Editing part in context of an assembly while part is opened in another window

[kamacid9QADE]

Hi again.

From time to time I come over this problem that surprises me every time and finally I have decided to share it. The solution for this might already exist, but even if there is one, it looks like it is not not incorporated to allow easy transition between two options that I'd like to have. Also, I will accept that I am not informed well, too.

Situation:

TIme is running out quickly and job needs to get done ASAP to meet the budgets. Of course, somewhere at the beginning of the project, either due to unknowns, hidden problems, inexperience, bad organization skills, scope creep and myriad other different reasons that most of the Engineers and Drafters have experienced during their careers, we occasionally find ourselves in situation where every minute is important. At times like that, we do not need more technical obstacles that could've been sorted out. I believe this is one of them. I know it can be sorted because at least one other 3d package had sorted this problem a long time ago.

In dire strait situation described above, I am working on a complex assembly and I am having it opened, along with some ten other parts or sub-assemblies that I can see as tabs at the bottom of a screen. 

I want to edit component (usualy part, but not necessarily) somewhere deep in the structure of a product and take a temporary reference for my future work on this part /subassembly. This can be 3D or 2D sketch that I want to create within this component . My plan is to take the reference (adaptive or non-adaptive), and then switch to the opened window of this component (its tab is at the bottom) and then "chew" it on peace, out of other unnecessary things that I had on a screen of an assembly. 

I double click the component in a tree to do that, but instead of going to edit in context mode (on my disbelief that I forgot about this issue again - to check and close part if it was opened (I do not want to remember to do this. I want to focus and spend my time thinking about and developing the designed product and not on technical difficulties or approach that I will have to take in order software will work fine - at least not on this level of design) Inventor switches me to a part that is already open (like it's saying " here it is - the part you wanted to edit"). Very good service, thanks, but that is not what I wanted..

So, my desire is to do what I intended to do and please, Inventor, don't throw me stick in a wheel now;

Instead, you make me close the part (and x in the corner is far away), ask me a few times (ok is again far away) am I sure I want to save or not this part, and then switch to cascade mode and show all 10 or so other windows (guess where is assembly now?) This can take few seconds and I am running out of them.

Now, after closing the part I want to edit, I have to switch back to the assembly I was in - screen flickers for another second or two till it stretches to its position. Now, find a part in an endless product structure. double click it again, edit, go out of the structure, open it again in a separate window, and finally, edit. This cycle can happen a lot of times during part design day on certain days.. 

How about this scenario for a change (or provide an option to switch to this mode in Assembly tab of Application Options, for instance):

1) I have both assembly and component opened

2) I double click the component in a tree of assembly it is located in (level in the product structure should not be an issue)

3) Inventor goes in "edit in context" mode (component stays where it is in its own tab - behind the scene).

4) I am taking the reference, i.e. create sketches etc. within this component

5) I  go out of component sketch. 

6) I go out of component level (for example back to top level) or still be within it (I might want more references if I estimate that i need more).

7) I switch to component tab. References that I just took are there. I am happy Autodesk Inventor user. I recommend it to my friends as it is user friendly, intuitive and works flawlessly, meeting everyday expectations.

This option would be nice to have. Wouldn't it?

At the ends, my logic is this: this  is the same component that I am editing, just view screens are different.

This could be widened even in a situations if component is used in few different places in assembly or even different assemblies that it is used in and they are all opened at the same time?

Cheers.

[Frederick_Law]

SW can do this.

So please get this in IV.

[AlexZW28B]

Having used SWx for 10 years, and just starting to get into Inventor again, at this point I am definitely on the side of recommending it over Inventor... UI and flow of product design soo much smoother than IV. I always have to remember so many special processes/keys to make things do what I want in IV, whereas Solidworks felt generally fluid.