& Construction

Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
& Manufacturing

Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Transcript
00:00
[MUSIC PLAYING]
00:04
ANDREW SHAW: Welcome and thanks for joining me.
00:06
This presentation is focused for new users which
00:09
will be creating an updated new CAD files
00:12
and sharing these files using Vault Professional.
00:16
The safe harbor statement is just a reminder
00:18
that the Autodesk software changes regularly
00:21
to continually improve the software
00:23
and make it a better experience for you.
00:25
If I happen to make any forward looking
00:27
statements in this presentation, please
00:30
do not make any buying decisions based on it.
00:33
My name is Andrew Shaw.
00:35
I'm a technical account specialist.
00:37
I have been at Autodesk since January 2012.
00:40
And my specialty is data and document management.
00:44
To begin the presentation, I will share an introduction
00:47
of the Vault workflow that is used
00:49
to create, update, and share your CAD
00:52
files in Vault Professional.
00:54
This workflow will also align with the following objectives
00:57
which will be discussed.
00:59
We will start with learning how to create new files in Vault
01:02
Professional.
01:03
This will focus both on creating new files with your CAD
01:06
software and using the Copy Design tool
01:09
within Vault. Oftentimes, you won't need to create new files
01:13
and will be modifying existing designs from the Vault.
01:16
For these situations, you will learn
01:18
how to download and check out these files using the Get
01:22
and Open commands, so you can make the required changes.
01:26
You will next learn the Vault tools
01:28
to upload your modified design versions into Vault,
01:32
as well as how to change file lifecycle states.
01:35
Finally, we will discuss how you can notify teammates
01:39
that you have updated files and how
01:41
to use the tools within Vault to review the files history,
01:46
refresh, or get the local file.
01:49
With that, let's get started.
01:51
The workflow for creating, updating, and sharing files
01:55
starts with either copying an existing file
01:58
or creating a new file.
01:59
To make changes, the file or files
02:02
need to be checked out and downloaded,
02:05
and then changes are made to your local copies.
02:08
To share the changes, the files are checked into Vault.
02:12
When files are checked in, you can also change a file state,
02:15
but this isn't always needed.
02:17
Finally, teammates can be notified
02:20
of updated files in order to refresh
02:22
our designs that may be using the file which was updated.
02:26
As I continue through the presentation,
02:28
I will reference this workflow and highlight
02:31
which stage we are at as we go.
02:34
But to begin, I wanted to provide
02:36
some general information about Vault to help you get started.
02:41
Firstly, I wanted to mention that as you
02:43
are learning Autodesk Vault, the Help Documentation is
02:47
a great resource.
02:49
I have listed five items that might be good topics that you
02:52
could look at reviewing.
02:54
The first two topics are great to help
02:56
you get started with understanding
02:58
the benefits of Vault and how, once your administrator sets
03:03
you up with access, to login.
03:06
As you will soon learn, Vault has add-in modules
03:09
that you can install on your working computer
03:11
to integrate Vault functionality directly
03:14
into your software application.
03:16
The Help Documentation on these is a great way
03:18
to get you started and learn about this.
03:21
The last topic is one that you will really
03:23
benefit from as you become more familiar with Vault
03:27
so that you can customize the screen layout of the software
03:30
with your preferences.
03:31
You can access the Help tool in Vault using the Help menu.
03:36
Once it's launched, you will find the search tool
03:38
in the top right hand corner, great for searching
03:40
for specific topics.
03:43
Autodesk Vault is a client server application
03:46
which means it has a server component and clients
03:49
with access to data on the server,
03:51
as shown here in the image.
03:53
The server and client can be installed on the same computer.
03:56
But in most cases, the server is installed
03:58
on a different machine and clients are given access to it.
04:02
The Vault server is a repository where documents and files
04:05
are stored and managed.
04:07
Users access the Vault server from a client machine.
04:11
The client machine will have the Autodesk Vault client
04:13
software installed.
04:14
This is a standalone application for viewing files in the Vault.
04:18
Users can use the Vault client software, also known
04:21
as Vault Explorer, shown in the image on the left,
04:24
as a front-end interface to access data from the server.
04:29
Users can also access the Vault using Vault add-ins, which
04:33
are modules that integrate Vault functionality directly
04:36
into software applications that you use.
04:39
The right hand image shows Inventor
04:41
with the add-in installed.
04:43
You can see a Vault tab and a browser have been added,
04:46
and it allows you to do basic Vault tasks directly
04:49
from within Inventor.
04:51
Other add-ins are available for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Mechanical,
04:54
AutoCAD Electrical, Civil 3D, et cetera.
04:58
There is also an add-in for Microsoft Office applications.
05:03
Files stored in the Vault server cannot be directly modified.
05:07
They must be downloaded from the Vault server
05:08
to a working folder on the Vault client machine
05:11
prior to viewing or making changes to a file.
05:15
The downloaded files can be read-only or read-write,
05:18
depending on if the files are checked out
05:21
from the server or not
05:23
By default, the working folder is
05:25
defined in the My Documents/Vault
05:28
folder on the Vault client.
05:30
But depending on how your Vault administrator has set up
05:33
the Vault, you may be allowed to set a specific working
05:36
for the location yourself.
05:38
This is done using the Set Working Folder option,
05:41
as shown in the image.
05:43
It is recommended that you do not change the working folder
05:45
once you start working with the files in the Vault.
05:48
Changing the working folder would create duplicate folder
05:51
structures on the local computer and might
05:53
cause problems resolving files in your CAD application.
05:57
This may be why your administrator
05:59
may limit your access for setting this folder.
06:02
Once the working folder is set up
06:04
and files are downloaded from the Vault server,
06:06
a server's file structure will be
06:08
replicated in the client's working
06:10
folder, as shown in this image.
06:12
Keep in mind that in this image, no files in the ICU
06:17
Valve, Optic Mount 2, and Rotary Vee folders
06:21
have been downloaded, so their structure is not shown.
06:25
Within Vault client, you can view the files
06:28
in the working folder using Windows File Explorer
06:31
by clicking Go To Working Folder in the Actions menu
06:34
on the client.
06:35
One final thing to keep in mind is
06:37
that only files in the working folder structure
06:40
can be checked into the Vault.
06:43
As previously mentioned, administrators
06:45
can decide whether they want to control relocation
06:48
of the working folder.
06:49
In the working folder options, they
06:51
can select to either allow users to set their own working folder
06:54
location, or they can enforce a standard location for everyone
06:58
on their client machine.
06:60
If you can't change your working folder,
07:01
it is likely that this was disabled by your administrator.
07:05
And you will receive the error message shown on the right.
07:09
As a product moves from conception through development
07:12
to completion, it is important to maintain
07:14
a history of all the parts and any engineering
07:17
related documents.
07:19
Autodesk Vault automatically manage
07:21
this using file versions.
07:24
When you initially add a file to the Vault,
07:26
it is added as version 1.
07:29
When the file is next checked out,
07:31
it is temporarily assigned the next version
07:33
number and the previous version remains unchanged.
07:37
A permanent version number is not assigned to the file
07:39
until a modified file is officially checked back in.
07:43
If the file isn't changed when it's checked back in,
07:46
it is not assigned a new version number.
07:49
So the key thing to remember here
07:51
is that with each file modification and check in,
07:53
a new file version is created and all older versions also
07:58
remain in Vault.
08:00
In Vault, you can use the History tab
08:02
to review the recorded history of all the files.
08:05
At any time, you can retrieve any older version of a file.
08:09
This means that if the current design fails,
08:12
you can go back to a previous design.
08:14
You can also view file properties
08:16
such as comments about the version, who checked it out,
08:20
when it was modified, and so on.
08:23
The Users tab is also an excellent tool for you
08:26
to know which version of files are
08:28
being used in the parent file.
08:30
For example, in the Users tab shown here,
08:33
the version of the assembly is free,
08:35
whereas the part file used is version 6.
08:39
One final term to understand is revisions.
08:42
A revision of a file is a collection
08:44
of versions with a common label, such as A or B. It often
08:49
represents a significant milestone in the design.
08:52
For example, revision A of a new component
08:55
may consist of 12 versions to get to a point
08:58
where significant progress has been made,
09:00
and it will be released for
09:04
A new revision that you started becomes a work in progress
09:08
again, and the file version will keep incrementing.
09:11
Depending on how your administrators has
09:13
set up and implemented Vault, revisions can be done manually
09:17
or they can be automatically generated
09:19
through a lifecycle change.
09:21
I will be talking more about life cycles a little later
09:24
in the presentation.
09:27
So with the introduction out of the way,
09:30
we will begin by discussing some of the methods you can use
09:32
to create files in Vault. Going back to the original workflow
09:38
that I shared, you can see that the first topic represents
09:41
the first step in the create, update, share workflow,
09:45
as shown here in green.
09:47
There are a couple of methods for getting your files
09:50
into Vault. You can either reuse an existing
09:53
design from the Vault to create a new design.
09:56
Or you can create files from scratch in your CAD software,
09:60
and then check them into Vault. In the next few slides,
10:04
I will explain these methods, and then
10:06
I will show a demonstration.
10:09
The first method I mentioned creates new files in Vault
10:12
by leveraging existing styles that already exist
10:15
in Vault. This is an efficient method
10:17
to use if your new design is similar to an existing design
10:21
because you won't have to build all the files from scratch.
10:24
In using an existing file or files,
10:28
you have the flexibility to decide
10:30
how you want to copy the file and its children
10:33
using specific Copy Design options.
10:36
I would be showing you a demonstration of the Copy
10:38
Design tool in a few minutes.
10:40
But first, I wanted to give you a quick overview
10:43
of the overall procedure broken down into five easy steps.
10:48
Initially, you need to locate a file
10:50
to copy in Vault. In the case of Inventor,
10:52
this could be a part, assembly, or even a drawing file.
10:56
Once located, you select the Copy Design option,
10:59
as I have shown here in the image.
11:02
The files that have been selected to be copied
11:04
are then presented in the Copy Design dialog box.
11:08
This is where you will customize how the file or files will
11:11
be copied.
11:12
For example, if you choose to copy an assembly,
11:15
any subassemblies and parts will all
11:18
be presented to you in the dialog box.
11:20
By defining how the file is copied,
11:22
you can set the destination folder
11:24
and whether files are included, reused, or not copied at all.
11:29
You can also set how copied files would be named.
11:32
Step four in the overall procedure
11:34
is a good reminder to verify that all options are
11:37
set as required before selecting Execute Copy.
11:41
This presentation really provides you
11:43
with an introduction to Copy Design.
11:46
For more in-depth information on this topic,
11:48
consider reviewing the Help Documentation or the Vault Copy
11:52
Design Accelerator, which is focused specifically
11:54
on this tool.
11:56
If there is no existing design in Vault, it can be reused.
12:00
You can work directly in your source CAD software,
12:03
for example, Inventor or AutoCAD, to create a file.
12:07
In fact, you can also create new Microsoft Word documents
12:11
using Vault add-ins.
12:13
The file must be saved in the working folder, which
12:15
we discussed earlier.
12:16
So in the case of Inventor, you will use the Vault project
12:19
file set up by your administrator that
12:21
reflects this folder location.
12:24
Once a new file or files are created and saved,
12:27
you will notice an icon in the Vault plaza
12:29
that indicates that the file has not yet
12:32
been checked into Vault. You can use the Check In option
12:36
on the Vault ribbon or you can use the Vault
12:38
browser to right click on the file name and click Check In.
12:43
If you had previously used Copy Design
12:45
and are ready to check in the file,
12:47
the check in procedure steps are the same.
12:51
The dialog box that appears enables you to set and control
12:54
the check in details.
12:56
At the top of the form, there are two options.
12:58
These enable you to customize what
13:00
will happen to your files on your local system
13:02
after check in.
13:04
The top option is Keep files checked out and should
13:07
be enabled if you intended to add files to Vault, maybe
13:11
for backup or sharing purposes, but then want
13:13
to still keep working on them so that no one else can
13:16
make changes.
13:18
The Close files and delete working copies option
13:21
enables you to remove all the parts from your local system
13:24
after check in.
13:25
If you choose not to select either of these options,
13:28
the files are fully checked into Vault.
13:30
And the files will remain on your local system
13:34
for future use.
13:35
However, keep in mind that if you
13:37
want to use these files again, you
13:39
should ensure that they are the most up-to-date files
13:42
before working on them, in case other users have checked out
13:46
and made changes to the source.
13:48
This list of files in the center of the form
13:50
enables you to verify the files in the folder
13:53
that they will be checked into.
13:55
At the bottom of the screen, there
13:57
is an area to add comments about the check in.
13:60
This is a great way to communicate what was changed,
14:03
or in the case of the initial check in,
14:05
you can add details on the initial design
14:08
to help teammates learn about what was done in the design.
14:12
One last thing I want to mention is
14:14
that Vault provides thumbnail previews of the files
14:17
to help you visually identify the design.
14:20
In this form I have shown here, the icon
14:22
with the red line through it is identifying
14:25
that a visualization file will not be created at check in.
14:29
To enable this, you can go into the setting options
14:32
and enable it.
14:34
This is recommended when checking
14:35
in the file for the first time so
14:37
that the thumbnail is created.
14:39
To check in the file, click OK.
14:41
The file is then added to the Vault.
14:44
Now that we have discussed these two methods,
14:45
I want to play a video that shows you
14:47
how to do this in Vault.
14:49
[VIDEO PLAYBACK]
14:50
There are two main ways to create a new file.
14:53
You can either copy an existing file
14:55
or create a new one from scratch.
14:57
First, I'll show the way of creating a new file
14:59
from an existing file using the Copy Design command in Vault.
15:04
It can be launched as a standalone application
15:06
or in Vault after selecting a file to copy, select
15:09
Copy Design from the Edit menu, or from the right click
15:13
menu as we'll do here by making a copy of the Rotary Vee
15:17
assembly.
15:19
The Copy Design window opens showing its interface
15:22
and lists the files related to the Rotary Vee assembly.
15:26
The Copy Design command enables you
15:28
to copy an entire design, including all related files.
15:32
You can see here a drawing of the Rotary Vee assembly,
15:35
it's subassemblies, and parts.
15:38
With Copy Design, you can choose to copy, reuse, replace,
15:42
or exclude specified files.
15:44
Here we'll copy the top level assembly,
15:47
one of the subassemblies, and the housing part using Copy To
15:51
from the right click menu to copy
15:53
the files into a folder that's different
15:56
from the original folder.
15:57
In this case, we'll create a new folder
15:60
and name it Rotary Vee New.
16:05
You can see that the destination path column updates
16:08
with the new folder name.
16:10
You'll see that for the drawing, it
16:12
shows Auto, which means it too will be copied.
16:15
In this example, let's also replace
16:17
one of the parts with a different part.
16:19
We'll replace cylinder with the part cylinder 2.
16:32
Now, for the naming of the copied files,
16:34
you can do this a number of ways, such as in the main table
16:38
by manually changing the names shown in the destination name
16:41
column, or using Find and Replace,
16:46
or you can do it in the numbering pane.
16:49
For this example, let's remove the default prefix and add
16:52
the suffix _new.
16:54
You can do this by right clicking in the background
16:58
and selecting Set Values, Prefix,
17:01
and selecting OK to show no prefix.
17:04
And now selecting Suffix and entering _new.
17:15
Before executing the Copy Design command,
17:18
review what you plan to do by selecting
17:20
each tab in the Actions pane.
17:23
First, select the Actions pane and then for Copy,
17:26
you see the copied files, including the drawing.
17:30
Now select Reuse to see which files are being reused.
17:34
And then Replace, you can see that the cylinder
17:37
is being replaced by the cylinder 2 part.
17:41
Now select the Execute Copy command.
17:47
When done, the check marks confirm that the Copy Design
17:50
was successful.
17:51
To see the copied files in the new folder,
17:54
select Go To from the right click menu
17:57
and select Destination Folder.
17:59
And here you'll see all the new design files in the new folder.
18:06
Now to show how to create a new file from scratch,
18:09
you can create the new file from a CAD or other authoring
18:12
program.
18:14
I'll show an example here in Autodesk Inventor
18:17
by first selecting New and then selecting
18:21
a template from the list.
18:24
We'll select the Standard part template,
18:28
and then click Create to create the part.
18:33
You can save the file locally as usual
18:35
until you are ready to share it by checking it into the Vault.
18:47
After finished modeling, click the Save icon
18:51
to save it locally to a folder that is already
18:54
mapped to a Vault folder.
18:56
Change its file name if you like, then click Save.
19:00
Let's first look at the Vault browser
19:02
to see that it's not yet in the Vault and to use Check In.
19:11
To check it in, click the Check In icon from the Vault tab,
19:18
then add your comments, and then click OK.
19:32
Now we can select the Vault icon to switch back to the Vault,
19:36
refresh the folder that it was checked into, and see the file.
19:41
Clicking on the file, we can see some information in the preview
19:44
pane.
19:45
The version is one since we've checked it in once.
19:48
We can also see our check in comment.
19:51
[END PLAYBACK]
19:53
In the previous topic, we discussed creating new files
19:56
in Vault. But oftentimes, you won't need to create new files.
19:60
You will simply need to modify existing designs
20:02
from the Vault. This topic, we'll
20:04
discuss how you can update existing files.
20:08
With reference to the original workflow that I shared,
20:11
we've now finished creating files in Vault.
20:13
And we can move into the update file stage of the create,
20:17
update, share workflow.
20:20
The three green workflow steps make up the update stage.
20:24
In order to make changes, the files
20:26
need to be checked out and downloaded,
20:29
and then changes are made to the local copies.
20:32
The final step includes checking in the file
20:35
and changing the file state if needed.
20:38
Each of these free steps will be described further
20:40
on the next slides.
20:42
And I will finish this topic off with a software demonstration.
20:46
When an update is required to an existing file,
20:49
the file needs to be downloaded to the working folder,
20:52
checked out, and opened in the CAD software.
20:56
I will be showing you a demonstration
20:57
of updating an existing file in Vault in a few minutes.
21:01
But first, I wanted to give you a quick overview
21:04
of the steps in Vault.
21:06
First, you need to locate the file in Vault to be updated.
21:10
Once located, you must initiate a Get command.
21:14
One way is from the right click menu, as shown here.
21:18
The files that have been selected
21:20
are then presented in the Get dialog box.
21:23
This is where you will select the Check Out Files
21:25
icon which adds a check mark in the Check Out column.
21:29
Additionally, you can change any options
21:32
related to whether children, parents, and related
21:36
documentation are included in the Get operation
21:39
and the working folder.
21:41
Optionally, you can add a comment describing why
21:44
you are checking out the file.
21:45
A good tip to keep in mind is that the check
21:48
out count and download count is summarized in the bottom left
21:52
of the dialog box.
21:53
So it is a good idea to review this before completing the Get.
21:57
To download and check out the file, select OK.
22:01
In the workflow we are discussing,
22:03
we are getting files with the intention
22:05
of making design changes.
22:07
If you want to simply download and use files
22:09
without making changes, you still use the Get command,
22:13
but you do not select the blue check
22:14
out option in this dialog box.
22:17
This will provide you with a read-only local version
22:20
of the file.
22:22
The final step to update the file
22:24
is to simply open the file in the CAD software.
22:26
This can be done using the Open option in the Vault client,
22:29
as I have shown here.
22:31
You also can open it directly from the working folder
22:34
or from the CAD software.
22:36
As you become more familiar with Vault,
22:38
you will learn that you can also use
22:40
Open to download the file into the working folder
22:43
and open it in the CAD software.
22:46
Then you are prompted to check out the file if not already
22:49
checked out.
22:50
This is an alternative to using Get.
22:53
However, as you are getting started
22:55
I would recommend using Get as it would allow you to add notes
22:58
and identify all the files more easily.
23:02
Once the file is open in the CAD software,
23:04
you can make any updates to the design.
23:07
In this case, we added a hole and change
23:09
the color of the part to green, as shown on the right.
23:14
Notice in the Vault browser how a status icon
23:16
shows us a white circle with a check mark.
23:19
This identifies the file is checked out to you.
23:23
In the right hand image, the file name
23:25
has an asterisk appended to the end.
23:28
This identifies to you that a save is required.
23:32
Once the file has been saved, the status icon
23:34
will turn green indicating that your local file is newer
23:38
than the version in Vault, which reminds you that you
23:41
should be checking in the file.
23:43
Additionally, the asterisk at the end of the file name
23:46
changes to a plus sign to help you identify
23:49
where the file was modified.
23:52
In the previous topic when we discussed creating files
23:55
using Copy Design as well as creating them from scratch,
23:59
the final step was checking in the files to Vault
24:01
so that other users could access them.
24:04
In the case of updating design files,
24:06
the final check in is done in the same way.
24:09
In review, there are three main steps.
24:13
First, you initiate the Check In command
24:15
from within the authoring program by selecting Check In,
24:18
as shown here.
24:20
Next, you can review and select Settings
24:22
for inclusion of the children, parents, and related files,
24:27
as well as the visualization attachment options.
24:30
Select the Keep files checked out checkbox
24:33
if required and the Close files and delete working copies
24:36
option if available and required.
24:39
You can add descriptions, and in this case,
24:42
you can see that the thumbnail image will be created.
24:45
Lastly, click OK to check in the file.
24:49
This last image that I wanted to show
24:50
you is how the status icon changes for the file
24:54
now that it's checked back into Vault. The white circle
24:57
no longer has a check mark, indicating
24:59
that it isn't checked out.
25:01
And the White circle alone indicates
25:04
the local version of the file is the same
25:06
as the version on the Vault.
25:08
You can also hover over the icons
25:11
at any time to view a tooltip.
25:13
As you can see in this image, the file
25:15
is available for check out by anyone with access
25:18
to the Vault. To manage design data,
25:22
you can control the various stages from design
25:24
to manufacturing.
25:26
To do this, you mark an item using
25:28
a file state or more specifically, a file lifecycle
25:32
state.
25:33
This represents a certain point in the lifecycle of the file.
25:37
Common lifecycle states include Work in Progress, For Review,
25:41
and Released.
25:43
Lifecycle states are set up by a Vault administrator.
25:46
In each lifecycle state, the ability
25:48
to view and modify project data is specified.
25:52
So, for example, when a file is in the Released state,
25:56
users will not be able to make changes
25:58
to the file in this state.
26:00
Vault can also be configured to automatically create
26:03
a new revision with a state change.
26:05
For example, when moving from a Released state
26:08
to a Work in Progress state, the revision
26:10
can be configured to automatically change
26:13
from revision A to B, or B to C, et cetera.
26:17
In the upcoming demo, I will be showing you
26:19
how to change the life cycle state of a file.
26:22
But first, I wanted to discuss the high level procedure.
26:25
So in the example I have shown here,
26:28
I have a part file that is currently
26:30
in the Work in Progress state.
26:32
And I want to move it to For Review state.
26:34
First, in Vault, I look at the file
26:37
and then initiate the Change State command
26:39
on the right click menu.
26:41
In the Change State dialog box, you simply
26:44
select the lifecycle state from the dropdown list.
26:47
In this case for my part, I want to move it into the
26:50
For Review state, so I am selecting that state.
26:53
In the lower portion of the dialog box,
26:56
you can define options for how children and parents would
26:58
be handled.
26:60
And you can also enter a comment.
27:02
When finished, click OK.
27:04
[VIDEO PLAYBACK]
27:05
A file residing in Vault can be
27:07
updated by using the Get command to check out the file
27:10
and download it to the local working folder for editing.
27:14
To do this, right click the file to be updated
27:17
and select Get, and expand dialog box,
27:28
then we'll select the Check Out icon.
27:30
Since by default the Get command downloads
27:33
only a read-only version of the file to the working folder
27:36
without checking it out, a check mark
27:39
is added to the Check Out column.
27:44
You can change any options related to the children,
27:48
to the parents, and to the related documentation.
27:52
And, optionally, you can add a comment describing why
27:55
you were checking out the file.
27:57
You're also shown the check out count and the download count.
28:04
Click OK when finished.
28:11
The file has been checked out, as shown by the check mark.
28:15
And now you can open it in the CAD application,
28:17
in this case, Inventor, and make the edits.
28:24
We'll make a change to the shaft from 12 inches to 20 inches.
28:33
Once the change is made, we can check it back
28:38
into the Vault for others to access.
28:44
In the Vault tab, select Check In.
28:52
Yes to save.
28:55
And then enter a comment, changed length, and then
29:01
click OK when finished.
29:08
Now going back to Vault, you can see
29:10
that the file has been checked in after doing a refresh.
29:19
And you can see the longer shaft length
29:22
in the thumbnail and the comment indicating the changed length.
29:29
Now right click the file and select Change State,
29:33
and we'll select For Review since the file is now
29:39
ready for somebody to review.
29:42
[END PLAYBACK]
29:46
The last topic in the presentation
29:48
is aligned to the last step in the workflow which
29:50
is sharing the changes you have made to your files.
29:54
At this point, you have learned that parts
29:56
can be added to Vault by copying an existing design
29:59
or simply by creating them from scratch.
30:02
You also learned how to check out parts from the Vault,
30:06
made changes to them, and then put them back in Vault.
30:09
We also discussed revisions and how to change file states.
30:14
And now the final step in the workflow
30:15
is learning how to share the changes so that your design
30:18
team knows that changes have been made.
30:21
Specifically, we will discuss how Vault can help you do this.
30:26
In a collaborative design environment,
30:28
Vault files are a bit worked on by many different users.
30:32
Check in and check out functionality
30:34
is one way Vault controls who has access to all the files.
30:38
But as we have been discussing throughout,
30:41
Vault also provides status icons in Vault client, shown
30:45
in the image on the left, and in the Vault plaza, shown
30:49
in the image on the right, to help
30:51
you know if you or others are working on files
30:54
and whether the files are up to date.
30:57
Once you're at the sharing your data stage,
31:00
understanding these icons is important.
31:04
We have introduced a number of these icons already,
31:07
but I wanted to present this as a bit of a review.
31:11
To understand what the icon is telling you,
31:13
think of the icon as a separate foreground and background icon.
31:18
Both of which are providing guidance
31:19
on the status of the file.
31:21
I kept it simple here to explain the basic icons
31:24
with a number of others that you may come across.
31:28
The Help Documentation provides a good list
31:30
by searching on keywords, status icons.
31:35
So as a reminder, once you have completed the design,
31:38
be sure to always check in with completed files.
31:41
Also remember that adding a comment helps let your team
31:45
members know what changed.
31:47
There is no internal notification system in Vault
31:50
when parts are checked in.
31:52
So you can use email or chat with colleagues
31:55
to let them know you are done and the parts are
31:58
ready for them to use.
32:01
If you personally have just received notification
32:03
that the file was updated and checked in,
32:06
you can review the file in the Vault plan
32:08
to see the version, who created the version, the date,
32:11
and a check in comment, as I have shown here.
32:15
It is also possible that you might have the modified
32:17
file already saved locally.
32:19
So a red refresh Vault status icon
32:22
will appear, indicating that new edits are available in Vault
32:26
and that your version is out of date.
32:29
To get the latest file from Vault,
32:31
you will want to refresh the file.
32:34
One final topic I wanted to mention
32:36
is how you might want to share designs
32:38
with users that don't have access
32:39
to Vault. This could be internally
32:42
with sales or externally with customers.
32:45
Autodesk shared views is a great tool for this
32:48
as it doesn't involve inner threats
32:50
with screenshots or sending native 3D model
32:54
files, which is often not even allowed with external clients.
32:58
Shared views can help you avoid these problems.
33:01
Shared views provides a better way
33:03
for designers, engineers, and visual artists
33:06
to get feedback on their work in progress, simplifying
33:09
and speeding up review cycles.
33:12
It enable users to quickly create
33:14
online visual representation from within desktop application
33:18
and generate a link that can be shared with any stakeholder.
33:22
Stakeholders can then view the shared view,
33:24
add comments and mark-up via the Autodesk viewer.
33:28
And authors can review comments and see feedback
33:32
they've received within the authoring application,
33:34
and then respond if required.
33:37
The following video shows you how shared view works.
33:41
[VIDEO PLAYBACK]
33:42
Autodesk Vault helps you to collaborate with your team
33:45
both inside and outside your organization.
33:49
Share a view of your design directly from inside Vault
33:52
to create a 2D or 3D view of all of your design
33:55
file which can be reviewed with virtually any cloud connected
33:59
browser or handheld device.
34:03
Reviewers don't have to download or install any software
34:06
to collaborate on your designs.
34:08
They just need a secure web link.
34:11
Reviewers can navigate, section, explode,
34:16
and measure your design.
34:18
All model information and structure
34:20
can be shared with the reviewer.
34:23
In addition, reviewers can comment and mark-up
34:26
on your designs.
34:27
And all comments are logged and can
34:28
be viewed in your Vault client.
34:32
Because the focus of this workflow
34:34
is work in progress feedback, the 2D and 3D viewables
34:38
are temporary visualization files, not your native CAD
34:41
data.
34:43
These temporary visualization files automatically
34:46
expire unless extended by you.
34:49
Autodesk Vault shared views help you to connect and collaborate
34:53
with your extended design team.
34:56
Ensure that your designs are correct and coordinated,
34:59
and support review and commenting
35:01
from non-CAD users with Autodesk Vault shared views.
35:04
[END PLAYBACK]
35:06
Don't forget to review Autodesk's Customer Success
35:09
Hub where you will find various catalogs of live coaching
35:13
sessions.
35:14
Autodesk offers a live coaching sessions
35:16
to companies with an enterprise business agreement.
35:19
Your team can get personalized guidance on the latest Autodesk
35:22
workflows directly from industry and product experts.
35:27
Sessions can be tailored based on your team's capabilities
35:30
and typical project use cases.
35:33
Thank you for listening.
Video transcript
00:00
[MUSIC PLAYING]
00:04
ANDREW SHAW: Welcome and thanks for joining me.
00:06
This presentation is focused for new users which
00:09
will be creating an updated new CAD files
00:12
and sharing these files using Vault Professional.
00:16
The safe harbor statement is just a reminder
00:18
that the Autodesk software changes regularly
00:21
to continually improve the software
00:23
and make it a better experience for you.
00:25
If I happen to make any forward looking
00:27
statements in this presentation, please
00:30
do not make any buying decisions based on it.
00:33
My name is Andrew Shaw.
00:35
I'm a technical account specialist.
00:37
I have been at Autodesk since January 2012.
00:40
And my specialty is data and document management.
00:44
To begin the presentation, I will share an introduction
00:47
of the Vault workflow that is used
00:49
to create, update, and share your CAD
00:52
files in Vault Professional.
00:54
This workflow will also align with the following objectives
00:57
which will be discussed.
00:59
We will start with learning how to create new files in Vault
01:02
Professional.
01:03
This will focus both on creating new files with your CAD
01:06
software and using the Copy Design tool
01:09
within Vault. Oftentimes, you won't need to create new files
01:13
and will be modifying existing designs from the Vault.
01:16
For these situations, you will learn
01:18
how to download and check out these files using the Get
01:22
and Open commands, so you can make the required changes.
01:26
You will next learn the Vault tools
01:28
to upload your modified design versions into Vault,
01:32
as well as how to change file lifecycle states.
01:35
Finally, we will discuss how you can notify teammates
01:39
that you have updated files and how
01:41
to use the tools within Vault to review the files history,
01:46
refresh, or get the local file.
01:49
With that, let's get started.
01:51
The workflow for creating, updating, and sharing files
01:55
starts with either copying an existing file
01:58
or creating a new file.
01:59
To make changes, the file or files
02:02
need to be checked out and downloaded,
02:05
and then changes are made to your local copies.
02:08
To share the changes, the files are checked into Vault.
02:12
When files are checked in, you can also change a file state,
02:15
but this isn't always needed.
02:17
Finally, teammates can be notified
02:20
of updated files in order to refresh
02:22
our designs that may be using the file which was updated.
02:26
As I continue through the presentation,
02:28
I will reference this workflow and highlight
02:31
which stage we are at as we go.
02:34
But to begin, I wanted to provide
02:36
some general information about Vault to help you get started.
02:41
Firstly, I wanted to mention that as you
02:43
are learning Autodesk Vault, the Help Documentation is
02:47
a great resource.
02:49
I have listed five items that might be good topics that you
02:52
could look at reviewing.
02:54
The first two topics are great to help
02:56
you get started with understanding
02:58
the benefits of Vault and how, once your administrator sets
03:03
you up with access, to login.
03:06
As you will soon learn, Vault has add-in modules
03:09
that you can install on your working computer
03:11
to integrate Vault functionality directly
03:14
into your software application.
03:16
The Help Documentation on these is a great way
03:18
to get you started and learn about this.
03:21
The last topic is one that you will really
03:23
benefit from as you become more familiar with Vault
03:27
so that you can customize the screen layout of the software
03:30
with your preferences.
03:31
You can access the Help tool in Vault using the Help menu.
03:36
Once it's launched, you will find the search tool
03:38
in the top right hand corner, great for searching
03:40
for specific topics.
03:43
Autodesk Vault is a client server application
03:46
which means it has a server component and clients
03:49
with access to data on the server,
03:51
as shown here in the image.
03:53
The server and client can be installed on the same computer.
03:56
But in most cases, the server is installed
03:58
on a different machine and clients are given access to it.
04:02
The Vault server is a repository where documents and files
04:05
are stored and managed.
04:07
Users access the Vault server from a client machine.
04:11
The client machine will have the Autodesk Vault client
04:13
software installed.
04:14
This is a standalone application for viewing files in the Vault.
04:18
Users can use the Vault client software, also known
04:21
as Vault Explorer, shown in the image on the left,
04:24
as a front-end interface to access data from the server.
04:29
Users can also access the Vault using Vault add-ins, which
04:33
are modules that integrate Vault functionality directly
04:36
into software applications that you use.
04:39
The right hand image shows Inventor
04:41
with the add-in installed.
04:43
You can see a Vault tab and a browser have been added,
04:46
and it allows you to do basic Vault tasks directly
04:49
from within Inventor.
04:51
Other add-ins are available for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Mechanical,
04:54
AutoCAD Electrical, Civil 3D, et cetera.
04:58
There is also an add-in for Microsoft Office applications.
05:03
Files stored in the Vault server cannot be directly modified.
05:07
They must be downloaded from the Vault server
05:08
to a working folder on the Vault client machine
05:11
prior to viewing or making changes to a file.
05:15
The downloaded files can be read-only or read-write,
05:18
depending on if the files are checked out
05:21
from the server or not
05:23
By default, the working folder is
05:25
defined in the My Documents/Vault
05:28
folder on the Vault client.
05:30
But depending on how your Vault administrator has set up
05:33
the Vault, you may be allowed to set a specific working
05:36
for the location yourself.
05:38
This is done using the Set Working Folder option,
05:41
as shown in the image.
05:43
It is recommended that you do not change the working folder
05:45
once you start working with the files in the Vault.
05:48
Changing the working folder would create duplicate folder
05:51
structures on the local computer and might
05:53
cause problems resolving files in your CAD application.
05:57
This may be why your administrator
05:59
may limit your access for setting this folder.
06:02
Once the working folder is set up
06:04
and files are downloaded from the Vault server,
06:06
a server's file structure will be
06:08
replicated in the client's working
06:10
folder, as shown in this image.
06:12
Keep in mind that in this image, no files in the ICU
06:17
Valve, Optic Mount 2, and Rotary Vee folders
06:21
have been downloaded, so their structure is not shown.
06:25
Within Vault client, you can view the files
06:28
in the working folder using Windows File Explorer
06:31
by clicking Go To Working Folder in the Actions menu
06:34
on the client.
06:35
One final thing to keep in mind is
06:37
that only files in the working folder structure
06:40
can be checked into the Vault.
06:43
As previously mentioned, administrators
06:45
can decide whether they want to control relocation
06:48
of the working folder.
06:49
In the working folder options, they
06:51
can select to either allow users to set their own working folder
06:54
location, or they can enforce a standard location for everyone
06:58
on their client machine.
06:60
If you can't change your working folder,
07:01
it is likely that this was disabled by your administrator.
07:05
And you will receive the error message shown on the right.
07:09
As a product moves from conception through development
07:12
to completion, it is important to maintain
07:14
a history of all the parts and any engineering
07:17
related documents.
07:19
Autodesk Vault automatically manage
07:21
this using file versions.
07:24
When you initially add a file to the Vault,
07:26
it is added as version 1.
07:29
When the file is next checked out,
07:31
it is temporarily assigned the next version
07:33
number and the previous version remains unchanged.
07:37
A permanent version number is not assigned to the file
07:39
until a modified file is officially checked back in.
07:43
If the file isn't changed when it's checked back in,
07:46
it is not assigned a new version number.
07:49
So the key thing to remember here
07:51
is that with each file modification and check in,
07:53
a new file version is created and all older versions also
07:58
remain in Vault.
08:00
In Vault, you can use the History tab
08:02
to review the recorded history of all the files.
08:05
At any time, you can retrieve any older version of a file.
08:09
This means that if the current design fails,
08:12
you can go back to a previous design.
08:14
You can also view file properties
08:16
such as comments about the version, who checked it out,
08:20
when it was modified, and so on.
08:23
The Users tab is also an excellent tool for you
08:26
to know which version of files are
08:28
being used in the parent file.
08:30
For example, in the Users tab shown here,
08:33
the version of the assembly is free,
08:35
whereas the part file used is version 6.
08:39
One final term to understand is revisions.
08:42
A revision of a file is a collection
08:44
of versions with a common label, such as A or B. It often
08:49
represents a significant milestone in the design.
08:52
For example, revision A of a new component
08:55
may consist of 12 versions to get to a point
08:58
where significant progress has been made,
09:00
and it will be released for
09:04
A new revision that you started becomes a work in progress
09:08
again, and the file version will keep incrementing.
09:11
Depending on how your administrators has
09:13
set up and implemented Vault, revisions can be done manually
09:17
or they can be automatically generated
09:19
through a lifecycle change.
09:21
I will be talking more about life cycles a little later
09:24
in the presentation.
09:27
So with the introduction out of the way,
09:30
we will begin by discussing some of the methods you can use
09:32
to create files in Vault. Going back to the original workflow
09:38
that I shared, you can see that the first topic represents
09:41
the first step in the create, update, share workflow,
09:45
as shown here in green.
09:47
There are a couple of methods for getting your files
09:50
into Vault. You can either reuse an existing
09:53
design from the Vault to create a new design.
09:56
Or you can create files from scratch in your CAD software,
09:60
and then check them into Vault. In the next few slides,
10:04
I will explain these methods, and then
10:06
I will show a demonstration.
10:09
The first method I mentioned creates new files in Vault
10:12
by leveraging existing styles that already exist
10:15
in Vault. This is an efficient method
10:17
to use if your new design is similar to an existing design
10:21
because you won't have to build all the files from scratch.
10:24
In using an existing file or files,
10:28
you have the flexibility to decide
10:30
how you want to copy the file and its children
10:33
using specific Copy Design options.
10:36
I would be showing you a demonstration of the Copy
10:38
Design tool in a few minutes.
10:40
But first, I wanted to give you a quick overview
10:43
of the overall procedure broken down into five easy steps.
10:48
Initially, you need to locate a file
10:50
to copy in Vault. In the case of Inventor,
10:52
this could be a part, assembly, or even a drawing file.
10:56
Once located, you select the Copy Design option,
10:59
as I have shown here in the image.
11:02
The files that have been selected to be copied
11:04
are then presented in the Copy Design dialog box.
11:08
This is where you will customize how the file or files will
11:11
be copied.
11:12
For example, if you choose to copy an assembly,
11:15
any subassemblies and parts will all
11:18
be presented to you in the dialog box.
11:20
By defining how the file is copied,
11:22
you can set the destination folder
11:24
and whether files are included, reused, or not copied at all.
11:29
You can also set how copied files would be named.
11:32
Step four in the overall procedure
11:34
is a good reminder to verify that all options are
11:37
set as required before selecting Execute Copy.
11:41
This presentation really provides you
11:43
with an introduction to Copy Design.
11:46
For more in-depth information on this topic,
11:48
consider reviewing the Help Documentation or the Vault Copy
11:52
Design Accelerator, which is focused specifically
11:54
on this tool.
11:56
If there is no existing design in Vault, it can be reused.
12:00
You can work directly in your source CAD software,
12:03
for example, Inventor or AutoCAD, to create a file.
12:07
In fact, you can also create new Microsoft Word documents
12:11
using Vault add-ins.
12:13
The file must be saved in the working folder, which
12:15
we discussed earlier.
12:16
So in the case of Inventor, you will use the Vault project
12:19
file set up by your administrator that
12:21
reflects this folder location.
12:24
Once a new file or files are created and saved,
12:27
you will notice an icon in the Vault plaza
12:29
that indicates that the file has not yet
12:32
been checked into Vault. You can use the Check In option
12:36
on the Vault ribbon or you can use the Vault
12:38
browser to right click on the file name and click Check In.
12:43
If you had previously used Copy Design
12:45
and are ready to check in the file,
12:47
the check in procedure steps are the same.
12:51
The dialog box that appears enables you to set and control
12:54
the check in details.
12:56
At the top of the form, there are two options.
12:58
These enable you to customize what
13:00
will happen to your files on your local system
13:02
after check in.
13:04
The top option is Keep files checked out and should
13:07
be enabled if you intended to add files to Vault, maybe
13:11
for backup or sharing purposes, but then want
13:13
to still keep working on them so that no one else can
13:16
make changes.
13:18
The Close files and delete working copies option
13:21
enables you to remove all the parts from your local system
13:24
after check in.
13:25
If you choose not to select either of these options,
13:28
the files are fully checked into Vault.
13:30
And the files will remain on your local system
13:34
for future use.
13:35
However, keep in mind that if you
13:37
want to use these files again, you
13:39
should ensure that they are the most up-to-date files
13:42
before working on them, in case other users have checked out
13:46
and made changes to the source.
13:48
This list of files in the center of the form
13:50
enables you to verify the files in the folder
13:53
that they will be checked into.
13:55
At the bottom of the screen, there
13:57
is an area to add comments about the check in.
13:60
This is a great way to communicate what was changed,
14:03
or in the case of the initial check in,
14:05
you can add details on the initial design
14:08
to help teammates learn about what was done in the design.
14:12
One last thing I want to mention is
14:14
that Vault provides thumbnail previews of the files
14:17
to help you visually identify the design.
14:20
In this form I have shown here, the icon
14:22
with the red line through it is identifying
14:25
that a visualization file will not be created at check in.
14:29
To enable this, you can go into the setting options
14:32
and enable it.
14:34
This is recommended when checking
14:35
in the file for the first time so
14:37
that the thumbnail is created.
14:39
To check in the file, click OK.
14:41
The file is then added to the Vault.
14:44
Now that we have discussed these two methods,
14:45
I want to play a video that shows you
14:47
how to do this in Vault.
14:49
[VIDEO PLAYBACK]
14:50
There are two main ways to create a new file.
14:53
You can either copy an existing file
14:55
or create a new one from scratch.
14:57
First, I'll show the way of creating a new file
14:59
from an existing file using the Copy Design command in Vault.
15:04
It can be launched as a standalone application
15:06
or in Vault after selecting a file to copy, select
15:09
Copy Design from the Edit menu, or from the right click
15:13
menu as we'll do here by making a copy of the Rotary Vee
15:17
assembly.
15:19
The Copy Design window opens showing its interface
15:22
and lists the files related to the Rotary Vee assembly.
15:26
The Copy Design command enables you
15:28
to copy an entire design, including all related files.
15:32
You can see here a drawing of the Rotary Vee assembly,
15:35
it's subassemblies, and parts.
15:38
With Copy Design, you can choose to copy, reuse, replace,
15:42
or exclude specified files.
15:44
Here we'll copy the top level assembly,
15:47
one of the subassemblies, and the housing part using Copy To
15:51
from the right click menu to copy
15:53
the files into a folder that's different
15:56
from the original folder.
15:57
In this case, we'll create a new folder
15:60
and name it Rotary Vee New.
16:05
You can see that the destination path column updates
16:08
with the new folder name.
16:10
You'll see that for the drawing, it
16:12
shows Auto, which means it too will be copied.
16:15
In this example, let's also replace
16:17
one of the parts with a different part.
16:19
We'll replace cylinder with the part cylinder 2.
16:32
Now, for the naming of the copied files,
16:34
you can do this a number of ways, such as in the main table
16:38
by manually changing the names shown in the destination name
16:41
column, or using Find and Replace,
16:46
or you can do it in the numbering pane.
16:49
For this example, let's remove the default prefix and add
16:52
the suffix _new.
16:54
You can do this by right clicking in the background
16:58
and selecting Set Values, Prefix,
17:01
and selecting OK to show no prefix.
17:04
And now selecting Suffix and entering _new.
17:15
Before executing the Copy Design command,
17:18
review what you plan to do by selecting
17:20
each tab in the Actions pane.
17:23
First, select the Actions pane and then for Copy,
17:26
you see the copied files, including the drawing.
17:30
Now select Reuse to see which files are being reused.
17:34
And then Replace, you can see that the cylinder
17:37
is being replaced by the cylinder 2 part.
17:41
Now select the Execute Copy command.
17:47
When done, the check marks confirm that the Copy Design
17:50
was successful.
17:51
To see the copied files in the new folder,
17:54
select Go To from the right click menu
17:57
and select Destination Folder.
17:59
And here you'll see all the new design files in the new folder.
18:06
Now to show how to create a new file from scratch,
18:09
you can create the new file from a CAD or other authoring
18:12
program.
18:14
I'll show an example here in Autodesk Inventor
18:17
by first selecting New and then selecting
18:21
a template from the list.
18:24
We'll select the Standard part template,
18:28
and then click Create to create the part.
18:33
You can save the file locally as usual
18:35
until you are ready to share it by checking it into the Vault.
18:47
After finished modeling, click the Save icon
18:51
to save it locally to a folder that is already
18:54
mapped to a Vault folder.
18:56
Change its file name if you like, then click Save.
19:00
Let's first look at the Vault browser
19:02
to see that it's not yet in the Vault and to use Check In.
19:11
To check it in, click the Check In icon from the Vault tab,
19:18
then add your comments, and then click OK.
19:32
Now we can select the Vault icon to switch back to the Vault,
19:36
refresh the folder that it was checked into, and see the file.
19:41
Clicking on the file, we can see some information in the preview
19:44
pane.
19:45
The version is one since we've checked it in once.
19:48
We can also see our check in comment.
19:51
[END PLAYBACK]
19:53
In the previous topic, we discussed creating new files
19:56
in Vault. But oftentimes, you won't need to create new files.
19:60
You will simply need to modify existing designs
20:02
from the Vault. This topic, we'll
20:04
discuss how you can update existing files.
20:08
With reference to the original workflow that I shared,
20:11
we've now finished creating files in Vault.
20:13
And we can move into the update file stage of the create,
20:17
update, share workflow.
20:20
The three green workflow steps make up the update stage.
20:24
In order to make changes, the files
20:26
need to be checked out and downloaded,
20:29
and then changes are made to the local copies.
20:32
The final step includes checking in the file
20:35
and changing the file state if needed.
20:38
Each of these free steps will be described further
20:40
on the next slides.
20:42
And I will finish this topic off with a software demonstration.
20:46
When an update is required to an existing file,
20:49
the file needs to be downloaded to the working folder,
20:52
checked out, and opened in the CAD software.
20:56
I will be showing you a demonstration
20:57
of updating an existing file in Vault in a few minutes.
21:01
But first, I wanted to give you a quick overview
21:04
of the steps in Vault.
21:06
First, you need to locate the file in Vault to be updated.
21:10
Once located, you must initiate a Get command.
21:14
One way is from the right click menu, as shown here.
21:18
The files that have been selected
21:20
are then presented in the Get dialog box.
21:23
This is where you will select the Check Out Files
21:25
icon which adds a check mark in the Check Out column.
21:29
Additionally, you can change any options
21:32
related to whether children, parents, and related
21:36
documentation are included in the Get operation
21:39
and the working folder.
21:41
Optionally, you can add a comment describing why
21:44
you are checking out the file.
21:45
A good tip to keep in mind is that the check
21:48
out count and download count is summarized in the bottom left
21:52
of the dialog box.
21:53
So it is a good idea to review this before completing the Get.
21:57
To download and check out the file, select OK.
22:01
In the workflow we are discussing,
22:03
we are getting files with the intention
22:05
of making design changes.
22:07
If you want to simply download and use files
22:09
without making changes, you still use the Get command,
22:13
but you do not select the blue check
22:14
out option in this dialog box.
22:17
This will provide you with a read-only local version
22:20
of the file.
22:22
The final step to update the file
22:24
is to simply open the file in the CAD software.
22:26
This can be done using the Open option in the Vault client,
22:29
as I have shown here.
22:31
You also can open it directly from the working folder
22:34
or from the CAD software.
22:36
As you become more familiar with Vault,
22:38
you will learn that you can also use
22:40
Open to download the file into the working folder
22:43
and open it in the CAD software.
22:46
Then you are prompted to check out the file if not already
22:49
checked out.
22:50
This is an alternative to using Get.
22:53
However, as you are getting started
22:55
I would recommend using Get as it would allow you to add notes
22:58
and identify all the files more easily.
23:02
Once the file is open in the CAD software,
23:04
you can make any updates to the design.
23:07
In this case, we added a hole and change
23:09
the color of the part to green, as shown on the right.
23:14
Notice in the Vault browser how a status icon
23:16
shows us a white circle with a check mark.
23:19
This identifies the file is checked out to you.
23:23
In the right hand image, the file name
23:25
has an asterisk appended to the end.
23:28
This identifies to you that a save is required.
23:32
Once the file has been saved, the status icon
23:34
will turn green indicating that your local file is newer
23:38
than the version in Vault, which reminds you that you
23:41
should be checking in the file.
23:43
Additionally, the asterisk at the end of the file name
23:46
changes to a plus sign to help you identify
23:49
where the file was modified.
23:52
In the previous topic when we discussed creating files
23:55
using Copy Design as well as creating them from scratch,
23:59
the final step was checking in the files to Vault
24:01
so that other users could access them.
24:04
In the case of updating design files,
24:06
the final check in is done in the same way.
24:09
In review, there are three main steps.
24:13
First, you initiate the Check In command
24:15
from within the authoring program by selecting Check In,
24:18
as shown here.
24:20
Next, you can review and select Settings
24:22
for inclusion of the children, parents, and related files,
24:27
as well as the visualization attachment options.
24:30
Select the Keep files checked out checkbox
24:33
if required and the Close files and delete working copies
24:36
option if available and required.
24:39
You can add descriptions, and in this case,
24:42
you can see that the thumbnail image will be created.
24:45
Lastly, click OK to check in the file.
24:49
This last image that I wanted to show
24:50
you is how the status icon changes for the file
24:54
now that it's checked back into Vault. The white circle
24:57
no longer has a check mark, indicating
24:59
that it isn't checked out.
25:01
And the White circle alone indicates
25:04
the local version of the file is the same
25:06
as the version on the Vault.
25:08
You can also hover over the icons
25:11
at any time to view a tooltip.
25:13
As you can see in this image, the file
25:15
is available for check out by anyone with access
25:18
to the Vault. To manage design data,
25:22
you can control the various stages from design
25:24
to manufacturing.
25:26
To do this, you mark an item using
25:28
a file state or more specifically, a file lifecycle
25:32
state.
25:33
This represents a certain point in the lifecycle of the file.
25:37
Common lifecycle states include Work in Progress, For Review,
25:41
and Released.
25:43
Lifecycle states are set up by a Vault administrator.
25:46
In each lifecycle state, the ability
25:48
to view and modify project data is specified.
25:52
So, for example, when a file is in the Released state,
25:56
users will not be able to make changes
25:58
to the file in this state.
26:00
Vault can also be configured to automatically create
26:03
a new revision with a state change.
26:05
For example, when moving from a Released state
26:08
to a Work in Progress state, the revision
26:10
can be configured to automatically change
26:13
from revision A to B, or B to C, et cetera.
26:17
In the upcoming demo, I will be showing you
26:19
how to change the life cycle state of a file.
26:22
But first, I wanted to discuss the high level procedure.
26:25
So in the example I have shown here,
26:28
I have a part file that is currently
26:30
in the Work in Progress state.
26:32
And I want to move it to For Review state.
26:34
First, in Vault, I look at the file
26:37
and then initiate the Change State command
26:39
on the right click menu.
26:41
In the Change State dialog box, you simply
26:44
select the lifecycle state from the dropdown list.
26:47
In this case for my part, I want to move it into the
26:50
For Review state, so I am selecting that state.
26:53
In the lower portion of the dialog box,
26:56
you can define options for how children and parents would
26:58
be handled.
26:60
And you can also enter a comment.
27:02
When finished, click OK.
27:04
[VIDEO PLAYBACK]
27:05
A file residing in Vault can be
27:07
updated by using the Get command to check out the file
27:10
and download it to the local working folder for editing.
27:14
To do this, right click the file to be updated
27:17
and select Get, and expand dialog box,
27:28
then we'll select the Check Out icon.
27:30
Since by default the Get command downloads
27:33
only a read-only version of the file to the working folder
27:36
without checking it out, a check mark
27:39
is added to the Check Out column.
27:44
You can change any options related to the children,
27:48
to the parents, and to the related documentation.
27:52
And, optionally, you can add a comment describing why
27:55
you were checking out the file.
27:57
You're also shown the check out count and the download count.
28:04
Click OK when finished.
28:11
The file has been checked out, as shown by the check mark.
28:15
And now you can open it in the CAD application,
28:17
in this case, Inventor, and make the edits.
28:24
We'll make a change to the shaft from 12 inches to 20 inches.
28:33
Once the change is made, we can check it back
28:38
into the Vault for others to access.
28:44
In the Vault tab, select Check In.
28:52
Yes to save.
28:55
And then enter a comment, changed length, and then
29:01
click OK when finished.
29:08
Now going back to Vault, you can see
29:10
that the file has been checked in after doing a refresh.
29:19
And you can see the longer shaft length
29:22
in the thumbnail and the comment indicating the changed length.
29:29
Now right click the file and select Change State,
29:33
and we'll select For Review since the file is now
29:39
ready for somebody to review.
29:42
[END PLAYBACK]
29:46
The last topic in the presentation
29:48
is aligned to the last step in the workflow which
29:50
is sharing the changes you have made to your files.
29:54
At this point, you have learned that parts
29:56
can be added to Vault by copying an existing design
29:59
or simply by creating them from scratch.
30:02
You also learned how to check out parts from the Vault,
30:06
made changes to them, and then put them back in Vault.
30:09
We also discussed revisions and how to change file states.
30:14
And now the final step in the workflow
30:15
is learning how to share the changes so that your design
30:18
team knows that changes have been made.
30:21
Specifically, we will discuss how Vault can help you do this.
30:26
In a collaborative design environment,
30:28
Vault files are a bit worked on by many different users.
30:32
Check in and check out functionality
30:34
is one way Vault controls who has access to all the files.
30:38
But as we have been discussing throughout,
30:41
Vault also provides status icons in Vault client, shown
30:45
in the image on the left, and in the Vault plaza, shown
30:49
in the image on the right, to help
30:51
you know if you or others are working on files
30:54
and whether the files are up to date.
30:57
Once you're at the sharing your data stage,
31:00
understanding these icons is important.
31:04
We have introduced a number of these icons already,
31:07
but I wanted to present this as a bit of a review.
31:11
To understand what the icon is telling you,
31:13
think of the icon as a separate foreground and background icon.
31:18
Both of which are providing guidance
31:19
on the status of the file.
31:21
I kept it simple here to explain the basic icons
31:24
with a number of others that you may come across.
31:28
The Help Documentation provides a good list
31:30
by searching on keywords, status icons.
31:35
So as a reminder, once you have completed the design,
31:38
be sure to always check in with completed files.
31:41
Also remember that adding a comment helps let your team
31:45
members know what changed.
31:47
There is no internal notification system in Vault
31:50
when parts are checked in.
31:52
So you can use email or chat with colleagues
31:55
to let them know you are done and the parts are
31:58
ready for them to use.
32:01
If you personally have just received notification
32:03
that the file was updated and checked in,
32:06
you can review the file in the Vault plan
32:08
to see the version, who created the version, the date,
32:11
and a check in comment, as I have shown here.
32:15
It is also possible that you might have the modified
32:17
file already saved locally.
32:19
So a red refresh Vault status icon
32:22
will appear, indicating that new edits are available in Vault
32:26
and that your version is out of date.
32:29
To get the latest file from Vault,
32:31
you will want to refresh the file.
32:34
One final topic I wanted to mention
32:36
is how you might want to share designs
32:38
with users that don't have access
32:39
to Vault. This could be internally
32:42
with sales or externally with customers.
32:45
Autodesk shared views is a great tool for this
32:48
as it doesn't involve inner threats
32:50
with screenshots or sending native 3D model
32:54
files, which is often not even allowed with external clients.
32:58
Shared views can help you avoid these problems.
33:01
Shared views provides a better way
33:03
for designers, engineers, and visual artists
33:06
to get feedback on their work in progress, simplifying
33:09
and speeding up review cycles.
33:12
It enable users to quickly create
33:14
online visual representation from within desktop application
33:18
and generate a link that can be shared with any stakeholder.
33:22
Stakeholders can then view the shared view,
33:24
add comments and mark-up via the Autodesk viewer.
33:28
And authors can review comments and see feedback
33:32
they've received within the authoring application,
33:34
and then respond if required.
33:37
The following video shows you how shared view works.
33:41
[VIDEO PLAYBACK]
33:42
Autodesk Vault helps you to collaborate with your team
33:45
both inside and outside your organization.
33:49
Share a view of your design directly from inside Vault
33:52
to create a 2D or 3D view of all of your design
33:55
file which can be reviewed with virtually any cloud connected
33:59
browser or handheld device.
34:03
Reviewers don't have to download or install any software
34:06
to collaborate on your designs.
34:08
They just need a secure web link.
34:11
Reviewers can navigate, section, explode,
34:16
and measure your design.
34:18
All model information and structure
34:20
can be shared with the reviewer.
34:23
In addition, reviewers can comment and mark-up
34:26
on your designs.
34:27
And all comments are logged and can
34:28
be viewed in your Vault client.
34:32
Because the focus of this workflow
34:34
is work in progress feedback, the 2D and 3D viewables
34:38
are temporary visualization files, not your native CAD
34:41
data.
34:43
These temporary visualization files automatically
34:46
expire unless extended by you.
34:49
Autodesk Vault shared views help you to connect and collaborate
34:53
with your extended design team.
34:56
Ensure that your designs are correct and coordinated,
34:59
and support review and commenting
35:01
from non-CAD users with Autodesk Vault shared views.
35:04
[END PLAYBACK]
35:06
Don't forget to review Autodesk's Customer Success
35:09
Hub where you will find various catalogs of live coaching
35:13
sessions.
35:14
Autodesk offers a live coaching sessions
35:16
to companies with an enterprise business agreement.
35:19
Your team can get personalized guidance on the latest Autodesk
35:22
workflows directly from industry and product experts.
35:27
Sessions can be tailored based on your team's capabilities
35:30
and typical project use cases.
35:33
Thank you for listening.
How to buy
Privacy | Do not sell or share my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use | Legal | © 2025 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved
Sign in to start learning
Sign in for unlimited free access to all learning content.Save your progress
Take assessments
Receive personalized recommendations
May we collect and use your data?
Learn more about the Third Party Services we use and our Privacy Statement.May we collect and use your data to tailor your experience?
Explore the benefits of a customized experience by managing your privacy settings for this site or visit our Privacy Statement to learn more about your options.