Part number automatically added to drawing tree

[Anonymous]

The issue is that when a part or assembly is inserted into a custom drawing template, it doesn’t insert the relevant part number into the drawing tree - what it shows instead is the template name (example in image 1). It does however do this on the standard/ default drawing template. The suggestion is to allow for custom templates to automatically insert the part name or the drawing name into this title (example in image 2)

[DRoam]

Hi @Anonymous, I'm not sure I follow what you're saying. The top node will always be the File Name of the drawing. This is the intended operation. In fact, this true with Parts and Assemblies as well. Does that explain the behavior you're seeing?

[Anonymous]

Hi @DRoam, I may have missed something as I am only a few months into using inventor. I agree that this top node should show the part number as its intended operation.

From my experience the top node will show the file name in a part and in an assembly. It will also show the file name in a drawing template supplied with the software. I have found that when I use a custom drawing template that I have created, and place a drawing view, this node remains as the template name and doesn't update as you'd expect. If you have custom drawing templates that show the file name do you have any advice as to how I can achieve this (and delete this suggestion)?

Thanks

[DRoam]

No problem, hopefully I can help out!

So I think there are a couple things that may clarify things a little:

• Part Number and File Name are not the same thing. You can manually name a file the Part Number, but they are still two different properties and aren't linked in any way. Changing the Part Number iProperty won't update the filename.
• Drawings can contain multiple sheets and you can also place Views of multiple parts (or Assemblies) in a drawing. As such, drawings are not linked to the parts that are drawn in them. In other words, just because I put a view of Part A in my drawing doesn't mean that my drawing is now THE DRAWING for Part A. It's still just a drawing which happens to contain a view of Part A. Given that fact, there's no reason that the top node of my drawing should update to display any information (be it Part Number or Filename) for for a particular part that I placed in that Drawing. The Drawing is its own file, and so it will display its own file name in the top node.

I hope all of that made sense.

Are you familiar with iProperties? If not, open a Part and go to File --> iProperties and look through the tabs. The "Project" and "Custom" tabs are the ones you're most likely to use.

Now place that part in a Drawing, and from the Drawing go to File --> iProperties. You'll notice that the values are NOT the same as your Part's. This is because your Drawing is its very own file with its very own iProperties. It's not intended to inherit properties from a particular part which was placed in the Drawing. The reason for this is that, since drawings can have multiple sheets, it's expected that you're going to treat the Drawing file as a "Drawing Package" which contains drawings for multiple parts and assemblies related to a project or piece of equipment.

Again, I hope all that made sense! That should hopefully help you understand how Drawings work a little better and why they don't display the Part Number (or any other property) for a specific part in their top node.

If you really want to, you can manually re-name the top node to your part's Part Number. But I highly recommend not doing so because this also changes the drawing title in the Title Bar and will make it very confusing for others (and possibly even yourself) to know what drawing file you're working with. It's much better to leave it as the Filename of the drawing.

Hope that's helpful!

[Anonymous]

Hi @DRoam,

Thanks, this is all very good and concise information. 

Apologies about my terminology - because 9 times out of 10 I will save the 'file name' as the 'part number' I may have used the term loosely. I am aware of Iproperties but in this instance I don't think they are relevant. 

The issue I'm seeing still exists though- to explain it better I have attached a set of images from when I use the drawing template 'standard' (stock template from inventor) and when I use 'A3 Scotia Assembly' which is an example custom drawing template I have created.

What I find in the 'standard' template is that the 'file name' from the part is pulled through to be the 'node' in the drawing and this is exactly what I am looking for.

If you have any idea what settings effect the difference between the two sets of images attached I would be very grateful.

Thanks for all your help 

Robbie

[DRoam]

Ohh, I see what you're describing now. Thanks for clarifying!

The custom template definitely isn't doing what it should be. Even with a custom template, once you place a part into a new drawing, Inventor is supposed to "tentatively" set the file name to the same as the part's filename. This is only tentative and when you save for the first time, you'll be prompted to give the file a permanent name, and the tentative name will be offered as the default entry.

This is how Inventor is supposed to work, and indeed it is how it works for me, even with custom templates.

So, now that I'm clear on what's not working how it should, could you possibly create a Screencast showing you going through the same steps you did above? I'll be able to tell more from a video than from a few screenshots.

If you're not familiar with Screencast, it's an Autodesk application for taking screen recordings. You can download it here: Autodesk Screencast. Once you've created a recording, you can paste a link to it here.

If you're willing to do that, I might be able to help you diagnose why your custom templates aren't behaving as expected.

[Anonymous]

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/community/screencast/d64fd372-16f5-48ff-b582-26f39ee7feaa

Link above. The issue obviously relates to the template / theme or style of the drawing but it isn't something I am familiar with.

Again, thanks for your support @DRoam

[inv.ideareview]

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.