Rename Browser Nodes by Part Number not available

[nathan_wostrel]

* Do not ask me to upload the assembly, it is huge and has many sensitive bits of IP in it. *

I usually rename my browser nodes by part number, then alpha sort my parts, making it easier to ensure that all parts are correct.  I have noticed a few assemblies that will not allow me to rename by part number, which is rather odd.

I am able to open individual sub-assemblies and rename them.  There are no model states, view reps, or position reps in the assembly.  This one is baffling me and there appears to be no information about it online.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Autodest® Inventor® Professional 2022
64-Bit Edition
Build: 350
Release: 2022.3.2

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Nathan,

Could those assemblies be library components? Or, the names are already restored? Are the PNs empty?

Many thanks!

[nathan_wostrel]

They are not library components.  I have never been stopped from renaming the browser nodes before even right after doing a rename.  The part numbers do contain the correct information to the best of my knowledge (that's part of the reason I do this step, as a sort of checks and balances).  I have tried renaming by filename, but the process takes over 10 minutes since the total part count is rather high.  I was alerted to a couple files that were out of date, but again, that has never stopped me from renaming in the past.  And worse is the fact that that if this had worked (which it didn't), time is doubled, as the process would need to be repeated for the part number.  I really wish I could replicate this behavior in a test assembly, but alas....

[nathan_wostrel]

I will do more digging on this, but even copying the component sub-assemblies and parts to a new assembly does not allow me to rename the nodes.  I am wondering if one of the lower components is corrupt in some way.  I will post an update if I find anything, but searching for corrupt files is not fun....

[KineticKnif]

I have also been experiencing similar issues on multiple instances. Some points they were able to be cleared up after files have been checked back into our vault and checked back out.  However I have one assembly that is being rather stubborn, and I have a feeling is has something to do with a content center component but there is nothing special about the part as its a copy of out of the box library with altered iProperties to match our ERP system but I cannot recreate the issue either.

I am also using the latest version of Inventor 2023

[nathan_wostrel]

As of yet, I haven't been able to dig into this and see where the issue lies, but I will keep your thoughts in mind while trying to find an answer.

[KineticKnif]

@nathan_wostreldo you happen to have a sub component that is an assembly with model states?

My current problem child has such a sub component and while trouble shooting it by removing it from my assembly, i was able regain the rename by part number function.

[KineticKnif]

if you do, you can simply change the model state back to the 'Primary' state and apply the rename from there. Strange that it won't rename the multiple model state file to the part number that is configured for that specific state.

[Maarten4YAX7 · Accepted solution]

After update Inventor 2024.2 to build 272

Could't rename browser node by part number in a assembly because of grey apply button.

Found the reason : one part supppressed in a component pattern in a sub-sub-sub assembly.

[francis.korde]

Once a part has been changed to "suppress" in any subassembly, the "Rename Browser" function can no longer be used to display the part number.
Even if the part is suppressed in the primary model state of the assembly.
I cannot understand this behavior. It makes absolutely no sense at all.

[k.hendrickx]

I think the problem lies in how "suppressed" parts work... basically to Inventor they are just an empty shell. A placeholder sort of speak, but since no info about this part is available (because it isn't actively in the memory of Inventor) the rename tool also can't get the info it needs from it.

Thing is that if Autodesk would change suppressed components to do give iProp information, it actually defeats the purpose of suppressing parts to make models ligther and easier to manage.

So basically the tool is saying, if I can't rename EVERYTHING it's best that I rename nothing, which does make a little bit of sense.

As for your issue. I do think it's quite easy to write a small iLogic rule which does pretty much the same as the rename tool, but just skips suppressed parts.

Do keep in mind that you could end up with a mix of partnumber browersnodes and default ones this way.

With kind regards,

[francis.korde]

Hi @k.hendrickx ,

Thank you very much for this information.

It makes more sense when you put it like that.
I'll see about creating an iLogic rule.
But what I'd really like is the ability to ask Inventor to display the part number by default. Straight up when a part is added to the assembly.
Do you think this could be a feature in the next release?

With kind regards,

[k.hendrickx · Accepted solution]

Not sure which setting it involves, but with me it actually does immediately show the partnumber by default.

However, it might be because our filenames usually are the same as the partnumber.

edit: just did a quick test... the default name in the model browser is apparently controlled by the name at the top of the model tree of all things.

I created a file "part1.ipt" with a partnumber "test partnumber" and a header "test header"... When placing it in a assembly it defaulted to the "test header" name.

So you could use this info to make sure the header always syncs with the partnumber and then it will default to the partnumber when inserting in an assembly.

But it indeed would be nice to be able to choose or determine it in the application options under File Naming Defaults for example.

[francis.korde]

It's really interesting. I've never noticed that before, but it kind of makes sense.
I'll look into automatically renaming the browser header.
I'll have to see if it works with file copies. I seem to remember that when you rename the browser header of a part, the new name tends to stay the same afterwards, even when you make copies of it.
Many thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

[Maarten4YAX7]

I'm not using Vault because it doesn't support a Windows 10 home system.

To copy a project all methods create a different mix of unexpected names, filenames, partnames and after a while all logic has gone between the name in the tab, de name of the open tab above, the name above the browser and the part number in iproperties. Further, the node names in are often different from their names when opening this node. 

I still don't know what is the easiest way to copy a project i.e. copy

a directory <projectnr> with files (<projectnr><subdirectory>.iam and <projectnr><subsubdirectory>.iam and files <projectnr><filename>.ipt and <projectnr><filename>.idw to 

a directory <NEWprojectnr> with files (<NEWprojectnr><subdirectory>.iam and <NEWprojectnr>

<subsubdirectory>.iam and files <NEWprojectnr><filename>.ipt and <NEWprojectnr><filename>.idw  

And all this without renaming the library files.

Any advise ?

[SBix26]

Note that the name you see at the top of the model browser is referred to as Display Name.  As you have observed, the display name also appears in the title bar of the model, and in the browser wherever it used as a component.  By default the Display Name = File Name but can be edited.  If edited, it becomes static and carries through when copied.  The default behavior can be recovered by deleting the static Display Name.

Hope that helps.

---

Sam B

Inventor Pro 2025.1.1 | Windows 11 Home 23H2