Can I place external rule directory on a server folder instead of the vaultworkspace

[J.VandeMerckt]

Hi Forum

I was wondering if it is possible to place the external rule directory in a folder which is located on sharepoint instead of the vault workspace folder.
This way when making a new rule and/or form it doesn't have to be dragged into the vault to be visible for other users.
Sharepoint syncs these folders automatically unlike vault.

Will this work for rules and forms?

Br

Justin

[Frederick_Law]

It could fail when more then one user try to edit the file.

Also when Cloud sync, the file will be locked.

Usually happen when you're editing and saving the file.

I have them in Vault and Check it in after I updated.

[J.VandeMerckt]

Not a lot of people work on them.
Very little chances of people working in the same Ilogic file.

Also;

How do you check in a external rule or global form.

The only way I know is to drag the file into vault.
So I thought a server might be easier since it syncs the folder.

[Frederick_Law]

Only first time need to drag and drop.

Once it's in Vault, you can Check in and out there.

Of course user need to Get it after update.

[J.VandeMerckt]

That's why I thought a server might be better so that it updates without people needing to manually get the file.
Is it possible for certain folders in the vault to be synced with all users every day. Or something similar.

[Frederick_Law]

Not sure how this work:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/VAULT/2022/ENU/?guid=GUID-06E6DB88-C7F0-4173-A372-5467CC090327

[Frederick_Law]

https://www.synergis.com/2016/03/30/autodesk-vault-workspace-sync-workgroup-and-professional/

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If you are going to be running the Workspace sync every week you can create a batch file to run the Workspace Sync through the command prompt. With a batch file you can add a task to the Task Scheduler to run without you having to do anything.

[Frederick_Law]

https://underthehood-autodesk.typepad.com/blog/2010/10/cleaning-up-your-vault-workspace.html

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi @J.VandeMerckt 

Yes, I've done this with a Sharepoint location in the past, seemed to work fine.

recall that that the Forms location is related to the Design Data folder.

....Design Data\iLogic\UI

that is set at: Tools tab> Application Options button> File tab > Design Data setting

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[Curtis_Waguespack]

@J.VandeMerckt 

Also this rule might be something to explore. This will add an external rule path to the configuration, based on the windows username.

So for instance my profile username on this machine is CurtisWaguespack, so this:

sUserName = Environ$("UserName")

'Add path to External iLogic rule folder for the project
oPath = "C:\Users\" & sUserName & "\MySharePointFolder\iLogic Rules"

returns: "C:\Users\CurtisWaguespack\MySharePointFolder\iLogic Rules"

where as another user's Username might be JohnSmith, so it would return 

"C:\Users\JohnSmith\MySharePointFolder\iLogic Rules", on their machine.

sUserName = Environ$("UserName")

'Add path to External iLogic rule folder for the project
oPath = "C:\Users\" & sUserName & "\MySharePointFolder\iLogic Rules"

'Get current list of External iLogic directories
Dim oExternalRuleDirectories As New List(Of String)
oExternalRuleDirectories.AddRange(iLogicVb.Automation.FileOptions.ExternalRuleDirectories)

If oExternalRuleDirectories.Contains(oPath) Then Exit Sub	

If System.IO.Directory.Exists(oPath) Then
	oExternalRuleDirectories.Add(oPath)
End If

iLogicVb.Automation.FileOptions.ExternalRuleDirectories = oExternalRuleDirectories.ToArray

[Frederick_Law]

External Rules can be anywhere:

[Curtis_Waguespack · Accepted solution]

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@Frederick_Law wrote:

External Rules can be anywhere:

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Indeed, they can. The reason people would use Sharepoint/Onedrive for this is that it can sync the external ilogic rules automatically. 

So for instance, if I make changes to 8 rules, and they are synced to that folder automatically, the 30 users that I support who are spread out all over the world, will have the latest versions of those files when they are synced, without me having to remember to to tell them about the changes, and them having to remember to get those new versions from the Vault, etc.

I think generally, this works pretty well for files such as external rules, or Inventor templates, that are maintained by one person ( read/write) and used by many others ( read only).

[J.VandeMerckt]

@Curtis_Waguespack Thank you for all the information, this all seems worth taking a look at.
You do mention that the Forms file is related to the design data folder, does that mean that forms are not able to be put on a sharepoint folder and external rules are? Or am I seeing this wrong?
Because if that's the case people would still need to check in and also get the forms manually when working with forms.
While the external rules will be synced.

Also good idea to do the same things for templates and styles and such. Definitely worth taking a look at.

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi @J.VandeMerckt,

What I’ve done in the past is just put the entire Design Data folder in the shared location.

[J.VandeMerckt]

Yes but we also work with the vault, so I don't think it works.

[Curtis_Waguespack]

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@J.VandeMerckt wrote:
Yes but we also work with the vault, so I don't think it works.

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It's been several years, so maybe something changed, but that was a vaulted environment, and it worked. We didn't put the Design Data files in the Vault though.

[J.VandeMerckt]

Ah but for what did you need the vault then?

[Curtis_Waguespack]

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@J.VandeMerckt wrote:
Ah but for what did you need the vault then?

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All of our project design files went into the Vault ( meaning drawings, assembly, and part files. ) 

We managed and backed up our support files such as templates, design data, ilogic rules with server backed up locations.

[J.VandeMerckt]

Ok, that's exactly what I was wondering.
Thank you

[Frederick_Law]

I've Design Data, iFeature, iLogic and Template in Vault.

Other user need to "Get" them when they're updated.

I'm setting up "Workspace Sync" setting to keep them update and won't delete them on user computers.