edit grayed out inside an assembly

[elise_moss]

Using Inventor 2011, I have an assembly with two parts.  Only the assembly file is open, but I can't edit either of the parts inside the assembly.  Why not?

[JDMather]

Are the parts files also open in the background?

[elise_moss]

no, only the assembly file is open.  I can edit one part in-context, but not the second one.

[mflayler2]

Are they listed by the Project as Library components in your ipj?

[elise_moss]

no, these are both Inventor parts, not content center/library parts.

[mflayler2]

By library I do mean in a library path though, not a Content Center library part.

Can you attach the assembly and two files in a ZIP and a screen shot of your ipj options?

[elise_moss]

no, the attachment would exceed 20 MB.  No, all files are in the workspace folder, not the library folder.

[mflayler2]

If it doesn't right itself or if you do not find an answer I can do a Webex with you, but I don't have your email address in my system?  Are you still a prof at De Anza college, or of Moss Designs, or do I have the wrong elise?

[elise_moss]

No, I haven't taught at DeAnza for a while.  I teach at Laney and SFSU now.:)

[mflayler2]

Connect with me on LinkedIn if you are using it, or send me a comment on my blog so I can get your information without public disclosure.

[JDMather]

I assume you have rebooted and the behavior persists.
Does the behavior persist if you delete all part files in the assembly except one in question?
If so, what is the filesize if you roll up the EOP of the part and save and zip?

[Mark_Playle]

I think the answer lies in the fact that iParts cannot be edited in an upper level assembly.

See: http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Inventor-General/Editing-iParts-Within-The-Context-of-an-Assembly/td-p...

"iPart factory is only allowed to be edited in its own window. The iPart you are seeing in the assembly is a member file, not the factory. Unless it is a custom iPart member, regular iPart member is not allowed to be edited in context of an assembly and also none of the Part Modeling commands are available even if you open the member file in its own window"

Autodesk ought to enable iPart/s to be edited within an assembly and apply the change to all the factory parts, - where the parameters cause the other member parts to fail then these can be indiviually addressed. This would save lots of time. The benefits of iParts are hampered by this drawback.

Just the ability of projecting through feature positions from the Assembly to the iPart would be useful.

[Anonymous]

Yes this needs sorting - it's very frustrating.

Just the ability to project would be useful.

PS. I'm using Inventor Professional 2014

[peterclayton2729]

My assembly was only 'Load express', so I did a 'full load' on assemble tab which did the trick . . .