Vault 2018.2 Custom Jobs Using VaultInventorServer

[Markus.Koechl]

Autodesk Vault 2018.2 allows creating custom jobs using the new Vault Inventor Server component instead of Inventor Application. Vault Inventor Server supports Inventor API access/executing without UI elements.

The sample demonstrates to leverage the Inventor Object shared by the new property "InventorObject"; followed by the Inventor API sample code to use STEP Translator add-in.

public JobOutcome Execute(IJobProcessorServices context, IJob job)
        {
            Document mDoc = null;
            try
            {
                Inventor.InventorServer mInv = context.InventorObject as InventorServer;
                ApplicationAddIns mInvSrvAddIns = mInv.ApplicationAddIns;
....

The full solution including readme is attached. Hope this helps to get started.

Note - I tested all other translator add-ins as listed below; DWG, DXF translator isn't listed as I run into limitations. I will come back on these asap.

Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: SAT| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: STEP| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: IGES| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: CATIA V5 Product Export| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: STL Import| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: DWF| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: PDF| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: DWFx| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: CATIA V5 Part Export| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: Parasolid Text| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: SolidWorks| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: Pro/ENGINEER Granite| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: NX| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: SMT| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: OBJ Import| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: SVF| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: Parasolid Binary| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: Pro/ENGINEER and Creo Parametric| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: ATF XML| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: Pro/ENGINEER Neutral| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: CATIA V4 Import| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: Rhino| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: CATIA V5 Import| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: JT| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: Alias| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: OBJ Export| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed
Loaded Translator AddIn: Translator: STL Export| LicenseStatus kAddInLicenseStatusUnlicensed

[stefan.palm]

Does the jobprocessor automatically handle the context.InventorServer object if it hangs/crashes or needs to be restarted? The custom job does not need to bother about those kind of issues?

[Markus.Koechl]

I quickly verified my thoughts/expectation on this: it behaves like we are used to. If your custom job causes the server component to hang, it remains in the list of current processes. Your job best handles a time-out. The next job is getting a new InventorObject and initiates a new instance.

[stefan.palm]

Seems one cannot user inventor server to export Sheet Metal parts to DXF using Inventor.DataIO.WriteDataToFile - does Autodesk have any suggestions for Sheet Metal to DXF exports using Inventor Server? 

Also one can't use Inventor Server to print documents to printer. Any suggestions?

[Markus.Koechl]

DXF: we are investigating as stated in my original post. DXF is meant to be supported, but I'm also seeing an issue.

Plot Manager expects the full application as of today.

[stefan.palm]

I thought the DXF you mentioned was about export inventor drawing to DXF?

Inventor drawing to DXF does not work, neither do Sheet Metal Flat Pattern to DXF.

[RasmusBredal]

Hi Markus 

Is there an hotfix for this on the way? 

[Markus.Koechl]

Development is working on a fix to be delivered in an update. For now, we need to continue referencing Inventor.exe for custom DWG/DXF jobs.

[bradeneuropeArthur]

@Markus.Koechl

Hi,

I try to use this in our vault extension, but I cannot create it

I have installed the 2018.2 of Vault.

Could you please advise?

[psaarloos]

Hi,

You need to reference the new dll's from the Vault 2018.2 SDK. Then the InventorServer object should be there.

Hope it helps!

[Markus.Koechl]

Hi Pim,
no doubt, you are right in general, thanks for your quick solution. Just to avoid efforts for DXF jobs; this thread is also about the fact, that you can use all Inventor translator add-ins with one exception: we identified an issue using the DWG/DXF translator in 2018.2.

[bradeneuropeArthur]

@psaarloos

Hoi Pim,

Can you please give me the correct path of SDK.

There is something missing here.

How can I install it?

Groetjes,

[psaarloos]

Hi,

After installing the Vault 2018.2 update there is a new installer in the Vault Professional 2018 folder and/or the ADMS Professional 2018 folder.

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Vault Professional 2018\SDK

This installs the updated SDK in:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\Autodesk Vault 2018.2 SDK

From there you can replace your references. 🙂

[davide_orlando]

Hi Markus,

have you news for the hotfix deliver?

Otherwise, there is a estimated time for the deliver?

thank you

[Anonymous]

Hello Markus,

thanks for the heads up on the new InventorServer implementation.

my q:

in your example, youre using the STEP Translator (ID: 90AF7F40-0C01-11D5-8E83-0010B541CD80)

we have been translating to the following formats with our extension:

1. PDF (ID: 0AC6FD96-2F4D-42CE-8BE0-8AEA580399E4) -> still works

2. 3D-PDF: (ID: 3EE52B28-D6E0-4EA4-8AA6-C2A266DEBB88) -> does not work anymore

3. DWG: (ID: C24E3AC4-122E-11D5-8E91-0010B541CD80) -> does not work anymore -> waiting for your news on this (seen what you wrote in the replies above...)

4. DXF: (ID: C24E3AC4-122E-11D5-8E91-0010B541CD80) -> does not work anymore -> waiting for your news on this (seen what you wrote in the replies above...)

are there new ID's for these Translators (and if so, where may i find the updated list (sdk documentation..., website... changelog, readme... github...), or will i have to write myself a little tool to read them out)? are they even supported by the InventorServer? and if not, what are the plans?

[rluttrellCRO]

Markus,

First off Thanks for the sample, I am however looking for something very similar to this but my company and I are very new to Vault customization. Is there any way I could possibly get some more detailed information on how to set this up properly as I have followed the read me and cannot seem to get this to work so there must be something I am missing. Or is there anyway to get some support or help in setting this up?  thanks again for your time and help.

[Markus.Koechl]

I don't have final news yet, but there is a fix been worked on and targeted for the next update in spring time frame.

[Markus.Koechl]

The issue you see consuming DWG or DXF translators is not related to translator's ID. 3PDF is not covered by VaultInventorServer. My listing refers to the 2D PDF translator. To share this information was one of the initial topics of this thread, but I acknowledge that it got pretty long and highlights other areas meanwhile.

[Markus.Koechl]

We are always happy to support new consumers of Vault and Job Processor APIs. So welcome to the customization community. To get started in general I suggest to reach out to the AU2017 class Job sample first, then follow up with the SDK sample.
AU introduction session: recent trhead about the template/sample downloads: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/vault-customization/au-vault-samples-vault-backup-sample-vault-sd1244... .
SDK: part of your client installation: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Vault Professional 2018\SDK\setup.exe. Hope this helps to get you started. I am going to update the job template and sample for VaultInventorServer as described in this thread with the 2019 release.

[Anonymous]

Thank you Markus for the answer,

Yah, i noticed that i kinda took the thread even further away from the initial topic, but i did see the replies and it looked like the answers i am looking for would land in here..., so i saw no reason to open a new thread (and actually use the existing traction of this one was a bonus...)

anyways, thanks again, sad to see that 3D-PDF's are a no-go, they did look promising seeing as the plugin was integrated in inventor within the last 1 (or where it 2) versions...

i'll keep an eye on the spring timeframe updates for the other two issues and where this thread goes further...