Inventor Project File

[jaskiratVPK8U]

I am always confused about the purpose of inventor project file.

I made all my standard components in default project file in inventor 2020. Now, I have Inventor 2021 and every single file is outside of active project. I think the default project file I had is no more in the same computer. 

Can anyone help me how to fix this and Is there any video or write-up available to understand the purpose of the project file & its workflow. We do not have vault yet. 

[Frederick_Law]

Make your own Project File.

Put all files in a folder you choose.

You can use the same project file in any new version of IV.

In the beginning, project files is to separate projects.

So user can focus on the project and won't mix up files.

Later lots of user found it easier to use single project file for everything.

[A.Acheson]

When using a single user project the importance of unique file naming cannot be stressed enough. There is a button in the project file to switch this on.  While you can probably work around this with sub folders/categories, this can lead to assembly files when being loaded and especially if links are broken to find different files with the same name.

I agree solid tutorials can be hard to find on this subject. You have to piece together several videos and several tutorial sources to get the big picture.

It maybe old school but a book could fill n the blanks. 

https://books.google.ca/books?id=c7xtaUHf_m0C&pg=PA23&dq=inventor+project+files&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUK...

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! With or without Vault, I personally believe you need to set up a non-Default project. The Default project allows you to save files in the folder existing folder path without having to make any change. This convenience can lead to problems when there is a need to collaborate with other users or restructure the files. In Default project, the file path saved in Inventor is absolute, as opposed to relative. Once the files are not placed at the same place, Inventor will not be able to find it.

The project file helps create a persistent project environment so that the project can be transplanted from one machine (user) to another. Our enterprise customers usually set up a companywide project. And, then they start adding folders within the workspace or workgroups.

Many thanks!