This custom job creates Inventor export format files using VaultInventorServer or Navisworks NWD files from any format Navisworks supports.
This sample walks you through the basic concept handling Inventor part or assembly files submitted to the job queue by VaultInventorServer. To open 3D part files as well as full assemblies maintaining all file references, the job leverages Vault project file settings initializing the job execution. File download and running the Inventor translator add-in for CAD-Export formats follow as major execution step. The final steps adds export files to Vault, copying user properties, trying to synchronize revision index and lifecycle state, and finally attaches the result to their source respectively.
Vault Vault Professional 2025 or newer. This job leverages the Vault Inventor Server component and does not require Inventor installation or Inventor license. However, the new option to create Navisworks files, requires Navisworks Manage installed on the Job Processor machine. The Solidworks PDF Export option requires Solidworks installed on the Job Processor machine. The job is valid for any Vault configuration fulfilling these requirements:
- Enforce Workingfolder = Enabled
- Enforce Inventor Project File = Enabled
- Single project file in Vault.
- Category Design Representation (as default configuration "Manufacturing")
- Category Design Representation Assignement Rule based on File classification "Design Representation" (as default configuration "Manufacturing")
- Matching Revision scheme for source file category and design representation category
- Matching Lifecycle State names for lifecycles applied to source and to export files
- Job processor user need to have transition access to life cycle of design representation category
- Copy the folder Autodesk.VltInvSrv.ExportSampleJob to %ProgramData%\Autodesk\Vault 202x\Extensions.
- Edit the settings.xml to configure the logfile directory; the default is "C:\Temp".
- Edit the settings.xml to configure the export format(s) per Job; multiple formats are allowed e.g., to create a STEP for Sheet Metal folded model and a DXF for the Sheet Metal Flat Pattern add the values STP, SMDXF to STP,SMDXF. To enable dual export for Sheet Metal components a category for these part files is expected; configure the name of the category using the element SmCadDispName e.g., Sheet Metal Part Several copies of the setting.xml represent configurations for STEP and JT, STEP and Sheet Metal DXF and IDW -> DWG export tasks.
- Add the job to the Job Queue activating job transitions. To achieve this, integrate this job into a custom lifecycle transition by adding the Job-Type name "Autodesk.VltInvSrv.ExportSampleJob" to the transition's 'Custom Job Types' tab.
In any case, all binaries, configuration code, templates and snippets of this solution are of "work in progress" character. This also applies to GitHub "Release" versions. Neither Markus Koechl, nor Autodesk represents that these samples are reliable, accurate, complete, or otherwise valid. Accordingly, those configuration samples are provided “as is” with no warranty of any kind and you use the applications at your own risk.
The job expects that all library definition files configured in the Inventor project file are available in the file system. Otherwise, the job might fail with unhandled exception due to missing style library or other settings files.
2025.2.0.1 - added template support for Navisworks NWD creation. Added option to allow the reuse of local IPJ file. 2025.1.0.0 - enhanced Navisworks export and added Navisworks DWF visualization export, added Solidworks PDF export option (design representation attachment) 2025.0.0.0 - updated for 2025 compatibility 2024.0.0.0 - updated for 2024 compatibility 2023.1.0.0 - implemented export to Navisworks NWD(+NWC) 2023.0.0.0 - updated for 2023 2022.3.0.x - support Image export for IPT, IAM, IDW/DWG; image formats PNG, BMP, GIF, JPG and TIFF are configurable 2022.2.0.1 - support 2D and 3D export file formats while respecting matching source file types (IPT, IAM, IDW/DWG) support 2D DWG (IDW/DWG) and 3D DWG (IPT, IAM) export targets updated settings and settings.xml sample configurations 2022.1.0.2 - added IDW -> DWG export capabilities; improved logging and error handling; fixed download issue for multilevel assembly files; fixed IPJ activation issue on first run on fresh machines; fixed issue #7: Exported files don't attach to latest parent iteration 2022.0.42.0 - updated 2022 2021.26.0.0 - updated 2021 2020.25.1.0 - Added Export-Format Configuration, Output Folder option, named and published as Autodesk.VltInvSrv.ExportSampleJob, implemented formats are STEP, JT and Sheet Metal Flat Pattern DXF 2020.25.0.3 - Added Logging, named and published as Autodesk.STEP.ExportSampleJob 2020.25.0.0 - Initial Version, named and published as Autodesk.STEP.ExportSampleJob
Thank you for your interest in Autodesk Vault solutions and API samples.
Sincerely,
Markus Koechl, Autodesk