Vault Inventor Anomally and queries

[nige106]

Recently started using Vault basic 2025 server and client. It's been a steep learning curve. I have 4 areas still to resolve. In order of importance:

1. When opening files from either my local workspace or from the vault client I can check in and check out items perfectly. If I use the Inventor add-in and use open I can browse to the file however the check out dialog box is blank so I can't click "okay". How come?

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1. Only having Vault basic. What is the best way to keep the local workspace tidy. The main issue appears to be moving folders. I've already got a lot of unused versions. Is there a 3rd party app or should I just use delete after check in? I'm not sure the outlay for other versions are worth it when we have most of the functionality we require form early testing.
2. The styles library is saved to vault and mapped locally. The project file has the styles library read/write. How do I actually edit the vault versions to push out to the local copies? I've already got conflicts.
3. We have some legacy users who only use AutoCAD. In the past we save all drawings as DWG to allow them to at least open them. These are saved on our Server to a mapped drive. Is there a similar way to do this now all our modelling information shall be contained within Vault and the local workspace being fluid in terms of what is currently downloaded.

Many Thanks

[jason.johnson3PJE7]

Answer for #2 is to leave the workspace as empty as possible. Always delete working copies when checking in. The clutter and confusion is not worth the tiny amount of time saved by skipping the download.

[nige106]

Thank You for the response. Before switching over I presumed it would work like Onedrive, whereby syncing is automatic and something you forget about.

I have already opted to delete on check in. This still leaves the folders behind. So I presume I just need to delete the entire workspace designs folder each Morning. Hoping that all files have been checked back in.

I have actually resolved my first issue. Through playing I realised I could check out from the library folders. Moving all of the Design folders one level up has rectified it.

With the styles Library, is the workflow to get the files to my workspace make the amendments and then add them back in through vault? Not Check them In? How do I ensure the workspace always has the most current version?

When I load Inventor each Morning it now appears to fetch files. Can anyone explain what it is actually doing?

[arkad_s]

Vault is definitely not the same as OneDrive but it has feature (called Workspace Sync) that could help with making working folder cleaner but it is only available in Vault Professional (I see you are using Basic edition). For basic you might check if anything posted here can be helpful - How to check if workbook items have been sent to Vault (check in) | Vault forum. But I think current approach you are using might be the one that you will end up with.

For the last part about "fetching files" - I think you are talking about Design Data and Template Management feature that was introduced in 2024 release. Goal of that feature is exactly to keep each logged in user up to date with design data and templates. See couple of references:

Putting Design Data and Templates in Vault 2024 | Vault Forum

Inventor Vault Add-in Enhancements (What's New in 2024)

How can Inventor Design Data and Templates be moved in to Vault?

Design data and templates in libary folders? | Vault forum

Regards,
Arek

[RajSchmidt]

For #1: You sure you have the correct IPJ active? And it is a Vault project? Using library folders in Vault is not a useful thing, except the folders for standard parts.

For your #2, I suggest this procedure:

1. define a search for your checked out files (in Vault)
2. in the evening, see that all your files are checked in
3. close Vault and CAD
4. delete everything in your workspace, except the IPJ and your Design Date/Templates, etc. You could cobble together a small BAT to do this.

The downside is that you will miss any files you created and didn’t check into Vault at least once.

For #3: AFAIK, in Vault Basic you can only write the preview files to an outside location. But if your colleagues use AutoCAD (not AutoCAD LT!) they technically have a license to use Vault Basic as well. Why not give them access? Whether they use it to manage their own drawings is another question.

[nige106]

Quick update. On Point 1, it appears to be a mapping issue. I have created a folder to map Inventor to Vault (Arrow). I then have a separate folder with our designs in (X).

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Mapping:

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If I map the design folder I get the blank check out dialog. I can't see why this is, however it appears to be working.

[arkad_s]

What do you specify in below sections in your Inventor project file configuration?

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If you set .\Designs in Inventor project file as workspace and then specify in Vault-Inventor mapping that Design Data is $/Designs this could be exact cause which makes Vault confused and results in not showing anything in check out dialog (Design Data in Vault-Inventor mappings refers to Design Data (styles, etc.) in Inventor project configuration - but you possibly have mixed up it also with Workspace with configuration as above).

[nige106]

Thank You for the prompt response. When attempting to set the local workspace to the design folder, It threw up an error and converted the project to a single version. I've just attempted to do this to screen capture the error and it appears to have worked.......... I'm just going to check on the other machine.........

[arkad_s]

That means you probably have set Designs or it subfolder somewhere else in project configuration too (screenshot with fully expanded Inventor project file configuration, even the one converted now to single user project, could help to spot it).

[nige106]

I've now got issues with my styles library. I though that Design Data was supposed to be set to point at my styles library? If it isn't do I have to perform Get to pull the latest style library locally?

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[arkad_s]

What are mappings between Vault/Invnetor for Design Data? Did you leave it blank or it still points to $/Designs?
In above screenshot I don't see also what you set as workspace in Inventor config file (section is not expanded)

Also where do you miss design data files? In your screenshot I see they seem to be in this folder locally:

arkad_s_0-1734513594164.png

And my hint-  I would personally try setting up test Vault database on your server and make test configuration there first, and then move to the production once it is determined what needs to be done.

[nige106]

Again, Thank You for your time. This is a test server with only copied working data.

Ive now mapped Inventor Design Data to "TSG Design" on vault.

The Project file Design Data to "TSG Design" Locally.

This works as I expected, however my style library no longer gets downloaded. Do I have to "Get" these from Vault each time we make changes to the styles? Inventor is also looking in the wrong place for my style library as it can;t find the dictionary.

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[arkad_s · Accepted solution]

Good to know it is just testing phase!
I think there is misunderstanding in using Design Data Management feature.

I understand that you are using this folder in Vault as storage to all Inventor config files (like styles libraries and other xml files - this to my knowledge is called Design Data from Inventor perspective, but I've never been an Inventor expert so sorry if I mix up names here).

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If that is the case then in your current configuration isn't going to sync anything from that folder to local folder - so far you specified that TSG Designs Vault folder is place in Vault where you keep your Inventor config/Design Data (so that folder is getting synchronized as per your configuration). If I understand correctly TSG Designs is the place you would like to use as workspace (where you keep the files that you are working on for your projects).

If that is true I think then your project file and mappings should looks like:

arkad_s_1-1734515478265.png

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And additional note: Design Data Management feature can automatically sync Templates and Design Data (Inv config files) set here:

arkad_s_3-1734515783573.png

Your workspace folder isn't going to be automatically synchronized

I would also leave those two topics as reference:

Putting Design Data and Templates in Vault 2024

Using a single Inventor Project with Vault

I hope that helps.

[nige106]

I really appreciate your help with this. You appear to have cracked it. I believe I was mistaking mapping the design data to the design folder not, the styles library.

Currently this appears to have rectified my issues. I’ll do some more testing across machines.

Thank You for the links as well.

[arkad_s]

Great to hear that it is working now. 

Good luck with rest testing!