topic Re: Content library download in Inventor Forum

Content library download

inigoF754V — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:42:00 GMT

I have a doubt whether it can be done or not. Can I download all the content from the inventor's "content center" somehow? I mean I want to have direct access from the explorer to all the files in the content center without having to access inventor.

Re: Content library download

blandb — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:54:12 GMT

If it has been generated and you are using vault, you can "get" the Content Center folder, but you only have access to what what checked in. Since it is essentially "table driven", the items are not built until told to do so when being placed inside of INV. Even if using desktop content (no vault), all the files do not exist as already modeled items.

I could be wrong though. Maybe there is another way.

Re: Content library download

Gabriel_Watson — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 17:24:51 GMT

Assuming you have Vault, and that C.C. is a library folder saved there, you can Get/Download all that content and then alter your project file in your local disk to point at that C.C. Also change the Application Options > Content Center box to "Inventor Desktop Content" at the correct path there and you should be ok.
Note: usually when I set this up for others I would also download templates and design data to the local disk and make sure the project file (or App. Options > File) paths made sense in pointing to those locations.

P.S.: there might be issues later on to re-link C.C. paths when you switch back to the regular Vault project after designing using the local content, so please test it with a small assembly.

Re: Content library download

CGBenner — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 18:51:18 GMT

@inigoF754V Welcome!

I'm curious what you would want to do with these part files, outside of Inventor? As @blandb said, these are table driven parts and what is in the Content Library is just the data table used to generate part files when called on by a command inside of Inventor. Even if you were able to generate and download every part in the standard Content Libraries, you would be looking at somewhere around 750,000 part files. If you could describe your use case a little, maybe we can help you fond a solution. Thanks!

Re: Content library download

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 21:50:00 GMT

750,000 part files, wonder how much space that would take up?

Chris, is that all parts, including all the different industry standards or just the ANSI, etc?

Re: Content library download

Frederick_Law — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 23:55:14 GMT

@inigoF754V wrote:
I mean I want to have direct access from the explorer to all the files in the content center without having to access inventor.

Without Inventor, you won't even see the thumbnail.

They're all Inventor files.

If you got time, you can export them to STEP, STL or other format.

The library without all the generated parts is over 7GB.

Re: Content library download

inigoF754V — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 07:53:32 GMT

Hello,

Just I would want if is possibly to have as .ipt or .step( or any other typer of 3d files) to use as library in other 3D design sofwares, to avoid looking up in webpages as traceparts.com, etc

Thanks

Re: Content library download

inigoF754V — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 07:56:30 GMT

It´s to have a huge lybrary to take as 3d models to use for other design programs. It´s tough to find same standards . thanks

Re: Content library download

CGBenner — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 12:19:52 GMT

@Anonymous

I am basing this off of documentation I saw several years ago and I'm pretty sure it applies to the entire library. By now, 2024, it may be even higher than that. Of course, this also does not contain any custom families added by the user.

@inigoF754V

The only way to do what you would like to do is to open Inventor, start an Assembly and place an instance of each member of each family in the Content library. Then save them all. It can be done, but honestly it might be quicker to search the web for them. 🙂

Re: Content library download

Frederick_Law — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 14:15:45 GMT

@inigoF754V wrote:
Hello,
Just I would want if is possibly to have as .ipt or .step( or any other typer of 3d files) to use as library in other 3D design sofwares, to avoid looking up in webpages as traceparts.com, etc
Thanks

iLogic to generate all files for CC and export them to STEP.

Re: Content library download

jesserop — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:22:49 GMT

Did anyone find a solution for this? I'm looking to do something similar, but not the whole library. Only some welding necks and elbows etc.

Would it work to put them all into an assembly and then run a .STEP macro?