Opening old inventor files in newer versions

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I can't believe nobody has asked this, but I haven't found the answer in 1/2 hour of searching.  Everybody wants to know about opening a newer version file in an older version of inventor.  I want to know the converse:  I have inventor 2018 - can it open older version files.  For instance, can 2018 open 2015 files?  This is a concern I have because if I make a bunch of designs with 2018, and then upgrade in 2019 or 2020, I wouldn't want to be unable to open and edit my designs from 2018.  I guess I could try to find someone with older inventor files, and try to open them to see, but thought I might as well get a definitive answer here so I know how things work.

Thanks

[Curtis_Waguespack · Accepted solution]

Hi bheskitt,

Inventor is forward compatible, so opening older files is not an issue ... generally speaking.

Occasionally in the past, major changes to certain aspects of the program cause some heartburn when opening file from several releases back. Meaning that if the changes to the sheet metal tools in say Inventor 2008 were significant, and you tried to open them in Inventor 2018, you might have some trouble. So it's best to migrate the files in smaller steps, say 3 releases or so.

Also, when you open the older files in the newer version the migration takes place when you save, which means if you open an assembly in 2018 that uses parts last saved in 2017, then even if you don't change the part files, Inventor will likely prompt you to save and migrate them.

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

[blair]

The only version that can open a newer Inventor file is IV2017sp4 which will open a IV2018 file. This functionality was just added with the latest Update, other than that, you can't open a newer file with an older version.

[SBix26]

While nobody is willing to guarantee that files will open trouble free five or ten releases later (for good reason, I'm sure), my experience has been uniformly good.  Last time I tried opening a version 6 assembly (from the year 2002), I believe in Inventor 2016 (version 20), the only issue was an unresolved link due to a missing file...  Of course my modeling technique from back then was rather, um, primitive-- that was before finding this forum!

Sam B

Inventor Professional 2017.4
Vault Workgroup 2017.0.3
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit, SP1
Inventor Certified Professional

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Inventor should be able to open any file saved in current and earlier releases. If it does not work, it is a migration bug and we need to take a look at the file. Our migration test suite contains files dated back 15 years ago.

Many thanks!

[komisarsher]

Please help! We have drawing in Inventor 2005 that we can not open. Is there anyone who can help us. We don't want to get a whole new subscription, we just need to open these files. Please help. We need an Inventor Hacker I'm afraid.

[komisarsher]

Please help.We need someone to access drawings form 2005 Inventor software. Do you know of anyone who can help?

[komisarsher]

This is Inventor software from 2005. Any hope in opening drawing from that year?

[TheCADWhisperer]

---

@komisarsher wrote:

Please help! We have drawing in Inventor 2005 that we can not open.
We need an Inventor Hacker I'm afraid.

---

@komisarsher 

Far more information is needed.

Is it really a drawing (*.idw) from 2005?

Do you also have the relevant part (*.ipt) and assembly (*.iam) files?

Can you Attach the file(s) here?

Do you have any version of Inventor?

What do you need to do with the file(s) once opened?

Are you familiar with the Autodesk Viewer website?

BTW - Requesting “hacker” service would be against the terms of service for these forums.

[komisarsher]

I have an attachment with the File that I was told was created on Inventor
2005.

Do I have to have an Inventor Platform, old or new, to open it if in fact
it is not damaged beyond accessing it?

[TheCADWhisperer]

@komisarsher 

You didn’t answer these questions:

Q1. Can you Attach the file here? OK to answer no.

Q2. Do you have any version of Inventor? It is OK to answer no.

Q3. Are you familiar with http://viewer.Autodesk.com ?  (free on-line file viewer)

Q4. What file type is it? (*.ipt or *.idw or *.iam or *.ipn)

[Frederick_Law]

What is the file extension?

Can you share the files?

Inventor drawing without model is useless.

You should have .iam, .ipt and .idw files.

Which version of Inventor do you have?

[TheCADWhisperer]

---

@Frederick_Law wrote:

Inventor drawing without model is useless.

---

Not entirely true.

This is Inventor forum, not SOLIDWORKS. 🤭

[Frederick_Law]

Even from 2005?

Actually earliest year version is 2008.

2005 is R10

From wiki.

[komisarsher]

I have attached one of many docs created on Inventor 2005

Let me know what you think.

Thank you!

[The_Angry_Elf]

PM me, I may be able to assist you.

[TheCADWhisperer]

---

@komisarsher wrote:
I have attached one of many docs created on Inventor 2005

---

Where?

Do you see it here?

You must use the web forum Reply to Attach files - not by email Reply.

Is that what it is?  A *.doc file rather than an Inventor file?

[komisarsher]

I just sent the attachment below to someone else at your company.

Can you try and open this attachment. It was created on Inventor 2005 and
we are not able to open it.

[komisarsher]

How do I get to the Web Forum to attach the document?

[TheCADWhisperer]

@komisarsher 

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/forums/replypage/board-id/78/message-id/902715