LeaCar-chives
View Past Tips and Notices 02/01/2004 - 02/29/2004 03/01/2004 - 03/31/2004 04/01/2004 - 04/30/2004 05/01/2004 - 05/31/2004 06/01/2004 - 06/30/2004
Saturday, February 28, 2004
Parts List Feet/Inch formatting
I have developed an add-in for Inventor for my own use that formats selected Parts List columns into true feet/inch format (i.e. 2'-10 1/2", 1'-0 3/8", 3 9/16" etc...) on demand. If there is enough interest in this, I will publish it here. Let me know.
I have developed an add-in for Inventor for my own use that formats selected Parts List columns into true feet/inch format (i.e. 2'-10 1/2", 1'-0 3/8", 3 9/16" etc...) on demand. If there is enough interest in this, I will publish it here. Let me know.
Monday, February 23, 2004
Inventor Updates
A new hotfix has been released (2/20/2004) for Inventor R8/R8Pro. Hotfix: Inventor may become unstable after creating an in-line workpoint. It should be noted that SP1 should be installed before applying this hotfix. See the Autodesk Inventor Update Page.
New Hardware Library Registry Files (2/20/2004) for R6/R7/R8SP1 have also been posted at the Autodesk Inventor Graphics Page.
A new hotfix has been released (2/20/2004) for Inventor R8/R8Pro. Hotfix: Inventor may become unstable after creating an in-line workpoint. It should be noted that SP1 should be installed before applying this hotfix. See the Autodesk Inventor Update Page.
New Hardware Library Registry Files (2/20/2004) for R6/R7/R8SP1 have also been posted at the Autodesk Inventor Graphics Page.
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Global Parameters
The practice of creating a Master Parameter file (an IPT file with only exported parameters), linking it to Excel and deriving the master file into each of your parts to share parameters is widely accepted and documented. However, prior to Inventor R8, you could not import or derive parameters into an assembly file from a Master IPT file. In order to share your parameters with an assembly file, you had to establish a separate link with Excel. This could get quite messy (and unstable in my experience) when you were dealing with more than a few assembly files. Inventor R8 now supports linking an assembly file to an IPT file so that you can access any exported parameters. This is accessed from the Parameter dialog's Link button. Change the file type to *.IPT and select the part file you wish to link. All exported parameters are now available in the assembly file.
The practice of creating a Master Parameter file (an IPT file with only exported parameters), linking it to Excel and deriving the master file into each of your parts to share parameters is widely accepted and documented. However, prior to Inventor R8, you could not import or derive parameters into an assembly file from a Master IPT file. In order to share your parameters with an assembly file, you had to establish a separate link with Excel. This could get quite messy (and unstable in my experience) when you were dealing with more than a few assembly files. Inventor R8 now supports linking an assembly file to an IPT file so that you can access any exported parameters. This is accessed from the Parameter dialog's Link button. Change the file type to *.IPT and select the part file you wish to link. All exported parameters are now available in the assembly file.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Linking to Excel from Inventor
When linking an Excel spreadsheet to Inventor, I like to keep the Worksheet with the actual parameter table (along with other tables and calculation Worksheets) hidden from the user. The overall effect is cleaner and this also prevents "unintentional tinkering" with critical data and calculations. When setting up the link to Excel, you must enter a "start cell" (i.e. D12 etc...). Unfortunately, Inventor does not let you specify a Worksheet name to go with the cell. Inventor will simply look in the first Worksheet in the Worksheet Collection at the cell location given. If it does not find a data table in the required ParameterName, Value, Unit, Comment format, it does not look any further and no parameter data is linked. (An aside here....I have tried all sorts of ways to get Inventor to read Parameter data from a Worksheet other than the first Worksheet. I have also checked the help files, web resources and any Autodesk AE that crossed my path. The answer is always "you can't do that." If you can prove them and me wrong, please enlighten me :-) ) Having a large data table at the head of my spreadsheet where it gets noticed is not my idea of good layout. The solution.....Hide the Worksheet! As long as the linked Worksheet is first in the tabbed list, Inventor will find it, even when "invisible". Make the Worksheet you wish to hide active in Excel and go to Format/Sheet/Hide.
When linking an Excel spreadsheet to Inventor, I like to keep the Worksheet with the actual parameter table (along with other tables and calculation Worksheets) hidden from the user. The overall effect is cleaner and this also prevents "unintentional tinkering" with critical data and calculations. When setting up the link to Excel, you must enter a "start cell" (i.e. D12 etc...). Unfortunately, Inventor does not let you specify a Worksheet name to go with the cell. Inventor will simply look in the first Worksheet in the Worksheet Collection at the cell location given. If it does not find a data table in the required ParameterName, Value, Unit, Comment format, it does not look any further and no parameter data is linked. (An aside here....I have tried all sorts of ways to get Inventor to read Parameter data from a Worksheet other than the first Worksheet. I have also checked the help files, web resources and any Autodesk AE that crossed my path. The answer is always "you can't do that." If you can prove them and me wrong, please enlighten me :-) ) Having a large data table at the head of my spreadsheet where it gets noticed is not my idea of good layout. The solution.....Hide the Worksheet! As long as the linked Worksheet is first in the tabbed list, Inventor will find it, even when "invisible". Make the Worksheet you wish to hide active in Excel and go to Format/Sheet/Hide.
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Feature overview of AutoCAD 2005
The latest issue of upFront.eZine (Issue #373 | February 17, 2004 ) contains a general overview of some of the new/updated features of the upcoming AutoCAD 2005. Most interesting is the re-introduction of "software locking" to the North American market. It will be interesting to see how the user community responds in the U.S. as this becomes reality for all future Autodesk products. Users managed quite a ruckus back in 1986, even without the web. Will the more "mature" PC CAD customer base accept or reject this blast-from-the-past?
The latest issue of upFront.eZine (Issue #373 | February 17, 2004 ) contains a general overview of some of the new/updated features of the upcoming AutoCAD 2005. Most interesting is the re-introduction of "software locking" to the North American market. It will be interesting to see how the user community responds in the U.S. as this becomes reality for all future Autodesk products. Users managed quite a ruckus back in 1986, even without the web. Will the more "mature" PC CAD customer base accept or reject this blast-from-the-past?
Monday, February 16, 2004
Let the remodeling begin...
OK....I have the new home page up and I will over the next few days begin to revamp the remaining pages. If a link is not working or you need to find something, please contact me.
OK....I have the new home page up and I will over the next few days begin to revamp the remaining pages. If a link is not working or you need to find something, please contact me.