2015 Alpha Sort Component- Sorting Failed

[karthur1]

Using 2015 Alpha Sort Component in the Assembly tab, prodcutivity panel.  Many times when I try to use this tool, I will get the error message "Sorting Failed".  I noticed today that if I manually rearrange the assembly browser, and then run the sort again, it works the second time around.

Here is what the browser looks like before the sort attempt that fails.

I then rearranged the assembly browser so that the "Notes" node was on the bottom.... like this.

Now when I run the sort, it works. It seems that the sort is having trouble with the "Notes" node.

Can this be corrected in a hotfix?

Thanks,

Kirk

[mercerc]

I open an existing Inventor 2015 assembly file and created a new folder in the assembly browser called notes and placed in upper section of the browser (see image).

I then selected the Productivity tool Alpha Sort and it completed as shown in the image.

I didn’t have anything in the notes folder. This was done using Inventor 2015 with SP1 applied. Please check and see if you have SP1 applied.

[-niels-]

Having only skimmed this topic, i'm wondering why you're making a folder instead of an engineering note?
Wouldn't it be better to recreate the same item?

[karthur1]

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@mercerc wrote:

....

 Please check and see if you have SP1 applied.

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Charlie,

Yes, SP1 is applied. For what its worth, I have had this same issue with and without SP1.  It just finally gotten on my nerves enough to post about it.

The "Note" node that I show in my clip is not a folder named "Notes".  It is actually an engineering note that is in the assembly.

Thanks,

Kirk

[mercerc]

Thanks for the update I want back and created a new assembly and added a Inventor note in the middle of the file. I then added more components and was able to do a Alpha sort with the Note in middle with no isses. See  https://screencast.autodesk.com/Main/Details/66995992-6275-4307-8295-a75f0cb0fb68

Now this was with a new file so you may want the ensure that the file is completely up to date by running the assembly through a Design Update in Task Scheduler adding the options of Total Rebuild and Compact Model history.

If after that you still can sort we may need to take this off line and look at the file.

[karthur1]

Charlie,

Attached is an assembly that shows the issue.  To see this, open the "Sort Test.iam". When it opens, try to sort. It fails when I try it.

Now, move any of the components that are below the Notes node so they are above the node. Try to sort... it works now. (undo the move so the part is back in its original location).

Move the one part that is above the notes node, so that it is below the notes.  Sort now works (undo the move again).

Delete any of the components in the model tree. Try to sort... it now works.

See this video.

I did notice that sometimes the notes node is placed at the top of the tree and other times, it is placed at the bottom. With this assembly, the correct order would be at the bottom, since there is not an item that would be alphabetically below it. I did notice in your video, that the notes node was placed between "SM-102" and the "V-Belt".  That is not sorted correctly.

Thanks,

Kirk

[karthur1]

Here is a different assembly that the sort fails on.  I can move things around in the model tree and then the sort will work.  Seems to have something to do with either the "Notes" node or the "Fasteners" folder.  I have saved this assembly in Inventor 2015 and it is fully migrated.

http://screencast.com/t/buYAYZFl

Kirk

[karthur1]

And... yet another example of Alpha sort failing.  This time, there is not any "Notes" in the browser.  Wehn I delete the "Fasteners" folder" it will then sort.

See video here.

[AndyWallace]

I am having this with 2016 also. It seems to be ANY folder that causes it. And I use folders to group fasteners. Why can't Inventor sort outside the folder, then resort and alphabetize the parts inside each folder? Has this been logged as a bug anywhere?

Moving the folders down to the bottom of the browser allows the sort to run, but the sort does not run inside the folders.

Andy

[karthur1]

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@AndyWallace wrote:

..... Why can't Inventor sort outside the folder, then resort and alphabetize the parts inside each folder?

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Thats a good question.  The alpha sort was orginally in the Inventor Software Development Kit (SDK) before "Folders" came along.  They added folders and then a few releases later the started including the Alpha sort in the Inventor install.  They didnt make any changes to Alpha Sort tool to work with the newly added browser folders. Another half-baked feature some would say.

There are several IdeaStation entries on sorting, but most people dont get to excited about it. Here is one in particular.  The Alpha Sort tool could really use some work!

Kirk

[AndyWallace]

FYI, I am having this issue with 2016 Pro 64 bit SP2 Update 1. There are NO folders and NO suppressed components in the assembly, but sort just fails!

Andy

[karthur1]

Sometimes "Notes" can cause it to fail too.  Can you show us a screen shot of your model browser?

[AndyWallace]

Oddly, I can't replicate it now! Works fine. No changes to model! [scratches head]