Opening parts within search path

[Anonymous]

Hello...Inventor noob here.  Running 2017 without Vault...just a Windows Explorer folder structure on a network.

I'm trying to get the search paths to work.

I can get the search path I defined in my project file to work for parts that are already assembled.  I’ve tested it by moving an assembled component’s file somewhere else in the search path and seeing if the assembly can find it when I open it up.  Easy enough…

What I apparently can’t do is open a part or assembly without navigating all the way to the folder where it’s located.  Is Inventor able to let me go File/Open, type in my file name, and look through the search path for me?

Thanks,

Mark

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi mbergstromAT7BB,

I think the Workspace setting in your project controls this.

Set path for workspace

1. In the Project Editor, upper pane, select the project to edit.
2. In the lower pane, right-click Workspace, and then click Add Path.
3. Accept the path, edit the path, or browse to and select a workspace folder.
4. Click Save.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/search-result/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2015/ENU/Inventor-Help/files/G...

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

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply, Curtis.  I'm actually good with getting the Workspace set-up.  My issue is more with the files that are existing out in our file structure already.  The folders that house these existing files are within the search path, but I still have to go to the relevant folder to open the files in them (several folders deep in a lot of cases...lots of clicks).  I'd like to just click "open" which would take me to my workspace...but then I want to type "xyz.ipt" into the text field and have Inventor go find that file out in the search path.  Is that possible?

Make sense?

Mark

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Mark,

Are you going to edit these files outside of project cone? If yes, you might need to define a master project to encompass all the editable files. If you don't need to modify them, you can simply add the folder path as Library folder in the project setting dialog. Then, Inventor will look for files there too.

Many thanks!

[PaulMunford]

If the location you want to zip to is within the project file directory - you can create a shortcut to the folder:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/search-result/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/Inventor-Help/files/G...

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses, All.  This longtime Creo user is getting up to speed on Inventor (and already starting to like it better).

For this particular topic, based on your responses (and my extensive googling) I've concluded that what I'm trying to do either isn't possible or I haven't asked the question clearly enough.  I'll give it one more shot before I conclude that Inventor just can't do it...

I understand the concept of setting up my workspace, workgroup search paths, and libraries...and how Inventor goes to look in those folders for the relevant files when I open an assembly.  Below is an example file structure that I'm dealing with.  Let's say my assembly model is in the "Engine" folder.  All of the components and sub-assemblies that make up the top level assembly are located in Folders 1-4.  Let's pretend I also have a Folder5 located somewhere else on the network.  I can successfully set-up my project file to look in Folders 1-5 for all the components when I open the top level assembly.  Hooray!

Now, let's say I have a part called xyz.ipt in Folder 4, and I simply want to open that part.  I want Inventor to go find that part without me having to navigate to that folder.  Is it possible to simply hit File...Open...type the file that I'm looking for...and then have Inventor go find it in the search path that I've already confirmed that it knows?  

I understand that I can setup a shortcut to Folder 4 in the project file, but this simplified example doesn't do justice to the complex file structure that was created long before I came around.  I also understand that using Vault would address this issue...but that's not in the cards in the immediate future...so I'm hoping for a workaround in the short term.

Thanks,

Mark

[Curtis_Waguespack · Accepted solution]

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@Anonymous wrote:

 I want to type "xyz.ipt" into the text field and have Inventor go find that file out in the search path.  Is that possible?

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Hi mark.bergstrom,

No, unfortunately this is not possible, at least not without using Vault. In Vault you can search for the file name and then open it from the results.

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

[PaulMunford]

Well - you can use the 'Find' command, but it hasn't had a lot of love recently - it's a bit clunky 😕

Here's a link to a screen cast of it working:

http://autode.sk/2ow5c2v