Ilogic - Save new Assembly configurations and references with new name

[Nickefth61]

Hello Inventor Forum Community,

This is my first post on the forum, though I've been reading it a long time. My question is similar to others posted but I cannot find anything exact as this:

I automate drafting for my company with Ilogic. No one else in the company understands Ilogic at all. I have a particular Ilogic Assembly referencing 12 ipts, with an easy to use form that is the only thing that will be touched by the other draftsmen. I need to find an easy way for them to save a particular configuration of the assembly, with a different file name, without the Vault.

I've tried Pack-n-Go and it seems to work, but is very tedious for the other draftsmen, and once they change the component names in explorer, the rules are thrown completely out of whack as they no longer reference that file name.

ILogic Design Copy seems like a good thing to try but that is also very tedious to the drafstmen working, and they have a hard time working with the project files to find all the needed components.

I'm sure the above is a bit confusing so let me just try to break it down to the minimum:

-Copy an Ilogic configuration and save it with a completely different file name

-Cannot use the Vault

-The new configuration does not need to have rules. i.e. if you could use the rules to change the assembly, and then save that assembly and child parts without rules, that would be fine.

I appreciate any help you all can give. Feel free to ask me to explain soemthing furthur.

Nicholas

[jR0sal3s]

Did you try Design Assistant. (In the explorer, right click on the assembly with iLogic and select design assistant)..

This basically answer the third item, you can set anything in your original file with ilogic so as it changed...save it and go to the explorer and use design assistant to copy and rename the reference/link files...

jR

[Owner2229]

Hi,

try this rule in attachment.

Put 'New ASM names.xml' in your './Styles/iLogic/UI/' folder (Styles folder can be found in 'Inventor' > 'Aplication Options' > 'Folder')

and copy content of 'New ASM names.txt' to new external rule and run the rule.

It would absolutely need some adjustment to meet your needs. Just let me know what you want to change and I'll do it for you, or you can do it on your own. There may be some issues with functionality of some functions, because I had to delete some lines, so let me know if it does.

I can direct you to add this as a button to your Ribbon if you'll want to use this.

[Nickefth61]

Hello Owner2229 and JR0Sal3s,

Sorry for not getting back. This is the first chance I've gotten at work to come on and see the replies.

I could use design assistant, but its tedious to use for the draftsman and machinists because they need to rename every single component in the assembly manually. I would rather have a rule that does it all semi-autonomously. I appreciate the suggestion though, it would definately work. I forgot to mention that in addition to the 12 ipts there are a bunch of non-alterable sub-assemblies that are supressed inside the part, such that there are almost 60 parts in the assembly that would need to be renamed and copied.

I'm going to try out Owner2229's rule and see how it goes. I'll get back to you after I try it.

Thanks for the replies!

Nicholas

[Mark.Lancaster]

Another option is iLogic Design Copy..   This function only appears when no files are opened in Inventor.  It allows you to apply a prefix and/or suffix to all of the existing components that make up an assembly.   See this article if you are not fimilar with iLogic Design Copy: http://synergiscadblog.com/2014/09/23/copy-files-easily-with-ilogic-design-copy-even-without-ilogic-...

[Nickefth61]

Mike,

I've downloaded your files and am looking for the Styles folder. I can't find any folder under that name. I have Inventor 2015.

The closest type of folder I have is under my 'Program Files'>'Autodesk'>'Inventor 2015'>.

Could you tell me how you navigated to that folder?

Thanks.

[Nickefth61]

Mark,

I'm pretty familiar with Design Copy. That would work for my application, but it requires some extra work on the draftsman's part. I'm looking more for a way to integrate the save portion inside of the iLogic of the top level assembly.

I appreciate the suggestions. I found an interesting .pdf that may be of use to others wanting to copy assemblies. The info is setup in an easy to read way. The link is below.

http://cadsetterout.com/free-ebook-secret-copying-autodesk-inventor-assemblies/

Thank you.

[Owner2229 · Accepted solution]

Hi, the Styles (Design Data) folder can be found in opened Inventor (the program, not folder), then go to Inventor's 'Aplication Options' and there is 'Folder' tab.

There you can find the Styles(Design Data) folder. It would probably say something like

%PUBLICDOCUMENTS%\Autodesk\Inventor 2016\Design Data\

The 'Aplication Options' or just 'Options' can be found, when you click the big 'I' in Inventor and then it is in bottom middle.

The full folder path should be something like this:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor 2016\Design Data\iLogic\UI\

There may not be the iLogic folder generated yet in your 'Design Data' folder, so you can create it manualy, or just try to save an Global Form.

The rule may not exactly do what you what, but we can change that. Just let me know what you would like it to do.

[Nickefth61]

Mike,

I've loaded everything as you described and tried out the rule on one of my assemblies. When I run the rule, an empty form appears. Once I click done, windows explorer appears and I am able to specify a file path.

The rule saved all the components that were active in my assembly - suppressed parts were not included, which I am happy about. It cuts down on memory usage.

I want the rule to save my top-level assembly, all sub-assemblies and parts, and a new project file, as well as allow me to change the file names as it runs, and to alter the relationships between the files so the assembly associates with the .ipts in the new location, not the previous file location.So what appears to be missing in the rule at the moment is:

-Change file names during execution

-New Project file

-Does it update file relationships?

I appreciate the help. I mainly use Ilogic for associativity of parts and some small file changes and excel calculations. Your rule is over my skill level at the moment. What is the "Dim" code that frequently appears in your rule? I see it often in external rules, but I can't find what it means. I would normally assume it references a dimension except in your rule it doesn't appear to do so.

Thank you for your help.

[Owner2229]

Hi,

1) The new filenames are handled by the Form, so make sure you have placed the 'New ASM names.xml' file in correct folder (Design Data\iLogic\Ui\). If there was created a new form with name 'New ASM names', then replace it.

2) I'm gona have to look at the project file creation code, but it wont be a problem, I guess

3) Yes, new assemblies are using parts from new location.

'Dim' is used to set the type of an variable.

E.g. If I want an wariable to be String type and give it a value, then I'll use this:

Dim MyNewVariable As String
MyNewVariable = "Some text"

I can also short it to one line:

Dim MyNewVariable As String = "Some text"

It's useful if you are using the variable for more things, to prevent errors, as iLogic wouldn't know what type of variable you wanted it to be and will give it the type of first value.

E.g. If I want to set value to my variable and then change it, then it may throw an error, as iLogic would assume that it should be Integer type.

MyNewVariable = 10
MyNewVariable = "Some text"

[Owner2229]

Btw. Why would you want to create new project file? Do you want to use this assembly as a template?

The problem is, that you must have all files closed to change the active project.

[Nickefth61]

Mike,

The .xml file is the one I downloaded form you and seems to be in the correct place. I will redownload it though and put it in the correct folder again and see if that works.

Thanks for the explanation of Dim. I see it in most of the code posted on this forum and I never knew. That'll make reading through much easier!

I don't want to use the saved assembly as a template, the assembly I am saving from is the template. I just find that having a project file for each portion is an easy way to keep all of the parts together and working correctly. I can understand why it'd be a problem to make though. It isn't a needed object.

Thanks,

Nicholas

[Owner2229]

Hi, you can try to look if it is in your Global forms tab in Inventor.

In your 'iLogic Browser' click on 'Global forms' tab. You should see the form there.

(To get to 'iLogic Broser' you have to open an existing/new part or assembly and go to 'Manage' tab and there is 'iLogic Browser'.)

To the Project issue: We can make it to place all the new parts and assemblies in an sub-folder of oyur project workspace or add new workspace folder to your current project, so you will have it all in one folder and also in one project.

Adding new folders to project is fine, but creating new project might be a problem, as I cant find an code for it. But it could be done by an workaround, I think.

[Curtis_Waguespack]

---

@Owner2229 wrote:

... but creating new project might be a problem, as I cant find an code for it. But it could be done by an workaround, I think.

---

Hi Owner2229 ,

I didn't read the whole conversation, but this example might get you started with ceating a new project. This example was taken from the API samples.

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

' Set a reference to the DesignProjectManager object.
Dim oDesignProjectMgr As DesignProjectManager
oDesignProjectMgr = ThisApplication.DesignProjectManager

' Create a new singler user project
Dim oProject As DesignProject
oProject = oDesignProjectMgr.DesignProjects.Add(kSingleUserMode, "MyProject", "C:\temp\")

[Owner2229]

Thanks Curtis.

[Nickefth61]

Mike,

I think I've found the issue. . The .xml file you attached is in the correct place, however when I copy it into notepad++ and convert the text to an .xml file, I cannot copy the indentations, format, or encoding. A form pops up when I run the rule, but it is empty. Is there any way you can send me the file as a download, rather than a link?

As for the project issue, I prefer the way the rule saves all of the files now, in a new space with fresh part/assembly relationships. I appreciate the effort, but I think it'd be better to stick without the part file if a new one cannot be generated. A new project file isn't necessary, just a perk. It works very well without it.

I appreciate your continued help.

-----------------------

Curtis,

Thanks for th code. I it works great. I am going to try to integrate it into the rule that Mike sent me. I haven't used that type of code in the past, so it'll be good practice.

Thanks to all who responded!

Nicholas

[Owner2229]

Hi, cant you just right click it and hit Save As?

Anyway I have Ziped it for you, it's in attachment.

[Nickefth61]

Mike,

Thanks! I wish I could, but it won't let me. No matter left- right-click just gives me the select, copy, or open in new tab options. Open in new tab shows me the text, which I can only highlight and copy. Pasting destroys the structure though.

The .zip file downloaded great with a left-click. I replaced the .xml file I previously put into the styles folder in Ilogic. The rule works great, and now I get the form up and running!

Thanks a lot for all of your help. This was exactly what I was looking for.

Nicholas

[Owner2229]

Hi, you're welcomed. Let me know if you'll want me to do some changes to the code or form or if you'll want to add the new project creation code there. Or if you'll just need some clarification.

[michaelQ5BBW]

Hi,

Sorry That I reopen this thread.

I've tried your code and it saves the assemblies and the parts on the new location.

Still only the assmbly is renamed. The parts are copies with the original names.

Is there an option to save all the parts with a new surfix (like discribed in the form)?

Thanks!

Br,

Michaël