Package files in Autodesk Inventor

Use Pack and Go to archive a file structure, copy a complete set of files while retaining links to referenced files, or isolate a group of files for design experimentation.

You can package an Autodesk Inventor file and all, or a selection of, its referenced files under a single folder, even though the files are stored in multiple network locations. You can also include files that reference the selected Autodesk Inventor file. When you package a file, the files are copied to the specified location without changing or removing the source files.

All referenced files must be resolvable using the current project (*.ipj file). If not, it is important to use the Project Editor to make the correct project (.ipj) current, or, in the Project File box in the Pack and Go dialog box, browse to the correct project file.

Package Autodesk Inventor files

1. Locate the file to package.
   • In Autodesk Inventor, click Save as Pack and Go.
   • Or, in Microsoft Windows Explorer, browse to the file to package. Select the file, right-click, and then select Pack and Go.
   • Or, initiate a Design Assistant session outside Autodesk Inventor. Browse to the folder, then right-click and select Design Assistant.
2. In the Pack and Go dialog box, specify the Destination Folder for the package.
3. Set the path and packaging options.
4. Make sure that the path in the Project File field identifies the appropriate project file for the selected file. If not, click Browse to locate it.
5. Click Search Now to search for referenced files. The total files found and disk space are displayed when the search is complete.
6. Click Start to begin packaging the files. As the files are packaged, the status is shown in the Progress box. A new project file and a log file are created in the destination folder, reflecting the structure chosen in the packaging options.
7. If the Missing File dialog box displays, click Set Project. Select the project to use for resolving referenced file locations. Click Open, and then click Start to begin the search.

When the Missing File dialog box displays, you can choose to set a different project file, manually browse for the missing reference file, or click to skip it.

Clicking Cancel on the Find Missing File dialog box cancels the action and displays the Pack and Go dialog box without referenced files.

Project file to store file locations for Pack and Go

If the referenced files are stored in multiple locations, use a project file that specifies the file locations. When you start Pack and Go, the active project in Autodesk Inventor or Design Assistant is selected.

If the active project file does not include all the paths, you can select a project that includes the correct paths. You can also add or remove files from those being packaged.

1. Click More, and use the settings to find and select a new project.
2. Select Search Folder to change the location of referencing files, and then click Search Now to begin searching for referencing files.
3. To add or remove files from the package, select or remove the check mark from the files in the list.

Note: When the source project file has nested project locations, the Pack and Go results from using the Keep Folder Hierarchy and Collect Workgroups options may have references that do not resolve. You may have to manually relocate the target file under the single workspace.