Autodesk Inventor Interop reference older version

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Hi,

My question is how can I program in vb.net for an older version of inventor with a newer version inventor.

I want to create a add in referenced to the Autodesk.Inventor.Interop.dll inventor 2017, but I am having installed inventor 2018.

How can I do that?

[Frederick_Law · Accepted solution]

Most of the old dll are installed at: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly\GAC_MSIL\Autodesk.Inventor.Interop

Delete reference to 2018 and add reference to another dll.

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Super.
Did not know that.
Now I can program also for older releases.

[Frederick_Law]

I maintain few version for my addin: 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Open the project, change the reference dll, compiled file location and save it with a new file name.

If there is changes then I'll need to compile it 3 time.

I believe there is better, faster way to do this but I haven't figure it out yet.

A batch compile script and a installer to copy would be great.

I think I can set my folder to be the same as the ApplicationPlugins folder.

[woodstylee3]

Check out the below on multiple build configs

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1786917/is-there-a-way-to-specify-assembly-references-based-on-b...

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Hi,

Do you no the example code for inventor versions like 2016 2017 2018 versions of inventor?

I mean how to do that?

[bradeneuropeArthur]

eneurope 

Collaborator

7:42 AM |

Hi,

 

Do you know the example code for inventor versions like 2016 2017 2018 of inventor?

I mean how to do that?

[Frederick_Law]

My 2012 addin works in 2015 and up.  UI is Ribbon only in newer version.  Basically I use the same VS template.

Even Examples in Inventor Help are the same over the year.

Only different is new features in newer versions.  The What's New section in each year's help will have new API features.  As long as you don't use new features, the addin will run in older version.

You'll have error when compile if you use any newer functions.

In the .addin file you need to set the version:

  <!--Created for Autodesk Inventor Version 21.0-->

  <SupportedSoftwareVersionGreaterThan>21.0</SupportedSoftwareVersionGreaterThan>

[bradeneuropeArthur]

But i am not deploying the interop version with my add
in.

[Frederick_Law]

No, you don't.

As long as the addin is compile with the correct reference it'll run.

Inventor is backward compatible.  2016 addin will run in 2018.  Unless it try to modify Library location

2017 installed 4 old interop: 17-20.  So you should be good with 2016 (20.0).