CC "Replace Family Template" only partially replaces the family.

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to change the appearance of some fasteners in the content center to match the finish and color of the fasteners I'm actually using in my project build. I've figured out how to modify a content center part and then re-publish it back to the content center by using the "Replace Family Template" command, but this only seems to affect some of the instances of a family. Specifically, I'm trying to change the "Hexagon Socket Button Head Cap Screw - Inch" and ""Hexagon Socket Head Cap Screw - Inch" from the default "semi-polished" appearance to "glossy - black". When I place the modified fasteners into an assembly, only some sizes have my new appearance. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to which ones are the default appearance and which are my customized appearance; it just seems that some sizes randomly don't use the customized template. The picture below, for example, shows all the 1/4-20 UNC fastener sizes in the content center for the Hexagon Socket Button Head Cap Screw - Inch family and some just won't take the new appearance from my custom template. It looks similar for all the other sizes and thread pitches of that family, too.

This is my first posting in this forum, so I apologize if I've put it in the wrong spot. I'm fairly fluent in Inventor with basic parts and assemblies, but this is my first attempt at working with the content center. I would really appreciate if anyone could help me figure out what's going on here. I want to also add some custom lengths to these fasteners, but I don't even want to attempt that until I can figure out this issue first.

I'm using Inventor 2018.3.4 64-bit (latest updates) with HSM Ultimate installed.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous 

Once a content center component is placed into the assembly, a local publish version is stored locally and Inventor always checks that first to see if it exist.  If it does it exist it never goes back to content center to see the updated versions.  So in your model you need to select manage/refresh standard components to update the existing ones already stored on your machine.,

[blandb]

Just note, that if you want to change an appearance color, you do not need to replace the family template. Just make sure to have a column in the family table that is mapped to the appearance and set it that way. No need to replace template for that.

[Anonymous]

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@Mark.Lancaster wrote:

@Anonymous 

Once a content center component is placed into the assembly, a local publish version is stored locally and Inventor always checks that first to see if it exist.  If it does it exist it never goes back to content center to see the updated versions.  So in your model you need to select manage/refresh standard components to update the existing ones already stored on your machine.,

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That was not an existing assembly; I created it and placed all those fasteners to check if the template update worked after changing the template.

[Anonymous]

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@blandb wrote:

Just note, that if you want to change an appearance color, you do not need to replace the family template. Just make sure to have a column in the family table that is mapped to the appearance and set it that way. No need to replace template for that.

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That would be great; I was going with the replace template method because there is no column for appearance in the table, only material. So you're saying the "Member.Color" is the property that is the appearance? And how do I select an appearance from the Inventor Appearance Library; just type the appearance name exactly how it is in the appearance drop-down?

[Anonymous]

Blandb: well I tried that, but it did the exact same thing: the very same instances in the family stayed the default appearance.

[blandb · Accepted solution]

You will have to go into the family table, and add a column. Map it member.color as shown in the image above. As for the appearance, you must make sure the name is EXACTLY as it is in the appearance drop down. You will have to type it in. Once you have that, and saved. You should be able to go to your assembly where you have the fasteners and go to:

Manage Tab > Content Center Panel > Refresh.

This will show you any out of date fasteners. If you are using Vault, make sure to check the files out to update them. Like @Mark.Lancaster had mentioned earlier I believe, when you initially place a fastener out of CC a local copy will be created. INV will look to the local CC location first to see if the bolt exists, and if so will use it, not from CC. If it doesn't find it in the CC location, then it will go and build the fastener. That is why we refresh is to rebuild the local copy from CC.

You can also go to: Tools > Application Options > Content Center Tab > Standard >and check the "Refresh Out of date content".

Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

So it still doesn't always have the updated appearance when the fastener is placed initially, but if I go and refresh like you said immediately, it will change to the correct appearance I set. Weird that a brand newly placed part has to be refreshed to get the appearance that was already there when it was placed...

Thanks for the help.

[jan_priban · Accepted solution]

Hello,

this is because you are placing CC part you have already placed, means you have already such IPT in you cache - folder defined by your project

There is option under Application Option to refresh standard part when you are placing CC part (what you are asking for), but unfortunately it does not work - we are aware of it, issue is being working on

So, what has been said here is correct, add new column and map it to Member.Color property

New instances follow new color, for exiting use Manage -> Refresh

Regards

Jan Priban