functioning in a group

[Nel_Zelpher]

My collage days are 10 years ago.  I learned inventor way back then, but now that I am actually sitting infront of inventor again, I find that wile I still have the ability to create my own project, I am completely helpless when trying to function in a group.  I have tried pack and go, I get many new folders but they are empty and the files I tried to send are no ware to be found.  I have tried to use the design assistant, but it gets an error immediately and no further action can be performed.  

The only way that even remotely appears successful is a direct copy and past from the companies directory.  Which I know is the wrong thing to do.

Where should I go to gain these skills?

[swalton]

What does the company normally do?

1. Work off individual project files on each user's workstation?
2. Work off a single project file and directory structure on a file server?
3. Work off of a separate project file and directory structure on a file server for each product/customer?
4. Use Vault?
5. Use some other PDM system?

Each of these choices will have different project file requirements and steps to avoid overwriting other user's work.

[Nel_Zelpher]

They appear to have many project files,  all single user projects.  I have found multiple libraries.

But essentially we download our work each morning, work on it, then submit our changes to the server.  Every machine appears to have a single project file, with a couple hundred inventor files in that same folder.

Previously the one guy who was doing all the inventor work, was doing all the mechanical and the 3d portion of the electrical.  I am supposed to take over the electrical part.  Here enters in my issues.  

so we have a directory with the established design, I need to grab the assemblies, part files, drawing files from the network.  put them into my project file and add them to my project.  then change the file names to the new drawing numbers.  But when I did pack and go I found that some of my drawing files were still referencing models on the network.  

[SharkDesign]

They will do, you have changed the names of them so Inventor cannot find the model the drawing references. 

You need to open the drawing and choose 'replace model reference' to link it to the new file. 

[swalton]

If all the files necessary for a single design are stored in the same folder, than your task is a bit easier.

Your company is making you manually re-create the basic operation of Autodesk Vault.

1. Grab the folder from the server and copy it to your hard drive using Windows Explorer.
2. Open Inventor
3. Select the project file that is scoped to the folder you just copied.  
   1. If there is not such a project file, make a new project file that is scoped to the folder you just copied.
4. Work from your hard drive all day.
5. Close Inventor.
6. Use Windows Explorer to copy your local working folder back to the server.

For your rename tasks, try using Design Assistant.  It will let you open your top-level drawing with Design Assistant and use its tools to rename the various member files and their drawings in one step.  Used properly, DA will update all the links/path info that Inventor stores in the assemblies and drawings to the renamed files.

See the online help here: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2022/ENU/Inve...

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I believe you do need a PDM system to help manage the files. Please look into Vault (server-based) or Upchain  (cloud-based) or Fusion Team (cloud-based).

Many thanks!

[BDCollett · Accepted solution]

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@Nel_Zelpher wrote:

They appear to have many project files,  all single user projects.  I have found multiple libraries.

But essentially we download our work each morning, work on it, then submit our changes to the server.  Every machine appears to have a single project file, with a couple hundred inventor files in that same folder.

Previously the one guy who was doing all the inventor work, was doing all the mechanical and the 3d portion of the electrical.  I am supposed to take over the electrical part.  Here enters in my issues.  

so we have a directory with the established design, I need to grab the assemblies, part files, drawing files from the network.  put them into my project file and add them to my project.  then change the file names to the new drawing numbers.  But when I did pack and go I found that some of my drawing files were still referencing models on the network.  

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I would recommend they do something sooner than later to make this process smoother. There will inevitably come a time when they will need a data management system and the longer they wait the harder the process becomes.