Changes Have Been Made to Some Assembly Components

When opening an Assembly sometimes this message can appear.

How to Rename Using Sequential Numbering in 2011

In Vault 2011, when you rename two files with the same prefix using the Sequential Numbering Scheme, the new names do not by default, retain the same prefix.

For example 100001.ipt and 100001.idw, get renamed to 100002.ipt and 100003.idw.

The following workflow shows how to get the same behaviour as in earlier releases.

• Open the files in the Rename Wizard
• Proceed to the Enter Names step in the wizard
• Click  the Numbering Scheme button
• Select None from the Numbering Scheme pull down option
• Untick Prefix
• Tick Increment
• Select Apply
• Click Close and Finish

This is an extract from the Cracking the Vault, Manufacturing Community Blog

Use Wildcard to Stop Electrical pre filtering Manufacturers

The new Catalog Lookup in AutoCAD Electrical 2011 allows you to filter and search by any field, Manufacturer, Type, Style etc. However there is a large performance overhead with this, so the Catalog Lookup is pre-filtered on opening to prevent all the records having to be loaded (the pushbutton component table has just under 100000 records for example). If you are editing the component and it already has Catalog information applied then it will filter using this information. It will filter on the Manufacturer and the fourth and fifth fields in the table (which are different for each component type).

Import Wire Types

If you require extra Wire Types from an existing drawing in the drawing you are currently working on, then there might be an easier way of creating these.

• Select Create/Edit Wire Types on the Schematic TAB, this will show the Wire Types that you currently have available in the open drawing. Click the Import button.

How to Disable Reflections and Gradients in Shaded Views

You would like to have an option to disable reflections in the shaded views that you create.

In order to do this, you will need to add a DWORD registry key named Suppress Specular Color" with value greater than zero under the following registry key.

Use Excel to extract a BOM from your Inventor Assembly

Below is an example of an Excel macro, which allows you to choose an Inventor Assembly and pull some BOM information in at the active cell position. This example just pulls in the part number, description and quantity but you can modify it to pull through the property information you require.

Click here to download a Text file containing the VBA code that you will need for the Excel macro.

Updated Threads XLS for Inventor 2011

We were recently asked on support for BA and Whitworth Threads in Inventor, so we have updated a Thread.xls file to include these and work with Inventor 2011.
To use this file you will need to replace the existing Thread.xls file in your Design Data folder, default locations as below:

• Windows 7 = C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor 2011\Design Data
• Windows XP = C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor 2011\Design Data

If the new Threads do not appear immediately, you may need to restart Inventor for it to reread the threads spreadsheet.

LABS - Inventor Fusion Technology Preview 4 Released

Autodesk Inventor Fusion Technology Preview 4 has been released!
The Autodesk Inventor Fusion Technology Preview showcases intuitive direct manipulation capabilities for unrivalled ease of use, provides direct modelling for rapid design changes without limitations, and unites direct and parametric work flows within a single digital model created in Autodesk Inventor. This updated Technology Preview of Inventor Fusion offers some exciting new capabilities:

• Surfacing support: Users can now work seamlessly between solids and surfaces, expanding their confidence and capabilities to tackle design changes. By enhancing the existing translators to read surface data and adding new Parasolid, Rhino, IGES and AliasDesign .wire file import capabilities user have access to an even larger number of design formats.
• Simplification wizard: Simulation users now have one button simplification of designs. This makes simplifying common geometry fast and easy and ensures that mesh and solves times are as fast as possible.
• Ease of use improvements: New marking menus, sketch ease of use and modelling ease of use, make this release of Inventor Fusion the easiest to use yet.

The Inventor Fusion Technology Preview is fully interoperable with AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor software, enabling customers to choose the modelling approach that is right for the task at hand.

You can try the Inventor Fusion Technology Preview 4 for yourself at:
http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/fusion/