Drag & Drop from Windows Explorer to assembly | Total length of pipe

[RolfEven]

Hi,

I'm looking to see if it is possible to create an iLogic rule that does the same thing as when you drag&drop files from Windows file explorer into an Inventor assembly. The parts in the assembly is positioned so they touch each outer extents in the three planes XY XZ YZ.

Does anybody know if this is possible to do with iLogic, not the drag&drop bit, but the positioning of parts?

My Google searches led me to the thread in the link below, but I think that dried up in maybe an idea at the IdeaStation.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/copy-paste-parts-without-constraints/m-p/5550107#M5401...

Drag&Drop from Explorer to Inventor

Drag&Drop result

/Rolf Even

[gcoombridge]

@RolfEven you can use matrixes to do this probably. I have used these before on a few things but it isn't straightforward to say the least! See this PDF: mathgeometry.pdf (typepad.com)

My suggestion if you are after the total length of pipe would be to sum some kind of length parameter of all parts in the assembly. If they are tube and pipe authored components they will have a PL parameter - then you just need a rule that iterates through all occurrences and adds the values.

[RolfEven]

@gcoombridge,

Thank you for the reply. When I read your reply and also the title in the linked PDF "...rabbit hole" I got the answer as if this was easypeasy or not. 🙂

My goal was not only this quick calculation of pipe lengths, but also to use the tool more generally to create a document we could use as an order for parts for small internal projects. With drag & drop from Windows Explorer Inventor positions the parts so the touch each other, and with a couple of views in a drawing it is easy to show the parts. I've added an example in the pictures below where the balloon shows part number and quantity.

If it was somehow possible to tap into what Inventor does internally with iLogic, when Inventor gets a bunch of files dragged and dropped into an assembly from Windows Explorer that would be good/efficent. I don't understand the details regarding programming, but I do understand that this is not something that is going to be straight forward.

I think this could be an interesting case to solve, but it is going to be a long-term thing. I'm nowhere near being able to do this myself with my current programming skills, and I'm not asking that someone here should solve my request/idea/question.

Drag&Drop assembly

Drag&Drop drawing

/Rolf Even