topic Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies? in Inventor Forum

What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

SMillsYS3X2 — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 20:05:14 GMT

I have a large assembly with multiple drawings associated with it and it's sub-assemblies. I am trying to copy then modify it under different files. I can't seem to do an easy copy and rename in one go, or doing things that lose links between files. Or worse, unknowingly modifying the source files.

→ "Pack and Go" doesn't change file links, new files are still referencing source files. It also doesn't allow a multiple renaming. Also I don't see how I can get the sub-assembly drawings as well unless I do multiple pack and gos. I would also have to do Save As later at multiple levels, and be careful not to have the source files open.

→ "iLogic Design copy" can get all the drawings in one go, but has very limited ability to rename. I can add a prefix to everything, but would still have to do the multiple-renaming for the new drawings.

→ "Copy Design" through vault doesn't seem to pick up the sub-assembly drawings. I also have no ability to rename or move files in vault after the first copy.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

kacper.suchomski — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:00:21 GMT

You can try the method of inserting the assembly file into a new assembly and using the Copy command in the assembly file.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

SMillsYS3X2 — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:20:41 GMT

Isn't that just making two sub-assemblies from the same file? Where does the renaming and linking to new copies of their drawing files come in?

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

hollypapp65 — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:22:02 GMT

Copy Design in Vault should work, check your setting. It should pick all child and dependent.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

SMillsYS3X2 — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:48:35 GMT

The drawing files that use the sub-assemblies are parents of the sub-assemblies. It's like copying from the top level assembly, and expecting it's drawing file to be copied too.
These are the action settings I'm using;

... Ok I just found out I can add each drawing file one by one to the copy selection. Will that keep the links between files in the new copy?

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

SMillsYS3X2 — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 20:07:20 GMT

Tried. Partially worked. Could add multiple drawing files to same copy. But vault crashed after doing the 3rd search and replace of file names. ☹️

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

SMillsYS3X2 — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 20:11:20 GMT

Maybe there is a way to at least temporarily combining the drawing files into one large drawing file? Then copy and rename that?

EDIT: Copying the multiple drawings files into one file sheet by sheet was stopping on errors. Section views that came from other sheets was stopping the copy of some sheets.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

hollypapp65 — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 21:36:40 GMT

@SMillsYS3X2 wrote:
Maybe there is a way to at least temporarily combining the drawing files into one large drawing file? Then copy and rename that?

EDIT: Copying the multiple drawings files into one file sheet by sheet was stopping on errors. Section views that came from other sheets was stopping the copy of some sheets.

Very bad idea. Large amount of sheets could crash IV.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

SharkDesign — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:18:17 GMT

Vault is definitely the best.

It should get all the sub asm drawings too as mentioned above.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

SMillsYS3X2 — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:47:52 GMT

But then I have no control over file names, and still ....🤔.... Ok, I could have done that then just make a copy from one file folder to another. (－‸ლ)

I was trying to find other ways because once a file is in vault, I can't move, rename, or delete it without admin intervention.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

swalton — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:09:17 GMT

Have you enabled "Show Drawing View"? It will add a Documentation folder to the copy-design tool that will list all the drawings that consume each component in the command.

You should be able to set the target directory for the copied components too. Default is the same folder as the source documents.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

mluterman — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:12:22 GMT

This has been a life-saver for me (and it's free!):

https://apps.autodesk.com/INVNTOR/en/Detail/Index?id=1327296558373781320&appLang=en&os=Win64

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

hollypapp65 — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:55:24 GMT

@SMillsYS3X2 wrote:
But then I have no control over file names, and still ....🤔.... Ok, I could have done that then just make a copy from one file folder to another. (－‸ლ)

You can change all the destination name and they'll link/ref properly.

That's the main reason to do it in Vault.

You'll need to rename all at once. It'll take a while. Take your time and double, triple check before you click ok.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

SMillsYS3X2 — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:32:13 GMT

And that runs into a problem I am trying to avoid. I am changing the design of the original in major ways, I don't know what files I need yet. I may need another sub assembly, I may need to get rid of one or more. I'm hamstrung on the design updates if I can't remove or add things without calling for an admin 4+ times a day when redesigning. They are usually busy with other things. I want to re-use as much as possible, but I can't predict the changes that well. THEREFOR I need that control over files until the design is more set and won't actually change much before being preserved in the Vault.

Much easier to do most of the work outside of vault, then load it into it when the design is actually set.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

SMillsYS3X2 — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:43:12 GMT

Now that helps, didn't know that was a setting.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

SMillsYS3X2 — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:13:00 GMT

This is what seems to work, made copy of all files without any ties to source files and copied files are keeping links and details with each other.-

1 – Copy entire overall model with iLogic and add suffix or prefix to file name.
2 – Copy file Drawings *normally , and rename.
– 2a – May need to DL or update from vault to personal computer first.
3 – Re-link copied drawings to new assembly files ² . One by one. Reference by Reference. With the tool Manage → Replace Model Reference
4 – Make changes as wanted to new model and drawings.
5 – Rename files and drawings with ‘Save As’ or iLogic copy ². Repeating re-link with top level drawing as needed.
6 – ONLY THEN, AFTER REDESIGN IS DONE is an upload of new model and drawings into vault made.

* - using your computer's standard file manager

² - using Inventor

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

andrewiv — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:25:07 GMT

That sounds like a lot of extra manual work than what is needed. Vault copy design is definitely the way to go for copying any model and drawings. I haven't heard anything in this thread that copy design cannot do. If you're worried about not knowing what sub components will need to be changed you can just copy the top assembly and any subs that you know will need to change. Then, when you determine that another sub needs to change you can just copy that sub at that time and replace it in the parent assembly at that time or you can use copy design to copy and replace a subcomponent in the top assembly. You just have to set the top assembly to re-use instead of copy and then it will modify the file instead of copying it.

On a side note, it sounds like your admin maybe has too tight of security on your vault. In our vault, I allow engineering to rename and move files, but not delete. I also set up a folder named purge so if someone wants to delete something from the vault they just move the file into that folder. I check it every once in a while for files or they can send me an email saying they need this to be deleted.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

SMillsYS3X2 — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:03:46 GMT

Sound like there is a good risk of accidently making changes to the source files that way, and not even know about it until I'm getting 'read-only' alerts as I try to save them. One of the reasons I'm doing it this other way is the clean break between the source files and the copied files, while keeping the needed links/references ONLY between the copied files. The ONLY links/reference between these two sets after being copied is standard files/components that are used in multiple projects; screws, nails, fasteners, and company logo plates.

Re: What is the best way to copy and rename a large assembly with multiple drawings linked to it and it's sub-assemblies?

andrewiv — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:19:34 GMT

Ultimately you have to do what works for you and your company. If the way you are currently doin it makes more sense than the other ways discussed here then I would stick with it. Personally I don't have an issue with the way I described, but you do have to be a little more diligent in making sure that if you need to change something it is a copy and not the original file. Doing it the way you described would lead to duplicate files that didn't need to change for the new design or you would have to go and replace them with the original files before checking them into Vault.