Where o where is the Default (Global) Formatting...

[pstollPF4G7]

I have searched around the forum and the Inventor help but to no avail.

Where does Inventor pull formatting from for "Use Default Formatting"?  Specifically, the unit string for the dimension in the BoM.

In my photos attached, I have made our own Standard for our company (includes all the things you should need so everyone in the company is using the same settings for drawing creation).  For the parts list, we use several styles for different drawing types, all use the information from the parts and assemblies, just more information on some drawings than others.

In the first photo, the unit formatting for the 3 columns (THK/SIZE/SCH. , LENGTH, WIDTH/DIA) match, these columns use an override to the Default formatting.  The columns are shown using the 'Default Formatting' in the second picture (note one of the rows is using more precision than the others).  I don't want to override the Default formatting because if the part doesn't have a value for that parameter we choose to put a hyphen '-' and that results in an 'Incompatible Units Error' using the 'Applied Units Formatting' override.  For the 'THK/SIZE/SCH.' column, there is sometimes a text string instead of just a numerical value, example a 3" schedule 40 pipe would read ' 3" SCH40 ' or for an assembly we use 'N/A' in a less detailed list.

What I want to do is update the 'Default formatting' to show 3 decimal place precision, with no unit string, and the leading and trailing zeros as required.

Basically,  I cannot find where to update the 'Default Formatting'.

If I have overlooked something in the forum please point me to it.

[pstollPF4G7]

I have searched around the forum and the Inventor help but to no avail.

Where does Inventor pull formatting from for "Use Default Formatting"?  Specifically, the unit string for the dimension in the BoM.

In my photos attached, I have made our own Standard for our company (includes all the things you should need so everyone in the company is using the same settings for drawing creation).  For the parts list, we use several styles for different drawing types, all use the information from the parts and assemblies, just more information on some drawings than others.

In the first photo, the unit formatting for the 3 columns (THK/SIZE/SCH. , LENGTH, WIDTH/DIA) match, these columns use an override to the Default formatting.  The columns are shown using the 'Default Formatting' in the second picture (note one of the rows is using more precision than the others).  I don't want to override the Default formatting because if the part doesn't have a value for that parameter we choose to put a hyphen '-' and that results in an 'Incompatible Units Error' using the 'Applied Units Formatting' override.  For the 'THK/SIZE/SCH.' column, there is sometimes a text string instead of just a numerical value, example a 3" schedule 40 pipe would read ' 3" SCH40 ' or for an assembly we use 'N/A' in a less detailed list.

What I want to do is update the 'Default formatting' to show 3 decimal place precision, with no unit string, and the leading and trailing zeros as required.

Basically,  I cannot find where to update the 'Default Formatting'.

If I have overlooked something in the forum please point me to it.

[pcrawley · Accepted solution]

The "Default Formatting" comes from the Unit setting of the source part file.

Open one of the part files in your assembly and look under Document Settings > Units.  Change the precision and then update the parent assembly.  That should fix the precision issue.

If the part contains THK or SIZE then overriding the formatting to "Length" makes sense - but if the part contains SCH, that's an alphanumeric string, so it can't be formatted to "Length".  Hence the incompatible units error.

If you leave the "Default Formatting" setting in the Parts List but fix the part file units settings, it should come right.

This post was primarily about Frame Generator, but it covers the same formatting issues you mention: Part number generation from frame 'Cutting List' - Autodesk Community - Inventor 

[pcrawley · Accepted solution]

The "Default Formatting" comes from the Unit setting of the source part file.

Open one of the part files in your assembly and look under Document Settings > Units.  Change the precision and then update the parent assembly.  That should fix the precision issue.

If the part contains THK or SIZE then overriding the formatting to "Length" makes sense - but if the part contains SCH, that's an alphanumeric string, so it can't be formatted to "Length".  Hence the incompatible units error.

If you leave the "Default Formatting" setting in the Parts List but fix the part file units settings, it should come right.

This post was primarily about Frame Generator, but it covers the same formatting issues you mention: Part number generation from frame 'Cutting List' - Autodesk Community - Inventor 

[pstollPF4G7]

@pcrawley Thank you for that, the precision is now fixed.  I wish inventor would mention that in "Help" instead of just '...will use the Default Formatting.' with no mention of where it is controlled or comes from.

I understand why i am getting the 'Incompatible units error' I actually want a text string to appear with no issues if it is in the column with the label "THK/SIZE/SCH.", or any column if necessary, as explained in the original post, the 'Default Formatting' option seems to allow this.

What I need to know now is if I use the 'Default Formatting', do I have to have the unit string included or can I turn that off?

::EDIT::  I'd like to clarify why I was pursuing the use of the "alternate" column formatting, this was to ensure i had a unified presentation in either metric or imperial units for those 3 columns no matter the original units the part was produced using i.e. if a part was drawing on a metric part template and later used in an assembly primarily using imperial units.

[pstollPF4G7]

@pcrawley Thank you for that, the precision is now fixed.  I wish inventor would mention that in "Help" instead of just '...will use the Default Formatting.' with no mention of where it is controlled or comes from.

I understand why i am getting the 'Incompatible units error' I actually want a text string to appear with no issues if it is in the column with the label "THK/SIZE/SCH.", or any column if necessary, as explained in the original post, the 'Default Formatting' option seems to allow this.

What I need to know now is if I use the 'Default Formatting', do I have to have the unit string included or can I turn that off?

::EDIT::  I'd like to clarify why I was pursuing the use of the "alternate" column formatting, this was to ensure i had a unified presentation in either metric or imperial units for those 3 columns no matter the original units the part was produced using i.e. if a part was drawing on a metric part template and later used in an assembly primarily using imperial units.

[pcrawley]

Yes - "Default Formatting" is annoyingly obvious once you figure it out!  

You don't need the unit string.  Whatever the model value is, that is what will show on the BOM. 

[pcrawley]

Yes - "Default Formatting" is annoyingly obvious once you figure it out!  

You don't need the unit string.  Whatever the model value is, that is what will show on the BOM. 

[pstollPF4G7]

@pcrawley The 'Default Formatting' includes the unit string. I would like to know if I can turn that off.

[pstollPF4G7]

@pcrawley The 'Default Formatting' includes the unit string. I would like to know if I can turn that off.

[pcrawley]

Ah - no.  I don't think you can.  

I haven't tried this, but I had a similar problem passing parameters into our ERP system because it doesn't like unit strings - so this might work:

• In the model parameters box, create a dummy parameter and make it equal to the Length value.
• Tick the "Export Parameter" column to create an iProperty (which you can use in the Parts List).
• Right-click the parameter to get the "Custom Property Format..." box
• Change the "Property Type" to "Number".

That leaves only the numeric value of the measurement.  Over to you to get it into the Parts List!

[pcrawley]

Ah - no.  I don't think you can.  

I haven't tried this, but I had a similar problem passing parameters into our ERP system because it doesn't like unit strings - so this might work:

• In the model parameters box, create a dummy parameter and make it equal to the Length value.
• Tick the "Export Parameter" column to create an iProperty (which you can use in the Parts List).
• Right-click the parameter to get the "Custom Property Format..." box
• Change the "Property Type" to "Number".

That leaves only the numeric value of the measurement.  Over to you to get it into the Parts List!

[pstollPF4G7]

@pcrawley i noticed you deleted the "Side note" that showed up in my email alert for this string, I hope we are on the same page with units and presentation as I stated in my previous replies.

I am also familiar with the method you are outlining using an exported parameter to the drawing and therefore the BoM, this what the 3 columns are doing already, hence the need for the same formatting and the same units. I really don't want to make another parameter for the parameter to get the formatting how our company would want it. IMO Inventor should have better text and table formatting options seeing as how most of the information is transmitted around via a 'Field:' using a <string> (most of the time).

I appreciate the help.

[pstollPF4G7]

@pcrawley i noticed you deleted the "Side note" that showed up in my email alert for this string, I hope we are on the same page with units and presentation as I stated in my previous replies.

I am also familiar with the method you are outlining using an exported parameter to the drawing and therefore the BoM, this what the 3 columns are doing already, hence the need for the same formatting and the same units. I really don't want to make another parameter for the parameter to get the formatting how our company would want it. IMO Inventor should have better text and table formatting options seeing as how most of the information is transmitted around via a 'Field:' using a <string> (most of the time).

I appreciate the help.