Revisions without Vault

[edhess]

Without using Vault, is there a way to copy corresponding part and drawing files and have them still be linked, so that if I update the part to a new revision the copied drawing file will update with it as well? This way I don't have to recreate the drawings every time I revise a part.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@edhess

You may want to look into Ilogic Design Copy or use the least favorite Design Assistant to accomplish what you are looking for.

[mflayler · Accepted solution]

I have an iLogic routine that will do an Enhanced Save As that will copy the part and drawing and then run the Replace Model Reference to switch out the model being referenced.

Without it you can also just do a standard Copy/Paste and Repair the Reference with the tool on the Manage Tab.

For assemblies use iLogic Copy Design.

Any reason why you cannot use the free Vault Basic to do this type of tracking or copying?

[edhess]

Replace Model Reference does what I was looking for. I haven't used iLogic Copy Design yet, but I'll look into it for the assemblies.

We don't use Vault basic because a coworker and I are working from the same shared project folder, which seems to be going ok so far since we never really have to have the same files open at the same time.

I'd be interested in seeing how the iLogic routine you have works if you're willing to share it.

Thanks for the help.

[mflayler]

Here they are.

They need to be updated based on what file type you use (DWG or IDW) and I take no credit for their original authoring.  In the code snippet is a link for more information.

[mflayler]

Also be very wary of what you are doing.  Diligence is a good choice, but mishaps can take place if you are working off a network on the same files.  There is no indication you are modifying something that another user has open and you may cause either corruption of the file or improper updates.  Vault is made for this sort of thing as Inventor and most 3D modelers are not made to work on a network due to the nature of how they operate.  Furthermore there is more reason to use Vault than just this.  You will have the ability to Copy Design a whole project as well as version control to go back to the design before you made a left turn in the modeling.  There are other reasons but these are usually the most discussed.

[edhess]

Thanks for the code, I'll check them out. Yeah I'm sure Vault is the better way to go, but for various reasons I don't think we'd be able to go with it anytime soon. Luckily there's only two of us working from Inventor and we're in the same office, so communication is easy about which files we're working on at any given time. We're just making sure we use a strict folder/file structure, copying designs for new revisions, and utilizing the backup files (OldVersions) set to save within the project in case anything goes wrong. Thanks for the tips and help.