Load Inventor standards / settings for multiple versions of software

[ldevine]

Is there a preferred method to quickly change all the settings in Inventor(templates, preferences, ect)?  With our business we need to be able to lock down a configuration or setup for each our customers on our server, and then apply those changes for each user when they launch the program.  For SoildWorks and Pro/E this is a very straight forward process and easy to do.  In this manner, we might be working for company X using Inventor 2013 with their entire set of preferences in the morning and then company Y using Inventor 2014 in the afternoon, and then company Z using Inventor 2013 right before the end of the day.  For our other CAD packages, we do this through using a “project launch” dos batch file that deletes some local machine settings and then loads the appropriate locked down setting stored on the network.  This ensures each of our resources use the exact same everything in regards to the CAD application.  Every resource is the same – based on the company we are working with – they are NEVER allowed any personal preferences for anything.  We currently have process that does this for Inventor, but it is messy and hard to understand and deal with.  I would think that there has to be a better way to quickly standardize and control the resource CAD environment.  If you have any information on this, it would be VERY helpful.

Thank you....

[rdyson]

Not sure if this is universal or user dependent and same for Customize:

[innovatenate]

By "preferences" do you mean the application options or customize (UI) settings? I believe you can embed the application options or customization xml import into a shortcut start-up icon by editing the target path. See the below forum posting for further information.

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Inventor-General/Start-Inventor-with-fix-application-options/td-p/2756...

In application options, you can set a project file to start-up with a particular template and project file.

The active Project file (IPJ) determines the workspace, templates, materials, styles, content libraries, and more...

Project files can use the "Read-Only" settings for the Use Style Library setting to protect style libraries definitions from being edited. However, a user can switch projects if no files are open. I imagine that you would need to use a project file per customer.

Are there other settings in particular that you are looking to "lock down?" What are you doing currently for Inventor?

I hope this helps!

Thanks,