Why not Vault templates/Styles/libraries in the same way as CC

[andrewdroth]

I was trying to figure out how other companies keep their employees styles/templates ect synced. It seems you either point to a network location or keep the info in the vault working folder and control the locations with the project file.

As I see it the network location approach is better for those that update the styles or templates often and need everyone working from the current version. But gets hairy if you need to work 'offline'

The vault approach is better if you want accountability/history/and backups of the changes as well as the ability to work offline. Plus if I understand correctly if the users are given the ability to define their vault working folder locations you can choose a drive that has ample space.

I was reading the document mentions in this article;

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor/getting-started/caas/simplecontent/content/vault-bes...

And it looks at the vault approach and how to set up the libraries and I think I like this method, but the biggest headache is the need to force everyone company wide to do a 'Get' when a change is made.

It got me wondering why it couldn't handle these files in the same way Content Center works were it looks directly at the current version in Vault. Now the obvious drawback is the need to be 'Online' again...

Does anyone have a best of both worlds solution to this problem? Ideally it could be carried out with Vault Basic.

[Anonymous]

Oh how I feel your pain.

Back in the day, while on Vault Workgroup, I, somehow figured out a way to do just what you are explaining.

As I recall (and had verified by 2 other former co-workers), I had all our Inventor drawing templates in a library directory in Vault Workgroup. If and when I made an update to the template files, once I saved and set the file to "Released", the next user that accessed that template to start a new file, had the latest and greatest version.

They never had to perform a "Get" on the folder.

Now, I've been banging my head against a wall to try and recall how in the world I did such a thing but in Vault Pro. I've posted such here and have been told by numerous users and Adesk ppl that it simply can't be done. I knew I had done such and that's when I reached out to those former co-workers, one being my CAD Admin backup, but neither of them could recall how it was done. It's been well over 10 yrs, since then so it's no wonder. But they both recalled that whatever I did, it did indeed work as I describe.

I know I'm missing something simple, I'm sure. That or something changed in Vault over that timeframe and it no longer works (I've been told that's not the case). All I know is I had it working like such and it's been driving me mad trying to get it to do it again.

I had the process written down in a notebook of what I titled "Stupid CAD Tricks", but that notebook seems to have grown legs and walked off.

Anyways, I think the easiest thing you can do these days is to write some code that "pings" the Vault folder and performs a "Get" to each users local working directory and run that daily or whenever.

[Frederick_Law]

in Vault, put all the files you want sync in a folder.

Get Admin to Check them out.

All user "Get Copy" and keep them on local drive.  Never delete them.

Now every time the files are updated, user will get new version when they are connected to Vault.

This work with templates and "Design Data".

Without Vault, you'll need some software to sync local copies with network copy.

BTW, I put everything inside Workspace.

So there is only one folder to sync.

[Anonymous]

I will have to give that a try.

[andrewdroth]

@Frederick_Law That's only possible with Workgroup or Pro, correct?

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/vault-products/getting-started/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/...

[andrewdroth]

Here's what I've ended up doing.

Set the project folder locations in the IPJ file to folders in the vault workspace of the same name. (ex .\Templates, .\Styles)

Copied the default info into those locations.

Checked all of those into the Vault with Task Scheduler.

Now I've set up a Task Scheduler 'Get Latest from Vault' to grab those files every morning at 4am.

I think this will work.

[Frederick_Law]

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@andrewdroth wrote:

Now I've set up a Task Scheduler 'Get Latest from Vault' to grab those files every morning at 4am.

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Technically you don't need to.  Vault will get latest when you use the files.

As long as you're connected to Vault, you will get the latest files.

[andrewdroth]

I don't think Inventor looks at templates and style the same way?

In the case of making a new drawing with a template file, I'm pretty sure it'll just grab the local template copy regardless of the vault version. Right?

[Frederick_Law]

I keep templates on local.  Never remove it from local Workspace.

I might have the whole Design Data folder.  Don't remember now.

So Check in keep local copy or get copy on other computers.

I did the same on my hardware which is a Library in Project.

Everytime the file is changed, vault update everyone.

You can do some test to see if it still behave the same.

Depends on how many computer you have.  Every one Get Copy at the same time might not be good.

[Frederick_Law]

Jobs 2019 is my "Workspace"

Project file locations all point inside.

[andrewdroth]

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@Frederick_Law wrote:

Everytime the file is changed, vault update everyone.

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I think this is because you are able to sync. I cannot with Vault Basic, so the 'get latest' task is my workaround.

[swalton]

Here are two old posts from the Vault Idea forum.  Vote, and maybe Autodesk will implement them in the next few years...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/vault-ideas/define-templates-or-data-conception-location-directly-in-...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/vault-ideas/enhance-management-of-inventor-design-data-and-templates-...

[andrewdroth]

Done and Done. Thanks!

My only concern is if they do add the functionality, it won't be available in Basic...

[andrewdroth]

Well I ran into a bit of hiccup in this workflow.

I want the Templates/Styles/Presets folders to reside under the vault root ($\Templates) the same way Libraries is set up outside the working folder ($\Designs in my case).

Getting the files into the vault proves to be a bit challenging. I can't load non inventor files with Task Scheduler and Autoloader will only map to the workspace ($\Designs\). I can drag and drop from Windows Explorer into Vault explorer, but it trips up on the inventor files in the Design Data folder. Luckily it was only three files and I could switch to list view and un-select them. That alone was painful as I couldn't sort by file type. I think there should be a 'only move non-inventor files' checkbox but whatever.

Is there a better way of importing a mix of IV and non-IV files into the Vault Root?

[BDCollett]

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@andrewdroth wrote:

Well I ran into a bit of hiccup in this workflow.

I want the Templates/Styles/Presets folders to reside under the vault root ($\Templates) the same way Libraries is set up outside the working folder ($\Designs in my case).

Getting the files into the vault proves to be a bit challenging. I can't load non inventor files with Task Scheduler and Autoloader will only map to the workspace ($\Designs\). I can drag and drop from Windows Explorer into Vault explorer, but it trips up on the inventor files in the Design Data folder. Luckily it was only three files and I could switch to list view and un-select them. That alone was painful as I couldn't sort by file type. I think there should be a 'only move non-inventor files' checkbox but whatever.

Is there a better way of importing a mix of IV and non-IV files into the Vault Root?

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I know this is an old one, but how did go with this?

I think pineapple might have an addon with their vault because as you mention there is no sync of those files by default.