parts list not updating

[Anonymous]

I often get the 'lightning' symbol next to the parts list in the drawing browser, see attachment for example. What does this actually mean and how do I update it?

[mcgyvr]

Are you modifying the parts list in the idw in anyway?

Are you adding parts to the assembly with the drawing open?

The lightning bolt typically indicates that something has changed and needs to be updated/resynced..

This could be going into the iam file and hitting the update button then save or maybe you have modified the parts list and it wants to sync it back to the bom..

Sometimes just closing the drawing and reopening it will cause it to update..

There are many reasons that can happen.. 

[Anonymous]

It's gone out of date ever since I changed the assembly bom structure from inseparable to purchased. I've had to do this so that this assembly is shown as a a single entry item on the top level GA, rather than having all it's fasteners additionally listed. (Seems crazy that I have to do this!!!)

i've closed everything down and reopened. Parts list still shown as out of date.

[mcgyvr]

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@Anonymous wrote:

It's gone out of date ever since I changed the assembly bom structure from inseparable to purchased. I've had to do this so that this assembly is shown as a a single entry item on the top level GA, rather than having all it's fasteners additionally listed. (Seems crazy that I have to do this!!!)

i've closed everything down and reopened. Parts list still shown as out of date.

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Is the sub actually a purchased assembly?

You said it seems crazy.. I can help with that problem too if you would like to know how that should work and the logic behind each bom structure..

To fix the lightning bolt this is what I would do.. Close the drawing.. go into the assembly file and hit rebuild all.. then save.. then reopen the drawing and all "should" be in sync now.. 

You changed the structure of the bom/parts list by doing so and its simply out of date..

[-niels-]

Another little thing to check: Are there any static values in the parts list? (not the BOM)

When Item numbers are static then the lightning bolt icon will also display.

[Anonymous]

Yes, lots of static values. I usually end up editting the fastener descriptions. What difference should this make?

[mcgyvr]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Yes, lots of static values. I usually end up editting the fastener descriptions. What difference should this make?

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You are doing something wrong IMO..

In all my years of Inventor I've NEVER needed to make a static value in a parts list..

(well I think I did once then learned the right way to get around that issue as thats NEVER a good idea with an automated program like Inventor)

And thats your problem.. Inventor wants you to "save overrides to bom"..

You simply have the BOM and parts list out of sync and its telling you that..

I thought I mentioned that already..

[mcgyvr]

Well not necessarily doing something wrong but you are doing manual work in an automatic program..

Are these fasteners content center parts?

If so create your own custom so you don't have to keep doing manual work each time you use the same fasteners in a project..

[-niels-]

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@Anonymous wrote:

What difference should this make?

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Like mcgyvr says, you shouldn't really have a need for static values.

You can have static values, but if the "ITEM" value is static the BOM isn't able to overwrite/update that field which makes the lightning bolt turn on.

[Anonymous]

Ah great, I understand now. Sorry Mcgyvr, I missed your first message.

As suggested, I 'saved item overrides to BOM' and the parts list was immediately updated. The static values I have are editted fastener descriptions, but I don't see that these have been saved to the BOM, so I'm still not clear on what's going on.

If it's better not to have static values, (btw, renumbering the parts list gives static values. are they ok?), how do I edit the descriptions of my fasteners? I imagine I need to build up my own library ...

Thanks all for your help.

[Curtis_Waguespack]

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ghobbs99 wrote:

 The static values I have are editted fastener descriptions, but I don't see that these have been saved to the BOM, so I'm still not clear on what's going on.

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Hi ghobbs99 ,

Only Item Numbers (not descriptions, or other fields) can be pushed back to the BOM, using the "Save Overrides to BOM" button.

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ghobbs99 wrote:

If it's better not to have static values, (btw, renumbering the parts list gives static values. are they ok?),

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After you renumber push the changes back to the BOM

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ghobbs99 wrote:

do I edit the descriptions of my fasteners? I imagine I need to build up my own library ... 

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Note that you can right click on the Parts List and choose Edit BOM (or something like that) and it will allow you to step right into the assembly BOM where you can edit descriptions... unless the part is read only, such as a Content Center part or Library part. In which case there are methods to edit the descriptions of those parts, which would include (as you guessed ) setting up your own library.

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

[mcgyvr]

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@Anonymous wrote:

(btw, renumbering the parts list gives static values. are they ok?), how do I edit the descriptions of my fasteners? I imagine I need to build up my own library ...

Thanks all for your help.

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Not necessarily a static value.. It gets the blue box around it but IMO its not static.. Just not synced with the BOM yet.. But its value can change automatically hence I wouldn't call it static..

Whats wrong with the descriptions of the fasteners now?

I don't use CC and aren't versed in the proper procedure to modify descriptions,etc.. so I'll let someone else chime in on that..

I use tons of fasteners but have simply modeled them up myself (or copied them from the content center to my own folders just like any other inventor parts) and don't use content center functionality at all.. Their part numbers and descriptions match my ERP system exactly..

Manually doing stuff (some stuff) in Inventor is fine.. The concern is that with any change will that manual thing not update or cause problems,etc...

If I must remember to do something when I edit a file or whatever I say I didn't do it right from the start..

And having to manually change a description over and over again is certainly not the right way.. 

[Curtis_Waguespack]

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mcgyvr wrote:

I use tons of fasteners but have simply modeled them up myself (or copied them from the content center to my own folders just like any other inventor parts) and don't use content center functionality at all.. Their part numbers and descriptions match my ERP system exactly..

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Hi ghobbs99 ,

As mcgyr mentions many users create their own custom Library by pulling items from the Content Center and saving them off and modifying them with their company specific descriptions and part numbers, etc.

If you do this and make the folder these parts are in a library path in your project file (*.ipj) , then the descriptions for these parts will be read only in the BOM (as I mentioned previously) To change them (or modify them later)  you can switch the Inventor Default project or something similar and make changes to any file in the Library folder(s) since Inventor will not see those parts as Library files when using that project.

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