http://www.sdotson.com
> Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
> www.sdotson.com/faq.html
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

[Anonymous]

Same thing happens with a portable hard drive. I keep my .ipj's with the
project files for nearly seamless portability, but my shortcuts are always
disappearing. At least now I know why it's happening. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

That would work however then all users will see all projects. The way I
have it setup now only those projects which a user copies shortcuts into his
local project folder are visible to him.

Not a big deal to recreate the shortcuts but there is no reason why it
should do this...

--
Sean Dotson, PE
http://www.sdotson.com
Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
www.sdotson.com/faq.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Tim W" wrote in message
news:2DE14F5007ABFBD1047939C806EC5193@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I've gone through several server crashes, and I got fed up with IV
> forgetting where my projects are.
> So, I do this:
> I have a "Project File Shortcuts" folder on the server, while all the
actual
> *.ipj files are in the same respective folder that the part and assembly
> files are (I don't understand why they'd recommend otherwise). Anytime I
> make a new project, I just copy and paste the new shortcut into my
"Project
> File Shortcuts" folder.
> IV is set up to look in this folder for the projects, though all it finds
> are shortcuts.
> When the server goes down, IV obviously can't get to those shortcut
files -
> so it reverts to looking in "My Documents" and the "Default" project
> (atleast with my setup). I guess if you've got some projects stored on
your
> local machine, you could put extra copies of the shortcuts to them in "My
> Documents" - provided that "My Documents" is also on your local machine (I
> guess you'd be out of luck if your IT dept puts "My Documents" on another
> network drive).
> Oh - and I do use relative paths for all my projects and I even use nested
> folders (I don't understand why they'd say this isn't good either?).
> Just some thoughts for ya'll, Tim W.
>
> "Sean Dotson" wrote in message
> > Our power went out today for a while (wicked storms) and the servers
went
> > down. After I rebooted and tried to start IV I found one of the mapped
> > drives was not up yet. So I didn't have access to my titleblocks,
> > templates, project files etc..
> >
> > So I shut down IV and wait...IT gets the server back up in a few mins
and
> > when I open IV all of my shortcuts to project files (in my local
> directory)
> > are gone.
> >
> > Annoying. It's happened before too so I should know better.
> >
> > Is this an IV thing or a Windows thing. I suspect IV as links to other
> > shortcuts remain. Why does IV feel it necessary to remove these
shortcuts
> > just because it doesn't find them?
> >
> > --
> > Sean Dotson, PE
> > http://www.sdotson.com
> > Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
> > www.sdotson.com/faq.html
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

What about each user making a zip file containing their shortcuts and
placing it in their local project folder. If / when IV deletes them, just
unzip them again. Just another thought... Tim W.
(I strongly agree there is no reason IV should delete them in the first
place, though)

"Sean Dotson" wrote in message
> That would work however then all users will see all projects. The way I
> have it setup now only those projects which a user copies shortcuts into
his
> local project folder are visible to him.
>
> Not a big deal to recreate the shortcuts but there is no reason why it
> should do this...
>
> --
> Sean Dotson, PE
> http://www.sdotson.com
> Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
> www.sdotson.com/faq.html
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------

[Anonymous]

Sean Dotson wrote:
> Good idea but then the project file can not be kept with the model files.
> So do you end up using absolute or relative paths...?
>
> --
> Sean Dotson, PE
> http://www.sdotson.com
> Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
> www.sdotson.com/faq.html

Relative Paths are set True. The project files not being in the same
folder as the data files has never been a problem. Even P&G creates a
new project file without problems. Switching project files is no
problem because the project file location is controlled in the app
options for everyone. There are three of us here and each of our
individual project files (semi-isolated) are located there also. We
also don't have to steal checkouts. We can log onto each others
machines, select their local project file, and check-in files they may
have inadvertantly left check-out.

--
Hal Gwin
Mechanical Designer
Xenogen

Dell Precision 650
Dual 2.66 GHz Xeon
1.5 GB DDR
Quadro4 900 XGL
nVidia 6.14.10.4201 drivers
Dell UltraSharp 19" LCD

[Anonymous]

Sure but the user would need to continually back this up.

Like I said it's not a big deal it's just unnecessary.

--
Sean Dotson, PE
http://www.sdotson.com
Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
www.sdotson.com/faq.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Tim W" wrote in message
news:4FE852D277026472C0BB3C28DC25B97C@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> What about each user making a zip file containing their shortcuts and
> placing it in their local project folder. If / when IV deletes them,
just
> unzip them again. Just another thought... Tim W.
> (I strongly agree there is no reason IV should delete them in the first
> place, though)
>
> "Sean Dotson" wrote in message
> > That would work however then all users will see all projects. The way I
> > have it setup now only those projects which a user copies shortcuts into
> his
> > local project folder are visible to him.
> >
> > Not a big deal to recreate the shortcuts but there is no reason why it
> > should do this...
> >
> > --
> > Sean Dotson, PE
> > http://www.sdotson.com
> > Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
> > www.sdotson.com/faq.html
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

[rllthomas]

Everyone here has a personal network drive spaced mapped as "u:". So your U is your U and my U is my U and my U isn't your U and your U isn't my U. Well thats how I explain it anyway. So I had each user put a directory called Inventor Projects on their "U drive". I then have IV store the shortcuts in that directory. Now when a user vaults his project, backs it up on CD, and deletes the folder the shortcuts go away. It works great for US...

I will also note that since we switched to overpriced network appliance boxes we don't have network down time unless we have no power at which point it doesn't really matter because my UPS batteries all died and well, we have revenue problems these days and you get the point.