Disable creating the Electrical Components folder

[Anonymous]

When inserting parts using the Catalog Browser, Inventor automatically creates a folder called Electrical Components and copies the files from my library folder to this location. Which means the parts can be in a different location than the search path or library path (depending on the project) and some properties are also changed. I use the Electrical Catalog Browser to make it easier to insert parts, but this is very annoying. After inserting the parts I have to close Inventor, delete the Electrical Components folder, restart inventor, open the assembly and relocate all inserted parts. These actions take up time, which should be saved by using the Catalog Browser.

I would very much like the option to disable the creation of the Electrical Components folder.

[inv.ideareview]

Thanks for sharing your Idea. We use this forum to guide product development and help users in the best way we can, based on voting. We occasionally merge Ideas or archive old ones to keep the forum working properly - it ensures there is room for people to review new Ideas and that the most relevant and meaningful ones can gain votes. We’re archiving this Idea because it's been on the board for well over a year and hasn't received many votes from the community. If you want to raise it again and try to gain more support, you're welcome to do so. We’ve found that pictures and mock-ups can help get concepts across and win more votes from other users. If you have questions or see a connection between this Idea and others, let us know. - Inventor product team (Inv.idea review)

[Anonymous]

This is a great idea. The issue is there is not 'link' between the specified area in the library folder location in the Inventor project to the electrical components folder. The only current workflow I can see is explained below:

1. Setup  the library path in the Inventor Project file.

2. Place/insert components from the Electrical Catalogue Browser.

3. Then make the change to the file in the generated file location i.e. workspace location/Electrical Components/*Category*/*Manufacturer*/*Catalogue Number*.

4. Overwrite the file on the shared location (location specified in the Inventor Project File) with the file in the generated file location.

*Note*: This would also apply for Vault users as they would have to ensure the file in Vault is updated and then do a refresh file in Inventor to get the version from Vault, which should be the latest version of the file.

This way both files should be at the same version, but you would have to remember to overwrite the file (not ideal, but currently there isn't another option). 

[jgoetsch]

This is a huge issue for our company. We have spent a great deal of time and money to build a database of parts that conform to our standards, part of which is the assigning of inventor pins embedded, lengths etcetera.

We are currently forced to insert our "Approved parts library" files manually in order to maintain the link to the proper location. Then assign the part a link from the location view.

The real issue here is that we typically have a electrical engineer create the schematic focused on the operation of the circuit and checking to make sure the final assembly will work. Once we pass that information on to Inventor we typically have a designer doing the work needed to build the housings, etc. The designer does not know nor should he need to know what wire goes where, if he could use the insert from catalog browser. This feature would allow us to simple right click, pick the part, and know we have the right component with the correct wires connected. (extra critical when the same connector is used in multiple locations.  Not having this functionality leaves or designers prone to mistakes when manually assigning.

To me if i map the location of the file, in the symbol3d field, in the electrical catalog, to where my model is saved it should use that file and location. It should not copy it and put it somewhere else.

 

[vas_ampelas]

Hi,

Has there been any resolution to this issue since it was first identified?

This is a core functionality issue with Electromechanical workflows in Inventor, and goes against the Unique Filenames setting that most Vault have active.

When placing a component from Electrical browser, not only does it not re-use the Library component that was setup in the catalog, but it creates a duplicate in a folder that does not even correspond to the top-level assembly itself.

There should also be an "Open from Vault" button when editing the Electrical Browser and assigning 3D Symbol to catalog entry.

Could someone from Autodesk please advise why we are not able to vote for this anymore... Moreover, this is not an enhancement request / idea, but rather an issue with the product itself.

Regards,

Vas

[rfilardiANBRM]

I am having the same issue, it is messing with our vault file structure. Which I am trying to make this an as seemless workflow process as possible for the electrical and mechanical groups. 

[JarFu]

Hi @jgoetsch @vas_ampelas @rfilardiANBRM , 

Many thanks your feedback!

I'm trying to understand the problem with below steps. Could you please help check and give more info about the problem you meet? 

1. Create two Vault projects under different locations, one is D:\Test1, another is E:\Test2 with same library setting to C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor Electrical Library 202X folder

2. Create two assemblies under each project and place electrical components and check them into Vault with the same mapping structure

Observations:

1. The <Electrical Components> folder was created separately per project location when using Place from Catalog Browser to place electrical component indeed. The Electrical Library part files are like template files, they are created in legacy release 2014, when placing into current Inventor it will be copied to <Electrical Components> folder and saved with current build.

2. Need use refresh file command to get correct status of electrical component if the same name component already checked into Vault. No problem if use Place from Vault and select the electrical component from existing folder.

[Simon.GriffinDTEYZ]

Hi @JarFu,

I just wanted to provide some clarity on this from my perspective as well. The current workaround for this would be to place an electrical component from using the 'Place' feature, it will not duplicate files in the local workspace, but my customer I'm working with has populated the shared catalogue database between AutoCAD Electrical and Inventor (they are using the electromechanical link), and when they try to insert components from the catalogue database, it then creates a duplicate in the local workspace as the master copy is mapped in the shared catalogue database and is already in the local workspace/added to Vault. So it makes the 'insert' option defunct on the shared catalogue database when working with the electromechanical integration and using Vault, as Vault requires files to be unique in the Vault.

Thanks,

Simon

[JarFu]

Thank you @simon. GriffinDTEYZ  for the explanation!

About the 'shared catalogue database', is it *.ldb format? Do you mean customer checked in the electrical files under C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor Electrical Library 202X to Vault and expected to use it directly via Insert / Place from Catalog Browser? If yes, it's not supported by current implementation (similar as place from content center). We need check with PM about this request if you can confirm or provide a screenshot about Vault Project Explore details containing Inventor Electrical Library files. Many thanks!

[Simon.GriffinDTEYZ]

@JarFu  I don't have screenshots currently for this, but can speak with the customer to request these. Essentially, the existing path for the electrical library path is within the Vault workspace area under a libraries folder. This library path has been mapped to a folder in Vault, but it seems to creating a duplicate of the file in the workspace under an electrical components folder and hence having issues with checking the assembly in.

The workaround would be to place the electrical components as you usually would with the place command, but then it makes the insert option on the shared catalogue database (.mdb) redundant. 

[vas_ampelas]

Hi @JarFu , I agree with @Simon.GriffinDTEYZ comments on the issue...

Moreover, we use a single Vault Project that has '$/Designs' as Workspace and '$/Libraries/Electrical Components' as Library mapped in IPJ file. If we point the Catalog Browser 'SYMBOL3D' column value to an existing file in our Libraries folder and save, the Inventor Catalog Browser shows the 3D thumbnail when hovering over to place, and placing command seems to behave correctly... but when trying to check-in, instead of re-using the existing component we set in the Catalog 'SYMBOL3D' ('$/Libraries/Electrical Components/...'), it creates a new duplicate in '$/Designs/Electrical Components'.

I though I might change the location of the 'Electrical Components' folder, and move it inside the 'Designs' folder '$/Designs/Electrical Components'... but soon as the folder stops being a Library folder, it does not work anymore... as soon as we update the 'SYMBOL3D' column in the Electrical Catalog Browser, then 3D Thumbnail icon is NOT there... and place from Catalog Browser does not work as expected, it ask you to browse locally for the file (not even Open from Vault option).

So there is no point to the shared catalogue database (.mdb) and there is no real Vault integration here either... Unable to browse Vault for 'SYMBOL3D' or when placing from Catalog Browser.

P.S.: The same issues are present in Inventor 2025.2.1 version.