Scale a Parts List?

[Anonymous]

As my Parts List keeps growing I could really use the option to scale it same as you can with any garden variety graphics program. I mean for example make it 10% smaller or 20% smaller or 33% bigger and all the table properties - text, column with, row height etc. scale similarly. Is this functionality there and I haven't yet seen it? If not are there other means to accommodate a no longer fitting-on-paper Parts List?

   Walter INV 2013

[mcgyvr · Accepted solution]

Change the font size/style being used..

I've setup multiples per my needs and switching is as simple as selecting the parts list and picking the different style from the format dropdown..

[Curtis_Waguespack · Accepted solution]

Hi Walter.Ferguson,

CAD programs generally hold the text size as it allows the file to be printed on the paper size matching the sheet size and still be legible. As things move more and more toward being paperless, I suppose certain things like this should be reconsidered.

However, currently there are a few general methods to deal with this:

1. Use the "wrap" option to split the table and wrap it to another "column" on the page so that it doesn't run off the page: http://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2015/ENU/?guid=GUID-0764D9A8-DAC0-4A30-9FE8-917845EE0EF9
2. Split the table and move part of it to another page, etc.  http://www.inventortales.com/2014/06/splitting-tables-and-moving-to.html
3. Create alternative text and / or parts list styles, so that you can switch the parts list to those styles to "scale" down the text sixe quickly.

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

[Anonymous]

Thank you, mcgyvr! I love it when someone like you comes right back with the solution to my issue of the day. Much appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Thank you ,Curtis, for the added information on how to split the Parts List onto two sheets.

   Walter

[paul]

This has been an issue for me since using Inventor. The ability to fit your parts list on your drawing without cutting it up is a simple thing to ask for. I also use Solidedge and can bring my parts list in at any scale.

[mcgyvr]

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@paul wrote:

This has been an issue for me since using Inventor. The ability to fit your parts list on your drawing without cutting it up is a simple thing to ask for. I also use Solidedge and can bring my parts list in at any scale.

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So you know how to do it now using the information provided above right?

If so great.. If not let us know what specific problems you are having (you can start your own thread which would be better) and we will help you solve them too..

Not all programs function the same.. Inventor has everything based on standards like font sizes,etc.. They chose to make it work that way.. Solidedge chose a different way.. One is really not better than the other.. I can point out pros/cons with each method.. 

At the end of the day though whats important is learning how the software you are using works so that you work with the program and don't try to fight it or make it work like another program..

[paul]

Thanks for the post.

I'm not bad mouthing inventor, I know they are different programs I have used Inventor, Solidedge and Solidworks over the years. Jumping from each one depending on who I've worked for. They all do have good and bad bits.

I don't like the wrapping idea, I would rather reduce the font size in styles, however its not the best way of doing things. You get used to software but this is a simple thing that needlessly takes up a lot of space on the drawing.

Thanks

[mcgyvr]

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@paul wrote:

I would rather reduce the font size in styles, however its not the best way of doing things.

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You are certainly entitled to your opinion of whats best.. 

Some people may have the opinion that consistency in font size between drawings to ensure readability is "best" and that allowing a cad operator to just scale as they see fit is not something they wish to allow.. 

For me if a parts list is large.. Its large and I will NOT scale it down because I now have users of that drawing that may complain that its not too small to reliably read.. 

I have chosen font size in my drawings based on ones ability to easily read that font from the normal working distance.. To shrink that font would cause issues..

[paul]

      Hi mcgyvr

              If it works for you then that's great. I prefer to scale and I cant do that with inventor, so I feel that sometimes my drawings can look odd because of the large parts list. Even having to drop the scale of the drawing to fit it in. That cant be good.

I can think of other ways of getting it in to the drawing and giving it a scale size but I lose the ability to update.

Inventor is the software of choice for my employer, so I have to make it work.

Just tested this way. Its dirty and does not update. Basically you create a block from your parts list in AutoCAD and insert it as a block in Inventor via AutoCAD Blocks. You can then scale it. I would not recommend it but its an option.

Thanks

[mcgyvr]

@paul

Paul,

I'm not sure what you are hoping for here..

You can easily scale a parts list by creating multiple styles as I have shown above.. Its simply a matter of doing so then if you need it smaller select the parts list then select the smaller style to assign to it..  I have no idea why that doesn't work for you and why you think you need to find an alternate solution and certainly don't understand why you would even investigate some convoluted autocad block functionality.. The current process as shown above is drop dead simple and works just fine and keeps 100% native Inventor functionality.. No workarounds.. no hoops to jump through.. No limitations or whatever..  Its a totally viable process..

There just isn't a click a corner and drag the box grip to resize the entire parts list.. Just a little different process..  

If you wish to continue I might suggest you head over to the Inventor ideastation where users post their ideas for improvement of Inventor and other users vote on that to show Autodesk that its something people are interested in implementing..  Your comments/concerns/ideas are best located in an ideastation post vs buried in someone elses normal forum post where they do little good.. 

You are more than welcome to post your idea here..

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideas/idb-p/v1232

[paul]

Hi

mcgyvr,

I do appreciate your replies and suggestions.

In my opinion it should be a click and drag corner thing. Even in Solidedge its not a click and drag thing, but it should be. You may want to keep the font size at a certain size and I understand why. This wasn't the way I wanted to go. 

My being here in this forum asking and discussing other options. Maybe another way of doing this existed? 

Thanks for your help. 

[paul]

 Hi

,

I do appreciate your replies and suggestions.

In my opinion it should be a click and drag corner thing. Even in Solidedge its not a click and drag thing, but it should be. You may want to keep the font size at a certain size and I understand why. This wasn't the way I wanted to go.

My being here in this forum was to ask and discuss other options. Maybe another way of doing this existed? 

I originally posted a comment based on the original post and you replied. My later posts are in response to yours and because you do not understand my issue, you have decided to hide an insult in your post 'best located in an ideastation post vs buried in someone elses normal forum post'. If you cant be civil, please don't post.

Although I do not post many things on the forum, I have been an Autodesk customer and user for many years. If I can help someone, I will.

Thanks for your help. 

[mcgyvr]

@paul Not sure why you took that as an insult..

I fully understood your issue.. I just wasn't clear on what you expected the result of such a discussion here to be..

The ideastation is where you post "wishes" or "ideas" of how to improve Inventor.. 

They (Autodesk) want that type of stuff consolidated there vs spread all over this forum.. 

So posting your suggestion to improve it IS best located there..