Check In Any File from Windows Explorer

[lesmfunk]

Why not allow check in directly from Windows Explorer workspace?

This will simplify the process since we usually already have navigated to the file in Windows Explorer. The Add File command in Vault is nice, but you still have to navigate to the file in the workspace. Drag and drop only works if the folder already exists in Vault, and then you have to navigate to it.

With Windows Explorer, I'm usually already there. Just need to check it in.

Autodesk must still have some leverage with Microsoft.

[Cadmanto]

I don't agree with this idea at all.  I think the checking in/out should be kept within the Autodesk environment of products.  To bring MS Explorer into the mix I think is just opening up a can of worms and asking for trouble.  Just my 2 cents.

[lesmfunk]

Cadmanto,

Thank-you for your comment, but I'm not sure you understand the purpose of the idea. The point is speeding up workflows. We use Vault for storing several other file types (i.e. Step, SolidWorks, pdf, etc) which are not Autodesk products. The drag and drop method is already a non-Autodesk environment feature and not much different than the idea, but it is much more cumbersome.

I do agree with you and I am aware that interfacing with system software might be asking for trouble. I am not so sure MS would ever allow an add-in for Windows Explorer. Yet, the use of a workspace is an example of how Vault already interfaces with Windows Explorer. Why not expand it a little bit so that we can make more use of an already great product (Vault)?

In the meantime, if you can give specific details to support your comment, that would be beneficial to this idea. Once people understand (if and) why this is a bad idea, they might stop giving it kudos.

Thanks again,

Les

[Anonymous]

I agree with Cadmanto, I think the check-in process needs to stay with the Vault or CAD applications.

There is a 'check in folder' option available within the AutoCAD / Vault toolbar.  And other applications, like Inventor Task Scheduler, have a 'mass import' option within them.

[lesmfunk]

The idea specifically states "Any File" and I intentionally showed a pdf in the graphic. I find it hard to believe that we are the only office that uses the Vault server for non-Autodesk, or even non-CAD, file storage. Again, considering the Add File and drag and drop features already exist, why not improve them with the idea? I still haven't read or heard a valid answer to this question. If you have one, please enlighten me.

Keep the comments coming. There has to be a good reason why this feature has never been implemented.

[Anonymous]

We have many non-Autodesk file types in the Vault.  For those, the 'click-n-drag' method works great.

[mikel_martin]

For those that disagree with this functionality, is it because you feel that this would cause a problem of some sort?

If so what problems do you think it would cause?

What if those issues could be resolved? Would you find it useful then?

Just asking to try to understand the thinking.

[UlHiersemenzel]

I think the possibility to check in non Inventor files directly from windows explorer is a good one.

[rpeterson9DZ38]

I think this is a great idea, every other cad system has a local "workspace" explorer that can be used to manage

your cad data.  Anyone that thinks otherwise doesn't understand the full advantage of this request.

I should be able to perform any of the following from a local "workspace" explorer:

1. check if local file is modified
2. who has this file checked out
3. move a file from one folder to another and the corresponding file in the vault would move
4. check the "state"
5. change the "state"
6. Update properties
7. update revision level
8. create manual references
9. copy design locally
10. do a where used
11. do a contains
12. check which files that are new and not checked in to the vault
13. local files that are not checked out by someone or files that are locked in the vault should always
    be automatically updated when a new version or revision is created in the vault.
    
14. If a file is moved in the vault the local workspace should automatically update to show this.

[Anonymous]

I think this is a great idea as well. When I publish a pdf of a drawing that I am sending to a shop, I would then like check in the file. Currently, I have to open Windows Explorer and navigate to the file and make the window half the screen. Then I have to open Vault, navigate to the file and make the window half the screen. Then I can drag the file from the Explorer window to the Vault window. This is a massive waste of time since Explorer already knows the path which I want it saved. 

[ddavis]

I think could be a useful tool for many users.

We too use non cad files within our Vault and often run into a situation where a user performs a search within Vault for a given folder and then drags the files in. Unfortunately unless they are actually in the correct folder within Vault it will place the file in the root folder. Maybe showing a prompt of the specific Vault location popping up when the file is dropped could help here. Perhaps this is really a training/reminder issue, but it is nonetheless an issue.

Regarding PDfs or other design specific (non CAD) files for a given drawing, we typically just attach the document(s) to the drawing via an iLogic script such that it checks in/out together (if we intend to modify one, we will modify all). Below shows how this looks with the attached files in the 3rd Party flyout.

Darek

[b.mccarthy]

I have been wanting this for years. Vault duplicates the existing windows file/folder structure. "Drag & Drop" works, of course, but it requires the additional steps of navigating to the specific Vault directory, or creating the Vault folder, if it does not already exist. I like ddavis' iLogic script option as well (care to share?). Not all of the support files that I use are related to specific CAD files, and as such, would not typically be defined as an attachment, as would, say, a pdf or step file.

More $.02...

[ddavis]

Since I can't attach files, below is the iLogic code mentioned in the idea post.

We typically only attached external documents to drawing files, but it does work with all Inventor file types.

We been using this for a few years now so I'm not sure of the original source for this, but I'm certain this was either a direct copy paste of someone else's work or someone here in the community helped me with it. Either way it's there if anyone wants to use it. 🙂

'present a File Selection dialog
Dim oFileDlg As inventor.FileDialog = Nothing
AdditionalFiles = 0
InventorVb.Application.CreateFileDialog(oFileDlg)
oFileDlg.InitialDirectory = oOrigRefName
oFileDlg.CancelError = True

oDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

Dim kOLEDocumentLinkObject As ObjectTypeEnum
	kOLEDocumentLinkObject = 3331 'OLE link document

Dim oRefOleFileDes As ReferencedOLEFileDescriptor

On Error Resume Next

While AdditionalFiles = 0

	oFileDlg.ShowOpen()
	If Err.Number <> 0 Then
		Return
	ElseIf oFileDlg.FileName <> "" Then
		selectedfile = oFileDlg.FileName
	End If

oRefOleFileDes = oDoc.ReferencedOLEFileDescriptors.Add (selectedfile,kOLEDocumentLinkObject)

oRefOleFileDes.BrowserVisible = True

question = MessageBox.Show("Would you like to add more files?","Attach Documents",MessageBoxButtons.YesNo,MessageBoxIcon.Question)

If question = vbYes Then
	AdditionalFiles = 0
	
Else If question = vbNo Then
	AdditionalFiles = 1
	
End If

End While

Darek