When I open an assembly file it makes me relocate all components.

[Anonymous]

This comes up a lot.  I have these assembly files, and whenever I open them it makes me relocate EVERY SINGLE COMPONENT.  The window that comes up shows the component right there, in the folder it's looking in, but I still must press the 'enter' key for every one of the 100 or so components in the assembly, every time I open it.  Saving it once this task is complete doesn't fix the problem, I have to do it all over again.  How do I fix this?

[JDMather]

Are you using Projects (*.ipj) files or are you using Vault?

Are you moving stuff around with Windows Explorer and not using Projects or Design Assistant?

[Anonymous]

I'm using project files (don't have Vault yet).  I've never understood the need or use of these project files, all they seem to do is get in the way.  I simply want to copy an assembly file to a new location so I can do some experimental work on it without jacking up the original file.

[mdavis22569]

They have a copy design option in Inventor 

2020:

For:

all they seem to do is get in the way.

IPJ's are very important. They help you to keep everything organized.     

[JDMather]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I simply want to copy an assembly file to a new location so I can do some experimental work on it without jacking up the original file.

---

I do this all of the time, but I create a New Project to absolutely avoid "jacking up the original file".

(I was not aware of the Copy Design that @mdavis22569 pointed out, I will have to try that.)

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! The project file may be overwhelming to a new user. But, it is very helpful to organizing your design data. I guess you really did not use project files. You rely on absolute path to manage your Inventor files.

The Project file mainly defines a Workspace folder where your model files and drawing files are all stored under it (you can have nested folders). The behavior you describe sounds like the Inventor files are not inside the Workspace of the active project.

You can either move those files to the Workspace. Or, simple create a new project pointing to the folder containing the Inventor files as the Workspace.

The advantage of using project files is that you can literally move the entire project from folder A to folder B without worrying the path.

Many thanks!