Import Outside Items with Different Material Assignment?

[phlyx]

This isn't the only place I have worked where the template parts are set to Material = Generic and Generic is some super ugly pinkish-purple.  This red-flags any parts in an assembly that have not had a "real" material assigned to it.  But it also causes some issues.  When we import parts from outside sources (usually STEP files), they also come in as Generic.  In cases of items that come in as a single IPT, or simple assembly made of a couple parts, it's no big deal.  But when we import components such as complicated conveyors, they may come in with sub-assemblies a half dozen levels deep with hundreds upon hundred of individual parts.  Every one of those parts comes in as "Generic". 

We can override the colors but when we do things like 3D shared views, it ignores those overrides and brings things in that ugly pinkish-purple color.  For presentation files that isn't a really good look.  Would be nice if 3D shared views obeyed the color overrides (and left things that are not visible as invisible rather than displaying everything not suppressed), but would like to know if there is some trick to assign a different material to imported components different than the material is of the standard IPT template?

[hollypapp65 · Accepted solution]

Import use the default material set in template.

When you change appearance, double check ViewRep.  Might need to add ViewRep beside Primary and set all file to that ViewRep.

Don't need to change ViewRep if you use material appearance.

You can use iLogic to set material for all child in assembly.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Inventor STEP import does recognize the material style assigned to each part. I guess either the parts were not assigned to any material style or the material style was not properly recognized by Inventor. Could you share an example that illustrate the behavior?

Many thanks!

[phlyx]

This is a sample conveyor STEP file.

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi Scott,

Th parts in the STEP do not have assigned material styles. As a result, the default material style in the Standard.ipt is assigned.

Many thanks!

[jnowel]

Another idea I can think of is changing the Template before Import.
It will be an iLogic rule that overwrites the Standard IPT file in the Template folder (copied from a backup file that the rule can prompt user where/which to get).

[pkomatlapalli]

Hi @phlyx ,

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[phlyx]

@jnowel can you provide an example or iLogic code to do something like that?  I know enough about iLogic to be dangerous but easier if I have some base stuff to work with.

Thanks! 

[jnowel]

I just asked CoPilot for a sample rule
Try changing the variable to suit a Test source and target folders.
(I lost what I have used in the past, though I was switching IDCL file. But works in the similar concept.)

'===========================================
' iLogic: Copy file based on user selection
'===========================================
' Ask user which source file to use
Dim choice As String = InputListBox("Select source file:", _
                                    {"Source A", "Source B"}, _
                                    "Source A", "File Selection")

' Define file paths
Dim sourceA As String = "C:\SourceFolderA\Template.ipt"
Dim sourceB As String = "C:\SourceFolderB\Template.ipt"

Dim destFolder As String = "C:\TargetFolder\"
Dim destFile As String = ""

' Pick correct source file
If choice = "Source A" Then
    destFile = System.IO.Path.Combine(destFolder, System.IO.Path.GetFileName(sourceA))
    System.IO.File.Copy(sourceA, destFile, True)
ElseIf choice = "Source B" Then
    destFile = System.IO.Path.Combine(destFolder, System.IO.Path.GetFileName(sourceB))
    System.IO.File.Copy(sourceB, destFile, True)
Else
	Exit Sub
End If

MessageBox.Show("Copied: " & choice)