Share libraries across design workgroups

Install the server components

Install Content Center libraries on the server. For installation details, please refer to the Autodesk Vault Server Implementation Guide. The guide is installed as a PDF in Program Files Autodesk ADMS [version] Help.

Tip: If appropriate, use two separate servers for Content Center libraries and Autodesk Vault Basic files. Install the server on two computers, and then use one as a Vault server, and the other as a Content server.

Use the server console to configure libraries on the server

Before you start using Content Center, set up Content Center libraries to correspond with your needs. Use the server console to create, attach, import, export, detach, and delete Content Center libraries, and to change a library status.

  1. To run the server console, click Start Programs Autodesk Autodesk Data Management Autodesk Data Management Server Console [version].
  2. In the server console window, expand the root folder and perform the appropriate changes:
    • To create a library, right-click the Libraries entry and choose Create from the menu.
    • To attach a library saved in the default libraries folder, right-click the Libraries entry and choose Attach Library from the menu.
    • To import a library, right-click the Libraries entry and choose Import Library from the menu.
    • To detach a library from the server, right-click the library name and choose Detach from the menu.

Create Content Center Editor user accounts in the server console

Create Content Center Editor user accounts for anyone requiring editing permissions.

  1. Run the server console: Program Files Autodesk Autodesk Data Management Autodesk Data Management Server Console [version].
  2. Click Tools Administration.
  3. In the Administration dialog box, click Users.
  4. In the User Management dialog box, click New User.
  5. In the New User dialog box, enter the appropriate information for the user.
  6. Click Roles to assign the user a Content Center role.
  7. Select Content Center Editor to assign editing permissions.
  8. Click Vaults to assign the user to a vault.
  9. If needed, click Groups to assign the user to a group (optional).
  10. Click OK.
  11. In the User Management dialog box, and then in the Administration dialog box, click Close.
  12. Communicate user account information and the Login procedure to each member in the team.

Install the client components

On the local computers, install Autodesk Inventor. Select the Use Vault Server option to skip installing Content Center libraries.

Connect to the server from Autodesk Inventor

  1. Start Autodesk Inventor.
  2. Click Vault Server Log In.
  3. Enter the appropriate data to the Log In dialog box:
    • User Name: Enter the user name.
    • Enter the password.
    • Server: Enter the name of the computer (for example: MyRemoteServer), the IP address (for example: 141.111.111.111), or the full computer name for your network domain (for example: pc-name.xyz.autodesk.com).
    • Database: Enter the name of a Vault database located on the specified server.
    • Select Automatically login next session to get automatically logged in the next Autodesk Inventor session.
    Tip: If you use two servers for Content and Vault, change the setting on computers of the workgroup members: Click Vault Server Connection Options and select Use Separate Servers for Content and Vault in the Connection Options dialog box. To log in to the Content Center server, choose Vault Server Content Center Log In. To view the status of the server, choose Vault Server Connection Status.

Create a project file (.ipj) and configure Content Center libraries

Library configurations are saved in the Autodesk Inventor project and edited in Project Editor.

After the common project is configured, copy the project file (.ipj) to a shared location. Request each team member to use the project as a template or as an included project.

Tip: You can create several projects with different setting that is specific for your company projects.

Configure Content Center libraries

  1. Click Manage Projects.
  2. In the Projects dialog box, create a project file or select an existing project file.
  3. In the Projects dialog box, click the Configure Content Center Libraries command.
  4. In the Configure Libraries dialog box, configure Content Center libraries. Remove all libraries you do not use and add libraries you want to use. If needed, migrate old libraries.
  5. Click OK to close the Configure Libraries dialog box.
  6. Click Save in the Projects dialog box.
Note: To increase performance, remove all Content Center libraries that are not used by the workgroup. In the Configure libraries dialog box select a library and click Remove Library. If needed, removed libraries can be added back using the Add Library command.

Optionally, change the folder where standard components are created.

When Content Center creates a component, it first searches a cache of previously utilized content located in the Content Center Files location to improve access time to commonly used components. Although it is possible to set different Content Center Files location, we recommend that you use the same Content Center File location for all projects to optimize the performance.

  1. In the Project dialog box, expand Folder Options.
  2. Right-click the Content Center Files entry, and enter the new location of the Content Center Files folder.
    • Specify a network location for all users to share the same cache memory of instanced components. The network location ensures that everyone in the shared environment is always accessing the same standard parts and automatically gets the most recent library content.
    • Specify a location on local drives for users to decide when they want to refresh their libraries. In this scenario, a user must click Manage tab Content Center panel Refresh to get the latest content.
  3. Click Save and Done in the Projects dialog box.

Configure local project settings

Connect to the server to change the library configuration in the Autodesk Inventor project.

Use one of the following methods to create a local project:

Create a local project which uses the common project as an included file

Note: You cannot include a project file in an Autodesk Vault project file. Autodesk Vault Basic does not support included project files.
  1. In Autodesk Inventor, in the Project dialog box, create a new personal project file.
  2. Double-click the new project to make it the active project.
  3. In the Project dialog box, highlight Included files, and then click the Edit selected item.
  4. Browse to the location of the common project file (.ipj) configured by the administrator.
  5. Click Open.
  6. Click Save and Done in the Projects dialog box.

Use the common project as a template for a local project

If you create a personal project file with the shared project as a template, you can save filters and favorites locally.

Tip: Select the common project before you click New to use the selected project as a template. The new project has the same library definitions as the common project.
  1. In Autodesk Inventor, in the Project dialog box, add the common project file (.ipj) created by the Administrator to your projects:
    1. Click Browse.
    2. In the Choose Project file dialog box, select and open the common project file (.ipj) created by the administrator.
  2. In the Project dialog box, highlight the common project file.
  3. Click New.
  4. Create a new personal project file.
  5. Click Finish to create the project.
  6. If appropriate, edit the new project.
  7. Double-click the personal project to make it the active project.
  8. Click Save and Done in the Projects dialog box.
Parent topic: Content Center Installation and Setup