Create an Inventor Project File and Map Vault Folders in Inventor

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The next few steps in the workflow relate to using

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Vault with Inventors specifically all

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Autodesk Inventor designs including Vault projects

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require a project file to resolve file references.

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The steps for setting up the Inventor project file for Vault are described next,

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including how the Inventor project file for Vault

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differs from a regular Inventor project file.

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Project is a system for organizing and accessing all

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files that are associated with a particular design job.

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Inventor projects typically include part and assembly files,

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company defined standard components and standard components.

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An Inventor project file contains search paths that are used

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to resolve links to reference documents in the design.

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The fault project file type must be used for all

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Vault projects and is different from an Inventor project file.

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The key difference in a Vault project file,

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is that local and workgroup search paths are not allowed.

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You must consolidate all project folders under the

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single workspace search path for the project.

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The workspace is the local folder mapped to the corresponding folder in the Vault.

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The workspace can be a single folder or can include a hierarchy of sub folders.

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To help organize the project,

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all projects must have a workspace to find that is set to either dot

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the same folder as your project file or to a sub folder underneath that,

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such as back slash workspace,

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you can have as many subfolders under your workspace

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as needed for organizational purposes. However,

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you cannot map a search path to them

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in the project file for Vault.

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In addition to defining the workspace location,

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you can also define the folders to your design data

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templates and Content Center Files.

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Next, you will see the steps for creating a new project file for Vault.

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The first step to creating an Inventor project file for Vault

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is to select Projects in Inventor, here it is shown in the get started tab.

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Note that starting an Inventor 2023.

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The projects option is located under file manage

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not get started.

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The next step is to click New in the project dialog that opens

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this opens the Inventor project wizard where you need to make sure

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you select New Vault project to create a Vault project type.

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Now you define the name and project workspace folder,

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notice that it creates .ipj file name automatically based on what was entered.

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Therefore make sure you use a meaningful name,

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ensure that you point the project workspace

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folder to the existing Vault working folder.

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Then click Finish to close the Inventor project wizard.

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In summary the Vault project rules include

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the Inventor project file must always be located in the Vault's Working folder

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Projects must have a workspace defined to

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a subfolder underneath the Vault working folder

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such as back slash Workspace

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Inventor libraries are located in a subfolder underneath the Vault working folder

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like Libraries, Content Center Files

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and use a single Inventor project file per Vault.

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In this demonstration, we create a new Inventor project file for Vault.

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That is a Vault

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type project file.

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First select Projects,

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then select New.

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We will now select New Vault project.

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Then next

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and fill in a name,

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and project workspace folder.

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Notice the project file to be created is automatically filled in.

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Then click Next

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and finish to view the new project file in the list,

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the check mark denotes that it's now the default project file.

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Now we will specify the workspace folder and the Content Center Libraries folder,

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click Save and Done when finished.

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Notice that when you open an Inventor file now from the local folder,

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it opens to the workspace folder that was specified.

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Now that the project file for Vault has been created.

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You map the Vault folders and Inventor so that

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the local folder paths in the project file.

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Match the folders in the Vault.

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First an Inventor log in as administrator

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to the Autodesk Vault add-in for Inventor.

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Then through the Vault tab access panel,

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select Map folders

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in the project folder mapping dialog box for the project route.

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Select the Vault route

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shown as a dollar sign

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next for the Content Center Files select the Vault Content Center Files folder.

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In this demonstration, you map the Vault folders and Inventor

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from the Vault tab in the access panel drop down list.

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You will select Map folders.

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Map the local project root to the root dollar sign in Vault

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in the local Content Center Files to Content Center Libraries folder in Vault.