Measure tool in Inventor view

[Anonymous]

Why, just why?, would anyone concider making a viewer without a measuring tool?

Can it really be that it is the case with Inventor View? 

True or not, I need a viewer for my guys at the workshop to be able to take simple measurements from the Inventor 3D files, not DWF's.

Any suggestions?

(And Autodesk, please pull your self together and add that simpel feature to your free tool 😉 )

[cbenner]

Inventor View does not have a measuring tool.  For measurements, at this time, you'd need to use the DWF or possibly look into 3D PDF software?

As for the suggestion to Autodesk... please post that in the Inventor Idea Station so the right product team people will see it, and then post back here with a link to the idea so we can go vote for it if we want to.

Also... just curious... why would they need to take measurements from the native Inventor file as opposed to a DWF?  Just curious, I'm sure you have a reason.

[Cadmanto]

Chris,

The Inventor viewer is very similar in purpose to Solidworks E-drawings.  E-drawings has a measuring tool, but these tools are meant to give those on the outside of Inventor abilities to take/get general measurements for what ever their contribution is in the design process.

If this solved your issue please mark this posting "Accept as Solution".

Or if you like something that was said and it was helpful, Kudos are appreciated. Thanks!!!! 

     

[mcgyvr]

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@cbenner wrote:

Also... just curious... why would they need to take measurements from the native Inventor file as opposed to a DWF?  Just curious, I'm sure you have a reason.

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Not my reason but I can see many why it should..

Something like..

Because I model a part.. And send it to the CNC guy to program (he does not have the ability to directly import cad files into his program) and we cannot afford another version of Inventor just for his limited use and I do not do 2d drawings..

IMO it 100% should have the ability to allow users to measure.. and the ability to disable that functionality too..

This has come up many times in the past.. 

[Anonymous]

I really don't need another operation, like having to convert files to another format. 

I would like to just put a copy of my files on a usb stick and transfere them to the (no internet) pc in the workshop in order for my guys to be able to check the construction and now and then take a control meassurement.

But is there any way to get the DWF files genereted on save, then I would be the same for me??

[mcgyvr · Accepted solution]

You can use an ilogic rule to automatically create a dwf file each time you save..

ThisDoc.Document.SaveAs(ThisDoc.ChangeExtension(".dwf"), True)

 Not good enough at ilogic to know what it takes to turn on measurement options with that though..

[Anonymous]

...Might be a way to do it.

[Yijiang.Cai]

@Anonymous, @mcgyvr, @Cadmanto, @cbenner

Thanks - All very valid points that are well understood. The topic of future viewing solutions is currently being discussed under NDA as part of the Inventor Community Feedback/beta project - if you'd like to join the conversations there &  don't already have access then you can apply using this link:

http://Autode.sk/InventorBeta

[guycre8ive]

Yeah I can't believe they left the measure tool out, that's just poor decision making.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Starting from Inventor 2020, Inventor ReadOnly mode has been offered. Running Inventor RO does not require a license. It is like a viewer, much more powerful than Inventor View. Please check it out.

Many thanks!

[guycre8ive]

Don't you have to install the full program to get that to work? I may have missed something but I installed it thinking I could read my files after my trial expired and I didn't see an option for read only mode. I got excited about the flex program because it makes the software affordable for people that don't use it much but I have some NUC systems with limited storage in workspaces so a measuring tool would be very helpful.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Yes, it does require full install. Inventor Read Only is a separate executable, not the same as the Inventor.exe. You may need to search for the shortcut from Windows Programs. And, it does not require a license. It runs free.

Many thanks!