Publish structural shapes to Content Center

Use this procedure to publish a custom structural shape to the Content Center and use it in the current version of Autodesk Inventor.

Before you start, verify that the Content Center is connected.

1. Open a part/iPart that represents a structural shape that is not available in the Content Center.
2. On the ribbon, click Manage tab Author panel Structural Shape .

   The Structural Shape Authoring dialog box is displayed.

3. On the Layout tab, in Category, expand the list and select one category that applies to the part/iPart you want to author.

   Two rows are displayed in Geometry Mapping.

4. • Base Extrusion.

     Select Geometry By default, if there is only one extrusion in the part/iPart, it is selected, along with the predefined point.

     or

     If there is more than one extrusion in the part, select an extrusion feature in the Browser or in the graphics window.

     If you selected a category and an extrusion feature, a preview is shown in the dialog box. Entities highlighted in the graphics window help with the selection.

   • Default Base point. Expand the list and choose either:

     Predefined Point This is the default. It is selected automatically when a base extrusion is selected. The default insertion point is the geometric center of the profile.

     Select Geometry If you selected an extrusion feature, the default base point is selected, or you can define a point.

     The selected point is highlighted in red in the graphics window, and is shown on the preview image.

   • Notch Profile Available after a base extrusion is selected. If you change to another base extrusion, select a notch profile in the sketch of the new base extrusion. Notch Profile is optional.

     Optional Selection To author a notch, select a closed profile in the sketch. The closed profile outline displays in Selection Preview. You can repeat this selection process repeatedly, and the preview updates dynamically. If authored, attributes mark the closed profile geometry as a notch profile.

5. Click the Parameter Mapping tab. On Category Parameters, select Base Length, which is a required selection.

   For custom parts, map Legacy Family ID to the part ID used in Inventor 2008.

   Note: Be sure to add a column for Legacy Family ID to the iPart table.

   Select any of the remaining optional category parameters.

6. Click OK.

   The part features are modified and information specific to Frame Generator is added. You can save the unauthored profile in case you want to edit the part before you publish it.

   or

   Click Publish Now.

   The Publish Guide dialog is displayed after the part is authored.

   You can change the part to make it compatible with Frame Generator. If the part is modified, a message is displayed with the location of the log file.

   If your previous selection was Publish, the process continues and publishes the part.

The part is available in the Content Center for use in Frame Generator.