1. WELCOME
Adding information in
your Content Center

2. • Started @ Synergis
Aug 2013
• MSD Help Desk
Technician for the
Autodesk
manufacturing &
Vault product
lines.
• Degree in Mech.
Engineering and
CAD/CAM
• Background in
Lean Mfg and
Continuous
Improvement
• Self taught
AutoCAD user
• Release 9
• Supported it for
over 15 years
• Inventor since
Release 2008
• Content Center
• Frame Generator
• Routed System
• 20+ years of CAD
experience
• 15 years of 3D
modeling
• 5+ years as a CAD
manager and
Vault Admin
My Background

7. Standard components or other types of Inventor
part files that are often being modified in your
organization should not be considered a content
center part and it is recommended to keep them
outside of this structure.
Controlled environment where standard
components (Inventor part - .IPT only) such as
fasteners, steel shapes, piping components, your
standard items, and etc. are stored, accessed and
placed into an Inventor assembly.
What is Content Center?

8. • 2 Types
• Desktop Content: Locally stored, typically not shared
• C:ProgramDataAutodeskInventor <version>Content CenterLibraries
• Autodesk Vault Server: Shared and managed by the vault database
• Autodesk Data Management Server Console (ADMS)
• Shared Desktop Content: Unofficial Inventor Content Center
• Network located and shared
• Typically not supported by Autodesk.
• Autodesk provides numerous read-only libraries (as part of installation)
• Never be modified
• Important Note: Content Center interface accessed through Inventor
Content Center Info

9. • Need a read/write library
• Appoint a team to be in-charge
• Have a plan
• Information to be added/when
• Unique member (file) naming convention
• Backup regularly
• Vault Admin, Content Center Admin, or Content Center Editor role.
• Build your structure wisely
• Parts only, no assemblies.
• Exclude often changing parts, overly complicated, and iLogic requirements
• Alike but based on different specifications, should be kept separate.
• May require additional information (Advanced Content Center Class)
• Create multiple read/write libraries for your organization
• Content Center does not maintain the actual 3D model
• Overall this process hasn’t really changed over the years
Before you get started!!!

10. • Autodesk Vault Server (Part 1)
• User logs onto the ADMS console
• Must have Vault Admin or Content Center Admin role assigned to account
• Expand Vault tree
• Right mouse click on Libraries
• Select Create Library
• Assign Display Name (name of library)
• Select Partition (Inventor version)
• ADMS console will assign the database name.
Creating a read/write library

11. • Autodesk Vault Server (Part 2)
• In Inventor, edit your (vault) project
• Project must be in a read/write state
• Select Configure Content Center Libraries.
• Place a check next to new read/write library
• Save active project
Creating a read/write library

12. • Desktop Content
• Autodesk has already provided a read/write library called My Library
• Recommend: Leave this one intact and create your own.
• Edit your active (single user) project.
• Project must be in a read/write state.
• Select Configure Content Center Libraries.
• Select Create Library
• Assign Display Name (name of library) organization
• Confirm the library is selected for use
• Save active project
Creating a read/write library

13. • Located on the Manage ribbon tab
• No files loaded, editor located on the Tools ribbon tab
• May look like Windows Explorer but it doesn’t function that way.
• Project file: Load only the libraries you need
• No locks  First come, last served
• Vault version: Beware of idle times exceeding 30 mins
• Work in smaller chunks – Apply changes every so often
• Grayed out info belongs to a read only library
Content Center Editor

14. What is a Content Center Category?
Basically its a folder containing sub-
categories and/or the related family
tables
What is a Content Center Family Table?
Looks like a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
and contains all of the required
information to define the component.
Like a vendor catalog that outlines the
part’s information
Categories & Family Tables

15. • Always copy categories before manually creating them
FOR EXAMPLE
Your company has a special hex bolt that you
want to place in the same existing structure as
the other fasteners are.
If I manually create the category structure
(Fasteners/Bolts) in my library…
Toggle the library view back to the merged view
setting..
There are two categories now!!
Creating your own Categories

16. Method #1
Single or multiple family table - [PERFERRED METHOD]
By copying at the family table level all of the related category
structure comes along for the ride
Copying Categories

17. When the copy structure is selected for
a given category, the entire structure
underneath it will also be included
Method #2
Only when requiring the category structure
By selecting the lowest sub-level category
Copying Categories

18. Method #3
Categories and all related family tables
By selecting the category, all of the related
sub-categories and family tables will come
along for the ride
Copying Categories

19. Helpful Tip
Add your company name to the copied family
table to indicate it has been modified for your
company.
Copied Family Tables

20. INVENTOR DEMO TIME

21. YELLOW (lightning bolt): Information has been
changed and has not been published back to
the library
BLUE: Information is under the
control of the column expression
RED: Column is a key column. A key
column is associated to the questions that are
asked when a content center component is
placed into an assembly.
Editing Family Tables

22. • Communicate to your team you are
editing a family table
• Create all necessary columns
Columns can be added at the end or
anywhere, order does not matter
Define Column name and Caption
(Recommended to keep them the same)
Editing Family Tables

23. • Define Column Expression if required
• Use &” “& for spaces before and after
column variables
• Map To Inventor Property
• Set up key columns
• Consider using the “display name” feature
Keeping all the information
alike makes it easier to
follow and manage later on
when there is an issue
Editing Family Tables

24. • Avoid the <ESC> (ESCAPE) KEY
• Populate the table with your information
• When adding or modifying existing members, use Copy/Paste to leave
original information intact.
• Periodically select APPLY or OK to publish your information
• DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE END
Editing Family Tables

25. INVENTOR DEMO TIME

26. STEP 1
Create the category
STEP 2
Define the iPart
STEP 3
Publish your part
STEP 4
Create the family table
Family Tables from scratch

27. Set your library view to your
read/write library in order to
create your categories
Step #1: Creating Categories

28. • Model (or download) your content center
component
• Define parameters/iProperties
• Create an iPart
• Create an unique member name
• Always include the Part Number field
• Only add information that will change
• Define at least one row
• Keep it simple
• Save your iPart
If you downloaded a model and there is
no information that needs to be applied to
the iPart table, add at least one
iProperties to it
Step #2: Defining iPart

29. Which library
Location (Category)
Mapping Category
Parameters
(ADV Content Center)
Key Columns
Prior to publishing,
recommended to set your
Inventor color scheme to
“Presentation” and turn
off all visible sketches,
work planes, axis, and
points
Step #3: Publishing the part

30. Family Properties
Same folder name can
be used as long as
there are unique
member names
residing in it
Step #3: Publishing the part

31. • Communicate to your team you are editing
a family table
• If required, create all necessary columns
• Set up column expressions
• Define your key columns
• Unique file name
• Take advantage of Member.DisplayName
• Add your information
Step #4: Setting up Family Table

32. INVENTOR DEMO TIME

33. Final Item….
Though there is not currently open-enrollment
training for just Inventor Content Center….
Synergis Engineering Design Solutions regularly
sits down with customers to develop an
implementation and training plan that is tailored
to meet your Content Center needs.

34. Mark.Lancaster@Synergis.com
Q & A Session