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Inventor PlusPack App

Tutorial

26/04/2019 Inventor PlusPack App - Tutorial

26/04/2019 Inventor PlusPack App - Tutorial 1/18

Contents

Inventor PlusPack App 1

Tutorial 1

1. Introduction 2

2. Exports 2

1.1 Active drawing to DXF-format 2

1.2 Active drawing to (Autocad) DWG-format 3

1.3 Active drawing to PDF-format 4

1.4 Active 3D-Model to STEP-format 5

1.5 Flat pattern active sheet-metal part to DXF-format 6

1.6 Flat patterns sheet-metal parts in assembly to DXF-format. 7

3. Transfer iProperties 8

1.7 From model 8

1.8 To Model 9

4. iProperty Editor 10

5. Last Modification 11

6. Rename Browser Nodes 12

7. Extract All Quantities 13

8. Push user parameters 14

9. Feature Navigation 14

10. PlusPack options 15

11. Contact Greenock Helpdesk 17

12. Connect to the Greenock CAD Service 18


1. Introduction

Inventor PlusPack App contains extra functionalities in Inventor with a focus on automating certain

repetitive tasks and ease of use. These functionalities were chosen by our staff based on FAQ’s from our

helpdesk customers. If you have remarks or requests about this topic please don’t hesitate to contact our

helpdesk at [email protected].

2. Exports

Adds the possibility to export the active document to an alternative file format in one click. In the

PlusPack Options we can configure export settings (See Chapter 10: PlusPack options).

1.1 Active drawing to DXF-format

Export the active drawing to DXF-format with the same name in a subfolder (\DXF) in the current location

of the drawing or in a predefined location (See Chapter 10: PlusPack options).

mailto:[email protected]


1.2 Active drawing to (Autocad) DWG-format

Export the active drawing to Autocad DWG-format with the same name in a subfolder (\DWG) in the

current location of the drawing or in a predefined location (See Chapter 10: PlusPack options).


1.3 Active drawing to PDF-format

Export the active drawing to PDF-format with the same name in a subfolder (\PDF) in the current location

of the drawing or in a predefined location (See Chapter 10: PlusPack options).


1.4 Active 3D-Model to STEP-format

Export the active 3d-model (part or assembly) to STEP-format with the same name in a subfolder (\STP)

in the current location of this component or in a predefined location (See Chapter 10: PlusPack options).


1.5 Flat pattern active sheet-metal part to DXF-format

Export the flat pattern* of the active sheet-metal part to dxf-format with the same name in a subfolder

(\DXF) in the current location of the sheet-metal part or in a predefined location (See Chapter 10:

PlusPack options).

* Flat patterns created prior to Inventor R11 are not supported!

All these exports can be automated on the save event. So each time a file is saved, a STP, DXF, DWG and/or PDF-file will be created. Existing files will be overwritten!


1.6 Flat patterns sheet-metal parts in assembly to DXF-format.

Export the flat patterns* of all sheet-metal parts in the active assembly to dxf-format with the same name

as the sheet-metal parts in a subfolder (\DXF) at the location of the sheet-metal parts.

* Flat patterns created prior to Inventor R11 are not supported! To avoid performance issues, it is not possible to automate this via the save event.


3. Transfer iProperties

1.7 From model

Create or overwrite selected iProperties in the active drawing (based on the values of the iProperties of

the 3D-model in first base view).

In the PlusPack options you can automate this feature on the open event of a drawing. So each time a

drawing is opened, the iProperties of the drawing will be updated according to the 3D-model. It is

recommended to include a filter of iProperties so only the specified iProperties will be updated. If no filter

is applied all custom iProperties are updated.


1.8 To Model

Create or overwrite selected iProperties of the 3D-model with the current values from the active drawing.

In the PlusPack options you can automate this feature on the save event of a drawing. So each time a

drawing is saved, the existing iProperties of the 3D-model will be updated according to the values in the

active drawing. It is recommended to include a filter of iProperties so only the specified iProperties will be

updated. If no filter is applied only the existing custom iProperties are updated.


4. iProperty Editor

Edit the iProperties of an Inventor file in a configurable window.

This editor is configurable in the PlusPack options and can contain iProperties with text, number, list

(selection), Boolean (Yes or No) or date items. If needed a default value can be assigned to each custom

iProperty. It is possible to add Standard iProperties to this window but they are not configurable via the

PlusPack options.


5. Last Modification

Add or update a custom iproperty ‘Last_modification’ with the actual date in the active drawing.

In the PlusPack options you can automate this on the save event. So each time before a drawing is

saved, the ‘Last_modification’ iProperty will be updated.


6. Rename Browser Nodes

Change browsername of all top-level components in the active assembly (select iProperty in configurable window).


7. Extract All Quantities

Create a report list with total quantities of all components of the active assembly.

It is possible to sort the data alphabetically by clicking on a column and to change the sequence of the columns with drag and drop. Activate the ‘Save’ button to generate a report in excelformat (*.xlsx) with the same name and in the same location of the active assembly. The contents (columns) of this report are configurable via the PlusPack options and can contain all standard or custom iproperties.


8. Push user parameters

Copy or overwrite all user parameters of the active assembly to all child components (except ‘read only’

files). This feature replaces the need of adaptivity or linked parameters to update/change all parts or

subassemblies of the active assembly.

9. Feature Navigation

Move the ‘End of part’ marker in a part backward or forward (per item), to the start or to the end of the

browser. Animate the conception of the part, in the PlusPack options you can configure the delay in

seconds and activate ‘Repeat’ so animation will keep on running in an endless loop until ‘Stop Animation’

is activated in the browser navigation pop-up window.


10. PlusPack options

Activate or deactivate the automated events on saving or opening a file as described in this document.

Select a configuration for exporting a DWG or DXF and configure the STEP- or PDF-export options via

the appropriate button in the export options.


Prior to configure the Autocad DWG/DXF-export utility, you have to create an export configuration file

(*.ini) via the standard export tool from Inventor to select it in the export options of the PlusPack.

Similar behavior for DXF-export, you also have to create an export configuration file (*.ini) via the

standard export tool from Inventor prior to select it in the export options of the PlusPack.

You can also (de-)activate the option ‘Create Flatpattern in not exist’. If activated the export tool will

generate flat patterns of all sheet metal parts and export them to DXF. If deactivated the export tool will

export dxf-files only for sheet metal parts where the flat pattern is already available.


11. Contact Greenock Helpdesk

With these buttons you can contact the Greenock helpdesk consultant directly by email without the need

to switch to another program (Outlook, Lotus Notes, …). You can also ask for remote support and send

large datasets via the free wetransfer service. Via the Help button, you open this document.


12. Connect to Greenock CAD Service

Connect to Greenock CAD Service by social media or watch related content on Youtube. Via the About

window it is possible the check product, activation and contact information.

inventor pluspack app1).pdf · 2019-08-13 · 9/08/2019 inventor pluspack app - tutorial 8/18 3....

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