saving file to open in older inventor versions (inventor 2021 to inventor 2019)

[vadzim.biahun]

How can I open Inventor files from a newer version?
saving file to open in older inventor versions (inventor 2021 to inventor 2019)

[mcgyvr]

Inventor is NOT backwards compatible.. You CANNOT open newer files in older software and expect constraints to be maintained/feature tree (model browser) to be maintained,etc...

You can save your files to a neutral cad format like step/iges to then open them up in any version to bring in just the geometry. The constraints will be lost... The feature/model browser history will be gone..

You can utilize "ANYCAD" functionality to open a "reference" file in older versions provided you have updated that older version to include the translator capable of processing that newer version. Typically that takes a few months after a new version is released to push updates back 1 (maybe more) versions of software.. So a few months after 2021 is released 2020 gets an update to allow you to "reference" the newer 2021 files..

Thats it.. 

[mcgyvr]

I'm not positive if they even update 2019 to open 2021 files.. I "think" it may only be 1 version back.. 

So your only option may be neutral cad format export to step to open that in 2019

[SBix26 · Accepted solution]

Just tried it, the latest update of 2019 will, with AnyCAD, open 2021 files (as dumb solid references!).

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2021.1 | Windows 10 Home 2004
LinkedIn

[mcgyvr]

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@SBix26 wrote:

Just tried it, the latest update of 2019 will, with AnyCAD, open 2021 files (as dumb solid references!).

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2021.1 | Windows 10 Home 2004
LinkedIn

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@SBix26  Cool.. Thanks..

So yeah the options are dumb solids or dumb solids 😀

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Just to add to Sam's and Brian's reply, the workflow is to "reference" ipt or iam saved in newer version. It is not "open" like opening any current release or older release files. It is also limited to ipt and iam files.

Many thanks!