We talk with a lot of engineering teams around the globe, and one thing that’s common is everyone is looking for ways to stay on the same page. Vault is great for keeping everyone inside an organization in sync, but increasingly we see teams that need to get design feedback from manufacturing partners, customers, and others beyond the company firewall.
Today you can email either 2D screenshots or exports like PDF and DWF to ask for feedback, but these either don’t contain enough detail, are too large to email, or require a specific viewer to open. CAD files (both native and neutral files) can also be shared, but that often exposes more intellectual property than desired.
Shared Views (new in Vault 2018.1) are a different option that’s simple, fast, and secure. Shared Views are rich multi-sheet 2D or 3D viewables that can be opened on virtually any cloud-connected desktop or mobile device via simple web links. They avoid the need for reviewers to install anything and provide a built-in feed that makes comments visible right inside the Vault client. Additionally, because their focus is work-in-progress feedback, Shared Views are temporary visualization files (not native data) that automatically expire after a period of time unless extended by the author. This gives their authors a way of clearly separating unfinished work being shared for feedback purposes from more formal and permanent design documentation.
This video, Shared Views, shows the idea, but here are the steps in a nutshell:
1) Within Vault, select the design file you want feedback on (either AutoCAD, Inventor, or Civil3D) and hit Share View. A dialog will appear where you can name and then generate the Shared View.
2) A lightweight visualization of the design will be created. Once complete, you can either check it in your browser or just copy the link to your clipboard.
3) Sent the link to anyone you like via email, instant message, etc. They will be able to open and view the visualization in a browser. They can also sign in and add comments to it.
4) Back inside Vault, you can check for comments and see what feedback comes in. Hit the reply button to respond to feedback from your reviewer. They will get an email notification automatically.
5) Because Shared Views are focused on quick, work-in-progress feedback, they expire automatically after 30 days. You can extend them for longer if you prefer or delete them early directly from inside Vault.
Shared Views are a subscription benefit for Vault Workgroup and Vault Professional. Visit the help documentation, About Shared Views, for more info on Shared Views and the Autodesk Knowledge Network for details on how you can manage access.
Irvin Hayes Jr.
Product Manager
Vault 2018.1 Update has just been released and comes with new features and Idea submission implementations.
Collaborate with Shared Views
Use Shared Views to collaborate on a visual representation of your model or design online. For example, create a shared view for a customer to request approval or to provide easy access to your field sales team for on-site presentations. Using the link you provide, anyone can view, and comment on, the shared view without needing to have an Autodesk product installed. An email is sent to you when anyone comments on the shared view. You view and reply to comments and manage your shared view directly from your Autodesk product.
Support AnyCAD for SolidEdge
With Inventor 2018.1, AnyCAD has been expanded to allow you to leverage SolidEdge files in your Inventor 2018 designs. This means you can now use Inventor 2018 to efficiently work with others who are using SolidEdge data.
Once a SolidEdge part or assembly file is referenced into an Inventor assembly, the model can be checked into Vault in a way that maintains the integrity of the SolidEdge data. SolidEdge assembly structures are reflected in the Vault browser, and references are detected and checked in as native SolidEdge data. Tools such as “Uses” and “Where Used” can be leveraged on SolidEdge data similar to other formats, and Bill of Material information like the description and material number can be extracted and displayed.
Your Ideas
Your ideas are important to us and here are a couple we have implemented.
Inventor Library Files
Library files that don't exist in the local working folder are downloaded automatically when opening a file in the Vault client. Idea post - Open from Vault client should download library files automatically.
Saved Searches
In the Place from Vault dialog in Inventor, the My Saved Searches list is automatically sorted. Idea post - Ability to sort searches in place from Vault dialogue box.
This updated can be downloaded by logging into your Autodesk Account. Click the Product Enhancements link and you will see the update in the list.
Irvin Hayes Jr.
Product Manager
In a continuing effort to provide high quality products, Autodesk has released Autodesk Vault 2017.1.1 Update for Autodesk Vault Basic, Workgroup, and Professional 2017 editions. The update addresses a variety of issues pertaining to these releases.
This update addresses the following issues:
This updated can be downloaded by logging into your Autodesk Account. Click the Product Enhancements link and you will see the update in the list.
Irvin Hayes Jr.
Product Manager
In a continuing effort to provide high quality products, Autodesk has released Autodesk Vault 2018.0.1 Update for Autodesk Vault Basic, Workgroup, and Professional 2018 editions. The update addresses a variety of issues pertaining to these releases.
Server installation may end with an Error - Installation ended prematurely because of an error". You can resolve this error by running the installer from an Administrator command prompt.
This updated can be downloaded by logging into your Autodesk Account. Click the Product Enhancements link and you will see the update in the list.
Irvin Hayes Jr.
Product Manager
In a continuing effort to provide high-quality products, Autodesk has released Autodesk Vault 2017.1 Update for Autodesk Vault Basic 2017, Autodesk Vault Workgroup 2017, and Autodesk Vault Professional 2017. The update addresses a variety of issues pertaining to these releases.
Pre-Requisite: Vault 2017.1 update is supported ONLY with Inventor 2017.4 update. The Vault client update installation will be blocked, if a version of Inventor 2017 is installed other than Inventor 2017.4 is found on the client machine.
CLIENT INSTALLATION
In some cases you may receive a Error 1328 during the installation. As a workaround, remove the AutoCAD add-in using the Program and Features in the Control Panel on the Vault client installations. If you have multiple Vault 2017 clients installed, make sure that this is removed from the client which has it installed. Then try the update installation again and re-enable the add-in after the update has been applied.
This updated can be downloaded by logging into your Autodesk Account. Click the Product Enhancements link and you will see the update in the list.
Irvin Hayes Jr.
Product Manager
Vault 2018 introduces the #1 requested feature, the ability to create PDF files during the release process. Many firms use the PDF format of a 2D Drawing file to facilitate internal communications among engineering, purchasing, manufacturing and other departments. Further, PDF files are the de facto standard for external communication of new designs with customers as well as suppliers.
Let’s take a deep dive into this feature.
When a new Vault gets created a new Category, Category Rule, Lifecycle, and a Lifecycle Action are available. To start creating 2D PDF files, an Administrator must turn on the Job Server and configure the system to start the using the capability.
The Category
The PDFs are automatically assigned to the Design Representation category and lifecycle definition which allows the administrators to manage their security access and properties independent of the associated design files. As a result, e.g. non-engineering staff like shop-floor users can access released PDFs within the Vault Thin Client w/o necessary need to have access to the native CAD files for printing and other follow workflows.
The Category Assignment Rule
A Design Representation Assignment Rule is used to assign the Design Representation category. Design Representation is also a special classification set on the PDF files created by the Job Processor, so Vault's logic identifies them. This classification can be assigned, through the API, for other files by developing custom solutions. All files with the File Classification of Design Representation can be attached to a CAD file w/o creating a new CAD file iteration.
The Lifecycle
A Design Representation Process lifecycle exists with three states; Released, Work in Progress and Obsolete. When the PDF file gets created after the design file is released, it uses the Design Representation Process lifecycle. The administrator needs to configure the security of the Released state so that future versions of the PDF can be created.
Also, What You Wanted!
The Vault Beta program is very important to the Vault development team as it provides great feedback during the development process. The PDF feature was discussed in the Vault Beta portal, and users from all over the world tested the feature and provided much feedback.
One significant feedback request involved the name of the PDF file. When a PDF file gets created, the name of the file is the same name with the file extension as the parent file. Users in the beta requested the ability to customize the name, and the development team responded to the request. Here is how you do it.
Navigate to the Autodesk Vault Professional 2018 install folder. Open the Explorer subfolder and copy the JobProcessor.exe.config file. Open the original config file and add any of keys below to the appSettings section to get the desired PDF file name.
|
Key |
Result Name |
|
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(idw)$/Prefix<_name_>Postfix"/> |
PrefixFlowerPostfix.pdf |
|
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(idw)$/Prefix<_name_>"/> |
PrefixFlower.pdf |
|
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(idw)$/<_name_>"/> |
Flower.pdf |
|
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(idw)$/<_name_>Postfix"/> |
FlowerPostfix.pdf |
|
Invalid Key |
Flower.idw.pdf or Error |
Join the Beta Program!
We are starting new discussions in the Vault Beta program, and we need your input. It is your opportunity to drive the direction of new and existing features. Sign Up now! Join the Vault Beta Program
Irvin Hayes Jr.
Product Manager
Autodesk Vault 2018 is Here!
The ability to connect engineering data and keep teams on the same page securely and reliably is as important as ever in the design world. Vault continues to focus on helping Autodesk customers manage their data effectively and efficiently. The 2018 release marks the next step forward with improved engineering efficiency with PDF publishing and copy design improvements, an enhanced design experience for CAD users, and improved task delegation with new admin roles. The new capabilities deliver on many of the top requests from Vault customers and help enable better productivity and efficiency. Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing details of what’s coming withVault 2018, but for now here is a quick overview of some highlights included in the release.
Automated PDF publishing for document control
Design Engineering departments may use Vault 2018 to automatically publish and manage 2D PDF files from CAD files as released documentation within their design release process. Vault 2018 automatically renders PDF formats from 2D design files using the same settings as the authoring CAD applications. It supports all Inventor and AutoCAD drawing files and allows administrators of Vault to produce the same PDF quality as their CAD counterparts.
Designed by Mastenbroek using Inventor
PDFs created during the release process are created by the Job Processor, added to Vault and attached to the parent file. The Vault setting allows the administrator to set how all PDFs are created by setting the PDF Options in Vault. The PDF files can be attached to the parent drawing, uploaded to the same or different file location in Vault and synchronized with the revision of the parent file. PDF files created from AutoCAD drawings can use the page settings in the drawing, include Model space, layouts, initialize layouts to support legacy files and capture fonts used in the drawings. PDF files created from Inventor drawings have vector resolutions options, print colors as black, print all sheets and the ability to plot object line weights.
Batch Plot Enhancements
Along with the ability to create PDF from drawing files, when you batch plot the PDF, all printing options are made available so they the user can set the plot size, orientation, color, and scale. You can also enable plot stamps and watermarks to PDF, Tiff and jpeg files.
Enable Administrative Task Delegation
Vault 2018 has new administrator roles which keep collaboration secure and allows the global administrator the ability to delegate tasks like security or Vault setting to other team members in the organization without assigning them to full administrative privileges.
Custom Jobs during Lifecycle Transitions
Vault Administrators are now able to assign custom jobs to lifecycle transitions directly within the Vault Settings dialog. As Vault administrators define new or existing lifecycles, they may select a target lifecycle state and edit the transition by specifying a custom job directly under a new Custom Jobs Type tab. The work to write and test the custom job routine remains, just as in prior versions of Vault, but the administrative steps required to include the action as part of a lifecycle are now easier than ever before.
Enhanced Design Experience
Significant usability improvements within the CAD add-ins to enhance the overall design experience. Designers using the Autodesk Vault 2018 add-in for Autodesk Inventor may now undock, float, and redock the Vault browser into new screen positions to optimize their application layout. Separate Inventor and Vault browsers enable designers to view both component trees simultaneously within the same Inventor design session.
Designed by Mastenbroek using Inventor
The Vault 2018 add-in for Inventor also features a new Vault browser search to help designers identify and select components within the Vault component tree. By adding new properties to the browser display, designers may also search for components by property and locate items easier in the component structure of large assemblies as well as execute Vault command on search results.
Go To Vault Folder
Also, the Vault 2018 add-in for Inventor helps designers locate parts in Vault Explorer by using the new ‘Go to Vault Folder’ command inside the Vault browser. After selecting a target component, the ‘Go to Vault Folder’ command opens a fresh Vault client session which shows the exact version and revision of the component selected inside its stored project location. From there you can complete advanced workflows like Assign Item to the selected component.
Designed by Mastenbroek using Inventor
Insert into CAD
Opposite of ‘Go to Vault Folder,' Vault 2018 delivers the ‘Insert into CAD’ command within the Vault client. After selecting an Inventor part or assembly, this function automatically locates and downloads the Vault source file and places it into the active Inventor design session. Requiring only a few clicks, this new feature greatly simplifies the creation of large assemblies and complex design contexts.
Large Assembly & Drawing Performance
Inventor users often work on complex assemblies involving tens of thousands of parts. In these situations, they can use Express Mode to speed up model load times and can defer drawing updates so they spend less time waiting. Just as Inventor 2018 makes it easier to call these options in assemblies and drawings, Vault also provides the same options to help users get work done faster. The file dialog for assemblies now includes Express Mode and the file dialog for drawings now includes a defer option.
Designed by Mastenbroek using Inventor
Copy Design Improvements
Autodesk Vault 2018 improves the operation of Copy Design by resolving some outstanding issues reported by customers. Vault 2018 restores actions rules mapping to file names, allows action rules to be used across different vaults (assuming the property definitions exist), lets designers set target file properties to like properties of prior file revisions, preserves Inventor iLogic rules on copied data, and improves the copy operations of files with linked drawings.
These are some of the top highlights coming in the Vault 2018 release. Stay tuned in the next couple weeks as we take a deeper dive into some of these topics and help give you a picture of what they can do for you.
Irvin Hayes Jr.
Product Manager
