Assembly File Size - two users, two drastically different sizes

[Anonymous]

Hello,

A co-worker has created a complex assembly that has a saved file size nearing 118 MB.  It has become difficult for him to manage since save/refresh/Vault check-in times are becoming very long.  The file size also appears to be excessive to both of us.  As a test, I opened the file on my machine, checked it out from Vault, saved it, with no changes.

My saved version is 669 kB. 

How does an assembly file shrink from 117,900 kB down to 669 kB through one save operation?

Our machines are nearly identical, his settings are similar to mine, we use the same project file.

Looking for some tips to identify the differences and what we can to to manage these file sizes.

Thanks, in advance

[LukeDavenport · Accepted solution]

Hi sfahey,

His Express Mode settings are causing the large assembly filesize. See the application options Assembly tab. His Inventor is set to open large assemblies in Express Mode and save the lightweight graphics inside the assembly file (over 100MB of lightweight graphics in this case), whereas your Inventor either has a higher threshold for Express Mode or has it switched off completely, and therefore is 'stripping' the lightweight graphics out of his assembly file whenever you open it and save it. Makes sense?

Hope this helps,

Luke

[salariua]

hi @Anonymous

I believe Johnson Shiue has answered the yor question and if so please mark this post as resolved. 

[Anonymous]

Luke, Adrian,

Thank you for your help.  You are right, it's Express mode. 

Apologies for double-posting the question.  I didn't realize that "Inventor Customization" is a separate forum zone so when I returned later to the "Inventor Forum" I couldn't figure out why my post didn't appear.