IMAGINiT Manufacturing Solutions Blog

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There's a property for that

Articles and videos of new features are good for providing awareness, but they don't always answer the question "So what?"  That's why I like real world examples that actually show their value.  Here's an example a customer recently had where one simple feature was able to save hours of tedious analysis.  The feature?  The property Has Drawing that made its appearance in Vault 2020 (at the time, 2020 was the latest release, so it was still a new feature).  An idea that had been around for a few years that was actually green-lit into the product.

Scenario: Customer utilized custom material libraries for their parts.  Some of those materials didn't have precise names, which was fine when they only had single source suppliers with which they had a shared vocabulary; each knew what those material names meant.  Once designed, parts were documented with material names in the notes.  The material property is mapped into Vault so that it is searchable, though, not editable in Vault.

Problem: A change in business required them to utilize more than one supplier, but the material names remained the same.  Again the names were descriptive, but not precise.  So they were getting varying results when the parts came in from the different suppliers.  It was then decided to change the material names so that parts could be fabricated consistently.  But that meant changing hundreds of drawings.  And to make matters worse, not every part was documented in a drawing.

Solution: They could easily enough search the Vault for all the parts that had material names that required changes.  However, they only really needed (at the beginning stage) to change the drawings, as they were the deliverable to suppliers, not the native part files.  They would have had to analyze thousands of parts to see which had drawings and which didn't.  We set them up with the "Saved Search" seen below.

Results: The saved search, utilizing a parametric material search condition gave them the flexibility to search for an offending material and get a "punch list" of the parts that had to be changed.  Once the material was changed they were able to just update the drawings by using the handy Open Drawing from Vault command in Inventor.

Publish PDF from 2D CAD files - Synchronize the revisions and lifecycle of the drawing file and 2D PDF file

New for Vault Workgroup and Vault Professional 2020 is the ability to synchronize the lifecycle state (in addition to the revision) of the new pdf with the drawing file that created it.

In addition, PDFs can now be created at any lifecycle state in this release of Vault.  This is a big improvement from previous releases, where users could only create PDFs at the “Released” lifecycle state.

In this tech tip we’ll take a close look on how to set this up.

NOTE: The functionality described in this tech tip is dependent on the use of the Job Server and the Job Processor. This feature is available only in Autodesk Vault Workgroup and Vault Professional

Use Vault Workgroup or Vault Professional lifecycle states to trigger the production of pdf during a state change.

 

Configure PDF Publishing Options

Access the Files tab on the Vault Settings Dialog

Click Tools  Administration  Vault Settings.

Select the Files tab.

Select the settings for 2D AutoCAD and 2D Inventor PDF publishing.

Click Options... to configure PDF options.

The ‘Sync Lifecycle State and Revision As Source’ allows both the published PDF and its source file to have the same lifecycle state and a revision value.

PDF Category Assignment - Design Representation

All PDF files created for document control are automatically assigned to the Design Representation category. A dedicated category allows administrators to manage their rules, lifecycles, and properties independent of the associated design files.

This category has associated properties and behaviors that are applied to an object  when it is assigned to the category. Those behaviors are of three types:

• Lifecycles (files, folders, items, and custom objects)
• Revisions (files and items)
• User Defined Properties (files, folders, custom objects, and items)

Important:  To synchronize the lifecycle state and revision of the drawing file and 2D PDF file, set each file's Lifecycles and Revisions to be the same.

Engineering Drawings Category

            

Design Representation Category

Synchronized revisions and lifecycle of the drawing file and 2D PDF file

Revisions and lifecycle states of the published PDF are now synchronized with the revisions and lifecycle states of the drawing file.

Tip:  If your Drawing release process requires to change revision scheme - from Alpha to Numeric characters, for example – simply create a custom revision scheme (to be used for the Design Representation Category only) containing both Alpha and Numeric characters

For example:  A, B, C, D,…,Z,0,1,2,3,…99

The revision scheme assignment in both file categories will then be as follows:

Engineering Drawings Category

Design Representation Category

If the lifecycle of the 2D pdf file has not been set the same as the drawing file, the job processor will generate the following error:

I Now Pronounce You Revit and Vault

Adding Vault to your existing Revit environment can add a tremendous amount of value, power, and security to the current workflow.  Adding value by enhancing functionality such as, searching for specific families that are store and controlled in Vault.  Power to push and pull Vaulted files to and from BIM 360 for collaboration outside of your companies firewall.  Added security by controlling who can and cannot read, modify, and delete files once Vaulted. As well as, seeing the state the current project is in whether its currently being worked on, being reviewed by the customer or it is officially released at 100%.  Lets break down the Vault add-in below.

1. Select Go to Vault from the Vault ribbon to launch the Autodesk Vault client.
   
   
2. Log in and out of Vault from the Vault add-in.
   
   
3. Opening a file from the vault opens an existing Revit previously added to vault. When selecting the latest version of a file, Revit Server files and Central work shared files are opened from their respective locations just as they would be if opened from Revit.
   1. Opening a historical version of a file or a Read Only version of the file downloads a copy of the file from Vault and opens it for viewing.
   2. Opening a non-work shared file for editing automatically checks out the file unless the Read-Only option is selected.
      
      
4. Non-work shared files are added to a vault using the Save to Vault command. When a file is Saved to Vault, it is automatically checked into the vault.
   1. Save to Vault can only be used on Non-work shared files and Revit Family files.
   2. After Saving a file to Vault, if you continue to edit the file, the file is automatically checked back out.
      
      
5. Within Revit you can search or browse Vault for Revit family types and load, or load and place them into the current project.
   1. The Load Family feature supports files of type .rfa with or without type catalogs.
      
      
6. Link from Vault lets you link a file stored in the Vault to the current Revit Project.
   1. Link from Vault supports these file types:
      1. DGN, DWF, DWFX, DWG, DXF, IFC, RVT, SAT, SKP
         
         
7. Import from Vault lets you import CAD files or images stored in a vault into the current Revit project. If an imported file is updated it must be reimported back into Revit to see the changes.
   1. Link from Vault supports these file types:
      1. DGN, DWG, DXF, SAT, SKP, BMP, JPG, JPEG, TIF
         
         
         
         
8. Load groups from one project in the Vault into the active project with the Load Groups from Vault feature. (Make sure you are within a viewport)
   
   
   
   
   1.  Select a .rvt file and click Select to see which groups are available. Unlike in Revit, you can select which groups are loaded from Vault.
      
      
      
      
9. Use the Add Files command to add a selection of files to the vault or the Add Folder command to add multiple files contained in a Windows folder to Vault. Relationships between Revit files and associated files are created as new versions of the files are added to vault.
   
   
   
   
10. Add Sheets allows the user to print all sheets in the active Revit file and place them directly into Vault.
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. The Change Category command allows users to modify the lifecycle category for a file or group of files in Revit.
    
    
    
    
12. Changes the Lifecycle State in Vault of a currently opened model. It adds/saves model to Vault if needed.
    
    
    
    
13. Change the revision value for a file or an item in the Vault client.
    
    
    
    
14. Shared parameters are definitions of parameters that you can add to families or projects. Shared parameter definitions are stored in a .txt file independent of any family file or Revit project; this allows you to access the file from different families or projects. This file is referred to as the Shared Parameters file.
    1. Vault does not confirm the legitimacy of the shared parameters file, so if you select an invalid .txt file in the vault, it will still be activated as the Shared Parameters file.
    2. Autodesk recommends creating a shared parameters folder in the vault. Since there may be multiple types of .txt files a user can browse to inside a vault, a shared parameters folder makes it easy for users to differentiate which .txt files are parameter files.
       
       
       
       
15. There are two essential concepts to understand when working with the Revit Vault add-in.
    
    1. Using Revit Server or work shared central files – The Revit add-in does NOT require a check out. This behavior is unique and is unlike all other Vault add-ins where you must check a file out of the vault before you can modify it. Copies of the project file are added to Vault at specified milestones or automatically after a Revit Synchronization with Central.
    2. Note: Revit Server files and work shared central files can only be added to Vault using the Synchronize with Central command.
    3. Using Vault with non-shared project files – The project file can be downloaded using the Open from Vault command. This will automatically check out the file for editing. Once you are done editing the file, check the file back into the vault by using the Save to Vault command.
       
       
16.  Options:
    
    
    
17. For additional help, visit the Autodesk Vault Help webpage.

Autodesk University 2019 - IMAGINiT Manufacturing Instructor Sessions Now Online for free

That's a wrap on Autodesk University 2019. This year at AU, 15 of our Autodesk-certified instructors shared their product and industry knowledge with the thousands of professionals in attendance. 

Didn't make it out to AU2019? No problem! View on-demand recordings of our IMAGINiT Manufacturing and PLM instructor's classes, download handouts, view slide decks, and more. 

Manufacturing and PLM Presentations:

• Rusty Belcher, Solutions Consultant
      Process Modeling Essentials for Industry 4
  
  
• Anthony Dull, Solutions Consultant
      Vault for the Revit User
   
• Caleb Funk, Solutions Team Manager
      Sharing Is Caring: Sharing Vault Data Outside the Firewall
  
  
• Pete Markovic, Senior Solutions Consultant
      Mastering the Fusion Lifecycle App Store in 60 Minutes
   
• Robert Savage, Instructor
      How to Use Fusion 360 and Inventor for Effective Designs
      Fusion 360 Introduction to Generative Design
   
• Stan Wile, Application Engineer
      Supplementing Your Designs with Inventor CAM and Inventor Nesting 

The Top 5 Pitfalls and Possibilities for Autodesk Vault

Here at IMAGINiT Technologies, we work with many organizations that use Autodesk Vault. The solution is a powerful tool, but some teams either don't take advantage of its full potential or they experience common pitfalls. Based on our work with clients in the field, let's explore some of the top Autodesk Vault pitfalls and possibilities:

1. The organization doesn't have a backup strategy. A fair number of organizations don't think about Autodesk Vault backups until it comes time to upgrade or disaster strikes and a server fails. To complete an upgrade or recover from a system failure, organizations must have a backup that was generated using Vault tools. Server snapshots will not work.
   
   With that in mind, a best practice is to automate Vault backups using the Schedule Backup tool. This uses a batch file to initiate a scheduled task at a specific time. Another option is to use a PowerShell script. When automating backups, remember that the system needs a valid Vault admin name, username, and password. If any of those pieces of information aren't correct, the backup won't run. Unfortunately, Vault will not tell you if a backup failed.
   
   Some organizations like to store backups on tape or on an external drive. Those are great options for Vault backups, but keep in mind that the initial Vault backup must be initiated on the system where Vault is installed. Then the Vault backup files can be transferred to secondary storage media.

3. Configuring Vault Properties. System properties and user defined properties are automatically shared between Inventor and Vault. However, custom Inventor properties don't automatically carry over to Vault. It's possible to create a new property in Vault and then pull the custom Inventor property over.
   
   It can also be helpful in Vault to create properties and use them as tags to categorize information. These are used solely in Vault and are not shared back into Inventor. Many organizations use Vault across multiple departments, so a tag such as "Project Number" can be a helpful way to find information.
   
   
4. Searching Within Vault. The simple search function within Vault is a helpful tool if you are looking for a specific thing, such as a part number. In some cases, however, it may generate too many search results – say you search on the term "side." To address this situation, Vault provides a user interface which enables users to search on specific properties, such as file name. It's also possible to create complex searches using operators like "contains," "doesn't contain," and more.
   
   
5. Using Lifecycle and Revision Tools. These tools transform Vault from a data management tool to a more complex release management system. The lifecycle and revision tools are only available for organizations using Vault Workgroup or Vault Professional.
   
   Although it is possible to change the revision versions of files using the Revision functionality alone, a best practice is to use it in conjunction with the Lifecycle functionality. For instance, let's say that the lifecycle state of a file is changed to "Released." At that time, the file is locked down and no further edits or checkouts are allowed. To make changes to the file, the user must change the lifecycle state to "Work in Progress." This change has two effects: first, it automatically changes the file revision from Rev A to Rev B and second, it enables users to make additional edits to the file.

5. Sharing Files Outside Vault. Vault's "Shared Views" functionality generates a viewable file that people can view on the Autodesk View website. Users can set an expiration date to define how long the document will be viewable. If Vault users want to go beyond merely sharing documents and collaborate with others, they can use the Project Sync feature. This is only available to organizations using Vault Professional. A file folder or group of folders can be sent to Autodesk 360. Collaborators can work on files, repost them to Autodesk 360, and then sync them back to Vault.

If your organization uses Vault and you're intrigued about the possibilities that you may have overlooked, you may be interested in an IMAGINiT Vault Health Check. This service is designed to help teams optimize their Vault environments and derive even greater efficiencies. During a Vault Health Check, IMAGINiT experts come onsite for a half day to interview CAD and Vault Admins and subject matter expert users. After identifying pain points and usage patterns, the IMAGINiT team conducts a half day of offsite analysis and generates a report with findings.

To learn more initiating a Vault Health Check, please feel free to contact us, we'd love to learn more about your practices.

Expanding Collaboration to External Partners: Using Vault to Share Data with the Outside World

The manufacturing sector uses Autodesk Vault Professional heavily for process control, continuity of information flow, and internal collaboration with teams assigned to the same project. Organizations can also use Vault to facilitate collaboration with external resources, such as vendors or customers. Based on our experience, however, relatively few companies are using Vault in this way.

We've seen Vault used to support three types of external collaboration:

1. Gathering Feedback. With Autodesk Viewer, teams can share a visual representation of a component or a product with the shop floor, vendors, or customers. Gathering feedback is fast and easy.
   
   Autodesk Viewer allows reviewers to access information anywhere, on any device. Since only a browser is needed, no software needs to be installed. To add comments, reviewers sign in. Each time a comment is added, the design engineer receives an email notification. The visual representations of products and components are more robust than a pdf, but they are general enough to protect a firm's intellectual property.
   
   The Shared Views tool is a subscription benefit for Autodesk Vault Workgroup and Professional. Access to Shared Views can be assigned to users in contract management. External reviewers don't need any licenses.

2. Delivering Design Files. Autodesk Drive enables teams to deliver design files to customers and suppliers. It includes viewing capabilities, as well as design references such as where information is used and drawings tabs. Autodesk Drive supports over 60 types of Autodesk and third-party files.
   
   Autodesk Drive is included in subscriptions for Inventor, Vault Workgroup and Professional. It provides CAD-aware 25Gb cloud storage for individuals and small teams. Users can view and organize files stored in Autodesk Drive right from their desktops.

3. Collaborating on Designs. Fusion Team supports automatic and secure bi-directional exchange of 2D or 3D CAD design data between Vault and external parties such as customers, supply chain partners, or design contractors. Firms can selectively decide which types of data to share with external collaborators. Project Sync functionality is only available with Vault Professional. Fusion Team is a more intuitive and visual user experience than other file sharing tools, such as Dropbox or OneDrive.

If you are interested in using Vault for external collaboration, a good first step is to implement internal data controls. One best practice is developing a Revision Control process to manage changes to files. Data should be secured by folder. Release files are locked and can't be edited without starting a new revision. In addition, the revision history can be audited.

Vault is a great way streamline information flow between all key stakeholders, whether they are inside the organization or external partners. To learn more about how to connect your Autodesk Vault software to the outside world, view our on-demand webcast.

Five Common Data Management Myths

If you’re a manufacturer, you may have considered implementing a Data Management solution, but then decided that it wasn’t the right option. All too often, misconceptions cause organizations to shy away from Data Management. Below we’ve debunked five Data Management myths that we frequently encounter:

1. Data Management is only needed for 3D design. In the manufacturing sector, 2D design is still common. Many 2D users don’t believe that Data Management tools are necessary. However, Data Management offers many benefits to 2D users including the ability to search for files, file access logging, revision control, and XREF management. Autodesk Vault Access is integrated directly in the Project Browser and supports collaborative design on large projects.
   
   
2. Small companies won’t benefit from Data Management. Company size doesn’t drive data management challenges. In reality, data complexity is the source of many data management concerns. Both large and small companies struggle with locating files, managing links between files, controlling access, and revision control. Product data contains structured relationships and can quickly become complex. The structure of 3D models includes the top-level assembly, sub-assemblies, and drawings. 3D models also include relationships to marketing renderings, specs, CAM, analysis data, tech pubs, and BOMs.
   
   
3. Data Management is only for managing CAD files. The truth is that any file type can benefit from storage in a single location, managed access, access history, revision control, and change management. Even the simplest of products has a significant number of product data-related files. Autodesk Vault is designed to manage any type of file.

4. It takes too long to implement a Data Management system. Complex data management implementations can be lengthy. Complexity typically results from multiple locations, large amounts of legacy data to load, many people to train, and custom programming. Most small organizations don’t have these characteristics and Data Management systems can be implemented quickly. A recent survey conducted by Tech Clarity found that the median time to implement a PDM system is around nine months and more than one quarter of survey respondents completed their implementation in less than three months. Most of IMAGINiT's data management implementations take between six weeks and three months to complete.

5. Data Management tools are cost prohibitive. If your organization is currently using Autodesk CAD tools, you may already have access to Vault Basic for free. Other options include Vault Workgroup which offers revision control and Vault Professional which supports change management and multi-site installations. When considering the cost of implementing Data Management, it’s also important to consider the cost of not using these tools. Without Data Management, valuable time is lost as employees search for files, repair broken links, determine which revision is correct, and accidentally overwrite data.

Data Management solutions offer benefits to manufacturers of all sizes. They compress the design cycle and reduce time to market. In addition, they reduce manufacturing costs, support quality initiatives, and secure intellectual assets. To learn more about how Data Management can help your organization, feel free to contact us.

What’s New in Vault 2019: Updated Reports!

Hopefully you've seen some of the enhancements with Vault 2019 and maybe even have a plan on how you might use them. I’ve talked about the Thin Client Update and Vault’s new Project Sync tools. Today let’s take a look at the updated reporting capabilities in Vault 2019.

Prior to this year’s release of Vault if you wanted to report on vaulted data it was difficult to change from the default report designs. The supplied report templates were in a format that could only be edited using Visual Studio 2008’s report designer, which is fine except that Visual Studio 2008 is difficult to find and has been for some time. There’s a good reference here in a recent post Carl made about Vault reports using older versions of the report template files.

This year the report templates have been updated to the 2015 file format and can be easily edited using Visual Studio 2015 which is still accessible. There are other report editors available but I’m going to stick with Visual Studio for this post. You will need to stick with Visual Studio 2015 and when you install it be sure to include the Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools which installs the report editor capable of editing Vault 2019’s RDLC files.

With the editor ready to go we need a report to modify. I’ll use the transmittal report that Vault uses when you do a pack-and-go or use the Send File tool. This is probably the report template that is used most often. A few things you might like to change in this report is the logo and perhaps the columns.

The first thing you need to do is add the properties to the report that you want to manipulate. Open a Windows explorer window and run the ReportTemplateAuthoringUtility.exe which is found at C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Vault Professional 2019\Explorer\. Log in to Vault and open the File Transmittal.rdlc report template file from the .\Report Templates sub-directory.

In the template utility I am only going to add the Title property. Then use Save As to save the report template as a new file. In my case I’ll call this IMAGINiT Transmittal.rdlc and save it to my desktop.

With the property added to the report template I can use the Visual Studio Report Designer to modify the visual layout of the transmittal report to include file titles in the table. Open Visual Studio 2015 and use the File menu to open the new RDLC file. If you have the Report Designer installed correctly then you should see something similar to the image below. If the RDLC file opens to a code editor then you’ll need to update your Visual Studio installation to include the report designer.

With the transmittal report template open, you can select objects and delete or modify them as necessary. Here I’ve changed the logo, removed the Destination property (in the header) and put the Title property in the table.

Finally, save the RDLC file and copy it back to its original location or Vault it, to share with your team. When you re-run your transmittal report be sure to select the customized template.

Now, when I run a new pack-and-go I get a much better, more customized, result. If you’d like to use the new transmittal with the Send File command then you’ll have to overwrite the original File Transmittal.rdlc in the report template folder.

It’s understandable if you haven’t been using reports with your Vault, the files haven’t always been easy to work with. Now with the update to the 2015 format you can use a more recent report editor to align the reports to your needs.

There is a lot of potential to gain insight on your projects, BoMs, designers and the overall health of your Vault with the reporting tools. If you recall my post on custom objects, I used Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) as an example of how you might use custom objects. With customized Vault reports added on I could take that a step further to manage and track open NCRs, issue types, and longer term design or manufacturing trends, etc.

-DAP

Autodesk Vault 2019 User Roles

Autodesk Vault 2019 has been released with several new features and enhancements to make your Vault experience easier and more productive including new collaboration workflows, new editing and new user and group administrator features.  The improved administrator workflow for the creation and assignment of user and group definitions will be the focus of this blog post.

In past versions of Autodesk Vault, the assignment of user and group roles had to be made from a pre-defined list, each having set permissions and rights, which could be assigned using the Vault UI and did not give the Vault administrator any flexibility in adding or deleting permissions that may fit some users but not others.  One example of this can be found in the role of Document Editor (Level1).  This role would allow a user to do most of the common processes in the Vault but also would allow users to create folders.  Administrators who wanted to control the creation of Vault folders did not have the choice of another user role that would grant all the same permissions but exclude the folder creation ability.

Autodesk Vault 2019 has introduced the ability for administrators to create and edit roles to better match specific company requirements. The Roles Management dialog box can be found under Tools, Administration, Global Settings and selecting “Manage Roles…” under the Security tab.

Before getting started with the editing of this table, it is advisable to review the currently defined roles by visiting the Autodesk Knowledge website. Also you should take a look at the defined permissions available at this Autodesk Knowledge website.

The Role Management dialog box lists two types of role names, User Defined and System indicated by the familiar icons we have seen for a long time in the Properties Definitions dialog box. System roles can be viewed and copied but cannot be edited or deleted.

You have the ability to create new roles from scratch using the “New Role” command but it is normally much easier to use the “Copy” command and then edit the new user defined role permissions using the “Edit” command. The process is straight forward by selecting permissions and either using the “Add” or “Remove” icons between the two permission windows. The search box will search both windows at the same time to reduce the number of permissions to select from.

Entering a descriptive name and a complete description of the new role is important because this will be displayed in the Role Management dialog box and can be search using the “Show Find Panel” command activated from the View menu.

The Usage Count column indicates the number of users and groups which have been assigned the role name. The complete dialog box can be searched or printed as needed.

Once roles names have be configured they are available to be added to both Users and Groups “Roles..” line under both “Manage Users” and “Manage Groups” in the Global Settings dialog box.