topic Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour in Vault Forum

Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

DCA3000 — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 14:50:22 GMT

I've been using Inventor Pro 2022 and Vault Basic 2022 for a couple of years, and have just been given a new workstation by my company. Inv and Vault 2022 are installed, as is Design Review.

On my old PC, when in the Vault right-clicking on a dwf (or dwg) and selecting 'open in window' did just that, the drawing opened in a small window within the vault software. This is how I like it.

On my new PC doing this results in the drawing opening in Inventor Read-only. I don't want this, I want it to open in a window as it used to. I have been through the various options screens in Vault and everything looks to match the settings of my old pc.

What am I missing?

Thanks

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

gandhey — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:51:24 GMT

Hello @DCA3000 ,

Are you doing the 'View in Window' command on the same file in new machine ?

Can you check if you have the dwf file created for the inventor file you are trying to view ?

If yes, can you please share the video of the issue.

regards,

Yogeshwar

(Vault team)

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

RajSchmidt — Fri, 02 May 2025 11:07:56 GMT

Have a look at the various settings in your client options. Especially the default settings for viewing (https://help.autodesk.com/view/VAULT/2022/ENU/?guid=GUID-18A5B6A9-933C-46AF-9865-79A15C3ED6E5)

Another hint: You should really consider updating the software since neither Vault nor Inventor 2022 are supported on Windows 11.

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

DCA3000 — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:32:50 GMT

Hi, sorry for the delayed reply! In answer to your questions, this happens with any file, not just the one in the video.

Also, we have our Inventor / Vault set up so that a DWF is generated any time a file is checked into the Vault.

I've attached a video showing what happens, screen capture wouldn't work properly so the video was taken with my phone.

Previously, when I clicked on the image in the preview tab, a larger image would appear there, but now I get a message saying to install Design Review.

Design Review is installed but I still get this message.

When I right click on the file and select 'View in window' you can see what happens. Previously, the file would open in a window (in fact you can see a window appear for a split second)

it then disappears again and Inventor Read-only opens showing the file.

I've checked all my settings in the Vault and Inventor and they appear to be the same as on a colleague's machine which is working as expected.

Any thoughts?

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

steveh3 — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 12:13:39 GMT

Do you have Inventor installed on that machine? We had a similar situation on users who don't use Inventor , they only had Vault and the View in Window would always open in Read-Only. Have to do some digging to see what we did to fix this.

Also, I am assuming you are trying to view the same file on both machines? If the dwf doesn't exist or failed on check in...It will open in Inventor Read-Only.

Best,

Steve H

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

ihayesjr — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 14:48:30 GMT

Please review this article.

Start by launching Design Review outside of Vault.

"Autodesk Design Review is not installed and is required to view files..." when viewing files in Vault Client

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

mikeh4 — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 19:22:04 GMT

@ihayesjr I'm using Vault Pro 2024. Would you confirm that this solution is going to use Design Review and will not use the Autodesk Viewer, and the only way to use the Autodesk Viewer in the "View in Window Function" is to have Inventor or Inventor RO installed? Where I'm struggling is having Options set to use Autodesk Viewer the preview pane appears to be using the Autodesk Viewer, but if I do "View in Window" it tries to fire up Inventor when the DWF files do exist in Vault. Is that "As Designed"? Or does a newer Vault address this?

Thanks!

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

ihayesjr — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 19:33:18 GMT

@mikeh4

According to your settings, the View tab and "View in Window" options should always use the Autodesk Viewer if a DWF file is available.

If you encounter the error, it indicates that Inventor must be installed when using the "View in Window" option, and a DWF is available; this is a known bug.

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

mikeh4 — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 20:07:14 GMT

Thanks @ihayesjr - Assume it's documented well enough on your side so no need for us to add to it? Appreciate the promptness!

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

ParametricModel — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:24:17 GMT

@ihayesjr do you have an ETA on the fix? My company is experiencing this issue. Currently I can't look at past drawings. Right-Click "View in Window" opens Inventor RO. View tab-> double click thumbnail displays

Autodesk Design Review is not installed and is required to view files.

Autodesk Design Review can be downloaded for free from https://www.autodesk.com/products/design-review/download.

We are using

Windows 11 Enterprise Version 10.0.26100 Build 26100
Autodesk Vault Professional 2024 Build 29.3.71.0 2024.3.1 Update
Autodesk Inventor Professional 2024 64-Bit Edition Build: 343, Release: 2024.3.1 - Date: Fri 06/28/2024

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

ihayesjr — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:54:34 GMT

@ParametricModel

The fix is on you. If that version of the drawing doesn't have a DWF, there is nothing to view in the View tab. You also need to update your settings to use the Autodesk Viewer.

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

ParametricModel — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 18:22:55 GMT

If you encounter the error, it indicates that Inventor must be installed when using the "View in Window" option, and a DWF is available; this is a known bug.

I'm talking about the bug. thanks for quick reply.

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

ihayesjr — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 18:25:34 GMT

Sorry, I don't know what bug you are referring to.

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

ihayesjr — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 18:27:47 GMT

Wait, I see. Did you install the 64-bit of Design Review or the 32-bit Design Review?

You must use the 32-bit version.

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

ParametricModel — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 18:53:24 GMT

@ihayesjr Maybe let's start from the top. I was issued a new laptop and the behavior of vault has changed per the original post. Our job processor creates .dwf for idw files.

Can you help me troubleshoot?

My current vault behavior:

When I right click on a drawing, View In Window it opens Inventor Read-Only. (not desired).
When I click View tab (preview pane), I see thumbnails. When I double click thumbnail I get "Unable to view the file selected. Click the 'Open' button to view with an external viewer.". Clicking "open" start Inventor RO. Sometimes I see "Autodesk Design Review is not installed and is required to view files. Autodesk Design Review can be downloaded..."

Previous Behavior

Right click, View in Window would open a preview window with history dropdown that I could scroll. I think this is called "Vault Preview"

I would like to restore the previous behavior.

Here are my settings and installed Autodesk Software.

Re: Vault Basic 'View in window' behaviour

ihayesjr — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 19:17:43 GMT

@ParametricModel

Change the setting in the Red box to "Autodesk Viewer".