How to export a linked component

[Anonymous]

I have an assembly (2), I would like to export a component and save it to my dashboard. I would then like to bring that component into a new design(3) and whenever I modify this component in (2) the component in (3) will automatically change also. Can somebody please help me with this?

[lichtzeichenanlage]

You can simply export any component by rght-click -> Save Copy As to a project. Unfortunately this will not create an link between the source and the exported component. There is no solution for this. Unless Fusion 360 does not allow cross projects links, you have to copy it anyway to other projects with again is a copy and not a link.

[Anonymous]

So your saying there is no way to insert a linked component into another design? That surely can't be right there is so much information round on how to break the link between original and derivative 

[lichtzeichenanlage]

No, I'm not say this. What I said is that you:

• can not export a component from an existing design AND maintaining a link between the existing design and the exported component. They live different lives after the export.
• can not include components into a design in a DIFFERENT project. They have to be located in the same project. This means that you either have to have just one project (what would force other problems / inconveniences) or you have to copy your component to other projects but than you'll have again two independent instances

You can link a component into your design simply by right-click -a component in the Data panel and than choosing Insert into Current Design .

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@Anonymous wrote:

So your saying there is no way to insert a linked component into another design? That surely can't be right there is so much information round on how to break the link between original and derivative 

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[garrett.glaser]

Am I right in understanding then that there is no way to insert a single component that was built inside a larger file into any other file? I can only export that component as it's own (now unique and un-linked) file and insert that into anything else? I can see the kind of "killing your grandfather" paradoxes this might create if files refer to themselves recursively, but it does seem like being able to link components inside a file in a one-way direction should be possible.

[garrett.glaser]

I realize this is mostly a case of "build your projects in a more sensible way in the first place" but sometimes things get way more complicated than it initially seemed they would be and the idea of going back to square one once the full scope is known is a real bummer.

[davebYYPCU]

This thread is old enough to have been left behind the current versions of Fusion.

Fusion does allow export as linked these days, it’s called Derive.  From this file to another, 

updates in the source are sent to the destination.  The destination can take modifications, but they do not propagate back to the source.

Might help....

[garrett.glaser]

Found that right after I wrote this! Solves my problem, thanks!