Categories

Categories are labels that provide a way to group objects logically. Grouping by category also provides a means for assigning a defined set of behaviors and rules to objects. A category can automatically assign user-defined properties to objects in the Vault. Categories can also be used to automatically assign lifecycle definitions or revision values to files.

Default Category Assignment

Files, folders, custom objects, and items do not necessarily have to be assigned to a category. Files, folders, custom objects, and items not assigned to a category then use the default behaviors defined for the vault.

Category Configuration

A category has associated properties and behaviors that are applied to an object when it is assigned to the category. Those behaviors are of three types:

• Lifecycles (files only)
• Revisions (files and items only)
• User Defined Properties (files, folders, and items)

Change Category Workflows

You can change the category assignment for files, folders, custom objects, and items in the Vault client, and for files in the AutoCAD, Inventor, and Revit Vault add-ins.

Change Category for Files, Folders, or Custom Objects in the Vault Client

The category that a file, folder, or custom object is assigned to can be changed using the Change Category command. The command can be accessed from the Action menu, or from the Lifecycle Management toolbar.

1. Select one or more files, folders, or custom objects for category reassignment from the main view.
Note: The change category command is available for all entity types in the Vault. The dialog will only support one entity type at a time. For example, the dialog will not change category of a file and a folder at the same time. These actions must be performed separately.
2. Do one of the following:
   • Click Actions  Change Category.
   • From the Lifecycle Management toolbar, click Change Category.
3. In the Change Category dialog box, select a new category from the list.
   • Select <Apply assignment rules> to evaluate the files, folders, or custom objects by the assignment rule of the selected category.
   • Clear the check box for any file or item that should not be changed.
   • Add comments in the Enter Comments box.
4. Click OK to apply the change to the selected object(s).

Change Category for Items in the Vault Client

To change the category assignment for an item, the item must be edited.

Note: An item cannot be opened for editing if it is being edited by another user. You must have Item Editor Level 2 permissions to edit an item.
1. Right-click an item in the item master and select Edit from the context menu.
   Note: A file and its dependents must be checked into the vault to edit the corresponding items. The Item Record dialog box displays all attributes and properties of the selected item.
2. Click the drop-down arrow for Item Category and select the new category from the list.
3. Click Save and Close to update the item master.

Change Category for Files in the AutoCAD Vault Add-in

You can modify the category for a file or group of files to collectively enforce a defined set of behavior, rules, and properties for the selected vault objects. Behavior for a particular category can be changed by an administrator in the Autodesk Vault stand-alone client.

Change a File's Category

Use the Change Category command to transfer a file or group of files from one category to another. When you change the category for a vault object, that object inherits the behaviors specified in the new category.

For example, a category called Engineering has a certain lifecycle definition assigned to it, and that lifecycle is configured to perform an automatic revision bump on files when a change state occurs. If a file is moved to the Engineering category and goes from the Work in Progress state to the Review state, the file will automatically undergo a revision bump based on its Category and the lifecycle definition assigned to it.

Note: See Understanding Lifecycles and Understanding Revisions for more information.
1. Select the file for which you want to change the category by performing one of these options:
   • In the Autodesk Vault ribbon, click Change Category .
     Note: This command affects only the file that is currently open.
   • In the ACAD External References palette, right-click one or more files, and select Change Category.
   • In the Inventor Vault Brower, right-click one or more files and select Change Category.
   The Change Category dialog box is displayed.
2. Select the new category from the list.
3. Enter any comments regarding the category change in the Comment field.
4. If you want to preview the changes, click the Expander button to preview the results. Files affected by the change category action are listed with their current category name and the new category name associated with the file(s).
5. Click OK to save the changes and close the Change Category dialog.

Change Category for Files in the Inventor Vault Add-in

The Change Category command allows users to modify a file or group of files' lifecycle category.

1. Select the file for which you want to change the category by performing one of these options:
   • In the Autodesk Vault ribbon, click Change Category. (The change works only on the currently open file.)
   • In the Inventor > Vault Browser, right-click one or more files, and then select Change Category.
   The Change Category dialog box is displayed.
2. Select the new category from the list of those available for selection.
3. Enter any comments regarding the category change in the Comment field.
4. If you want to preview the changes, click the 'Expander' button to preview result. Files affected by the change category action are listed with their current category name, and the new category name associated with the file.
5. Click OK to save the changes and close the Change Category dialog.

Change Category for Files in the Revit Vault Add-in

The Change Category command allows users to modify the lifecycle category for a file or group of files.

Note: The Change Category button is disabled if the open file has not already been added to a vault.

1. Select the file for which you want to change the category and click Change Category on the Revit Vault ribbon.
   Note: The change category action only applies to the file currently open.
2. In the Change Category dialog, select the new category from the list of available categories.
3. Enter any comments regarding the category change in the Comment field.
4. If you want to preview the changes, click the 'Expander' button to preview result. Files affected by the change category action are listed with their current category name, and the new category name associated with the file.
5. Click OK to save the changes and close the Change Category dialog.