Instance Properties in Part list

[Tim.Malkowski]

Dear All,

I have just started using the Instance properties and it seems very useful. great innovation.  In a drawing i am producing i have a part list with a component with multiple instances.  the result i am after is to have a column that shows the all the TAG's which is the name of the instance property i have.  the issue i have found is that when they are multiple instances the cell just says *Varies*. 

Does anyone know how to get the desired result?

Desired result done manually 

[Tim.Malkowski]

Another issue and i can't believe this is correct is when adding the item balloons.  i have created a balloon style for the instance tags, but the balloon picks displays all the TAG's as i want in the part list but doesn't.  see pick below.  the ideal out come is that just the instance for the component selected is shown.  This doesn't seem correct

[CGBenner · Accepted solution]

@Tim.Malkowski 

Hi Tim.  What you are seeing is correct on both items.

1. If you have rolled up the parts list by Part Numbers, there is no way to automatically display all of the tag numbers set as instance properties.  The parts list would have to be set in such a way as to show each different tagged item separately.  You could do this by unchecking the Merge Instance Rows.  This should leave the rest of your BOM Merged by Part Number, breaking out only those with instance properties.
   
2. If you leave things merged and manually enter the tag numbers, they are all still on a single Item in the list, so all of them would show up when placing the balloon.  

[Tim.Malkowski]

Thanks for the help.  Just really frustrating there is no ideal solution.  I either have the balloon TAG's working and my item number being a mess or vice versa.   

Seems silly why they develop a system to give components a unique ID, but when you come to show it on a drawing you can only make it work if you give a unique item number. 

[Tim.Malkowski]

I have just discovered something when messing about and not sure if this is a bug, but i get the desired outcome when i created a balloon style with a sketch symbol and used the display property with lower case letters 

Below showing the lower case

Below showing upper case as the instance property is spelt 

different results

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! It could be a bug. In general, the property name should be case insensitive. But, in some part of process, the case might matter. It is better to keep things consistent and unique.

Many thanks!

[whinkle]

@Tim.Malkowski  As it happens, I was wrestling with this same issue lately, and just put up an Inventor Idea asking for an implementation of what you were looking for here (*Varies* -> enumerated list, when instances merged).  Cast your vote!  https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideas/bom-parts-list-option-to-replace-varies-with-enumerate...