Dockable/Customization iProperty Browser

[MechMachineMan]

Working with IDEs like Visual Studio, I find this feature very useful. I could see it also being useful for modelling.

The idea is to make a new customization dockable window the shows different display values based on the environment. This would allow users to customize the information required for their specific workflow and not have to sift through the iProps that they leave blank or disregard. The functionality would be similar to a form, but more suited to the environment, and DOCKABLE.

ie;

- Assembly Model

-    Assembly Display Name

-    Customized to show TOP LEVEL iProps

-    Customized to show SELECTED DOCUMENT iProps

-    Customized to the PART to show PARAMETER x in it's dockable windows menu (ie; because the param was set to export)

Drawing

- Drawing Display Name

- Drawing ref doc count (to see if maybe a improper file was placed)

- Drawing DOC iProps

- VIEW 1 iProps (currently tedious to open up refdoc and access iProps to change visible properties on the drawing)

It would also be cool if it had some other API features that were attached/customizable with it.

ie; in assemblies, being able to see/edit coordinates in this Dockable browser window

ie; in drawing, being able to the see coordinates (AND EDIT THEM!) for the selected view.

[LukeDavenport]

I like this idea MechMachineMan - perhaps you're tempted to code it yourself?

[MechMachineMan]

I have tried! I failed pretty much at the outset - wasn't sure what the proper approach would be, and I could't figure out how to properly implement the WPF (if that is even the right approach) and have it populate the document window in inventor.

I swear I had seen and tried using these threads, but couldn't get any further with showing the form inside inventor.

I believe I was actually trying to use a user control..

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-customization/addin-dockable-window/td-p/6284478

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-customization/api-dockable-window-width-not-working/td-p/642...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-customization/add-in-dockable-window/td-p/7107964

Which I forgot about the last one... so maybe it's worth revisiting now...

[mikeh2]

Have you taken a look at the iPropertyWizard (iPropWiz) Add-in from C-cubed?  We use that extensively and couldn't work with out it.  We rarely use the Inventor iProperties dialong box.  Helps us automate and standardize.

[MechMachineMan]

@mikeh2 From what I could tell, it is just a floating window, which isn't really ideal and doesn't provide much benefit over the BOM window. Please correct me if I am wrong!

[nmunro]

re:iPropwiz. It does not do everything that you mentioned, but it does do all the tasks you proposed for properties, and much more, in a dockable window. Thirty day trial available from app store or website.

[MechMachineMan]

@nmunro it definitely does look like iProp Wiz is a fantastic tool. Seems like functionality that would benefit any commercial/industrial user of Inventor. Enough that I would think Autodesk should try acquiring it!

[doug.johnston]

I also like this idea.

My idea would be to have something similar that pops up on part / assembly creation and "force" the user to fill in the "PART NUMBER" and "DESCRIPTION" fields before continuing.

This would ensure that everything that is modeled has a PART NUMBER as a minimum.

It would also allows us to have a starting point to customize / build a user form so we don't have to go to the iproperties and/or parameters locations to fill in information.

This is how I have setup all my INV templates and it should be a "standard" option.

[MechMachineMan]

@doug.johnston that sort of functionality does already exist with iLogic forms - having forms pop up to enforce entry of iProperties.

This idea goes further and wants those sorts of features to be dockable and have more options for items in the form (prompted entry fields, iProps from other files, etc.)

[doug.johnston]

Thanks MechMachineMan,

I understand what your idea is looking for and think it would be a valuable addition.

Mine expands on yours to make this a "standard function" in Inventor.  At my workplace, there are several operators (full time / part time / co-op students, etc.) who do not fill out the required information when they model and trying to find / search / edit files is very difficult.  I'm always looking for files that others have created and adding the Part Number and Description, etc. after the fact.

I have setup templates and ilogic rules to do this now, but having it as a "requirement" when starting a part or assembly would make it much more efficient and have a form created to expand to add other properties.

[Anonymous]

@MechMachineMan I managed a quick WPF solution for this, without giving away the gravy, the post [here] worked its way into a customizable data grid. You may be able to do something with just a WinForm, but the WPF solution seemed elegant to me, multiple windows and tapping into the application level eventing system worked very well to switch screens.

There are some pitfalls; mass properties can cause a hang if you are dealing with levels of detail; ActiveEditDocument is useful vs ActiveDocument, though sometimes both at once are useful.

The suggested information items you have up above are extremely useful.. it would be nice to see an Autodesk solution, in the meantime, I am going to work on adding them to my own solution. Key Parameters, View Details.. all interesting.