Hit my talent wall with this, STEP file convert via API

[Neil_Cross]

Hi all - hoping someone here might have experienced something that rings a bell, I've spent 30+ hours on this so far and hit the wall with it.

I've just released some automation which does something really simple, but the outcome is different on some PCs.

The code simply opens a STEP file using the convert option, completely default command options, then when it's finished converting it triggers a save on the converted data and saves it all to disk.

However, on some systems, at the end of the convert process, instead of the automation saving the data, it's triggering a "Save As" prompt and showing the "Assembly1.iam" prompt requiring the user to manually save it.  

But here's the weird thing, if I manually open the STEP file by hand first on one of these PCs and manually do what my code would do... after I've done that once, my code works flawlessly from then on.

I have 15+ workstations at home here and I can't reproduce this issue, I've imported the application options from the affected systems but it didn't reproduce, I unload all addins including iLogic/Vault/Data Standard and make sure the STP translator is preloaded.  I have a preloaded IPJ, I've verified there's no write permission issues to the folder we're saving to, I'm completely stumped on this.

It's only affecting a small number of systems but I've no idea what they all have in common.  It happens on both Inventor 2021 and 2022, regardless of SP level.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? 

Thanks in advance

[Ralf_Krieg]

Hello

Just my first thought, there is an option to save documents on open for STEP import. Maybe your affected users had done last import with this option active and Inventor remember this. If I remember correct the options is named "SaveComponentDuringLoad".

[Neil_Cross]

Thanks for the pointer, which option is that? I'd already looked for something like that but couldn't find anything that resembled that... the options button is also greyed out

[Ralf_Krieg]

Hello

The option "Reduced Memory Mode" should do that. Never understand why this option was renamed.

[LukeDavenport]

Hi Neil,

I had something similar where Dropbox was locking the newly created/imported file on disk for a second or two and preventing it from being saved. In the end I changed the logic of the program to give Dropbox a bit of time to sort itself out for each new file. I guess a messy thread sleep could have done the job also.

Luke

[Neil_Cross]

Thanks Luke.  That made perfect sense and is something to consider, not sure it fits with how after you open the STP file once by hand/manually, the save issue is eliminated completely from that workstation.  If this save issue was persistent I'd go down that road but once you open a STP file by hand our code just begins to work perfectly.  I'll still look into it though and keep this in mind as I'm kinda desperate at this point!

Currently looking at that reduced memory mode setting, that does change the behaviour of my automation indeed but it doesn't seem to reproduce what I'm seeing on other peoples PCs.  So still open to any suggestions!

Cheers

[bradeneuropeArthur]

Hi @Neil_Cross 

Have all machines the same updates and service packs?

Regards 

[Neil_Cross]

Hi @bradeneuropeArthur no this issue has spanned across Inventor 2021 and 2022 now, I first saw it happen back in January and its now happening today with the RTM version of 2022.  

[bradeneuropeArthur]

It happens random then also per version?

Is show file extensions on for each workstation, and for each folder?