Replace Files

Note: You must have permission to check out all related files before replacing a file.

The Replace command changes the references in a parent file to point to a different child file. The file being replaced is not removed from the vault, versioned, or modified in any way. Only the immediate parent files are changed to reference the new file. As a result, a new version of the parent file is created. Previous versions of the parent file will reference the old file. New versions of the parent file will reference the new file.

The immediate parent files of a file being replaced must be checked in before replacing a file. Replacing a file requires that the necessary add-in for the parent file is installed so that the parent file can be repaired to use the new reference.

Note: AutoCAD xrefs contained in Autodesk Inventor .dwg files can be replaced using the Replace command. Autodesk Inventor .dwg and .idw files that do not have parents cannot be replaced.

Replace Files

Note: You must have permission to check out all related files before replacing a file.

1. Select a file or files and then from the Edit menu, select Replace.
   Note: It is recommended that you select the leading version of the latest revision of a file when replacing it to ensure that the most recent data and file references are included.
2. The wizard lists the file or files that were selected from the main pane. Click Add Files to include other files from the vault.

   To exclude a file from being replaced, select it from the list and then click Remove.

   • If any of the selected files cannot be replaced due to restrictions in the vault, a list of restricted files is displayed. Select a file in the list to see the reason for that file being restricted.
   • If some of the files can be replaced, you are prompted whether to continue or not. Click Yes to continue replacing the files that are not restricted.
3. Click Next.
4. In the Identify Parent Files screen, the immediate parents affected by the change are listed.
   • By default, all of the parent files are selected. Turn off the check box next to a parent file to exclude it from being repaired with the new reference. Expand a parent file to see which of the files to be replaced will cause the parent to be repaired.
   • If the parent file is currently checked out or the necessary add-in for the parent is not installed, the parent is identified with an asterisk and red text. Click Back to remove the file to be replaced from the list or verify that the Autodesk Vault add-in for the parent file's application is installed. If one parent cannot be repaired, then none of the parent files will be repaired. You must resolve the issue before repairing any of the parent files.
5. Click Next.
6. The Specify Replacement Files screen lists the old files to be replaced. For each old file, click the browse button, ..., in the New File column and select the replacement file.
   Note: The state of the replacement file does not matter. A replacement file can be a file that is already checked out. When replacing files in an Inventor assembly, the replacement file must be within the project workspace of the parent file. Using the recommended setup of a single project file for the vault will avoid this restriction.
7. Click Finish.
8. You are prompted that replacing a component in an assembly may break constraints in Autodesk Inventor assembly files.
   • Click Yes to continue with the replacement.
   • Click No to return to the Replace Wizard.
9. The final screen of the Replace Wizard displays the results of the replace operation. The report lists the files that were replaced and the parent files that were repaired to include the new reference.
10. You can choose to generate a report as a text file and save it locally or in the vault by performing one of these options:
    • To save the report locally, click Save. On the Save As dialog, navigate to the folder structure where you want to store the file locally. Enter a name for the report and click Save.
    • To save the report in a vault, Click Send to Vault to display a list of vault folders. Select the vault in which you want the report saved, enter a name for the report, and click Save.

    The comment "Replace" is added to all files that have been replaced.

11. Click Close.