topic Re: Create component preserving history? in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Create component preserving history?

jrychter — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 13:05:52 GMT

So, I've just stumbled onto the quick tip video that establishes Rule#1: Always start a fresh design with a new component (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6MMw-dfS8s)

But what if I didn't?

I have a design I've been working on for the past two days. I finished one part and figured I could now turn it into a component and create additional ones. But that doesn't seem to preserve my history/timeline within the component that has just been created from a body. The history remains at "toplevel".

Is there any solution or a way to fix this (that does not begin with the words "well, you should have…")?

Re: Create component preserving history?

jeff_strater — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 13:55:16 GMT

Hi @jrychter,

This is a good question. Unfortunately, the answer is "it depends on what's in the component". If you're lucky, and there is not a lot of cross-component references, you can probably fix up your design so it looks like you followed "Rule #1".

Unlike real life, in Fusion, you can go back and rewrite history

Basically, it involves rolling back the timeline, inserting a New Component feature, then dragging any sketches, work geometry, features, etc into the new component.

Here is a very simple case:

Good luck with your project.

Jeff

Re: Create component preserving history?

TrippyLighting — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 19:52:24 GMT

If there is currently only a single part in your design or better if it is not not a component, but still a body, don't turn it into a component.

1. Save it and close it.

2. Create a new design and save it.

3. Insert the previously saved design into the new design.

4. Break the link before saving.

5. Save it.

You could now dispose of the extra part/design in the data panel

Fusion 360's R.U.L.E #1 was established long before that video. I posted it over a hundred times before I finally made the sticky post referred to in this thread 😉

Re: Create component preserving history?

jrychter — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 09:07:11 GMT

Thanks for your help! The solution from @TrippyLighting was the simplest in my case, and worked well, even though I already had more than one component in that design. I was able to untangle everything.

I can't help but feel that this was a close call, though — perhaps the R.U.L.E. #1 should be taught more prominently, or even enforced by default? (e.g. always start a new canvas with a new component already selected?)

Re: Create component preserving history?

vorrin_tal — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:56:03 GMT

This would be just what I need, but I seem unable to get current fusion360 to behave that way (if I activate the component, I can't see any history whatsoever in the history bar, so can't drag my timeline marker to envelop history subsequent to creating a component).
I know, I should have followed Rule#1, but ... I just learnt of it (and the usefulness of components had just clicked, minutes before that) and it'd be nice to have one freebie component with history 😄

Is there a flow to do this in the current version and I'm not getting it, or am I just out of luck :)?

Re: Create component preserving history?

TrippyLighting — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 12:26:46 GMT

Please share your model, along with questions!

Re: Create component preserving history?

TheCADWhisperer — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:08:08 GMT

@vorrin_tal

Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

Re: Create component preserving history?

laughingcreek — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 19:40:49 GMT

follow the instructions in post 3